Category: Ice Hockey

The Athletic's James Mirtle generated some buzz earlier this week, reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights discussed a three-team blockbuster with the Carolina Hurricanes that would've sent Mitch Marner to Vegas before the March trade deadline.  

Following the deadline, it was reported that the Leafs and Hurricanes talked about a swap of Marner for Mikko Rantanen, but Marner declined to waive his no-movement clause. The Hurricanes instead shipped Rantanen to the Dallas Stars at the deadline.

The Hockey News' Nick Barden wrote that Marner returning to the Leafs is possible, but it feels unlikely. That means many clubs could be getting ready to try to sign him.

Mirtle cited reports claiming the Golden Knights have been interested in Marner for a while, including trade talks last summer. They lack the cap space to sign the 28-year-old right winger if he goes to market on July 1, with a projected $9.6 million available with 18 active roster players under contract. 

Mirtle suggested they could free up room by trading William Karlsson, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported sources around the league believe he's not available. Meanwhile, Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sunreported there are some around the league who believe defenseman Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8-million cap hit) could end up on long-term injured reserve for the remaining two years of his contract.

If Pietrangelo goes on LTIR, it would give Vegas over $18 million in wiggle room to pursue Marner. However, there's no confirmation that the veteran blueliner's playing days are over.

Meanwhile, Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Starclaimed Nicolas Hague could become a cost-cutting candidate for the Golden Knights. He's an RFA with arbitration rights this summer and is a year from UFA eligibility. The 26-year-old defenseman completed a three-year deal with an average annual value of $2.294 million. 

Kypreos claimed the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins were “hot on the trail” for the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Hague. However, Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now doesn't think he moves the needle for the Canadiens.

The Golden Knights could move Hague if unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. However, if Pietrangelo's career could be over, they might want to hang onto him rather than further deplete their blueline depth. 

Meanwhile, the Marco Rossi trade speculation keeps rolling along. Contract talks between the 23-year-old RFA center and the Minnesota Wild are reportedly stalled, raising the possibility he'll become an offer-sheet target if the Wild don't sign or trade him before July 1. 

NESN's Jay Pritchard thinks the Boston Bruins should consider acquiring Rossi, who is coming off a 60-point season. He believes his youth, skill and upside would make him a good fit with the Bruins. 

Bruins GM Don Sweeney could be watching the Rossi situation. He has over $26 million in cap space next season with 14 active roster players under contract. 

Rossi reportedly seeks a seven-year deal worth $7 million annually. That would be a significant investment for the Bruins on a promising player from another club who has not yet fully established himself as a top-six center.

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Before signing a six-year, $65.4 million contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, there was reportedly a chance that then-restricted free agent Mitch Marner could've inked an offer sheet with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

According to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, and former Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen, "at least discussed" inking the now-28-year-old forward to an offer sheet before Toronto signed him just after training camp got underway.

"The Jackets, under then-general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen, were desperate to show the world there could be life after Bread and Bob, but they would need some high-level reinforcements to make that happen. And they did, in fact, go big-game hunting that summer," Portzline reported.

"To this day, it’s hard to say how serious the talks were between the Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner, then a 22-year-old restricted free agent."

Portzline adds that the Blue Jackets, under GM Don Waddell, could take another swing at Marner on July 1 and offer him a contract which would make him the highest-paid player in the NHL, "if that's what it took to secure him."

Columbus has $40.4 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.

‘It’s Meant Everything’: Mitch Marner Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure As Uncertainty, Change Loom Following Another Game 7 LossAfter another disastrous Game 7 showing from the Toronto Maple Leafs, change feels inevitable.

It's yet another report to surface about the Toronto forward who appears destined to test the open market this summer. Since July 1 last year, Marner has had the chance to negotiate and sign an extension with the Maple Leafs, but hasn't done so, and won't even say he wants to return to Toronto.

"Always loved my time here," said the forward during locker cleanout day, in what could be the final team he speaks to the media as a Maple Leaf. "Like I said to you guys the other night, I've been so grateful. I haven't processed anything yet. It's still so fresh."

Other reports that have surfaced since the season concluded include a three-team trade in March, which could've seen Marner land with the Vegas Golden Knights while Toronto received Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes.

"Theoretically, the Leafs would have received Mikko Rantanen while the Golden Knights got Marner and sent something to Carolina," The Athletic's James Mirtle reported.

Report: Mitch Marner Was In Three-Team Trade Talks With Leafs, Hurricanes And Golden Knights Ahead Of DeadlineToronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner

Earlier this month, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights discussed a Marner trade last summer. However, talks reportedly died down after Toronto asked for defenseman Shea Theodore, who Vegas wasn't willing to give up.

"I heard [Vegas] told people, 'You wanna watch Shea Theodore? You can buy a ticket to watch him play for us,'" Friedman said on 32 Thoughts earlier this month. "And they followed through on their word."

And finally, there was the report following the trade deadline, where Toronto asked Marner to waive his no-move clause to go to the Hurricanes in exchange for Rantanen. In the days following the deadline, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving addressed the report following a practice in Utah.

"We're aligned with Mitch. We're worried about this season, we're worried about the games we have coming up," Treliving said. "We want Mitch here for a long time."

'He's Got A Say In The Process': Where Do Things Stand Between Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and Mitch Marner?Mitch Marner's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs still remains up in the air.

A few days later, Marner admitted he felt something could occur leading into the trade deadline.

"I wasn’t focused on it," he said. "But, yeah, I’m here to play hockey with this team, like I said, and I’m focused with this team, and that’s what I can tell you."

According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, Toronto's final offer to the Hurricanes included prospects Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan, along with two first-round picks. Kypreos added that the Maple Leafs were even comfortable offering Rantanen a contract worth $105 million over eight years.

Ultimately, the Maple Leafs moved Minten and two picks, including a 2026 first-rounder, to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Brandon Carlo. Toronto also added Scott Laughton at the deadline for Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional first-round pick.

‘Brad, No Problem. Go, Leafs, Go! It's Business’: Nikita Grebenkin Reflects On Time In Toronto And Trade From Maple Leafs To FlyersIt’s hard not to like Nikita Grebenkin. 

Marner finished the regular season with 27 goals and 75 assists for 102 points in 81 games, the first time he's broken the 100-point threshold in the NHL. The forward, who's played alongside Auston Matthews for most of his career, scored two goals and 11 assists in 13 playoff games.

If this is indeed the end for Marner and the Maple Leafs, the forward finishes his career fifth all-time on the team's point list (741 points in 657 games), fifth in the club's all-time playoff points (63 points in 70 postseason games), and fourth in assists (520).

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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is the 2024-25 Norris Trophy winner, the NHL announced on Wednesday.

The voting results were heavily one-sided in Makar’s favor. The Avs' blueliner earned 176 first-place votes and accumulated 1,861 voting points. He had 595 more voting points than Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, the first runner-up.

Only three blueliners received first-place votes by the Professional Hockey Writers Association: Makar, Werenski (13) and Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (2).

Hughes was the defending champion of the award but was injured for part of this season, hindering his chances of being the first player to win the award in two consecutive seasons since Niklas Lidstrom in 2008.

The 26-year-old was surprised with the trophy during a round of golf with his friends in Calgary, his hometown. After playing 11 rounds, the group stopped at Makar’s parents’ home, where they were waiting for him with the Norris.

Makar finished the regular season with 30 goals and 92 points, a career high in both categories. He’s also the first defenseman to finish in the top 10 of the NHL’s point leaders since Brent Burns with the San Jose Sharks in 2016-17. Burns had 29 goals and 76 points in that campaign.

The Colorado blueliner finished second on the team in points and goals behind Nathan MacKinnon’s 116 points and 32 tallies in the regular season.

A second Norris Trophy adds to what is already an impressive career with all the silverware Makar has brought home over the years. In addition to being the defenseman of the year twice, he also has a Calder Trophy, a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup. He has earned all these honors before turning 27 years old.

A few other D-men received second-place votes, including Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey with five votes. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman and Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley received one second-place vote each.

Calder Trophy winner and Montreal Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson appeared on this list. He earned 42 points, finishing ninth in the vote. He finished higher than Jake Sanderson, Evan Bouchard and former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox.

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Last postseason, he found himself seated in the Winnipeg Jets' press box as a healthy scratch more often than not.

This year, he's leading all defencemen in scoring in the Stanley Cup Final and has as many points as superstar Connor McDavid through the first three games of the final.

It is safe to say that veteran blueliner Nate Schmidt has found a comfortable home in Florida. He quarterbacks the second power play unit and has redeveloped a strong bond with his now two-time head coach Paul Maurice. 

And more importantly, he's looking to buck an ugly trend.

Breaking into the league with the Washington Capitals, the highly-offensive Schmidt spent four seasons skating alongside Alex Ovechkin and Co., before being left unprotected at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, where the Vegas Golden Knights selected him from the Capitals' roster.

It just so happened that Washington won the Stanley Cup the very next season, without Schmidt.

He spent the next three years in Vegas, before joining Vancouver for one season. He was dealt to Winnipeg in the offseason in 2021, to which he played out most of his contract, before having the Jets buy him out last offseason.

But during his time in Winnipeg, it was another group of his former teammates that won the Cup, as Vegas celebrated with Stanley in the spring of 2023.

This time around, he is hoping for a different result: to be a part of the winning roster.

He has five assists in three Cup Final outings, including two multi-point efforts, while holding down important roles on the Panthers' special teams. 

A long-lasting relationship with Coach Maurice also helps his case - something he didn't seem to have under the coaching of Rick Bowness in Winnipeg. Colin Miller and Logan Stanley earned considerable ice time over Schmidt in 2023-24 - both of which were factors leading to his dead cap hit this past season. 

Florida own a 2-1 series lead over Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final, to which Game 4 is set to be played on Thursday evening. 

The Philadelphia Flyers have lost one of their depth goalies, as Eetu Makiniemi has signed a one-year contract with TPS of the Finnish Liiga. 

Makiniemi, 26, signed a one-year contract with the Flyers for the 2024-25 season back in September. This was after he attended the Flyers' training camp on a professional tryout. 

Unfortunately, Makiniemi's season ended in November after he suffered a sports hernia that required surgery. In five games with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, he posted a 3-0-1 record, a .899 save percentage, and a 3.03 goals-against average. 

Makiniemi was eligible to hit the market as a Group 6 UFA this summer, but will instead be taking his talents overseas after landing this new deal. 

The Carolina Hurricanes selected Makiniemi with the 104th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but he never played a game for the club. In his two career NHL games with the San Jose Sharks during the 2022-23 season, he recorded a 1-0-1 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.13 goals-against average. 

Photo Credit: © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

During this past off-season, former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. This was after the 33-year-old winger had a down year in 2023-24, posting 14 goals, 32 points, and a minus-9 rating in 69 games split between the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators.

The move to Buffalo benefited Zucker immensely, as he put together one of the best seasons of his 14-year career this campaign. In 73 games with the Sabres on the season, he scored 21 goals and recorded a career-high 32 points. His 53 points in 2024-25 are also now the second-most he has posted in a single season. 

Zucker has fit in wonderfully with the Sabres, and it is why the former Penguins forward earned a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Atlantic Division club before the trade deadline. Now, he will continue to be a key offensive contributor and leader for the Sabres as they look to finally take that next step.

Zucker spent four seasons with the Penguins from 2019-20 to 2022-23, where he posted 50 goals and 95 points in 172 games. His best season with the Penguins was in 2022-23, as he posted 27 goals, 48 points, and a career-high 197 hits. His time with the club ended when he signed with the Coyotes during the 2023 NHL off-season. 

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Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Does this mock trade proposal make sense for Bruins at 2025 NHL Draft? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. It’s the first time since 2006 that Boston’s own first-round pick is in the top seven.

Including this No. 7 pick, the Bruins could have as many as five first-round selections over the next three drafts.

They have their own first-round pick in 2025, 2026 and 2027, as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2026 first-rounder (top-five protected, per PuckPedia) and the Florida Panthers’ 2027 first-rounder (top-10 protected, per PuckPedia).

Could the Bruins acquire another first-rounder ahead of the draft on June 27?

The Athletic’s 2025 NHL Staff Mock Draft 2.0 was published Wednesday, and it includes the Bruins getting the No. 15 pick in a fake trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

Here are the details of the mock trade proposal:

• Bruins acquire forward Nils Hoglander and No. 15 pick (used to take defenseman Jackson Smith)
• Canucks acquire forwards Pavel Zacha and Marat Khusnutdinov

Would this trade make sense for the Bruins? There are pros and cons.

One positive would be acquiring another top-15 pick. It’s no secret the B’s have one of the league’s worst prospect pools. In fact, the Bruins’ prospect pool ranked 30th out of 32 teams in Scott Wheeler’s latest evaluation for The Athletic in February. That’s what happens when you make a first-round pick in just four of the last seven drafts.

Taking a center — such as Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin, etc. — with the No. 7 pick and a defenseman — such as Jackson Smith — with the No. 15 pick would significantly bolster Boston’s prospect talent and depth. The B’s could also use the No. 7 and No. 15 picks to try to trade up in Round 1 if there was a player they really like. Trading up can be difficult, though.

Nils Hoglander is signed for three more seasons with a team-friendly $3 million salary cap hit. Hoglander tallied a career-high 36 points, including a career-high 24 goals, during the 2023-24 campaign. But he took a step back this past season with 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 72 games. If Hoglander played like he did in 2023-24, his contract would be an absolute steal. But he’s played five seasons in the NHL, and only once has he scored more than 13 goals.

Losing Zacha would be tough for the Bruins, too. His versatility as someone who can fill a top-six role at center or on the wing is valuable. He has good chemistry with David Pastrnak. His stats this past season were a decline from the two previous years, but he should be able to get back to the 20-goal mark next season. He actually has the second-most even-strength points (81) of any Bruins player over the last two seasons. Zacha is also signed to a team-friendly contract that runs through 2026-27 with a $4.75 million cap hit.

Zacha isn’t an elite offensive player, but the Bruins lack scoring depth and cannot afford to be dealing away players who can tally 50-plus points if they plan on being in the playoff mix next season. The B’s are also pretty thin at center.

Overall, this trade would make sense for the Bruins if they were doing a full and proper rebuild. But if the B’s plan on just doing a retool, then it wouldn’t make sense to pursue this deal.

Five NHL trades, free-agent acquisitions Sharks should explore this offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

How will the Sharks improve this offseason?

No doubt, the hockey hot stove is percolating with trade and free agency rumors right now.

The 2025 NHL Draft is on June 27, and free agency begins on July 1, so the market is about to explode.

But not every possible acquisition fits the Sharks and their timeline.

So, what are five possible (and realistic) ways for the Sharks to take another step?

Before we get to that, let’s talk about how the Sharks probably aren’t going to improve themselves this offseason.

Big Free Agency Swing?

One hundred-point winger Mitch Marner is the prize of this free agency class. But even if he’d consider the last-place Sharks, it doesn’t seem like San Jose is ready to offer maximum seven or eight-year contracts to a UFA.

“It’s still not something I’m excited to do — to hand out, you know, seven- or eight-year deals or anything like that,” general manager Mike Grier said at the end of the season. “I’d still like to keep it more in the short to mid-term range, if possible.”

Grier could just be being coy, but he seems the cautious type, sources indicate the same thing, and there’s no indication that he’s being pressured from above to make a big splash.

So my guess is the Sharks stay out of the high end of free agency this summer.

If so, that could rule out San Jose from the chase for UFA forwards Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers and Sam Bennett. Same goes for defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov.

It doesn’t mean that the Sharks won’t invest significantly in free agency, but probably more in the range of last summer’s four-year, $24 million pact with Tyler Toffoli.

What Can Sharks Offer in Trade?

A trade takes two to tango, and what the Sharks have to offer might not be enticing to other teams.

Specifically, San Jose does have an absolute war chest of futures to offer, extra first-round picks and high-end prospect depth.

But as of now, it feels like the most active teams on the market are looking to win now, not looking for futures.

So while futures could be a part of any deal, it’s hard to see them forming the core of potential trades for top-notch acquisitions like 40-goal winger Jason Robertson, almost point-per-game winger J.J. Peterka and top-pairing caliber defensemen like Noah Dobson, Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard.

At the moment, there isn’t a franchise out there a la the 2022-23 Sharks, looking to rebuild and dangling a star like Timo Meier. That’s the kind of trade where the Sharks can outbid the rest of the league.

For what it’s worth, the Sharks do have the No. 30 pick in the 2025 Draft and the Edmonton Oilers’ top-12 protected 2026 first to offer. They also have, arguably, the deepest farm system in the NHL, especially up front.

Sharks Can Also Offer This

The Sharks also have tons of cap space, which will help them absorb short-term contracts.

What doesn’t help is being the worst team in hockey, which makes San Jose a less attractive place for quality players who have a choice of where to go, like UFAs John Tavares and Matt Duchene, and cap casualty Chris Kreider, who has a 15-team no-trade list.

Mason Marchment, another potential cap casualty, has a 10-team no-trade list. Maybe the Sharks aren’t on that list?

So, who does this leave for the Sharks?

Mikael Granlund

San Jose Hockey Now heard at the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine that the Stars were really happy with Granlund, after they acquired him from the Sharks last season, seeing him as a solid influence on the many Finns on the squad, besides being a terrific two-way forward. So they’re looking to retain the pending UFA.

But that doesn’t take away how much Granlund enjoyed it in San Jose, where he revived his career over the past year and a half.

The 33-year-old isn’t looking for a significant term, so if the Stars can’t fit him in, a San Jose reunion would be logical. The Sharks were equally happy with Granlund in his time there.

K’Andre Miller

The New York Rangers are looking to win now, so why trade a 25-year-old top-four defenseman?

He is an RFA, and the Rangers might be looking to distribute their money in better places.

There are rumors that Miller will be subject to an offer sheet at the beginning of free agency, possibly in the range of $4.68 to $7.02 million AAV, which comes at the cost of a 2026 first and third.

Draft picks used for offer sheets have to be your own, so there’s no way that the Sharks are putting up their own 2026 first for Miller. That Sharks’ 2026 first could be projected No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna.

But can San Jose beat the trade value of a 2026 first and third, assuming Miller gets offer sheets elsewhere?

They have next year’s Oilers’ first to start a trade conversation.

It’s hard to say, once again, if futures are enough to be the foundation of such a trade.

Nicolas Hague

Hague has never been a top-four defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights, but an argument can be made that the 26-year-old has been blocked by the perennial Stanley Cup contender’s deep defensive group.

Do the Sharks believe that Hague has more to offer?

The Golden Knights are also facing a cap crunch, so the pending RFA could be an offer sheet candidate, perhaps at the high end of the $2.34 to $4.68 million AAV range. That would cost the Sharks their 2026 second-round pick.

Matt Grzelcyk

The 31-year-old defenseman had a career-high 40 points last season and could help run the Sharks’ power play. After trading Jake Walman last year, San Jose didn’t have a credible blueline presence on the man advantage.

I believe the UFA, who was coming off a down 2023-24 campaign, is looking for stability, which San Jose could certainly offer a la Toffoli.

Ilya Lyubushkin

Dallas actually has two veteran defensemen in Lyubushkin ($3.25 million AAV, two years left) and Matt Dumba ($3.75 million AAV, one year left) that they could be looking to dump to clear cap space.

Lybushkin had a tough time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Dumba didn’t even play as a healthy scratch, but on the Sharks, they’d both improve a thin defense.

Chances are, they won’t cost much either, especially Dumba.

So, a short or mid-term free agent signing? A hockey or cap casualty trade? A low-end offer sheet?

The likely avenues for the Sharks to improve aren’t the most exciting, but there is good news. With young stars Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund and Yaroslav Askarov leading the way, the big swings are coming.

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The Vancouver Canucks are starting to build a strong prospect pool. Whether through the draft, trade or free agency, there are quite a few prospects who could make an impact at the NHL level sooner rather than later. Here is a look at the top ten prospects in Vancouver's system heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

*Note: To qualify for this list, players must be 23 or under and have played fewer than 25 combined NHL regular season and postseason games. Players are ranked based on age, position, league, and overall performance during the 2024-25 season.

Players featured on the "Post 2025 NHL Trade Deadline Edition" that are no longer eligible:

- Victor Mancini
- Elias Pettersson

Honourable Mention: Vilmer Alriksson- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LW, 6'6', 214 lbs- 107th Overall in 2023

Vilmer Alriksson had a tough conclusion to the 2024-25 season. The Brampton Steelheads' winger suffered a season-ending injury in early February and finished the campaign with 35 points in 43 games. With an entire off-season to train and get healthy, do not be surprised if Alriksson has a massive 2025-26 season in the OHL.

10. Josh Bloom- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LW, 6'2", 185 lbs- Trade With Sabres

Josh Bloom was a standout in the ECHL this season. The 22-year-old had 39 points in 43 games and was one of two players on the Kalamazoo Wings to record 20 goals. With a full year of pro hockey now under his belt, Bloom looks ready to make the jump full-time to the AHL.

9. Danila Klimovich- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

RW, 6'2", 203 lbs- 41st Overall in 2021

This season has shown just why Danila Klimovich is such a polarizing prospect. He scored 25 goals for the Abbotsford Canucks, but has played only 10 games during the Calder Cup Playoffs. If Klimovich can find more consistency in his game, he might earn an NHL call-up before his contract expires at the end of next season. 

8. Riley Patterson- Barrie Colts, OHL

C, 6'0", 192 lbs- 125th Overall in 2024

Riley Patterson followed up his strong regular season with a productive post-season run. In 16 games, he had 12 points along with 38 shots on goal. Projected to return to the Barrie Colts in 2025-26, Patterson has the potential to surpass the point-per-game mark for the first time in his OHL career.

7. Anthony Romani- Michigan State University, NCAA

C, 6'0", 185 lbs- 162nd Overall in 2024

Anthony Romani was electric during the 2025 OHL Playoffs. In 16 games, he had 24 points, which included a team-high 12 goals. The question now is, will Romani be able to keep up his high production when he moves to the NCAA next season? 

6. Sawyer Mynio- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LD, 6'1", 173 lbs- 89th Overall in 2023

Sawyer Mynio had an impressive post-season in the WHL. He recorded six assists in 11 games and was used in all situations by the Calgary Hitmen. While Mynio can return to the WHL next year, it is very likely that he makes the jump to the pro level and plays the 2025-26 season in either Abbotsford or Kalamazoo. 

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5. Ty Young- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

G, 6'3", 183 lbs- 144th Overall in 2022

Ty Young had a season to remember in the ECHL. He went 10-9-2 while posting two shutouts and a save percentage of .926. While there is a crowded crease in the Canucks system, it will not be shocking if Young spends the year in Abbotsford. 

4. Ty Mueller, Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

C, 5'11", 185 lbs- 105th Overall in 2023

Ty Mueller continues to impress at the AHL level. After a successful rookie campaign, he has stepped up in the post-season, recording eight points in 18 games. A key piece of the Canucks roster during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, Mueller should get some call-ups to the NHL next season. 

3. Kirill Kudryavtsev- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LD, 5'11", 200 lbs- 208th Overall in 2022

Kirill Kudryavtsev is the definition of a late-round steal. The 21-year-old has thrived in the AHL this year and is currently tied for the post-season plus/minus lead at +13. While he may not get the spotlight on a nightly basis, Kudryavtsev's play is a big reason why Abbotsford is headed to the Calder Cup Final. 

2. Jonathan Lekkerimäki- Abbotsford Canucks, NHL

RW, 5'11", 172 lbs- 15th Overall in 2022

While Jonathan Lekkerimäki has struggled during the post-season, he is still the Canucks best forward prospect in the system. He is a potential game-breaker and has shown in the past that he can step up on the biggest stage. Projected to play in Vancouver's middle-six next season, Lekkerimäki will need to find a way to be productive both at even strength and on the power play in 2025-26.

1. Tom Willander- Vancouver Canucks, NHL

RD, 6'1", 180 lbs- 11th Overall in 2023

The Canucks top prospect heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is defenceman Tom Willander. After a strong NCAA career, Willander signed his ELC in May and is expected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster. Regardless of whether he starts next season in the NHL or AHL, Willander has the potential to be an important part of this organization for years to come.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Philadelphia Flyers are still well positioned to execute a blockbuster trade for a top center this summer, but one popular potential trade target on the Anaheim Ducks isn't worth all the hype.

Ducks center Mason McTavish, a 22-year-old pending restricted free agent and former No. 3 pick, has been a popular name amongst Flyers fans looking for centers the team can potentially trade for this offseason.

The Switzerland-born center just posted 22 goals and 52 points in his third full season in the NHL while winning greater than 50% of his faceoffs for the second season in a row. To this point, word on a new contract from the Ducks has been quiet, opening the door for the Flyers to strike. But is that a good idea?

If he is to sign with another team this offseason, Evolving-Hockey projects McTavish's next contract to be a six-year pact worth $6.683 million annually.

For the sake of comparison, reports have indicated that Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi is looking for a seven-year deal worth something in the range of $7 million annually.

At 6-foot-1 and 214 pounds, McTavish is bigger and heavier than Rossi, which is the crux of his appeal to Flyers fans and, presumably, the Flyers themselves.

The 22-year-old dished out 70 hits this season and blocked 31 shots, while the smaller Rossi blocked 41 shots and made 62 hits.

Plus, Rossi has scored 45 goals and 100 points over the last two seasons, while McTavish has just 60 goals and 140 total points across his three full NHL seasons.

To be clear, both McTavish and Rossi would be upgrades on the current state of the Flyers' center depth, but preferring McTavish to Rossi for a perceived increase of physicality is just a myth.

The smaller Rossi has been just as effective and physical at effectively the same price point, and it helps that NHL teams are aware of the public struggle between the Austrian center and the Wild.

McTavish, on the other hand, may not necessarily be for sale and would cost more assets in a prospective Flyers trade on top of the salary.

Another thing to note is that the Flyers, as a rush-based team, are not the greatest fit for McTavish.

The 2021 No. 3 overall pick is one of the slowest skaters in the NHL, placing beneath the 50th percentile in top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, and 20-22 MPH bursts, according to NHL EDGE. McTavish placed in the 60th percentile in 18-20 MPH bursts.

In Philadelphia, McTavish could always be paired with players like Owen Tippett or Travis Konecny, but the differing playstyles and skillsets could supersede each other and alter the alchemy of the forward group.

Plus, adding another slow center and changing things up may take away from the chemistry Flyers captain Sean Couturier had Konecny and Matvei Michkov.

A lack of speed down the middle was already a weakness for the Flyers, and with the assets McTavish might bring in for the Ducks, Danny Briere and Co. are best suited looking elsewhere for the center of their future.

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

Amazon has just completed its first season streaming NHL games in Canada when the digital giant wasted no time in unveiling plans for 2025-26 at their annual upfronts in Toronto. Entering the final year of a two-year deal with Rogers Sports & Media, to broadcast games on Monday night, a weekly live look-in show called 'Coast-To-Coast' on Thursday  and a docuseries titled 'FACEOFF: Inside The NHL', the digital giant appears poised to build off their opening year.

Ahead of the announcement, I had a chance to chat with Prime Video Canada's Mark Shopiro, to look back on Season 1 and what fans could expect in next season.

WE ARE SO BACK. 🎬

Tkachuks x 2. Flower. Sid. Season 2 of FACEOFF: Inside the NHL is coming, and it will be a movie. pic.twitter.com/sytbhUOoiZ

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) May 29, 2025

Among the topics discussed:

• What was learned from Season 1
• Players and executives willingness to let the camera into their world after seeing Season 1
• Amazon's interest in hockey (if any) beyond their deal that expires at the end of 2025-26

THN: What was your general feedback after Season 1 aired?

Shopiro: We were really happy with season one. I think what fans get to see in the broadcast and day-to-day is gameplay on the ice and storylines as they're playing out. But what they don't have as much visibility to or have been historically was what it's like to be a professional athlete, both on and off the ice. And we saw a really, really positive reception in Season 1 around those off-ice moments of getting to see what it's like to be a player in the National Hockey League. And also through the perspective of the player, but also those that are most important to them in their lives, be it their family members or good friends. And really, you know, understanding the players as people and everything that they dedicate to becoming such elite athletes was something that we had, you know, great response on in season one. And I think fans can expect to see more of in season two.

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THN: Did you get more players or anyone after seeing Season 1 being like, 'Hey, I've got to be part of this, and maybe the ask to participate increased? What was that change like between Season 1 and Season 2?

Shopiro: For sure, yeah. I think with Season 1, we had never done it before. The players had never done it, obviously, in the NHL. And as we look forward to season two, people have a flavor of kind of what this was meant to be and how it showcases players. So I think that eased some of the conversations and willingness for players to participate. Obviously, everyone's different, but I think we feel good about a stacked list of players heading into Season 2 and I think that speaks to players' willingness to be involved in the series and be a part of it.

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THN: Brendan Shanahan is involved. We usually don't get executives like that in terms of the list from the previous. How did that come about?

Shopiro: You know, as we think about showcasing the game holistically, the front office is a part of it. And, you know, as you think about showing the game from different angles, that was definitely, you know, a lens that we had thought about as we went into development on the series. And obviously, you know, really happy with everybody that's come forward to be a part of Season 2.

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THN: Looking at all the other stuff that you're going to announce, obviously this is going to be Year 2 of the deal for Amazon and the NHL. What was the general feedback after Season 1 from the Canadian games you guys broadcast?

Shopiro: We were really happy. I think what we were most happy with was the fan reception to the broadcast. We got really good feedback on fans appreciating us going rink to rink, bringing the cities that we were broadcasting from as characters into the games that we were putting on television, bringing people closer to the action with innovations like Home Ice Access, which essentially, you know, let customers from their living room get a peek inside the arena before puck drop, which is, you know, so synonymous with going to a game and getting to experience the feels beforehand. So we feel, you know, first and foremost, really good about the product that we put on the screen. And I think fans recognize that. We're really happy with our viewership and growing with younger audiences, our members spending more time with the broadcast. If you think about entertainment and how people spend their time, sports is such a critical part of that. We view it as a great opportunity to be a part of everybody's Monday nights for three hours every Monday as we broadcast games from Canadian teams.

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THN: It looked like you guys were leveraging some of the technology advantages you guys have. Like I noticed, for example, just being on the home site for Amazon, there was like a little square on top, like before you were even going So even like I guess if you were just a casual shopper on the site, you would see like a little preview of the game kind of going on. Like how much of that was important in terms of the integration of using the leverage of the company, but also just kind of being able to demonstrate what you guys can do differently.

Shopiro: Our first focus was getting the game right. And I think you'll see as the season went on last year and as we start to head into Season 2 as well, it's let's get the game right as we come to one focus. And then where can we innovate and start to bring more value into the broadcast. You mentioned things like we call it like an autoplay feature o Fire TV devices where the game will just start playing versus needing to navigate. There's other pieces of innovation that we got great quality feedback on picture quality and sound quality. So, you know, with compatible devices we filmed in 1080p HDR, I know that's a little technical, but that's a new standard for hockey in Canada and really one that hasn't even been adopted too broadly yet in the U.S. Great 5.1 surround sound, and even things like new camera angles and, you know, innovation like Rapid Recap, which essentially generates like a two-minute reel if you're joining the broadcast in progress on what's happened so far in the game, and then you transition right to live. I know that's a little bit of a laundry list, but that was some of the innovation that we were really excited about, and we feel like fans have really reacted positively to.

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THN: You're in the second year of the deal, which is sublicensed from Rogers, and then Rogers renewed their deal with the NHL. Is there an appetite from Amazon to continue with the game beyond this upcoming season?

 Shopiro: I'm not going to speculate on any future deals, but we are really focused right now on Season 2. And it's hard to believe we just wrapped up Season 1 six weeks ago, and we're already full steam ahead for next fall.

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THN: The Coast-to-Coast broadcast that you guys did on Thursdays...What was the general feedback there? Obviously, that was new, but there was a version kind of like that in Canada. What did you like about it? What did you feel could be improved on?

Shopiro: NHL Coast to Coast was a newer format. It had been done, there were variations of the format, but really, you know, starting with the NHL and working on programming the schedule such that we have a great slate of games every Thursday. And, you know, many of the studios show was ran for, you know, five, five and a half hours. Oftentimes, I don't know how Andi Petrillo, who was our host, did it just going for that long. I think as NHL Coast to Coast progressed throughout the season, And we had a rotating analyst that came in, and I feel like that was well-received by audiences. And also just the ability to go from what we said from game to game, goal-to-goal. I hadn't really watched hockey like that before, and I feel like the format was well-received around bouncing between games and, you know, sometimes piping in the audio from the game that you're listening to, sometimes having it be voiced over by the analysts that were in the studio. Tried a bunch of different things in season one and feel like we landed in a good place. As we think about innovation and how we evolve the game in Canada, NHL Coast to Coast was a great example of a new format for which we're trying to bring to Canadians.

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THN: Is there anything new that you guys are going to try that will be obvious for Season 2 that we didn't see in Season 1 of the game broadcasts?

Shopiro: Yeah, we'll see. We're looking back on Season 1 right now as we evaluate how the whole season went and where we feel we can get better. And we can absolutely be better, and we'll continue to look at that. But more to come on that front as we head into Season 2 planning.

THN: Okay, and then outside of maybe even just broadcasts for this year, are there any sort of plans for maybe expanding Amazon and hockey beyond just the broadcast? Like other integrations that could be in the works between Amazon and hockey from a business development side?

Shopiro: Yeah, unfortunately, I won't speak to anything outside of Prime Video, just given that that's my remit to oversee. I would say on the content side, obviously, we have to broadcast. And then as we've spoken about at the start, we've been heavily invested in docu-series. Not only for Faceoff, but, you know, as you think about 'Saving Sakic' or 'All Or Nothing' with the Toronto Maple Leafs, we have a long relationship with the NHL and, you know, feel good about that and the role that Prime Video can play in bringing NHL content to customers.

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All season long and well before it, the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending situation has been a subject of intense debate. 

For most of the past two seasons, the Oilers ran with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in net. Despite trade speculation suggesting the Oilers need an upgrade in net, they’ve stuck with their tandem.

But after Monday’s 6-1 debacle at the hands of the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final, Edmonton now has a tough decision to make – whether to stick with Skinner after two consecutive subpar performances or have Pickard come in and try to even up the series. Pickard replaced Skinner in the first round and went 6-0 with an .888 save percentage before suffering an injury.

That said, it’s not really a tough decision. The Oilers should be living or dying with Skinner as their guy. While Pickard has his supporters, Skinner has done enough to earn the trust of his team as they try to dig out of a 2-1 series hole.

We’re not for a minute suggesting Skinner should be free of criticism. Giving up the first goal of the game just 56 seconds into the first period is hardly the start the Oilers were looking for from Skinner. Before he got the hook in the third period, Skinner allowed five Panthers goals on just 23 shots. His .783 save percentage in Game 3 is not ideal, nor is his .860 save percentage in the Cup final.

However, Skinner has had moments where he looked terrific this post-season. 

In three of Edmonton’s five games against Dallas in the Western Conference final, Skinner posted a save percentage of .966 or better. He also has three shutouts in these playoffs.

While there were serious doubts about his play early in the playoffs, he has since done enough for the Oilers to win more games than they lose.

Sure, they’d want him to be sharper in the past couple of games, but have you seen how poorly Edmonton has defended in front of him? There aren’t many goalies out there who could steal wins when their teammates are turnstiles, and Skinner isn’t a superhero who can stand on his head on every shot from the deep and strong Panthers. Pickard isn’t, either.

If the Oilers do go on to lose the Cup final, Skinner’s future with the team will be called into question. That’s fair. It doesn’t matter which team or player we’re talking about – if you can’t get the job done in two consecutive Cup finals, your job security will be in doubt.

While the 26-year-old Skinner is under contract next season at a very reasonable $2.6-million cap hit, you have to think Oilers GM Stan Bowman will be seeking out a different look between the pipes. Maybe that’s current Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson or someone else, but the status quo in net probably won’t be an option for Edmonton.

For now, though, Skinner is the best option for the Oilers. He’s battled his way through the muck for a while now, and he can still control his future in Edmonton by coming up with strong performances whenever he’s called upon. But he certainly needs a stronger effort from the players in front of him, which is why Skinner can’t be scapegoated – at least, right now.

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The Ottawa Senators held their second annual Season Seat Member Spring Summit at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night. It was an opportunity for season ticket holders to rub elbows and get an insider's view on what's happening with the club.

One of the biggest pieces of news on the evening was a glimpse at what the Senators and Fanatics (the NHL's outfitter of on-ice uniforms) appear to have settled on for their new third jersey. It appeared in a video the team showed to fans on the CTC big screen. Naturally, it had some fans and media members grabbing their cell phone cameras to share on the new look on social media.

The video provided close ups of the new third jerseys, which are all-red with black and metallic gold trim (think Vegas Golden Knights). At the end of the video, a blurry image of a player wearing the jersey walks toward the camera, came into reasonably clear view for one single frame before the video ends.

This image falls completely in line with a social media post that surfaced earlier this season from a Reddit user. It had photos of a player wearing a similar uniform, standing on the CTC ice surface on a non-game day, perhaps as part of the production of the very video that was shown to fans on Tuesday, or simply testing how it looked to the TV cameras.

For example, for TV viewers, going with black numbers directly on red is rarely a good choice. They look fine and they're legible up close but the lack of colour contrast makes it a struggle on the standard wide shot from a distance. Perhaps the gold trim in this case will make them stand out enough. Regardless, this is the kind of thing they test for.

The only visible difference in the two images might be the added detail in the centurion's red plume and possibly the removal of the S logo on the shoulders, but it's hard to tell for certain. 

(Image at left credit: Sens Reddit user)

It's probably not fair to fully judge a jersey until you see it in person, or at least in higher resolution. But barring any last minute changes, this gives you a good sense of what appears to be the Sens' new thirds that will launch in September.

We'll have more on Tuesday's Season Seat Member Spring Summit coming up shortly.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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The Florida Panthers picked up a massive 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. With this blowout win, the Panthers now have a 2-1 series lead over the Oilers in the series. 

With Florida's Game 3 win, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has hit an incredibly rare milestone behind the bench. 

According to NHL Public Relations, Maurice is now just the third coach in the history of the NHL to reach 1,000 career wins (regular season and playoffs combined). The only other coaches who have reached this incredible feat are Scotty Bowman (1,467 wins) and Joel Quenneville (1,090 wins).

Make that 1,000 NHL wins for Paul Maurice as a head coach.

He joined Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090) as the only head coaches in League history to reach the mark. #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/t85G7yQ6unpic.twitter.com/C1LyDgM08v

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 10, 2025

This latest accomplishment for Maurice only shows just how fantastic of a career he has put together as an NHL coach, and the Panthers are certainly lucky to have him as their bench boss. 

Maurice and the Panthers will now look to stay hot and pick up another victory in Game 4 from here. It would be huge if they did, as the Panthers would take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Oilers. 

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Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images