Category: Ice Hockey

Winnipeg Jets prospect Dmitri Rashevsky has reportedly signed a three-year offer sheet with Avangard Omsk and are awaiting Dynamo Moskva's response, according to Dylan Griffing.

The Jets selected Rashevsky in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, and he has spent each season since the selection in the KHL. Rashevsky will be 25 years old by the start of the season, making his chances of joining the Jets organization bleak.

"I like everything in Dynamo, that's why I signed a new contract," Rashevsky said through Google Translate in the AllHockey.ru article back in 2023. "I was in touch (with Winnipeg), but at the moment I consulted with my family, agent and coaching staff; everyone was of the same opinion that it was better to stay."

If Rashevsky does plan to play in the NHL with the Jets, he won't do so until he is 28 years old. Filled with talent, the 6'1, 183 lbs left-handed right winger has scored 35 or more points in four consecutive KHL seasons, including a 19-goal and 40-point campaign in the 65 games this past season.

"Rashevsky’s motor never stops. Be it on the forecheck and on the backcheck, at the start of his shift or at the end of his shift, in the MHL, the VHL, or the KHL, the forward is single-minded; he wants the puck on his stick and in the back of the opposing net. He rarely over-dangles, preferring to use teammates and make give-and-goes to get out of tight situations." -EliteProspects 2021 NHL Draft Guide.

RUSH!!
🚨 Dmitri Rashevsky #GoJetsGo
1-0 Dynamo Moscow #KHLpic.twitter.com/wArsDuNsAJ

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) January 25, 2024

For the Jets organization, the news is unfortunate. There would be several opportunities for Rashevsky to fight for a roster spot and possibly lock one down, whether Nikolaj Ehlers re-signs or signs elsewhere. Although it doesn't completely nullify the St. Petersburg, RUS native's chances of playing for the Jets, his ability to transition to the North American surface and the style of play at a much older age becomes increasingly challenging. 

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Jets Defensive Prospect Puts Up Positive Results In First Professional Season; Tougher Challenges Await Next SeasonWinnipeg Jets defensive prospect Alfons Freij completed his first season of professional hockey, putting up positive results. 

The NHL Awards have started to come in with many players being named recipients. On Saturday the NHL announced the winner of the Jack Adams award which is given to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success, as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.

Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery won the award. The Capitals went 51-22-9 and finished second in the NHL during the 2024-25 season. 

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes received one vote for the award and it was a third place vote. The Wild went 45-30-7 and lost in six games to the Vegas Golden Knights in round one of the playoffs. They missed the playoffs the season before. 

Wild AHL Head Coach Takes Vancouver Canucks Assistant Coaching Job.

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Where Could Wild's Marco Rossi End Up?

Hynes is 79-54-12 in his two seasons as the Wild's head coach. 

Photo Credit: Oct 22, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes watches from the bench against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

According to former player and current NHL insider Nick Kypreos, the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins are both interested in acquiring Vegas Golden Knights’ supersized blueliner Nicolas Hague.

The 26-year-old Kitchener, Ontario native stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 240 pounds. Hague is by no means an offensive defenseman; in fact, he only put up 12 points in 68 games last season, but a team does need some stay-at-home defensemen, and having one with that kind of frame would certainly tick a couple of boxes for the Habs.

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Hague is a rare homegrown product for the Vegas organization, which has accustomed us to trading picks rather than making them, but here’s living proof that they do use their pick from time to time. The towering defenseman was selected 34th overall in the second round of the 2017 draft.

While some may be surprised to hear that the Canadiens are chasing yet another left-shot defenseman, it’s essential to realize that Hague has proven in the past that he can patrol the right side of the blueline just as well as the left.

In that sense, Hague may be a replacement for the recently retired David Savard. After all, Kent Hughes has repeatedly said that he cannot load his teams with rookies if the Canadiens’ organic growth is to continue.

Watching the Laval Rocket play in the playoffs, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux do have the makings of NHL defensemen, but they might just not be ready to step into the big league just yet. Blueliners can sometimes take more time to develop, and it’s essential to allow them the time to develop correctly. There’s no need to rush them.

At 26, he aligns with the Canadiens’ timeline of opportunity, and he has extensive playoff experience, having skated in four Spring tournaments with the Knights, logging 44 games and capturing the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Despite his hulking size, Hague wasn’t a hit dishing machine; this season, he only dished out 82, far behind team leader Keegan Kolesar, who served up 237. The 82 collisions would have given him the 12th place on the Canadiens. That was a down year for him, however, as he did have 153 in 2023-24 and 117 in 2022-23

He could also be that the Canadiens’ GM feels he has evaluated the left side of his blueline enough and feels it cannot shoulder the load without experienced help. Hughes could also be getting ready to trade away some of his left-shot defenseman after having had another year to evaluate personnel.

Photo credit:  Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

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On July 1, the NHL will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the salary cap with the largest single-year jump in the cap’s history. 

But for players, free agency isn’t just about money: it’s also about opportunity. And while the three teams that are currently hoarding the most available cap space heading into July 1 haven’t been big players in recent years, that could change in 2025 — even in the face of stiff competition.

According to PuckPedia, the San Jose Sharks are headed into free agency with the most projected cap space: $41.76 million. The Columbus Blue Jackets are second at $40.4 million, and the Anaheim Ducks are third at $38.69 million. 

All three are ready to take the next step, so don’t be surprised if they take some big swings on July 1 — whether that’s in free agency or through blockbuster trades.

In San Jose, the Sharks are heading into Year 4 of the Mike Grier regime. After bottoming out and successfully snagging Macklin Celebrini in 2024, San Jose still finished 32nd overall last season. But Celebrini and Will Smith showed strong signs that they’ll be foundational players, as did goalie-of-the-future Yaroslav Askarov. There’s also more promising young talent in the pipeline. 

In his rookie year as an NHL head coach, Ryan Warsofsky also showed a deft hand in managing his players. He added a feather to his cap by guiding Team USA to its first gold medal since 1933 at the world championship. And while Warsofsky may be new on the scene, he has the qualities of a coach who inspires player loyalty.

At the 2025 trade deadline, Grier performed major surgery again. That leaves plenty of roster spots open for players who are looking to make a difference with an emerging squad. Compared to the last few years, San Jose is on the rise as a signing destination. 

In Anaheim, the Ducks became a more desirable destination by replacing taskmaster Greg Cronin with Joel Quenneville behind the bench. Though he has been out of the game since 2021, Quenneville’s record speaks for itself: on top of his four Stanley Cups, he has more wins on his resume than any NHL coach not named Scotty Bowman. 

Quenneville also has a reputation as the kind of coach that players love to play for. While that should be attractive to free agents in general, could it also be a carrot for a couple of future Hall of Famers who played their best hockey under Quenneville with the Chicago Blackhawks?

After two years out of the game himself, Jonathan Toews has made it clear that he’s ready to attempt a comeback this fall. It will be odd to see him wearing anything other than Chicago colors, but a reunion with his old bench boss could make sense. And while it’s tempting to presume that Toews won’t be a high-impact player at age 37, the current playoff exploits of similarly aged Brad Marchand and Corey Perry would suggest otherwise. Gabriel Landeskog and Evander Kane have also recently demonstrated that it’s possible to return at a high level after long absences from top-level competition. 

If Toews chose to reunite with Quenneville, could Patrick Kane also head west? After going through health issues of his own, Kane is a pending free agent coming off back-to-back 20-goal seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, who haven’t quite found a way to get back into the playoff mix. 

Toews and Kane won three Stanley Cups together in Chicago, were represented by the same agent, and played under matching contracts as the Blackhawks’ top stars. If the pair reunited in Orange County, would other free agents be tempted to come along for the ride?

In Columbus, the Blue Jackets knocked at the door of a playoff spot this spring, finishing two points behind the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference standings. It was an impressive achievement for a new regime led by GM Don Waddell and coach Dean Evason, especially in the wake of the unexpected tragedy of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s deaths. 

Gaudreau, of course, defied expectations in 2022, when he chose Columbus as one of that summer’s top free agents. His longtime buddy Sean Monahan joined him last year and became such a pillar of strength in supporting his team and honoring his friend’s legacy that he was voted the 2025 winner of the Masterton Trophy.

Any player who signs with Columbus will know that they're walking into a dressing room where players truly have each other’s backs. They'll also be walking onto a roster that features 2025 Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski and a strong group of emerging talents, many of whom had career years in 2024-25.

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Former ECHL player and coach Spencer Carbery is the 2024-25 recipient of the Jack Adams Award as “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.

Carbery, who received the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14 and the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as American Hockey League Coach of the Year in 2020-21, is the first individual to win the Coach of the Year Award in all three leagues.

In his second season as head coach of the Washington Capitals, Carbery led the team to a 51-22-9 record for 111 points, finishing with the second-best record in the NHL as well as the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016-17.

Overall in two seasons, Carbery has led Washington to a 91-53-20 record and two appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

During his playing career, Carbery played three seasons in the ECHL from 2007-10 with Bakersfield, Stockton, Fresno and South Carolina. He recorded 73 points (32-41-73) in 181 games and captured a Kelly Cup title with the Stingrays in 2009.

Following his playing career, Carbery entered the coaching ranks, serving as South Carolina’s assistant coach in 2010-11 before spending the next five seasons as the club’s head coach. Carbery’s teams won 40 or more games three times, captured a pair of division titles and advanced to the 2015 Kelly Cup Finals.

Carbery becomes the third former ECHL coach to win the Jack Adams Award, joining Bruce Boudreau and Bruce Cassidy.

May 12, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery walks off the ice after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Flyers will take as many high-end talents as they can get in the 2025 NHL Draft, but if they want a defenseman, they'll have to trade up to get him.

A lot of the focus has been on whether the Flyers will trade up from the No. 6 slot, but what if the Flyers got aggressive in another way? With the 22nd pick and either the 31st or 32nd pick, the Flyers have plenty of ammo to move up several spots for a player they covet.

The Flyers already alluded to the possibility of selecting a defenseman or a winger in the draft, though nobody is fully convinced that'll happen at No. 6. That just adds further fuel to the idea.

Tri-City Americans defenseman Jackson Smith, who is regarded as one of the top two or three defenders in the 2025 draft class, could very well still be available at the end of or just outside the top 10.

In that event, the Flyers could make something happen to get a potential franchise defenseman that's been compared to Thomas Harley and Travis Sanheim.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner, according to Russ Cohen of SiriusXM NHL and EliteProspects, is coveted by the Flyers, but there are no guarantees to be made there.

For instance, the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers pick 11th and 12th, respectively, so the Flyers can cross those two teams out as potential trade partners.

Teams like Seattle and Buffalo, eighth and ninth, might be more receptive to trading down, especially if Philadelphia is willing to offer up a roster player to help either team make immediate improvements.

Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Can Complete His Staff with This NHL LegendNew Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has made the first two additions to his coaching staff, but he still needs one more. How about an NHL legend who just left the Vancouver Canucks?

Danny Briere made one of his first trades as an NHL GM with the Anaheim Ducks, so the two sides have some familiarity and, presumably, and open line of communication there.

The Flyers have insisted that they want to start winning games, which means that, soon, they will no longer be able to rely on draft picks to improve the roster, or the cycle will just continue year over year.

If the organization deems Smith to be the defense prospect they need to eventually take the next step, that belief is enough to justify a big draft trade.

Looking at the Flyers' organizational depth chart, the defense cupboard is rather thin. Prospects like Ty Murchison and Hunter McDonald play similar styles and don't have very high ceilings, while time is ticking on players like Adam Ginning, Emil Andrae, and Egor Zamula.

Using a number of draft picks on the defense, whether it's Smith or others, would do wonders for the Flyers going forward.

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

Milwaukee Admirals defenseman Mark Friedman has signed a two-year deal in Sweden with Rogle BK, it was announced earlier this week. 

Friedman, a 2014 third round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, split time this season between the Admirals, the Abbotsford Canucks and the Vancouver Canucks. In five NHL games, Friedman went pointless but he collected three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 41 combined AHL games. 

With the Admirals having made the Calder Cup playoffs, Friedman got into 10 games with the team, putting up a goal and three points. 

Since turning pro at the end of the 2016-17 season, Friedman has gotten into 93 career NHL regular season games with the Flyers, Canucks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over that span, he scored four goals and added nine assists for 13 points. 

With Friedman off to the SHL, he should get the opportunity to solidify a consistent role for himself that will see him play in all situations. A talented defender, Friedman was never able to grab a full-time NHL role but has the tools needed to be a difference maker for Rogle BK. 

Edmonton Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen is among many former Toronto Maple Leafs performing strongly during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, he was asked about his tenure in Toronto.

“Media presence is big there and not always necessarily the best thing, but it does prepare you for the future,” Kapanen told reporters, including TSN’s Mark Masters. “Coming to Edmonton, with it being in Canada, I was used to it. But I think you guys in Toronto, it’s still on another level."

Kapanen’s tenure with the Maple Leafs was an interesting one. A key piece in a trade that saw the Leafs deal Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins, expectations were high for the 22nd pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.

It wasn’t until the 2018-19 season that Kapanen broke out, scoring 20 goals and adding 24 assists in 78 games. Before that, however, he had already scored a significant playoff overtime goal against the Washington Capitals in 2017.

After 2018-19, however, Kapanen’s production with the Leafs not only began to wane, but he was also benched after sleeping in and being late for a practice. Kapanen was dealt back to Pittsburgh in 2020, a move that was partly due to his play but also a means of shedding salary.

After a few seasons with the Penguins, questions about his defensive ability began to permeate, putting his overall reliability into question. His struggles culminated in being placed on waivers in February 2023. Later that year, he was convicted of aggravated DUI in Finland and opened up about his struggles with alcohol.

Report: Kapanen suspected of aggravated drunk drivingST. LOUIS -- With training camp less than two weeks away, the last thing the St. Louis Blues want to deal with is an off-ice issue.

The Blues re-signed Kapanen to a one-year, $1 million deal, but he again struggled with the same on-ice issues that have plagued his career. He was placed on waivers and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers. Although he sat out all of Round 1, Kapanen has since been a key contributor, including scoring the overtime Game 5 clinching goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2. In three games against the Dallas Stars, Kapanen maintained strong forechecking and penalty-kill contributions.

This was very much Kapanen’s last chance to show he belonged in the NHL. When it has mattered the most, he has shown that he can play the way teams need him to for sustained success.

Maple Leafs Invite Knights Goaltender Austin Elliott To Training Camp After Memorial Cup TitleLondon Knights goaltender Austin Elliott has a ticket to an NHL training camp this fall. 'I'll Be Ready For Camp': Why Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Believes He's Prepared For The NHL After Memorial Cup WinToronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has his eyes peeled for the NHL next season. Maple Leafs Hire Derek Lalonde As Assistant Coach: What He Brings To Toronto's BenchThe Toronto Maple Leafs officially announced on Friday the addition of Derek Lalonde to their coaching staff as an assistant. This move filled a  vacancy on head coach Craig Berube’s staff after associate coach Lane Lambert departed to become the Seattle Kraken’s new bench boss.

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The 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.

Of course, the Flyers are one of many teams in desperate need of center talent, regardless of how certain individuals may fall on draft boards. But is that enough to sway their draft strategy entirely?

So far, we know that the Flyers have met with virtually every top prospect under the sun, including James Hagens, Porter Martone, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers.

Desnoyers is one of the fan-favorite projections for the Flyers, though many have their doubts that the talented center falls to the sixth pick. Fortunately, new information tells us that the Flyers can very well go and get their guy after all.

With the fourth overall pick (trade with Utah) in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...

Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

The Flyers have explored trading up before, and this year's draft should be no different for them. Moving up four spots to get the second pick from San Jose might prove to be too rich for Danny Briere and Co., but there's a world where they don't need to move up that high to snag Desnoyers.

In this scenario, the Flyers trade a Day 2 draft pick - possibly one of their second-round picks - to Utah, along with the sixth pick, to move up with Desnoyers in range.

It's been said that Utah covets forward Brady Martin, who has a strong likelihood of falling to six where the Flyers would've otherwise been.

Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, and James Hagens come off the board with the first three picks here, prompting the Flyers to move up and get their guy before it's too late.

With the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...

Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Can Complete His Staff with This NHL LegendNew Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has made the first two additions to his coaching staff, but he still needs one more. How about an NHL legend who just left the Vancouver Canucks?

Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

With an uncertain immediate future in goal, there is no such thing as having too many goalie options if you're the Flyers. The jury is still out on Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov, and Aleksei Kolosov may or may not return to North America with the requisite drive to carve out an NHL career.

As for the prospects, Carson Bjarnason is starting his pro career this fall, while Egor Zavragin will be playing in the KHL for the foreseeable future.

Joshua Ravensbergen, a massive 6-foot-5 netminder with excellent puck tracking skills and the knowledge of how to use his large frame to his advantage, is the top goalie prospect in this draft class and should help give the Flyers the best pool of goaltending prospects in the NHL immediately.

Yes, the Flyers have needs at the skater positions, but with the team's perpetuated issues in net, Ravensbergen would be a slam-dunk value selection late in the first round. He could very well end up becoming the best goalie the Flyers have in their entire system, NHLers included.

With the 31st overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...

Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (NCAA)

If Shane Vansaghi was a better skater, he very well could have been a top-15 pick in this class. He's not a better skater, but he is arguably the most tenacious player in this class with a playstyle that will immediately make him a fan-favorite in Philadelphia.

The Michigan State ace possesses perfectly adequate puck skills to justify a first-round selection and combines them with an unrelenting motor that allows him to physically impose himself against all who dare stand in his way.

Vansaghi, who was already teammates with Flyers prospect Karsen Dorwart, is the stereotypical 'Flyer.' How that's taken is open for interpretation, but added explosiveness in tandem with his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame could allow the St. Louis, Missouri, native to enjoy a long and prosperous NHL career.

Given his pugilistic style of play, the Flyers should be hoping that happens with them and not with other NHL teams.

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

There is an interesting history between Roberto Luongo and Brad Marchand.

Going all the way back to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, the two current members of the Florida Panthers – Luongo is a special advisor to Cats General Manager Bill ZIto, Marchand is starring as key forward – faced each other while members of the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins, respectively.

During that Final, which was won by Boston in seven games, Marchand scored a shorthanded goal on Luongo during Game 3 on June 6, 2011.

It was the then 21-year-old Marchand’s first of five goals in the series as Boston came back from an 0-2 deficit to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 39 years.

He had three combined goals in Game 6 and 7, both won by the Bruins while simultaneously denying Vancouver their first championship in franchise history.

For those who remember, it was a crushing defeat for Luongo and the Canucks.

Well, now here we are, 14 years later, and it appears that any bad feelings have wilted away over time.

After Florida’s thrilling 5-4 double overtime victory in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton – a game that Marchand scored twice, including the OT winner – Luongo took to social media to express his feelings about the veteran goal scorer.

Favorite player of all time

— Strombone (@strombone1) June 7, 2025

It appears time does heal all wounds.

We also learned after the game that the feelings were mutual.

Speaking after he scored the OT winner on Friday, Marchand was alerted to Luongo’s post.

“Lu is awesome,” Marchand said with a smile. “He’s an incredible person. I’m happy to be on his team.”

Marchand finished with 11 goals and 19 points in 25 games during Boston’s Cup run in 2011. He’s up to seven goals and 17 points in 19 games so far this year with Florida.

Back in 2011, the Conn Smythe Trophy went to Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas despite Marchand’s impact in the Final and postseason as a whole.

Right now, he could be the favorite in many voters’ eyes, but this Final is far from over.

We’ll see how things play out over the next week or so.

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Photo caption: Nov 4, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (1) makes a save as Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) collides with him during the third period of Boston's 2-1 overtime win at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson-Imagn Images)

The Vegas Golden Knights are heading into a peculiar offseason, filled with rumours about possible big moves and philosophical changes by the head coach, but now their veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has his health put into question.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas, on their podcast 32 Thoughts, shared that there is a level of uncertainty about Pietrangelo's health and a fear that he could be unavailable for the 2025-26 season.

Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Pietrangelo dealt with numerous issues. Some were health-related, and others were linked to injuries. He sat out the 4 Nations Face-Off, electing to rest an ailment, and missed some time towards the end of the season. In all, the 35-year-old played 71 regular-season games, scoring four goals and 33 points to go along with 10 playoff games, where he scored two goals and six points. 

Bruce Cassidy Says He's Not Concerned With Alex Pietrangelo's Injury, Expects Him To ReturnLAS VEGAS -- Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said Saturday after morning skate that he is not concerned long-term with an injury that's kept Alex Pietrangelo out of the lineup.

thehockeynews.comBruce Cassidy Says He's Not Concerned With Alex Pietrangelo's Injury, Expects Him To ReturnLAS VEGAS -- Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said Saturday after morning skate that he is not concerned long-term with an injury that's kept Alex Pietrangelo out of the lineup.

“Every year, I hear, ‘Oh, Pietrangelo is so badly beaten up, and he’s put his body through so much, and he’s not going to be able to play next season,’” responded Friedman to a question from Bukauskas. “And every year I get told, ‘That’s wrong.’ And every year, he’s back, and he plays, and he plays hard, and he plays great.

“You’ll remember that the NHL and the countries have an agreement [about naming Olympic teams],” Friedman continued. “The full team is the end of December, but they have to name six players by the end of June. The dates aren’t set up yet, but it sounds like it could potentially be the week of [June] 16th— which is a week and a half from now. I put together a long list for all these teams of who could be on it, and I had Pietrangelo on that list. And someone indicated to me that he might not be available. 

“I don’t have any confirmation on that yet,” finished Friedman. “I still think it’s one of those things where, at this time of year, teams are trying to figure out what their rosters might look like for next year and [if there are] any injury concerns. So, we’ll see what happens with Pietrangelo… But it sounds like there’s at least the possibility that they’re trying to figure out what his health will be like for the start of next season.”

At the moment, Friedman doesn't have enough information to confirm or deny what he's been given and couldn't provide any information on what Pietrangelo is dealing with, but the news is concerning. 

Pietrangelo is under contract for two more seasons, and although the team could stash him on the long-term injury reserve while he recovers, they feel they are better with him on the ice. 

The Golden Knights have been linked to Mitch Marner, a top free agent this offseason and would need to be moving money around to add him to the roster. Reports have stated that the team could move Nicolas Hague and/or Ivan Barbashev to do so, but if Pietrangelo is indeed out for the season, the Golden Knights could have more cap space to freely chase free agents. 

It'll be a major blow if Pietrangelo is indeed injured, but the Golden Knights will need to get to work quickly to find a way to keep the roster clicking. Kaedan Korczak has been waiting for an opportunity, and it could be his time to step in and shine. 

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

Cassidy Has Good Reason To Consider Load Management For Certain Knights In Last Two Games LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights are Pacific Division champs, they'll host a Wild Card team starting Easter Sunday and barring a casualty in the first round, will host a second-round series, too.

The Philadelphia Flyers already tried to trade for star Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram once, and the latest NHL trade rumors indicate they'll try once more.

Before they traded Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick, the Flyers, as reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman in Jan. 2024, tried to move Gauthier to the Colorado Avalanche for Bowen Byram.

“I think Philly did ask about Bowen Byram, and I just think Colorado wasn’t going there,” Friedman said on the Jan. 12, 2024 episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. “I suspect Colorado’s answer was ‘We are not doing this 1-for-1, it’s got to be more than Gauthier for Byram.’”

Fast forward to today, and Byram, 23, is a pending restricted free agent on a Buffalo team with a number of players rumored to be dissatisfied with the team's lack of success and direction, which is no surprise having won a Stanley Cup with Colorado already.

Byram has recently changed agents and purportedly wants more power play time, which he won't get as long as Rasmus Dahlin is on the Sabres. The Flyers, on the other hand, do not have a dedicated power play quarterback for either of the two units that were no better than 30th in each of the last three years.

Friedman has again found a pulse on Byram's latest situation, reporting on his Thursday episode of "32 Thoughts" that Byram's name was a hot one at this week's NHL Scouting Combine, with Sabres GM Kevyn Adams putting in the leg work whilst searching for ways to bolster his languishing roster.

"That's just a hot name. It's just a hot name. Kevyn Adams, he's doing his due diligence there. I think there's a lot of interest, as you would expect," Friedman said of Byram. "We've said it's going to be a hot name this summer. I've just heard there's been a lot of noise around him at the combine."

The Flyers, like the Sabres and Byram, are having a bit of trouble with an RFA defenseman of their own in Cam York, who is one of two Flyers free agents still without a new contract.

Fellow RFAs Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster seemingly put pen to paper on new deals with ease in recent weeks.

If role and playing time is an issue for Byram but not for York, it's reasonable to assume that the Flyers and the Sabres are in positions to help each other out without sacrificing much else at either end.

Revisiting GM Danny Briere's First Flyers Trade, 2 Years LaterPhiladelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere has seen and done it all during his brief time in charge of his former team, and his first piece of business is looking like his best so far.

York, who has established himself as a reliable defensive safety valve at the expense of his own offensive talents, could perform well in a similar role next to either Dahlin or Owen Power.

The Sabres are, additionally, in need of right-shot defensemen, as Dahlin, Power, Mattias Samuelsson, and York or Byram are all left-shots.

Perhaps a reunion with Rasmus Ristolainen, now an established veteran whose game has improved dramatically, would make sense on some level, just not as a direct swap for Byram.

The Flyers have plenty of talented options available on the NHL trade market this year, but what ultimately comes of it is up to them to decide. A Stanley Cup-contending roster won't make itself.

Yesterday, Brantford Bulldogs GM Spencer Hyman, the brother of Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman, announced the extension of Head Coach Jay McKee through the 2027-28 season. 

"I'm deeply grateful for the trust and responsibility the Brantford Bulldogs' owners have afforded me," said McKee. "I'm thrilled to continue working alongside such talented players and equally excited for what we'll achieve together with our amazing fans in the city of Brantford."

McKee has led the Bulldogs since being hired by the organization in 2021. That season, he coached the team to the best record in franchise history on the way to winning an OHL championship. 

Next season will mark McKee's ninth season coaching in the OHL. Before joining Brantford, he worked as the Head Coach for the Kitchener Rangers between 2016 and 2020.

During his playing days, McKee was a 6-foot-4 defender who played for both the Sudbury Wolves and Niagara Falls Thunder.

Rangers Sign University of Michigan CommitYesterday, the Kitchener Rangers announced the signing of Adam Valentini to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Valentini played in the USHL last season after being pick in the first round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. 

The Buffalo Sabres ended up drafting McKee with the 14th-overall pick in the 1995 NHL Draft. He went on to play more than 800 OHL games over the course of 14 seasons. 

The Bulldogs find themselves in an interesting situation this offseason. They will more than likely be without Chicago Blackhawks prospect and star forward Nick Lardis, as it seems likely he will join the AHL. They will also be without overage players Thomas Patrick, Ottawa Senators prospect Thomas Hamara and Thomas Budnick, who are ineligible to return. 

Last year's team also featured five other 2005-born players besides Lardis. Due to the overage rules in the OHL, they will have to shed at least one of those players, and are more than likely to move two. 

19 OHL Players Invited To NHL Scouting CombineThe 2025 NHL Scouting Combine started on Monday. A total of 19 of the OHL's top draft eligible players were invited to the combine ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

With that said, they have a very solid core that includes Chicago Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker, 2025 NHL Draft eligible forward Jake O'Brien, St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jiricek, Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Protz and Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders. 

There is also room for younger players and depth players to grab a bigger role higher up the lineup based on those players who are leaving.

If the team adds a few more big hitters, they will likely be a top team in the Eastern Conference once again next year. 

With McKee at the helm, the Bulldogs have solidified the Head Coaching position for the next three seasons. He bring stability and expertise that will help the Bulldogs continue to compete with the other top teams in the OHL.

"We're thrilled to extend Jay McKee for three more years," said Hyman. "Jay is the best coach in the CHL, and make no mistake, he chose the Bulldogs. Our players, staff and community will be thrilled to know Jay is our Head Coach. We're grateful for his commitment and are excited for what's ahead."

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With the 2025 NHL Draft fast approaching, the Ottawa Senators are preparing to make their selection at 21st overall in the first round, set for June 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. As speculation heats up, one name consistently appearing in mock drafts near Ottawa's slot is Blake Fiddler, another big right-shot defenseman from the WHL.

Fiddler checks many of the boxes that Senators general manager Steve Staios and his amateur staff seem to value. Last year, in his first draft as GM, Staios used his top pick on Carter Yakemchuk, a big, right-shot blueliner from the Calgary Hitmen. He followed that up by selecting 6-foot-7 Gabriel Elliason later in the draft, further reinforcing the club's preference for bulking up their size and strength on the blue line.

Fiddler fits that mold all the way.

In a way, as big right-shot WHL defensemen go, Fiddler is Yakemchuk's opposite. While Yakemchuk needs to work on defence and skating, those are Fiddler's calling cards. Even though he had decent stats and got power play time, Fiddler probably needs a little more development on the offensive side, which probably won't be an issue for Yakemchuk. 

At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, Fiddler has the kind of smooth skating ability you don't often see in a player that big.  He played a key role in helping the Edmonton Oil Kings make the playoffs this season, and NHL amateur scouts took notice.

Potential First-Round Draft Targets For The Ottawa Senators: Maybe Another Calgary Hitman? Leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft, we’ll examine some of the young players that the draft experts think might be available to the Ottawa Senators when they step up to the podium to make the evening’s 21st overall selection.

Fiddler posted 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 64 WHL games, which is pretty serviceable for a player with a rep for being more of a shutdown guy. He's not shy about jumping up in the play, gapping up in the neutral zone or pinching in the offensive zone.

He represented Team USA at the U18 World Championship, tallying three points (2G, 1A) in seven games. The event was played in his hometown of Frisco, Texas. Fiddler was the American captain last summer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The draft rankings have him very much in play at 21. TSN’s Bob McKenzie (21), along with The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy (21), and Tony Ferrari (20) all have him pegged right around 21st overall, though TSN's Craig Button places him as low as 39th. Some analysts wonder if Fiddler has enough on the offensive side of the puck to merit first round status.

But like the old beer ad used to say: Those who like him, like him a lot.

Fiddler’s defensive reliability, size and physicality could allow him to thrive in a top-four shutdown role at the NHL level, particularly at playoff time when you're asked to contain the likes of Sam Bennett who really, really wants to fall hard on your goaltender. At the moment, Fiddler looks like he has a chance to be a right-shot version of Tyler Kleven.

Bloodlines are another factor that might appeal to Ottawa, although like Sens defenseman Jake Sanderson, his dad was an NHL forward. Fiddler is the son of Vern Fiddler, who played 877 NHL games before retiring in 2017. 

Ultimately, if the Senators stick with last year's trend of drafting big, particularly defencemen, Blake Fiddler could be a strong candidate at 21. 

Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa
Banner image credit: Western Hockey League

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The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins filled their coaching vacancies this week, meaning that 31 NHL teams now have their coaching situation settled for next season – the Dallas Stars fired Peter DeBoer on Friday and have yet to replace him.

There are eight coaches in new markets, and we’re going to cover them below and take a stab at predicting which new coaches will guide their teams into a Stanley Cup playoff spot next year. 

To do so, we’re going to use a sliding scale from 1-to-4. The scale breaks down as follows:

1 = Next To No Chance Of Making The Playoffs

2 = Outside Chance Of Making The Playoffs

3 = Solid Shot Of Making The Playoffs

4 = Virtual Lock To Make The Playoffs

That’s clear as day, right? With that said, let’s look at the teams below, in alphabetical order:

Anaheim Ducks

New Coach: Joel Quenneville

Rating: 2

Breakdown: Quenneville inherits a Ducks team that finished sixth in the Pacific Division this season. Anaheim is a team slowly on the rise, and this off-season will likely see GM Pat Verbeek make extensive roster changes. But you have to ask yourself – what Pacific playoff team this year is going to fall out of the playoffs and open up a spot for the Ducks? Vegas, Edmonton and Los Angeles are all playoff locks, so Anaheim won’t have it easy getting back into the post-season.

It’s not a confidence-building situation for Anaheim fans, but it is the reality. They just don’t have the experience or depth to make a major jump in the standings. Quenneville’s on-ice reputation is that of a winner, but he probably will have to live without a post-season appearance for his Ducks next year.

Boston Bruins

New Coach: Marco Sturm

Rating: 3

Breakdown: Sturm got the final coaching job opening this week, but he’s going to be under intense pressure to get the Bruins back into the post-season right away. Boston needs to start developing a new generation of long-term Bruins, and Sturm’s task is all about balancing the short-term needs of stars like David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm with the future of youngsters like Fabian Lysell and Fraser Minten. 

Sturm was a capable NHLer in his playing days, but he’s got a different animal to wrestle now that he’s running the Bruins. And while the Atlantic Division will be at least as competitive as it was this year, Boston has enough experienced horses – and a new approach from Sturm – to get at least close to a post-season berth next season.

Chicago Blackhawks

New Coach: Jeff Blashill

Rating: 1

Breakdown: The Blackhawks do have some clear building blocks for the future – most notably, young star forwards Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, 2024 first-round pick Artyom Levshunov and fellow defenseman Kevin Korchinski. But make no mistake – Chicago has a very long way to go before they’re a playoff team once again. 

Not only do the Hawks play in the most competitive division in the league, but their NHL roster is a dog’s breakfast of veterans near the end of their careers (Nick Foligno and T.J. Brodie) and mid-tier veterans who aren’t needle-movers (Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen). As such, the Blackhawks aren’t a serious danger to make the playoffs next year. They need more elite young players and more patience, and Blashill will be charged with taking his lumps and building Chicago’s core into a consistent threat to win. But that threat won’t materialize next season.

New York Rangers

New Coach: Mike Sullivan

Rating: 3

Breakdown: Sullivan brings his championship pedigree to Manhattan, and he’s going to face immediate and prolonged pressure to make Rangers fans forget about their catastrophic play this past season. But even with some presumed alterations to their roster, the Blueshirts have the talent to rebound under Sullivan and once again be a playoff team in the Metropolitan Division.

Sullivan’s biggest challenge will be to revitalize the Rangers’ defense and hope their offensive-minded players will show that last year was an aberration. Some of that falls at the feet of star goalie Igor Shesterkin, but Sullivan has to install greater structure in the Rangers’ own zone to make Shesterkin’s life easier. Two straight seasons with no post-season appearance would be abominable for the Blueshirts, but Sullivan’s know-how and high demands should get the Rangers back where they’ve been accustomed to.

Philadelphia Flyers

New Coach: Rick Tocchet

Rating: 2

Breakdown: Tocchet comes into Philadelphia with the reputation of instilling confidence in his players, but even the best confidence-builder can’t put an NHL-caliber goalie in the Flyers’ net, and netminding probably will still be Philly’s biggest issue for the short term. So we’re envisioning the Flyers being slightly better in 2025-26, but still not close to being a playoff team next year.

Tocchet is going to need to be a teacher with a high panic threshold for his team, but the Flyers are still very much a group in transition from frustrating also-rans to legitimate post-season contenders. Philadelphia has some great youngsters its fans can be excited about – Matvei Michkov and Jamie Drysdale, among others – but it will be difficult indeed for Tocchet to deliver playoff games to the organization next year. You can make progress as a team without making the playoffs, and that’s how we see things shaking out for the Flyers in 2025-26.

Pittsburgh Penguins

New Coach: Dan Muse

Rating: 2

Breakdown: Muse is an unknown quantity for most hockey fans, but Penguins GM Kyle Dubas hired him to make Pittsburgh a much tougher team to play against. The Pens still have the cornerstone components of their glory years, but there’s a clear mandate to start giving opportunities to the next wave of Penguins youngsters. And given that there are no future Sidney Crosbys or Evgeni Malkins in Pittsburgh’s pipeline, the Pens could yet again struggle in the standings.

Muse also needs a lot of help in the goaltending department if the Penguins are to get anywhere close to the playoffs in 2025-26. And we’re envisioning Dubas making further roster changes this summer, so the lineup Muse is looking at now will be far different than the one he begins next season with. The Pens weren’t good enough to be a playoff team this year, and it’s not at all likely that will change anytime soon, regardless of bringing in a new coach.

Seattle Kraken

New Coach: Lane Lambert

Rating: 2

Breakdown: In their infancy as a team, the Kraken tried to emulate the success of the fellow recent expansion team, the Golden Knights, but in recent years, their trajectory has looked more like that of a team still developing its identity. They fired veteran Dan Bylsma and hired Lambert, who worked wonders running the Toronto Maple Leafs’ penalty kill this year. But Seattle’s distinct lack of depth, particularly on defense, is probably going to be the reason they fail to make the playoffs next season.

The Kraken have their starting goalie in Joey Daccord, and they do have some solid building blocks for the long term. But the Pacific won’t be easy to make up ground in, and Lambert has to do his best to be a patient bench boss as his youngsters try to take the next competitive step in their careers. Seattle may not be a lock to miss the playoffs, but they certainly are no shoo-in to end their playoff-less streak at two seasons.

Vancouver Canucks

New Coach: Adam Foote

Rating: 4

Breakdown: Yes, we know the Canucks looked disinterested in doing the hard work to become a playoff team in 2024-25. And yes, we know Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin likely has extensive renovations coming for his lineup this summer. But so long as star goalie Thatcher Demko and superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes are healthy, the Canucks have an excellent chance of getting back into the post-season.

Foote’s familiarity with his roster after serving as Canucks assistant coach is likely to work in his favor. And Vancouver has no interest in tearing things down for a full rebuild, so we anticipate the Canucks will only be adding talent in the off-season. If they can shake off the malaise that hampered them this year and Foote can squeeze more pop out of their offense, the Canucks should almost certainly be a playoff team once again.

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