Instead of revealing all the trophy winners in a single gala this season, the NHL has been doing surprise video reveals for specific trophies. On Monday, Aleksander Barkov was surprised with the Selke, and on Wednesday, it was Nikita Kucherov’s turn to be surprised with the Ted Lindsay Trophy. On Thursday, the league announced the winner of the Bill Masterton Trophy in a video that was both touching and memorable.

This year’s winner is Sean Monahan from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and it was Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, who was tasked with delivering the trophy to him. One of Gaudreau’s best friends, Monahan, stood by his widow’s side through countless tributes during the season, adding that she brought him with her to cry on national TV.

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Presenting the trophy, she told him it was about recognizing his character and that he meant everything to John and that there was no doubt his friend was proud of him. Monahan is a very deserving winner of this award, not just for the way he helped his Blue Jackets navigate the tragedy that hit the team in August, but also because he has had to overcome numerous injury bouts over the years, and he persevered right through it all.

Traded away by the Calgary Flames to the Montreal Canadiens in August 2022 as a salary dump, Gaudreau performed admirably for the Habs in his first season in town, even though injuries once again plagued him. Still, he signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens, which paid him less than $2 million for the year, to prove to everyone that he could still play and earn himself a new contract at market value. That year, he skated in 83 games, proving his body could sustain the grind of an NHL season and putting up 59 points.

NHL (@NHL) on XJohnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, surprised Sean Monahan with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 💙 Watch the #NHLAwards on June 12 at 6p ET on @NHL_On_TNT and @Sportsnet before Game 4 of the #StanleyCup Final.

After finishing his season with the Winnipeg Jets following a trade deadline deal, he signed a five-year pact with the Jackets, with a $5.5 million cap hit, happy to join his friend Gaudreau in Columbus.

Unfortunately, life has other plans, and Gaudreau tragically died, run over by an allegedly drunk driver with his brother in the off-season. When Monahan showed up for training camp, he didn’t get to play with his friend; instead, he had to sit by his empty stall, surrounded by memories, and deal with a lot of anger and emotions.

Monahan didn’t break through. Once more, he rolled up his sleeves and got to business, almost leading the Blue Jackets to a playoff berth in the toughest of circumstances. While he only played 54 games, he still managed to gather 57 points, the third most on the team, and played a pivotal role in the Ohio outfit’s pursuit of a playoff spot, a bid that fell just short, but was entertaining to watch nonetheless.

While it’s not always obvious who should win that trophy every year, this time around, there was very little doubt. Monahan has been the very picture of perseverance.

Photo credit:  Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev, alongside defenseman Nicolas Hague, found his name on Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos' Offseason Trade Board. 

The Golden Knights acquired Barbashev in the 2022-23 season at the trade deadline from the St. Louis Blues. His addition proved to be a vital one, helping the Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup. His price was high, but his seven goals and 18 points in 22 playoff games were worth every penny.

In the ensuing offseason, the Golden Knights and Barbashev agreed to a five-year, $25M contract extension. Fast forward to 2025, Barbashev is two years into his contract and could be on the move. General manager Kelly McCrimmon won't be eager to move the 29-year-old, but if the Golden Knights are serious about their pursuit of top pending free agent Mitch Marner, the Golden Knights will need to create some cap space. Moving Barbashev would do so, and he'd likely help the Golden Knights get a large return.

REPORT: Golden Knights Emerging As A Landing Spot For Top Free Agent Mitch MarnerAccording to multiple reports, the Vegas Golden Knights are emerging as a very realistic landing spot for top free agent Mitch Marner. 

"Losing in Round 2 to Edmonton this season after failing to get out of Round 1 in 2024 has the Golden Knights thinking of ways they can come back better. We know this is a team that can get very active on the trade market. They want to create cap space and perhaps chase some of the bigger free agents this summer, such as Mitch Marner.

So, Ivan Barbashev is considered one of their most movable pieces, a 23-goal, 51-point scorer this season who’s making $5 million against the salary cap for another three years. The 29-year-old would be an interesting target for teams that are looking to bolster their offence, such as Ottawa or Carolina. Barbashev does have an eight-team no-trade list," said Kypreos. 

The Russian winger has become incredibly valuable to the Golden Knights. He is an efficient goal scorer with a 6'0, 203 lbs frame, which allows him to play physically. He's trusted in his own end and can play in every scenario. His versatility is something HC Bruce Cassidy appreciates and exploits, moving him up and down the lineup when needed. 

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.

Golden Knights Reportedly Entertaining Calls On Nicolas HagueThe Vegas Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap heading into the offseason and will likely need to make moves to remain under and improve their team. According to a report by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Golden Knights could do so by trading Nicolas Hague and are entertaining calls and engaging in trade discussions. 

Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague Garnering Interest From FlyersIn order to free up cap space and shake up the roster, the most talked about option has been trading pending restricted free agent Nicolas Hague, and recently,

Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Misa ‘thrilled' after meeting Sharks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BUFFALO — Michael Misa had steak and a sundae with the Sharks.

The possible No. 2 pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, if defenseman Matthew Schaefer goes to the New York Islanders as expected, had dinner with Sharks management at Buffalo Chophouse, a Draft Combine go-to restaurant for entertaining top prospects.

Misa shared that he also broke bread with the Islanders, Utah Mammoth, and Nashville Predators this week.

On Thursday, the star Saginaw Spirit center told San Jose Hockey Now about dinner with the Sharks, what playing with top San Jose prospect Igor Chernyshov in Saginaw was like, and what’s the most exciting thing about potentially going to the South Bay.

Sheng Peng: So how was dinner with the Sharks?

Misa: It was unbelievable. Very top-class organization. They’re all super-welcoming. Really, really nice people. I was thrilled with that.

It was more just casual. It didn’t feel like an interview at all. I think we talked about everything, movies, sports, school. It was great.

SP: What are some of your favorite movies and shows?

Misa: The other night I was watching “American Sniper”. Good movie. And then me and my roommate, we were watching “Full Swing” the night before, that golf show.

I love “Prison Break.” That’s my favorite show, for sure.

SP: One Sharks prospect that you know very well is Igor Chernyshov. How good is he, it was like instant chemistry between you guys in Saginaw.

Misa: Special player. It was just more of a matter of waiting for when he came to Saginaw, because he was supposed to come at the start of year, but he had shoulder surgery and everything.

When he did come, it was a huge addition to my line. And even though he couldn’t really speak great English, it was just like his hockey IQ was so good. We’d read off each other. It was really easy to find him. He was one of the best players I’ve ever played with.

SP: What can you say about Chernyshov’s personality?

Misa: He was super-funny. He’d always say these one-liners, and it would always make guys laugh. He was always smiling. I don’t think one guy or team disliked him.

When guys were in conversations, he’d pipe up and just say something silly.

SP: Do you know anybody else in the Sharks organization?

Misa: I know Braden Hache very well. He was my captain in Saginaw, the year we won the Memorial Cup. I know Sam Dickinson well, he’s in my agency. We have the same agent.

SP: Do you train with any Sharks or any NHL’ers out of Oakville, Ontario?

Misa: The main big one, Evan Bouchard, I train with him. He’s something else. He’s an animal in the gym. One heck of a player. I’m rooting for him. I hope they find a way to win the Cup.

SP: How well do you know John Tavares? He’s also from Oakville.

Misa: I’ve actually met him a couple times. Really nice guy, really open, giving me advice and stuff on down the road, what to expect. Great guy.

SP: You guys are both centers, is he someone that you try to emulate?

Misa: Definitely. Just try to follow in his footsteps, he was granted [OHL] exceptional status as well. Just trying to learn stuff off him. He’s obviously had a great NHL career.

SP: Who else do you model your game after?

Misa: Kirill Kaprizov and [Nikita] Kucherov. Those two guys are kind of the people I think I play a pretty similar game to. Their offensive ability, I think I can relate to them in ways.

SP: If the Sharks were to draft you, what’s the most exciting thing about joining that organization?

Misa: They have such a good young core. They do, obviously, have a lot of older players that are great as well. But I think their young core coming up is promising and exciting. If they were to draft me, I hope I could just help them, make an impact to their organization.

SP: Is Macklin Celebrini somebody who you actually look up to? He didn’t go the OHL exceptional status route, but like you, he’s someone who has had a lot of eyeballs on him for a long time.

Misa: Even though he is a year older than me, I definitely do look up to his game and everything he does on the ice, it’s pretty special watching him. What he’s accomplished already in one year in the NHL. If they do draft me, it’ll be a great opportunity for me to meet him, take advice from him.

SP: What stands out about Celebrini’s game?

Misa: Just like his all-around game, I think how confident he is, he looks like a 10-year vet in the NHL, and it was his first year. I think that’s something I’m going to have to bring as well, just that confidence in myself to play with all these grown men. He’s a special player

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Yeah, so you're probably feeling lower than a worm's belly if you're Tomas Nosek of the Florida Panthers today.

Can't imagine that Skate of Shame(TM) could have been a whole lot of fun for him after the Edmonton Oilers scored the overtime-winner on his puck-over-glass-delay-of-game penalty in Game 1 of the NHL's Stanley Cup final.

There are a lot of detractors when it comes to this NHL rule. A lot of observers believe puck over the glass should be treated the same as icing.

Is it overly punitive? Maybe. But what makes the penalty so good is that it is really the only one in the rulebook that is not open to interpretation.

You have the puck on your stick in your own zone. You are forced to make a skill play. If you don't, you sit for two minutes and feel shame.

There's something refreshing about knowing that there's at least one penalty in the NHL that's called with the same consistency from pre-season games to the Stanley Cup final.

Watch today's video column for more, and share your thoughts.

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the Stanley Cup final and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore giving his take.

The Oilers' Stars Shine Early In Cup Final. How Will Florida Stop Them? by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

1:02: How important is it that the Edmonton Oilers’ stars keep up this level of play? 

3:34: What is it like watching Connor McDavid make his passes look so easy? 

4:22: Was the Florida Panthers’ first goal the right call, or should it have been goalie interference? 

6:50: Are the Edmonton Oilers a more physical team than people give them credit for? 

9:50: Do the Oilers need Zach Hyman with the way everyone else is producing?

11:12: If you are Paul Maurice, how do you limit McDavid and Draisaitl in Game 2? 

12:49:  Will we see Vezina-level Sergei Bobrovsky in this series?

14:20:  Does Stuart Skinner deserve more respect for reaching back-to-back finals? 

16:40: Sean Monahan wins the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, and Johnny Gaudreau”s widow, Meredith, presented him the trophy. How deserving is he of this trophy?

18:45: Will the NHL do something about the tax imbalance the league is facing? 

22:40: With Muse being the next coach for Pittsburgh, are the Penguins aiming toward a tank?

25:52: The Boston Bruins hired the first German head coach in the NHL with Marco Sturm. How does this affect the team’s future? 

28:03: The NHL combine is this week. What was Drew Shore’s best and worst event at the combine?

31:51: Will the Calgary Flames get better or worse next season? 

32:38: If Edmonton wins the final, who does McDavid pass the Cup to first?

33:21: Will Jeff Skinner see any ice time in the final? 

34:49: Was the Colorado Avalanche re-signing Brock Nelson a good move or an overpay?

34:48: Is Pink Pony Club a pass or fail win song? What is the best victory song you've heard?

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

The Calgary Flames are difficult to figure out right now.

This season, the Flames overachieved by staying out of the Pacific Division basement and being in the Western Conference wild-card race until the end of the year. 

Flames GM Craig Conroy has said many times he’s not interested in a full rebuild. But given the moves he made this season to acquire younger players – former Philadelphia Flyers forwards Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost chief among them – it’s clear the Flames are willing to be patient in their approach to building a bona fide Stanley Cup contender. And they’re not yet close to being a lock for the playoffs in 2025-26.

That brings us to the subject of Flames center Nazem Kadri and the current market for a solid second-line center.

The 34-year-old veteran and Cup champion had a solid season for Calgary, posting a career-high 35 goals and 67 points in 82 games. He’s a cost-certain asset for the next four seasons at $7 million per year. 

If you’re a team that’s looking for an experienced second-line center, you could do much worse than acquiring Kadri. That is, if he becomes available.

Kadri does have a full no-movement clause at the moment, which changes to a partial no-trade clause next summer that allows him to veto a deal to 13 teams. He’s said before he loves the city and organization, the players have a great time together, and the team never quits. The Flames told teams they weren’t open to selling Kadri or anyone else at the deadline, either, though that was when they were in a playoff push.

But with Kadri coming off a good season, it makes sense for the team to ask him where he’d be open to move to and drum up a robust market for him. Conroy would be selling high by trading him this off-season.

The market for a center like Kadri – with his championship pedigree and snarl –will be extremely limited this summer. 

The top prize in that regard is Florida Panthers UFA veteran Sam Bennett, but only one team is going to wind up with him. Another center option just got removed from the UFA market when Kadri’s former team, the Colorado Avalanche, signed veteran pivot Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. That means there could be many teams looking for a consolation prize. That’s where Kadri comes in.

If you’re another one of Kadri’s former teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs, it makes a whole lot of sense to pursue him. Kadri never wanted to leave the Maple Leafs when they dealt him to the Avs in 2019, and he said in November he wouldn’t close the door on returning to the Blue & White.

Acquiring Kadri would serve Leafs GM Brad Treliving’s desire to shake up Toronto’s DNA and give them the snot and physical edge they seek.

But the Buds aren’t the only team that should welcome Kadri with open arms. The Buffalo Sabres are trying to (a) desperately make the playoffs and (b) be a tougher team to play against. Kadri would help in both those regards. Other teams – the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, among many others – could use someone like him.

That could lead to a bidding war Conroy could use to add long-term pieces of the puzzle for the Flames. 

Admittedly, they would take a step back by losing their No. 1 center with nobody else in-house to fill that role effectively. But as they wait for their new arena to be built by 2027, Calgary can afford to be patient and use Kadri to help fill their coffers with draft picks and prospects or a younger center who can work their way up the lineup. By the time the NHL’s salary cap ceiling rises to $95.5 million next year and $104 million in 2026-27, Kadri’s salary will be a solid bargain for any team that acquires him.

Maybe the Flames take the cap space they devoted to Kadri and acquire someone like Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras. Or perhaps Conroy takes that $7 million he was paying Kadri and holds onto it until next summer, when the UFA class will be much more tantalizing. But it’s clearly a seller’s market for hard-nosed players like Kadri that should make Calgary better in the long run.

Even with Kadri in the lineup this year, the Flames weren’t a playoff team. Even with the trades they made, they missed out. Even though they want veterans to mentor their younger players, they still have Jonathan Huberdeau, Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. 

If they wait another year, Kadri’s trade value might not be the same. It’s worthwhile to see if he wants to go to a more competitive team right now, acquire young up-and-comers who will be cornerstone components for the long term and continue to build a young and revitalized Calgary squad.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

When the lights are brightest, Steve Staios is not afraid of pulling the trigger.

During last year's Stanley Cup Final, the Ottawa Senators' general manager unquestionably made the biggest trade of his tenure by dealing Joonas Korpisalo and a first-round pick to the Boston Bruins for goaltender Linus Ullmark.

The Senators find themselves back in the rumour mill with the 2025 Stanley Cup Final getting underway on Wednesday night.

In Tuesday's episode of 'The Sheet', host Jeff Marek was expounding on the Dallas Stars' situation after they were disappointingly bounced from the Western Conference final for a third consecutive season.

PuckPedia lists the Stars as having approximately $5 million in cap space with eight forwards, six defencemen and two goaltenders under contract for the 2025-26 season. They face an impending crunch wherein productive veterans like captain Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund, and Evgenii Dadonov will hit unrestricted free agency.

Without much cap flexibility, it will put significant pressure on general manager Jim Nill to creatively find avenues to preserve this team's competitiveness and maintain the organization's quality of depth.

That search for flexibility was something that Jeff Marek alluded to during his podcast.

"They have just under $5 million of cap space, and they want to change this team," Marek asserted. "It's still going to be a competitive team. No one is talking about taking a step back. But how do you get over the hump?

"The one thing that a lot of people that I talk to keep coming back to is, could Jason Robertson and his $7.75 million contract -- which is a very, very nice number considering the production you get out of Jason Robertson -- is this, I don't want to say the only move, but is it probably the most obvious move that the Dallas Stars could make in order to get a return that can help them get over the hump?"

Drake Batherson Doesn’t Belong Anywhere Near Ottawa's Trade Bait BoardThere's been quite a bit of dialogue over the past few days about Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson and potential trade talks around the league. According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, three NHL executives are out there telling people that Batherson is "a name to keep an eye on" as the NHL Draft approaches.

I presume the conversations Marek refers to are with hockey executives, analysts or journalists covering the league. Without any direct sources, it is certainly presented more as inference and speculation than anything, but if he is available, Robertson would be an attractive target -- especially for a goal-starved team like the Ottawa Senators.

Yes, the same Ottawa Senators that Marek would later reference in a separate blog post for the Daily Faceoff, believing them to be an aggressive suitor for Robertson should he become available.

"Could the Stars move someone like Jason Robertson, who has one more year on his deal at an incredible $7.75 million value, to try to recoup Draft capital and free up cap space to once again go big-game hunting in the summer? If so, I'd watch the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks as possible destinations."

The Senators finished tied for 18th in the league in total goals (242) with Pittsburgh. It is a pedestrian figure for a playoff team, but their real struggles occurred at five-on-five. According to NaturalStatTrick, only the Nashville Predators scored fewer five-on-five goals than the Ottawa Senators' 139.

Jason Robertson is a two-time 40-goal scorer, who finished the 2024-25 season with 35 goals and 80 points. His 23 five-on-five goals this season tied for the league's 12th-highest mark, while his 53 points were the sixth-highest total in the league.

His production in the last four seasons is pretty remarkable.

• 2021-22: 74 GP, 41 G, 79 Pts
• 2022-23: 82 GP, 46 G, 109 Pts
• 2023-24: 82 GP, 29 G, 80 Pts
• 2024-25: 82 GP, 35 G, 80 Pts

Only 13 forwards have produced more goals and points during this span and the analytics affirm that he is one of the best offensive players in the league.

The question for the Senators is, what would you give up?

Interestingly, the timing of these Robertson rumours coincides with recent reports that the Senators would consider moving Drake Batherson.

In a vacuum, trading Batherson admittedly does not make much sense. The popular veteran, Claude Giroux, is an aging asset and is an impending unrestricted free agent, so moving a 27-year-old who happens to be the team's youngest and most productive right winger feels odd given the team's struggles offensively.

Batherson was the Senators' second-leading scorer behind Tim Stützle. For the third consecutive season, Batherson finished with more than 20 goals and 60 points.

• 2022-23: 82 GP, 22 G, 62 Pts
• 2023-24: 82 GP, 28 G, 66 Pts
• 2024-25: 82 GP, 26 G, 68 Pts

Points aside, Batherson is just one of five players this season who scored more than 20 goals and 60 points while recording 140 or more hits. And, playoff performance notwithstanding, it is well-documented that Batherson is on a team-friendly contract carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $4.975 million.

To move that kind of production at that cost would be extremely difficult.

In saying that, however, with only two years left on his contract, if the organization wanted to sell high on Batherson, there may not be any better time than the present.

Under the hood, there are reasons to be wary regarding an expensive, long-term extension.

Defensively, Batherson is not terrible. He is closer to being league-average. The offence is interesting because most of his production tends to occur on the power play, where he has scored 34 of his last 76 goals across his last three seasons. He is not exclusively a power play merchant per se, but Batherson will be 29 years old when his current deal expires.

Analytics have demonstrated that a player's offensive peak is typically between 22 and 27 years of age before it plateaus in the late 20s and then declines progressively through their 30s. By the time Batherson hits free agency, the reality facing the team is that while he still represents being a good offensive player, he has likely played his best offensive hockey for the club.

If the Senators are exploring the market for Batherson, it is likely because they are considering both their short and medium-term outlooks. So, the weight of any prospective Robertson trade has to be, "If we trade Batherson for Robertson and sign him to an extension, how much different will their respective contracts be in AAV two years from now?"

With other reports suggesting the Senators are negotiating with Claude Giroux on an extension of his own, the congestion of forwards means that something has to give.

The Ottawa Senators’ Quiet Logjam Up Front: What Are They Planning?If the Ottawa Senators are planning a new contract extension for impending unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux, it is hard not to wonder whether an accompanying trade is on the horizon.

The portrayal of the Staios regime is of a measured and diligent group which will investigate every possibility to improve this team. Without knowing the other permutations of a trade package, flipping Batherson in a deal for Robertson would improve the team offensively and defensively.

But it would likely rob the team of their remaining valuable trade assets, as well.

Once Tyler Kleven inked his two-year extension with a $1.6 million AAV Monday, it left the Senators with approximately $15 million in cap space to shape their roster.

If the Dallas Stars wanted to preserve their competitive window, trading Robertson for a package that includes Batherson would work. He obviously would not replace all of Robertson's production, but he could replace a large chunk of it while saving the Stars $2.5 million that they could reallocate elsewhere to address another spot on the roster.

The two years remaining on Batherson's deal would also give the Stars an additional year of cost certainty that they would not get with Robertson needing an extension.

On the Senators' side of things, acquiring Robertson's cap hit would cut into their limited cap space, which they will need to maximize if they want to re-sign Giroux, add a top-four right-shot defenceman, and add quality depth to the fourth line.

Robertson is close to the same size as Batherson with both players being listed at 6'3" and a shade over 200 lbs. Robertson does not play with the same physicality as Batherson, however. And, based on the NHL's Edge data, he is not as good a skater as Batherson either.

If the Senators have designs for improving their team speed, it will not be accomplished by flipping these two players.

There is also the risk that Robertson would not want to play in Ottawa. Although his contract is not protected by a no-movement or trade clause, the reality of the Senators' situation is that they can ill-afford to move valuable assets for a one-and-done player.

Pierre Dorion's failed Alex DeBrincat experiment familiarly highlights the risks involved. The player holds all the contract negotiation leverage, with his final year of restricted free agent rights kicking in after the 2025-26 season. Without a contract extension in place, any trade involving a player in Robertson's situation has the potential to blow up in the acquiring organization's face.

With a measured front office, however, the likelihood of management incurring these risks without some measure of confidence or a guarantee that the player will sign an extension is small. It paid off last season with Linus Ullmark, and it may pay off again.

Whatever the case, it is encouraging to hear league insiders suggest that there are expectations that the Senators will aggressively be big-game hunting this summer.

Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News Ottawa

Recent Senators News at The Hockey News Ottawa

Tick-Tock: Ottawa Senators Continue To Navigate Contract Decisions On Six Pending UFAs

Senators Sign Tyler Kleven To New Contract As His Two-Way Potential Begins To Emerge

Building A Contender: What The Ottawa Senators Can Learn From The Oilers And Panthers

Will the Sens Use Their First-Round Pick On Another Calgary Hitman?

The Anaheim Ducks head into the 2025 offseason with $38.69 million in cap space and need to spend $13.79 million to reach the cap floor. Ownership has given general manager Pat Verbeek a mandate to push for the playoffs in 2025-26 and has given him the green light to spend to the cap ceiling, if it’s deemed necessary to achieve that goal.

Barring extensions signed before July 1, the 2025 free agent class will consist of one franchise-altering superstar (Mitch Marner) and a long list of quality players just beneath at every position who could provide varying degrees of their personal brand and impact to a team’s depth chart.

The Ducks currently have 16 players under contract for the 2025-26 season, with five restricted free agents under team control.

They were a team near the bottom of the league in most traditional and underlying statistical categories in 2024-25 and could use upgrades at several positions within their lineup. Verbeek has stated his priority to add goal scoring, and recently hired head coach Joel Quenneville has traditionally valued puck possession.

Three spots in the lineup the Ducks could look to address in free agency are a top-of-the-lineup producing forward, a two-way middle-six center, and a mobile defensive defenseman.

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Middle Six Center

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Top of the Lineup Point Producer

With how the Ducks roster is constructed and the brand of hockey they’re hoping to ice on a nightly basis, who are the best fits on the free agent market?

Defensive Defenseman

Verbeek stated during his post-season press conference that the biggest need heading into the offseason is improved goal scoring. However, the Ducks were one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL, spent too much time in their own zone, and had significant difficulty generating clean exits.

In the 2024-25 season, the Ducks allowed the 10th-most goals per game (3.18) in the NHL, the most shots against per game (32.3), and deployed the league’s 29th-ranked penalty kill (74.2%).

As the defensive depth chart is currently constructed, the Ducks have a breakout two-way star (Jackson LaCombe), two unproven offensive dynamos brimming with potential (Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov), two relatively stationary veterans (Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas), and a trio of inexperienced right-shot youngsters with varying skillsets (Drew Helleson, Ian Moore, Tristan Luneau).

While the potential on the blueline is tantalizing and the roster had issues with logjams a year ago, if the goal for the 2025-26 season is for the Ducks to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018, that collection of defensemen likely won’t cut it.

Adding a modern-day mobile defense-oriented defender to the Ducks' blueline would alleviate responsibility on Trouba and Gudas, who have shown trouble assuming shutdown roles at this point in their careers, while potentially insulating and nurturing one or several of the team’s young talents on the backend.

All contract projections provided byAFP Analytics

Aaron Ekblad

Contract Projection: 7 years, $7,802,350

Ekblad (29) is currently playing in his third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, as his Florida Panthers squad looks to hoist the greatest trophy in sports for a second straight season. Over the last three seasons, next to Gustav Forsling, Ekblad has made up half of one of the NHL’s most consistent and dominant shutdown pairs, winning shifts while matching up against the league’s elite opposing lines.

The 2014 first overall pick is a proven playoff performer who’s as bruising as he is tenacious. Playing against him, he makes it a chore to get to dangerous areas of the ice and will punish opponents for trying. Offensively, he plays a simple game, but is adept at absorbing forechecks and making clean outlet passes.

Ekblad’s mobility isn’t what it once was, and he’s had his bouts with the injury bug, missing at least 20 games in four of the last five seasons. In 2024-25, he served a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He stated he used a substance as part of a recovery program from a recent spell of injuries.

For a player like Ekblad, the potential term on his contract would be more of a drawback for a team like Anaheim than the potential salary. He would, however, provide a needed boost to the Ducks' penalty kill, as he’s consistently among Florida’s leaders in TOI on the PK.

While he’s a proven playoff performer and champion, it’s unclear how much he’d help a team like Anaheim make the jump from 80-point playoff hopeful to 95-point wildcard threat, especially if he can be penciled into missing 15-20 games per season.

Vladislav Gavrikov

Contract Projection: 7 years, $7,608,621

Gavrikov (29) has earned recognition as one of the better shutdown defenders in the NHL since he was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Los Angeles Kings at the 2023 trade deadline. In 2024-25, he led the Kings in ice time (1893:06) by over 150 minutes and was their most frequently used penalty killer (271:40 TOI).

Gavrikov filled in valiantly for the injured Drew Doughty for the majority of the 2024-25 season on the right side of premier shutdown defender Mikey Anderson. He’s adapted well when tasked with playing his offside, something he’d likely have to do if Anaheim were to pursue him in free agency.

He’s suffered no major injuries during his six-year NHL career and would seemingly fit nicely next to a young, budding star like Pavel Mintyukov.

Dante Fabbro

Contract Projection: 4 years, $4,528,519

Fabbro (26) was seen as somewhat of an afterthought as his days as a member of the Nashville Predators dwindled. So much so that he was placed on waivers in early November and claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he played the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

He found a home next to All-Star defenseman Zach Werenski, where the duo paired together for over 1000 minutes and formed one of the better two-way top pairs in the Eastern Conference. Fabbro was the second-most utilized Blue Jackets defenseman on the penalty kill, averaging 1:41 TOI per game on the kill.

He isn’t as physically imposing as other available defensively-minded blueliners, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for with proper angling and engagement techniques so as to never surrender the middle of the ice. He is a more-than-capable puck mover who can get to dumped pucks and find his outlets quickly to negate opposing forechecks.

With his skillset, age, and success next to a star two-way puck mover like Werenski, Fabbro could form a formidable pair next to someone like Jackson LaCombe in Anaheim’s top four.

Other potential fits on the free agent market: Ivan Provorov, Dmitry Orlov, Brent Burns, Ryan Lindgren, Brian Dumoulin, Nick Perbix, Henri Jokiharju

If the Ducks do decide to add to their blueline without subtracting, they could find themselves in a similar situation they were in during the majority of the 2024-25 season, where they had too many NHL-caliber defensemen in need of NHL minutes, leading to potentially hindered development.

However, if the intention is to take the next steps toward contending, it’s unlikely the backend is sufficient as currently constructed. It may benefit them to add a complementary, modern-day, mobile, and defensive-oriented defender to their blueline and sort out the rest of the organizational depth chart when they get to that point.

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The Vancouver Canucks didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, but for some former Canucks, the ultimate trophy in professional hockey is only four wins away. Two former Canucks will take part in the Edmonton Oilers’ second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance, with one having been a fan-favourite for pretty much his entire time with the Canucks organization. 

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Troy Stecher is from Richmond, BC, and started his NHL career with his hometown team back in the 2016–17 season. Before this, he skated with the Penticton Vees from 2010 to 2013, taking on a leadership role in his final two seasons with the club. After, he spent three seasons at the University of North Dakota in the NCAA, the last of which he played with Canucks prospect at the time Brock Boeser. 

Originally undrafted, Stecher signed his first NHL contract with the Canucks back in April of 2016. He started the 2016–17 season with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate at the time, the Utica Comets, but was quickly called up and has remained in the NHL ever since. Stecher made a lasting impression on the fanbase only four games into his rookie season after he was nearly taken out by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin. However, Vancouver’s goaltender at the time, Ryan Miller, quickly stepped in to help out the young defenceman. Later on in the season, Stecher was the victim of an April Fool’s Day prank that saw him skating on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin during practice. 

When @troystecher arrived at practice Saturday, he had been moved to forward. With the Sedins.

Stech forgot it's #aprilfoolsday... pic.twitter.com/KBz9hUljYU

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 1, 2017

Stecher remained with the team throughout a quick roster turnaround that saw them pick up star prospect after star prospect. He was with the team when all three of Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and Quinn Hughes made their NHL debuts. As well, he played with a defensive core that featured members of the Canucks 2011 Stanley Cup run in Alex Edler and Chris Tanev. Because of this, he could have easily become a mainstay in the Canucks core moving forward. However, after Vancouver failed to qualify him following the 2019–20 Bubble Playoffs, Stecher found himself signing with the Detroit Red Wings. 

From 2020 to 2022, Stecher played in 60 games with the Red Wings, putting up four goals and nine assists in this span of time. He also joined Team Canada during the 2021 World Championship, helping his home country to their third gold medal in six years at the time. After playing 16 games with Detroit in the 2021–22 season, he was traded to the L.A. Kings for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He played his first postseason matches in front of a live audience with the Kings, tallying two goals and two assists in four games. 

Stecher flip-flopped between the Arizona Coyotes and the Calgary Flames before he ended up with the Oilers in the 2023–24 season via trade. Last season, he only played seven games for Edmonton and ultimately didn’t dress for any of their playoff matches due to ankle surgery. With changes hitting the Oilers throughout the off-season, Stecher found his way into the lineup and played in 66 regular season games, potting three goals and four assists. Injuries and lineup shifts forced him out to start the 2025 postseason, but in Mid-May, he was able to make his Oilers playoff debut against the Vegas Golden Knights. While the return of Mattias Ekholm to Edmonton’s lineup has taken Stecher off the bench, the defender has effectively contributed when needed and has earned himself a Stanley Cup Final appearance without a doubt. 

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. 

“It’s nice to make a deal.”

You can never have too many young players.

The Detroit Red Wings are more than familiar with young players. One of the bright spots of another disappointing season was the rise of young players in the organization.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Elmer Soderblom, Marco Kasper, Albert Johansson, and Simon Edvinsson all took significant steps forward in their development this past season.

Now, they have added another young prospect to the stable who will continue their development under the Red Wings’ banner.

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Jesse Kiiskinen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings on June 3rd. For the 2024-25 season, Kiiskinen played for HPK of Liiga.

HPK published a press release when the deal was announced. In it, Kiiskinen expressed his excitement for the opportunity in front of him.

“I’ve been waiting for a day like this since I was a child,” Kiiskinen revealed. “Now the opportunity came to make a deal and I signed it, of course (I’m) excited.”

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings have signed Jesse Kiiskinen to a 3-year entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/s1x08ewedr

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 3, 2025

“The NHL has been my goal since I was little, and getting there would be great. Now, we are still on our way there and will play next season in Oranss. It’s nice to continue here for another year. This was my own will.”

Kiiskinen will play another season for HPK. His contract in Liiga will conclude at the end of the 2025-26 season. At which point it would be likely for him to cross the pond and join the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Another young player in the prospect pool never hurt anyone.

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Corey Perry is three wins away from his second Stanley Cup.

The 40-year-old had the second assist on Leon Draisaitl’s overtime winner in Game 1 against the Florida Panthers, a deft feed to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, whose dish across the ice found Leon Draisaitl in the perfect spot for his patented one-timer.

By playing in Game 1, Perry became the 19th player in the expansion era (1967 and on) to skate in a Stanley Cup Final game at age 40 or older. He has appeared in six Stanley Cup Finals during his career and has appeared in five of the last six. He also has the most Stanley Cup Finals goals among active skaters with eight.

The milestones keep coming for Perry. Per NHL Public Relations, his sixth Stanley Cup Final appearance is the most among active skaters and he is now seventh (232) on the all-time playoff games played list, passing Guy Carbonneau (231). He is also now fourth on the all-time Stanley Cup Playoffs overtime games played leaderboard (53), passing Zdeno Chara (52).

Before the start of the Cup Final, Perry stated that he never seriously thought of retiring and intends to play a 21st NHL season in 2025-26. He will be a pending UFA this summer.

Most players start to slow down as they reach their mid-30s, but Perry has been able to adapt his game as he ages. His tenacious work around the net is his trademark. After all, he didn’t get nicknamed “The Worm” for no reason.

Many Ducks fans have stated online that they would welcome a return to Anaheim for Perry. What better way for some of the Ducks’ young players to learn how to become better players than from one of the top players in franchise history?

How likely a reunion could or would be is unknown. Would winning the Cup with the Oilers impact that outcome? Also unknown. For now, the focus for Perry is taking things one day—and game—at a time.

Featured image caption: Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) stands in front of Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) in the third period in game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

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The Boston Bruins named former NHL player Marco Sturm their 30th coach in franchise history on Thursday.

Sturm takes over the bench from interim coach Joe Sacco, who replaced Jim Montgomery in mid-November.

"Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively," Bruins GM Don Sweeney said in a press release. "We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent and earns the respect of the room."

The Bruins went from setting a record-high 135 points in 2022-23 to 109 points in 2023-24 and then 76 points this season, a drop-off of 33 points. They tied for last place in the Eastern Conference.

During that time, the goals against increased, while the goals-for dropped:

• 2022-23: 3.67 goals-for per game, 2.12 goals against per game
• 2023-24: 3.21 goals-for, 2.70 goals against
• 2024-25: 2.71 goals-for, 3.30 goals against

Their power-play percentage dropped to 15.2 percent from 22.2 percent last year, and the penalty-kill percentage fell to 76.3 percent from 82.5.

Aside from David Pastrnak recording 43 goals and 106 points, no other Bruins player reached 60 points. Morgan Geekie had the next-most points, with 57, and he averaged 16:55 of ice time. Free-agent signing Elias Lindholm had 47 points, as did fellow center Pavel Zacha, who averaged 19:04 of ice time.

The Bruins traded captain Brad Marchand, centers Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic and defenseman Brandon Carlo, among others, at the NHL trade deadline to try to recoup assets for this season and retool for next year. But there are still some strong, core players, such as right winger Pastrnak, defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm and goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The B's want Sturm's hard-nosed brand of hockey to bring this team forward.

Sturm spent the past three seasons as coach of the Ontario Reign, the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, which made the playoffs each time. They averaged 3.13 goals-for per game and 2.875 goals against per game this season.

The 46-year-old has coached Quinton Byfield, Brandt Clarke and Alex Turcotte, who graduated to the Kings. He's also been an assistant coach for the Kings and a coach for Germany's men's team for three years, including the U-20 team, World Championship squad and the Olympic team that won silver in 2018.

"Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion," Sweeney said. "His path – playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels – has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s earned this opportunity."

The former left winger from Dingolfing, Germany, played 938 NHL games across 14 seasons, five of which were with the Bruins. He had 242 goals and 245 assists for 487 points, along with 22 points in 68 playoff games.

"Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans," Sturm said in the announcement. "I've felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed."

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Canadian defenseman Mark Friedman, 29, has signed a two-year contract to play for Rögle BK, the SHL club announced on Thursday.

“I’m really looking forward to moving to Sweden and playing for Rögle,” said Friedman. “It feels like a perfect time in life to take this step. You always want to go to the team that shows the most interest, which Rögle did.”

“He’s an intense two-way defender who will contribute offensively with his mobility and defensively with his physique,” said Rögle sports director Hampus Sjöström. “He’s a physical player and possesses a strong character that will add a lot of color to the group. A guy who competes hard in practise and games.”

Originally from Toronto, Friedman played three years at Bowling Green University and was chosen in the third round, 86th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Between 2018 and early 2025, Friedman played 93 NHL regular-season games for the Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, recording 13 points and 80 penalty minutes. He also played six playoff games with Pittsburgh in 2022, recording one assist.

In February 2025, Friedman was traded from Vancouver to the Nashville Predators for future considerations but finished the season with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.

Rögle has been one of the SHL’s more successful teams over the past five seasons but is coming off a year where it finished seventh in the regular season and was eliminated in the play-in round. The team also has under contract for 2025-26 former NHLer Fredrik Olofsson.

Two big reasons why Marco Sturm hire was smart move by Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have welcomed Marco Sturm as their next head coach.

The longtime NHL player, who played five seasons with the Bruins from 2005 through 2010 and famously scored the winning goal in overtime of the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park, was officially hired Thursday.

This will be Sturm’s first ever NHL head coach job, but he does have head coaching experience at the international level (he won Olympic silver with Germany in 2018) and the AHL level with the Ontario Reign. He had been the Reign’s head coach since the 2022-23 season. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings for four years.

Sturm has a tough job in front of him. The Bruins just completed their worst season in almost two decades. They tied for the fifth-worst record in the league, couldn’t score consistently, struggled to defend at a high level and saw a steep decline in goaltending.

There are two key reasons why the Sturm hire has a good chance of being a success.

One of them is player development. The Bruins have done a poor job developing from within for about a decade. Sure, they’ve had a few hits, but their lackluster drafting and development is among the reasons why they’ve lacked the necessary depth to make deep playoff runs in recent years.

Sturm, during his time with the Kings at the NHL and AHL levels, did a great job developing and building relationships with Los Angeles’ top young players. Two of the best examples are center Quinton Byfield (No. 2 pick, 2020) and defenseman Brandt Clarke (No. 8 pick, 2021). The Bruins acquired a couple young players/prospects at the trade deadline in March, most notably Casey Mittelstadt, Fraser Minten and Will Zellers. They also have the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

In total, Boston could have five first-round picks and four second-round picks in the next three drafts.

Even if the B’s end up trading some of these picks, the players they do get will benefit from Sturm’s ability to connect with players and put them in positions to maximize their potential.

Another reason why the Sturm hire should work out is the impact he can make on the Bruins’ defense. The backbone of the Bruins for the last 10-15 years has been a strong, fundamentally sound defensive structure that’s hard to play against. But for the last two years, the Bruins have been a below average defensive team.

Yes, the goaltending was horrible in 2024-25, and Jeremy Swayman had by far the worst season of his career, but the B’s didn’t do him many favors on most nights.

The Kings have been a very good defensive team for much of the last 10-15 years. Most of their success has been built on a foundation of sturdy defense and good goaltending. The Bruins clearly like that system and are hoping Sturm — a defensive-minded coach with plenty of experience in L.A. — can bring the best elements of it to Boston.

In fact, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was asked at the team’s end-of-season press conference in April about the kind of coaching style his team needed, and he specifically mentioned improving defensively and the Kings’ success in that area.

“If you don’t defend in the NHL, you don’t have sustained success,” Sweeney said at that April 23 press conference. “However you want to do, whether that’s zone, man to man, whether it’s a hybrid, whether that’s neutral zone, whether that’s — look at L.A.’s situation this year, going from 1-3-1 to a little bit more of a pressure situation that they’re doing, but they still do a really good job. They led the League in goals against.

“That’s part of winning hockey, it just has to be, and it’s going to be part of our fabric. We’re going to get back to that. Now, we have to continue to evolve offensively, as I referenced, the scoring deficiencies that we had this year in our power play in particular put a lot of pressure on our team that you have to be perfect. Our goaltenders previously have been really, really good. This year, they weren’t as good as what they had been. That’s fact, and our team in front of them didn’t defend with the same level of conviction. So the structure has to be there. It has to be part of the fabric of what a coach believes in.”

So it wasn’t surprising that the first thing Sweeney said about Sturm’s hire in a press release Thursday was about restoring the team’s defensive excellence.

“Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively,” Sweeney said. “We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion.

“His path – playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels – has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s earned this opportunity. As a former Bruin, he understands what this team means to the city and our fans. We’re embracing a new direction with Marco behind the bench and are confident his energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be.”

The upcoming offseason is a pivotal one for the Bruins. In addition to owning the No. 7 overall pick in the upcoming draft, they also have around $26.2 million in salary cap space (per PuckPedia) and a more robust collection of trade assets (prospects, draft picks, etc.) compared to this time a year ago.

Sweeney made a good hire with Sturm, but his work is far from over.

As the draft draws near and the rumours intensify about who could land where, we’ll be taking a look at some of the options that could make sense for the Montreal Canadiens. Today, we’ll take a gander at KaShawn Aitcheson.

A robust 6-foot-1 defenseman coming in at 198 pounds, he is yet another left-shot blueliner, but he packs a punch and a physical side that isn’t all that present in the Canadiens’ present defensive corps. Of course, Arber Xhekaj can hit, but the jury is still out on whether or not he’ll be a regular member of the team in the future.

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According to Marco D’Amico from RG.org, Aitcheson could be one of the players the Canadiens are keeping a close eye on in readiness for the draft. In 64 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts this season, he put up an impressive 59 points. Then, in the playoffs, he produced a further 12 points in 16 tilts.

This represents a 20-point increase in his 2023-24 production, and even more notable, while he accumulated 126 penalty minutes in his second season in Barrie, he reduced this to a more manageable 88 penalty minutes this season. This shows that he has learned how to control his physical game better and recognize where the line is. This is an excellent quality for an 18-year-old, especially since it’s one of the reasons Xhekaj is struggling to establish himself as a real regular under Martin St-Louis.

Despite his high offensive production, Aitcheson also excels in his end, playing a brand of punishing hockey that reminds me of the style of play Marc Bergevin liked his defensemen to play. Combining that style, play, and production in a mobile defenseman would be a winning formula.

Still, according to D’Amico, the Canadiens made several scouting trips to watch Aitcheson play this year, and he’s also represented by Quartexx management, the agency co-founded by GM Kent Hughes, and where he worked until his hiring by the Canadiens.

Even though he’s a left-shot defenseman, the mix of skill and grit he brings to the table could make the rearguard an attractive option for Montreal. Right now, he’s ranked 9th in the Central Scouting Ranking of North American skaters. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie has him in 18th place while Craig Button ranks him at 16th. THN’s Tony Ferrarri isn’t as impressed and only has him in 42nd place, but Ryan Kennedy puts him at number 12. Whoever said scouting was an exact science?

Photo credit:  Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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