Category: Ice Hockey

A familiar face: Bruins hire ex-player Marco Sturm as new head coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have completed their search and Marco Sturm is the franchise’s new head coach.

He is the third Bruins head coach hired by general manager Don Sweeney and the 30th head coach in franchise history. Sturm takes over for Joe Sacco, who was named interim head coach last November following the firing of Jim Montgomery.

Sturm has a lot of NHL experience — he played in 938 career games — but this will be his first head coaching gig at this level.

Sturm has previously held the position of head coach of the German men’s national hockey team and led them to a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. He also was an assistant head coach for the Los Angeles Kings from 2018 to 2022. He had served as head coach of the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, since the 2022-23 season.

Sturm has helped develop some of the Kings’ top young players, including forward Quinton Byfield and defenseman Brandt Clarke. Player development needs to be a huge focus for the Bruins over the next few years. The franchise has struggled in that area for a while.

“Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively,” Sweeney said in a statement Thursday. “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.”

Sturm played five seasons for the Bruins from 2005-06 through 2009-10. He was the hero of the 2010 Winter Classic when he scored in overtime to beat the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park. Sturm began his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks in 1997-98 and retired after spending the 2011-12 campaign with the Florida Panthers.

Time to get to work. pic.twitter.com/GFnRoMt3Gi

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 5, 2025

The Florida Panthers are going to have to come back if they want to win their second straight Stanley Cup.

Florida blew a 3-1 second period lead in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, falling in overtime 4-3.

It was just 66 seconds into the game that Edmonton sent their already rabid fans into a frenzy.

Leon Draisaitl jumped on a rebound of a Kasperi Kapinen shot and fired the puck into a yawning cage, giving the Oilers an early 1-0 lead.

Midway through the period, Carter Verhaeghe picked up a loose puck toward the top of the Edmonton zone and fired a shot that deflected off Sam Bennett in front and past Stuart Skinner to tie the game at one.

The Oilers challenged the play for goalie interference, but officials ruled that Bennett, who appears to make contact with Skinner after falling to the ice, was tripped into the goaltender by defenseman Brett Kulak.

Officials confirmed the play was legal, and Florida was given a power play for the failed challenge by Edmonton.

The Cats took advantage of the man advantage as Nate Schmidt sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Brad Marchand at the side of the net. His shot sailed past a sprawling Skinner to give Florida their first lead of the series.

It didn’t take long during the second period for the Panthers to extend their lead.

Streaking through the neutral zone, Schmidt sent Bennett in along on Skinner, beating him over the blocker to put the Panthers up 3-1.

Edmonton responded quickly though, as Viktor Arvidsson fired a slapshot past a screened Sergei Bobrovsky just 1:17 later to close the gap back to one and get the fans energized again.

The Oilers tied the game 6:33 into the third period after Florida had been finding success keeping Edmonton from generating much of anything offensively.

From behind the net, McDavid found Mattias Ekholm creeping down from the point, and his shot went over a screened Bobrovsky’s glove to knot the game at three.

That’s how the score would remain through the rest of the third period, sending Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final to overtime.

Bobrovsky came up with big saves during overtime on Kasperi Kapanen, Trent Frederick and Evan Bouchard, but a power play goal by Draisaitl late in the OT session gave Edmonton the victory.

Tomas Nosek sent the puck over the glass with under two minutes to go, giving the Oilers' power play a chance, and then Florida, which had gone a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, suddenly became extremely aggressive while down a man. 

Alas, it's just one game, and as we all leaned last season, you've got to win four before you win anything. 

On to Game 2.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Bennett has six goals and nine points over his past six games.

Similarly, Matthew Tkachuk has eight points in six games. He picked up an assist on Bennett’s goal first.

Since returning from an injury for Game 7 against Toronto, Evan Rodrigues has nine points in the seven games since.

Draisaitl didn’t score a single goal during last season’s seven-game Final, but this year it barely took him a minute to light the lamp, and now he’s got two.

Schmidt logged his third multi-point outing of the playoffs with a pair of primary assists.

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Photo caption: Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Vasily Podkolzin (92) reacts after a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period in game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

EDMONTON – It was a cruel twist of fate for the Florida Panthers but a beautiful result for the Edmonton Oilers as Leon Draisaitl scored the overtime-winner on the power play off a feed from Connor McDavid.

The Panthers were attempting to kill a puck-over-the-glass penalty when Draisaitl scored with 31 seconds remaining to give his Oilers first blood in the Stanley Cup final.

"I'm the beneficiary, but the work was done before that," Draisaitl said post-game. "(Corey Perry) with a great play to (McDavid) then an amazing pass, and I'm the beneficiary. There were lots of great plays on that play. It made it 'easy' for me to put that home."

The game got off to a great start for the Oilers, as Draisaitl pounced on a long Sergei Bobrovsky rebound a little more than a minute into the contest to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead.

McDavid nearly made it 2-0 when he hit the post on a shorthanded rush, but special teams would turn the tide soon after.

The Panthers tied up the game midway through the first on a screen shot from Carter Verhaeghe that went off Sam Bennett in front of the net. The Oilers challenged the play for goalie interference but were rebuffed as officials ruled that Brett Kulak had pushed Bennett.

Not only did Florida have the game knotted up, but the Panthers were also given a power play for Edmonton's failed challenge. The Cats made the Oilers pay on that man advantage as Brad Marchand popped in an easy one after he was left alone by the side of the net.

Three consecutive power plays – two for Edmonton, one for Florida – dominated later in almost comical fashion as Corey Perry took a tripping call right off the faceoff for Anton Lundell's previous interference call. Not long after, Aaron Ekblad put Florida down again when he held Draisaitl. 

Florida got off to the quick start in the second as the Oilers lost Bennett on the rush, leaving him open for a beautiful feed from Nate Schmidt two minutes into the frame. But Edmonton bounced back soon after when Viktor Arvidsson powered a slap shot past Bobrovsky.

After that, however, both goaltenders stood tall in the middle period. Bobrovsky thwarted excellent chances by Jake Walman, Trent Frederic and Evan Bouchard, while Stuart Skinner kept things close for the Oilers with great consecutive stops on Aleksander Barkov and Schmidt.

"He gave us a chance to win, and that's what you ask of your goalie," McDavid said of Skinner. "He made some big saves in the second and in overtime."

The Oilers found life in the third, however, when McDavid danced toward the net with the puck only to dish it off to Mattias Ekholm, who buried a wrister to even up the score. 

Edmonton carried the play for much of the frame outshooting Florida 14-2, though the contest remained tied. Regulation solved nothing, so the Cup final kicked off with overtime, where one of the best chances came on a Kasperi Kapanen rush. The Oilers right winger split the 'D' and rang one off the post, nearly sending the building into hysterics.

With less than two minutes to go, Tomas Nosek took a puck-over-the-glass penalty and ultimately, the Oilers made the Cats pay, taking a 1-0 series lead.

Draisaitl and McDavid each had two points tonight.

"Ever since I got here, they don't take many nights off, that's for sure," Brett Kulak said of Draisaitl and McDavid. "They're usually our top guys every single night, and the bigger the stage, the better they get."

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Join The Chat As Oilers Host Panthers In Game 1 Of Cup FinalWelcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Game 2 goes down on Friday in Edmonton at 8 p.m. ET.

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.

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After each game of the Stanley Cup final, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Michael Traikos and Katie Gaus will break down Game 1 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers with Avry Lewis-McDougall joining live from inside Rogers Place.

During the game, join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.

Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers Game 1 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

Stay tuned to The Hockey News and Playoff Frenzy Live throughout the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the show here.

Promo image credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

EDMONTON – The time is now.

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers have been denied for too long.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

“The Rematch” against the Florida Panthers has a different feeling around hockey circles than the first run-through did last year. McDavid experienced complete heartbreak last postseason.

He’s not going to let it happen again.

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The Oilers have home ice advantage for the first time this postseason. It might not seem like a lot, but the Oilers have been stellar at home this playoffs.

They sport a 6-1 record at home to go along with a 56.3 percent powerplay success rate and an 83.3 percent penalty kill rate. Additionally, they have a +16 goal differential and a .917 team save percentage.

Each of the three previous teams to make it to the Stanley Cup Final the year after they lost the Cup Final ended up winning it. The last three teams were the Panthers in 2024, the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins, and the 1984 Oilers (Wayne Gretzky’s first cup).

#LetsGoOilers are 12-2 since starting the playoffs 0-2. Each of the last 7 teams to make the Cup Final after going 0-2 in their first series of the playoffs went on to win the Stanley Cup:

WSH - 2018
LA - 2014
BOS - 2011
CAR - 2006
DET - 2002
MTL - 1993
PIT - 1992

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 4, 2025

If that wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe this last stat might. Each of the previous seven teams to make the Cup Final after losing the first two games of the playoffs has gone on to win the Cup. Those teams were: 1992 Penguins, 1993 Montreal Canadiens, 2002 Detroit Red Wings, 2006 Carolina Hurricanes, 2011 Boston Bruins, 2014 Los Angeles Kings, and the 2018 Washington Capitals.

McDavid (and the Oilers)'s time is now.

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Oilers' Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner vs. Panthers in Stanley Cup Final Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play in overtime, Stuart Skinner made 29 saves and the Edmonton Oilers erased a multigoal deficit to beat the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night.

After Tomas Nosek’s penalty for putting the puck over the glass, Draisaitl’s goal 19:29 into OT sent the home fans into a frenzy and made sure the Oilers would not start this series like they did a year ago, when they fell behind three games to none.

For a while, it looked like they would at least start out trailing. Draisaitl’s goal 66 seconds in was followed later in the first period by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot in past Stuart Skinner after falling into him.

Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida’s Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.

With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.

At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” that followed goals he allowed.

Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of “Stuuuu” after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.

Up next

Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4.

Oilers' Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner vs. Panthers in Stanley Cup Final Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play in overtime, Stuart Skinner made 29 saves and the Edmonton Oilers erased a multigoal deficit to beat the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night.

After Tomas Nosek’s penalty for putting the puck over the glass, Draisaitl’s goal 19:29 into OT sent the home fans into a frenzy and made sure the Oilers would not start this series like they did a year ago, when they fell behind three games to none.

For a while, it looked like they would at least start out trailing. Draisaitl’s goal 66 seconds in was followed later in the first period by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot in past Stuart Skinner after falling into him.

Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida’s Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.

With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.

At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” that followed goals he allowed.

Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of “Stuuuu” after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.

Up next

Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4.

EDMONTON – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly held their annual Stanley Cup press conference before Game 1, and the lack of drama was actually a great sign for the league.

One topic that did get on Bettman's nerves, however, was all the talk about how teams, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, have been so successful lately, given that they reside in a tax-free state.

Bettman even had Daly answer the question of whether the NHL will be looking to address the matter in the next collective bargaining agreement because the commissioner said he hates the issue.

For the record, Daly said there are no plans to address the matter in the next CBA, which the league and NHLPA are working on right now. While he said some franchises have raised it as a concern, the league isn't worried at this point.

"These imbalances have existed forever," Daly said. "There's nothing new here. There are so many reasons why a player may choose to play in a particular location for a particular team, for a particular coach, that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market."

Hockey & Taxes: What An NHL Player Pays In Taxes Depending On Their TeamNHL players must deal with two certainties: the eventual death of their career and the taxes they will pay during it. We calculated the taxes they will pay.

Ron Hainsey, the NHLPA's assistant executive director, had some great words on the matter after the press conference, when he and union head Marty Walsh had their own scrum with reporters.

"Who ran the league between 2008 and ’20?" Hainsey said. "Boston, Pittsburgh, L.A., Chicago, Detroit for a bit. Were we supposed to expect Tampa and Florida not to be good at some point? I'm baffled this keeps coming up. You never hear about this in the NFL or NBA."

Otherwise, Bettman and Daly addressed a number of topics.

On how the current CBA negotiations are going compared to in the past: "No comparison," Bettman said. "We are having very constructive, cordial dialogue. I think we're in really good shape."

Walsh echoed this sentiment.

On expansion into markets such as Houston, Atlanta or Phoenix: "We've gotten a lot of interest," Daly said. The deputy commissioner went on to note that there are no formal expansion bid processes on the docket, but if someone came to the NHL with a strong plan, they would take it to the Board of Governors.

Elsewhere, look for the New York Islanders to get some sort of all-star event in 2027 to replace the one initially announced for 2026 ahead of the Olympics. Do not expect a change to overtime/shootout rules in the regular season, and don't even ask Bettman about play-in games being added to the NHL schedule.

"By the way, we had a play-in," Bettman said. "Did you know that three clubs' positions in the playoffs weren't determined until the last game that they played in the regular season? We think that what we have is working very well."

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The Buffalo Sabres are in need of many things this summer -- but more than anything else, they need some veterans to come in and establish a winning standard for a new era for the franchise. And while it won't be a cakewalk to acquire the type of talent that can change things for the Sabres, that doesn't mean Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams shouldn't be swinging for the fences in trades and free agency. 

And one intriguing possibility for the Sabres is a veteran center with a Stanley Cup championship on his resume -- Calgary Flames star Nazem Kadri. The 34-year-old is coming off a career-best scoring season, with 35 goals and 67 points. And he's locked up to a very reasonable salary that pays him $7-million per season for the next four years.

Now, Kadri has said he's comfortable in Calgary, and he has a full no-trade clause this year, so this admittedly could be a pipe dream. However, what's the harm in Adams making a pitch to the Flames for Kadri's services? He's an Ontario native who might want to play much closer to home than Alberta is. And although Calgary narrowly missed out on the playoffs this past season, you can make a solid argument that the Sabres have more overall depth and talent than the Flames. Maybe he wants to take a bigger swing with a new team.

And if it does work out, Kadri will make Buffalo a much tougher team to play against -- something that most observers want to see from a newly-rejigged Sabres team. And even if Kadri's play begins to slip, you're still getting someone who knows what it is to be a winner, and who knows how to be a true professional. 

Players like Kadri aren't going to fall into Buffalo's lap. Adams will have to make the move worth Calgary's while, and that means giving up young players and draft picks that will be part of the Flames long-term rebuild. But the Sabres have plenty of those type of assets, and if they do want to take the next competitive step, they're going to have to pay a steep price for it. 

Sabres Won't Land Maple Leafs' Marquee Free Agents -- But They Can Set Their Sights On This Young Leafs Player Via TradeThe Buffalo Sabres have $23.2 million in salary cap space to play with this summer.  But for reasons we've covered in this THN.com article, Sabres fans can forget about acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs star and UFA right winger Mitch Marner. It's just not happening, folks. Marner probably isn't coming back to Toronto, but he's damn sure not coming to a team that hasn't made the playoffs in nearly a decade-and-a-half. And the same goes for Leafs UFA center John Tavares, who is going to happily accept a major pay cut from the $11-million he made this year if it means staying with his beloved hometown Leafs. 

But that said, Kadri would be a terrific option for Buffalo. In a market where top-six forwards are hard to come by, acquiring Kadri from the Flames would be a gigantic win for Adams and Sabres brass. It's not going to be easy by any means, but a gamble on Kadri could pay off in a very big way.

Kadri isn't a game-changer per se, but he is someone who would put a burr into the Sabres' saddle. And that's precisely what this organization needs at the moment. Adams may well look to other options to change the culture around the team, but if he can pry Kadri out of Calgary's hands, it could be one of the key moves that turns the Sabres from perennial disappointment to a playoff team at long last.

Sabres Moving On From Rising Free Agent Star Would Be A Disastrous DecisionAfter 14 years of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres have to change up their lineup. However, this organization cannot afford to play fast-and-loose with most of their assets -- and that includes up-and-coming left winger J.J. Peterka.

So yes, Kadri is definitely worth enquiring about for Buffalo, and stranger things have happened in the NHL than seeing Kadri in a Sabres uniform. You never know until you try, and the Sabres should be trying their utmost to bring in a player with the pedigree that Kadri has. He can help set a new standard for this organization, and he'd be well worth the price Buffalo would have to pay for him.

One of the most popular rumors that circulated prior to the NHL trade deadline involved the Buffalo Sabres interest in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. That speculation evaporated after the trade that sent JT Miller to the NY Rangers in late January, but there may be some smoke to that fire according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.  

The 26-year-old center, who had the second-worst offensive season of his NHL career in the first year of an eight-year, $92.8 million deal with the Canucks, has a no-movement clause in his contract that kicks in on July 1. Buffalo is undeniably looking to shake their roster up after their 14th straight season outside of the playoffs, and has pieces that might interest Vancouver in a hockey deal.

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Pagnotta indicated that RFA defenseman Bowen Byram is likely to be moved by Buffalo, as he is slotted behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power on the left side of the Sabres blueline, and said that other names such as Power, wingers JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch have been mentioned as possible trade targets. The rumors regarding Buffalo and Pettersson involved Byram and Dylan Cozens, who was dealt to Ottawa at the deadline for center Josh Norris. 

There has been consistent chatter that the Canucks would expect to get a top center in a deal for Pettersson, something that the Sabres may be unwilling or unable to provide, although Norris does not have any trade protection next season. Peterka is a restricted free agent who could be a target for an offer sheet this summer, Tuch is entering the final year of his contract and makes a very reasonable $4.75 million AAV in 2025-26, while Power also is entering year two of a seven-year, $58.45 million contract and does not have any trade protection as well. 

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The NHL’s coaching carousel spins fast once again, with seven teams changing bench bosses after their season ended. 

After the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Dan Muse, there’s only one coaching vacancy left – but there may be a second coming in short order, depending on what happens with the Dallas Stars.

The Boston Bruins are the only team without a coach right now, after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported he believes interim bench boss Joe Sacco is out of the running for the job. 

Soon enough, the Dallas Stars could be in need of a new coach if they fire veteran Peter DeBoer.

If you’re a Bruins fan who saw DeBoer throw Stars goalie Jake Oettinger under the bus in the wake of Dallas’ third-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers and read the reports that players spoke out against him in exit interviews, you shouldn’t want your team to wait and see what happens with DeBoer before deciding on your next coach.

Now, DeBoer has carved out a very nice NHL coaching career. In 17 seasons, he’s coached 1,261 regular-season games, posting a 662-447-152 record in that span. And he’s guided the five teams he’s coached – the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Stars – to 10 playoff appearances. You don’t get that many chances to coach in hockey’s top league if you don’t know what you’re doing.

But DeBoer’s experience doesn’t mean he’s the best choice for the Bruins’ job. 

DeBoer still hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, and after his first season getting the Devils to the Cup final in 2011-12, he hasn’t gotten his team past the conference final. If he were a player, he’d be considered a journeyman by now – and you can’t convince us that DeBoer should be gifted with another job once the Stars let him go simply because he’s been around for a long time.

Just like what Pittsburgh did by hiring Muse instead of seeing if DeBoer becomes available, hiring a first-time coach is the better solution for Boston. 

Look at the Washington Capitals. When they changed coaches last season, they went with a rookie NHL coach in Spencer Carbery, and it paid off spectacularly. The Caps got into the playoffs in Carbery’s first season in D.C., and they were the top regular-season team in the Eastern Conference this season. Carbery didn’t have a long resume to point to, but he was the right choice for the job, and the Caps are better today for it.

This is why someone like Mitch Love, who’s currently an assistant coach with Washington, would be a much better choice for the Bruins. 

Rather than giving someone like DeBoer who is, frankly, a retread, why not give an opportunity to a highly-regarded young coach like Love or AHL Ontario bench boss Marco Sturm? There’s no guarantee any coach works out the way a team hopes they will, but a fresh voice with something to prove could work wonders for Boston.

Certainly, things have soured in a hurry for DeBoer in Dallas. His poor choice of words for Oettinger – the Stars’ goalie of the present and the future – means he’s drawn a line in the sand.

But the Bruins hiring DeBoer isn’t a situation like the one that saw the St. Louis Blues fire coach Drew Bannister once Jim Montgomery was fired by the Bruins. Montgomery is still relatively early in his NHL coaching career, and he was rightfully voted as the 2023 winner of the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach. You can’t say either thing about DeBoer at this stage. 

The league clearly values coaching experience, and DeBoer has plenty of that. But there’s something to be said for a coach who hasn’t had a golden opportunity put in front of them yet. There’s a hunger there and a drive that might not be there for someone who would be on his sixth different NHL team.

So yes, if you’re a Bruins fan, you don’t want your team to bring in DeBoer. Starting a new era often means starting with someone who hasn’t had the chances other people have had, and we’d rather see someone like Love implementing a new vision than someone like DeBoer swinging and missing yet again.

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In 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, trusted insider Elliotte Friedman shared a team that has shown plenty of interest in trading for Hague.

That team is the Philadelphia Flyers. Acquiring Hague would make a lot of sense for the Flyers. They have the salary cap space to sign him to a long-term deal, and his age fits the Flyers' timeline. The Flyers won't be competing for a Stanley Cup in the next year or two but will want to begin to take steps in the right direction, which starts by competing for a playoff spot. 

At just 26 years old and with plenty of playoff experience, including winning a Stanley Cup, Hague would be a fantastic addition to Rick Tocchet's squad. 

The Golden Knights haven't come out and claimed they are actively looking to trade Hague, but reports have stated that they are taking calls on him and are listening to offers. With players like Kaedan Korczak, Lukas Cormier and Ben Hutton waiting on the outskirts, it's made Hague expendable considering he can command a lot of money on his next contract. 

The Golden Knights would be looking to regain draft capital in exchange for Hague, although the market for the Kitchener, ON native, has yet to be set. The Flyers have three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the Golden Knights could be looking to move Hague to get back into the first round and begin to repair their prospect pool. 

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.  Could Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague Be On The Move This Offseason?Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague finished the final year of a three-year, $2,294,150 contract he signed with the franchise, making him a restricted free agent this offseason and a player who could garner a lot of interest from other teams. 

By Nevan Oliveira, The Hockey News intern

Excitement builds for a Stanley Cup final rematch between the defending champion Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.

Fans are eager to see if Florida can be the third NHL team to repeat in the last decade or if Edmonton can finally end Canada’s 32-year Cup drought.

Both teams are stacked with talent, but the edge may go to the one playing with more confidence and urgency. That includes players who returned from injury, underperformed last year or are on their first or potentially last deep playoff run.

Here’s a look at some of those players with something to prove heading into this high-stakes matchup starting June 4.

Brad Marchand, LW, $6.125 million AAV

For the first time in his impressive 16-year career, Brad Marchand is heading to the Stanley Cup final as something other than a Boston Bruin. 

Marchand has reached the Cup final three times – winning against Vancouver in 2011, then losing to Chicago in 2013 and St. Louis in 2019. In the 20 games combined from those final appearances, Marchand had seven goals and 12 points.

Marchand got another chance to chase a Cup this year after the falling Bruins moved him to the Panthers in the final moments of NHL trade deadline day – and he’s making the most of it. At 37, this could be his last kick at the can in the Cup final, depending on what happens with his pending UFA status this summer.

Seth Jones, D, $9.5 million AAV

Seth Jones has at last reached the Stanley Cup final in his third month as a Panther.

After a tough stint in Chicago where his performance suffered despite consistent scoring, Jones was traded for Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick, offering a fresh start reminiscent of his more successful Columbus years.

In Florida’s 17-game playoff run, Jones has three goals, seven points and a plus-9 rating alongside Niko Mikkola. Now, with a shot at the Cup, Jones can prove he’s still an elite defenseman at 30.

Evan Rodrigues, C/W, $3 million AAV

Rodrigues has become increasingly noticeable as the playoffs progress, highlighted by a standout series against Carolina, where he tallied one goal and seven of his 11 playoff points in just five games.

In last year’s Stanley Cup final against the Oilers, Rodrigues led the team with four goals and seven points. If Rodrigues can carry that level of confidence and performance against the Oilers once again and deliver a strong showing in another Stanley Cup final, he could significantly boost his next salary when his current contract expires in 2027.

Leon Draisaitl, C, $14 million AAV

As one of the NHL’s most effective players, the only thing missing from Draisaitl’s resume – like Connor McDavid – is a Stanley Cup. 

He underperformed in last year’s Cup final, recording just three points and a minus-2 plus-minus, though coach Kris Knoblauch later revealed he was playing through hand and rib injuries. 

Now, healthier and hungrier, this rematch against the Panthers provides Draisaitl with another opportunity to prove his dominance and bring the Cup back to Edmonton.

Oilers And Panthers' Conn Smythe Contenders Ahead Of The Stanley Cup FinalThe NHL’s Stanley Cup final starts Wednesday, and players on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are making a strong case for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Stuart Skinner, G, $2.6 million AAV

With Edmonton placing a stronger emphasis on defense down the stretch of these playoffs, Stuart Skinner has shown his capabilities. Since taking over from Calvin Pickard against Vegas, he’s posted a .931 save percentage and a 1.73 goals-against average over eight games, winning six of them. 

If Skinner can help lead the Oilers to a Stanley Cup for the first time since the days of Grant Fuhr and Bill Ranford, his reputation will be transformed – and so will his future contract value.

Evander Kane, LW/RW, $5.125 million AAV

Before this post-season, Kane didn't play since Game 2 against Florida last year. He recovered from two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, two torn lower abdominal muscles and a knee injury to play in this year's playoffs. He’s contributed five goals and 11 points in 15 games so far. 

Now, hopefully close to full health, Kane brings a physical edge and scoring touch the Oilers miss without him. If Edmonton deploys him effectively, he can use his snarl to disrupt the Panthers’ rhythm and chip in with gritty, timely goals, which we saw in the clincher against Dallas.

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Oilers' Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner vs. Panthers in Stanley Cup Final Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play in overtime, Stuart Skinner made 29 saves and the Edmonton Oilers erased a multigoal deficit to beat the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night.

After Tomas Nosek’s penalty for putting the puck over the glass, Draisaitl’s goal 19:29 into OT sent the home fans into a frenzy and made sure the Oilers would not start this series like they did a year ago, when they fell behind three games to none.

For a while, it looked like they would at least start out trailing. Draisaitl’s goal 66 seconds in was followed later in the first period by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot in past Stuart Skinner after falling into him.

Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida’s Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.

With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.

At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” that followed goals he allowed.

Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of “Stuuuu” after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.

Up next

Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4.