A look at the Panthers' Cup Final history as they make a 3rd straight appearance originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Stanley Cup Final will feature the Florida Panthers for a third straight year.

The defending champion Panthers on Wednesday secured their third consecutive Eastern Conference title, booking yet another trip to the NHL‘s championship round in the process.

Florida, the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, needed five games to take down the Metro’s No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. It was the second time in three years that the Panthers defeated the Hurricanes in the conference final, previously sweeping them in 2023.

The Panthers, who also eliminated the Atlantic’s No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning and No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2025 playoffs, are just the seventh team since the start of the expansion era (1967-68 season) to reach at least three straight Cup Finals.

They now will battle for Lord Stanley against the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Central’s No. 2 Dallas Stars and Pacific’s No. 3 Edmonton Oilers. And a second straight Cup Final triumph would put Florida in an exclusive group of repeat winners.

So, before the championship round gets underway, here’s what to know about the Panthers’ history in the Cup Final:

How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Florida Panthers made?

Florida is making its fourth appearance in the Cup Final since the franchise’s 1993-94 debut season.

How many Stanley Cup championships do the Florida Panthers have?

The Panthers won their first-ever championship last year in historic fashion, becoming just the third team since the start of the expansion era to go from Stanley Cup runners-up to winners. After losing the 2023 Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida outlasted the Oilers in a roller-coaster 2024 Cup Final to capture the franchise’s first title.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Oilers won three straight elimination games. But Florida took the decisive Game 7 at home by a score of 2-1, with a second-period goal from Sam Reinhart being the difference.

How many NHL teams have made three straight Stanley Cups?

As previously mentioned, the Panthers are just the seventh team since the start of the expansion era to appear in at least three straight Cup Finals. The last team to do so was the Lightning from the 2020-22 postseasons. Tampa Bay won it all in 2020and 2021 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Cup Final.

The record for consecutive Cup Final appearances since the start of the expansion era is five, achieved by the New York Islanders from 1980-84. The Isles won four straight titles before falling to the Oilers in the 1984 Cup Final.

Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup Final appearances

Here’s a look at the Panthers’ three previous Cup Final results:

• 2024: Beat Edmonton Oilers in seven games
• 2023: Lost to Vegas Golden Knights in five games
• 1996: Lost to Colorado Avalanche in four games

Where is the Florida Panthers’ stadium?

The Panthers’ home stadium, Amerant Bank Arena, is in Sunrise, Florida, roughly 35 miles north of Miami.

Who is the Florida Panthers’ captain?

This is the seventh season that center Aleksander Barkov has donned the “C” on his sweater for Florida. Barkov, the second overall pick of the Panthers in 2013, is the franchise leader in games played, goals, assists and points.

Who is the Florida Panthers’ head coach?

Paul Maurice has overseen the entirety of Florida’s current three-year Cup Final streak, taking over behind the bench starting in the 2022-23 campaign. The Panthers sport a .610 regular-season winning percentage over Maurice’s tenure.

The 58-year-old has 29 years of NHL head coaching experience, with previous stops in Hartford, Carolina, Toronto and Winnipeg. Maurice coached the Hurricanes to the 2022 Cup Final.

The Buffalo Sabres have reached the highest level of hockey ignominity with their playoff drought extending to 14 seasons, but after strong statements regarding potential organizational changes last month at their season-ending press conferences, there have been only rumors of possible managerial and coaching shakeups. 

As for the roster, the goaltending and blueline situations are in flux, with questions of whether either Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Devon Levi can be a difference-making #1 goalie, and if the blueline can be upgraded if RFA Bowen Byram is traded. Up front, the Sabres bounced back slightly from an offensive downturn in 2024, but still have not matched the production (293 goals) that saw them come to within one point of making the postseason. 

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The Sabres have over $23 million in available cap space going into the summer, and with the NHL salary cap projected to go up over the next three seasons, owner Terry Pegula may have to spend to the cap to get Buffalo over the top to end their long streak of futility. 

Jeremy and Nate debated the impact of adding Mitch Marner to the Sabres roster this morning. Do you think it's a good idea?
Check out the guys full discussion here: https://t.co/WqGIofLYLXpic.twitter.com/6K15wbyFF5

— WGR 550 (@WGR550) May 20, 2025

One area of speculation making the rounds is Buffalo’s potential interest in pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner. Marner is coming off a career-best 102-point season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is likely to be leaving his hometown team because of their failure to make a deep playoff run for the entire balance of his nine-year tenure in Blue and White. 

The Sabres certainly have the cap space to make a competitive offer, and have a supporting cast which would be elevated by one of the NHL’s most gifted playmakers, but the fact that Buffalo is in close proximity to Toronto would not alleviate the pressure on the 27-year-old winger; it would likely increase it. 

With the Leafs, some of the pressure on Marner was deferred by the presence of the other Core 4 members (Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares). If he signed with Buffalo, Marner would become the central figure on the roster and would be expected to produce every night, as Jack Eichel was after signing his eight-year, $80 million contract in 2017. 

There are indicators that Marner a) wants to sign in a less pressure-filled hockey market like Carolina, Utah, Anaheim, or Los Angeles, b) wants to be the highest paid player in the NHL and would be willing to go to a rebuilding club like Chicago or San Jose, or c) would choose to be a high-paid support player (à la Phil Kessel in Pittsburgh) with another winning organization like Florida or Vegas. 

None of those options is a fit with the Sabres. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

In their current playoff push, the Edmonton Oilers have received contributions from throughout the lineup. But one player -- albeit a currently-injured player -- is someone the Buffalo Sabres ought to be targeting when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

We're talking about Oilers right winger Connor Brown, who's been out of action since absorbing a huge hit from Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Petrovic in Game 3. But prior to that, Brown was one of Edmonton's best secondary scoring options, posting five goals and eight points in 14 playoff games this year. The 31-year-old doesn't appear on many highlight reels, but his grit and drive makes him one of the Oilers' more valuable components -- and he's doing it on the cheap, earning only $1-million this season.

With his terrific and timely play, Brown -- who generated 13 goals and 30 points in 82 regular-season games this year -- may be pricing himself out of Edmonton after this season concludes. Since the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him 156th-overall in 2012, Brown has bounced around the NHL, playing for the Buds, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and Oilers. And in five of his nine seasons, Brown has posted at least 13 goals -- and in two seasons, he's put up at least 20 goals. So while he's not going to break the bank by any means, Brown has shown enough to get a healthy raise on a new contract this summer.

As a Toronto native, Brown might decide to play closer to home next year -- and that's where the Sabres should pounce. If Buffalo gave him the security of, say, a three-year contract around $2-millon per season, that might just be enough to convince Brown to play for the Sabres. We're not suggesting there's going to be a bidding war per se for Brown's services, but he's shown more than enough in this current post-season to deserve a serious bump in pay.

Brown's experience, versatility and quiet leadership would serve the Sabres very well. Given that it's going to be difficult for Buffalo to attract high-end UFAs, putting their energy into wooing Brown is the type of move that could pay off for both the player and the team next season. And being part of an on-the-rise Sabres team might prove to be very appealing for Brown.

Canucks' Upcoming Free Agent Should Be A Target For Sabres This SummerThe Buffalo Sabres have a lot of salary cap space to spend this summer -- and a Vancouver Canucks star should be firmly in the sights of Sabres management.

He has been undervalued in the past, but Brown's rising profile in the current post-season means those days are coming to an end. He's earned the attention he's going to get on the open market at the end of the season, and he's exactly the type of role player Buffalo needs more of.

Brown may ultimately decide to stay with the Oilers -- especially if they win the Stanley Cup this year -- but if he is looking to get paid, the Sabres should be pushing toward the front of the line and doing a hard sell on what relative riches and opportunity awaits him in Western New York. Role players bring their unique skill sets to teams, and Brown's above-average capabilities would look particularly good if he were in a Sabres uniform.

Jonathan Marchessault shocked the hockey world when he signed a five-year, $5.5M contract with the Nashville Predators, leaving the Vegas Golden Knights organization and ending the most successful era of his career.

When Marchessault left the Golden Knights, he left as a Stanley Cup Champion, a Conn Smythe Winner, the franchise leader in goals and points and the most decorated player in franchise history. 

His first season with the Predators went south quickly, both for him and the organization. The Predators finished the season in 29th place in the NHL and were never in contention to make the playoffs. Personally, Marchessault scored 21 goals and 56 points, a step down in production from recent seasons. During his time with the Golden Knights, the 34-year-old was an effective 5-on-5 player, but with the Predators, that all disappeared.

Many analysts and fans believe the Predators could be playoff contenders again this season, but as it stands, Marchessault doesn't want to wait for possibilities; he wants to be on a playoff-contending team again. 

The Daily Faceoff's Frank Servalli said during his show that he believes Marchessault would be open to a trade and that in a perfect world, he'd like to go home and join the Montreal Canadiens.

“I think in a perfect world, he would love to go to the Montreal Canadiens & go home. I don’t know how open they are to that, given the term on his deal. But you can see him helping a pretty good offence already to take that next step. He seems like a true Marty St. Louis type player, doesn’t he?”

The Canadiens made the playoffs for the first time since the start of their rebuild, losing in the first round to the Washington Capitals. Marchessault would be a great addition to a young core that consists of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky. 

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.

Jonathan Marchessault Anticipates Having 'Tears Just Dripping Down His Face' During Video Tribute From Golden KnightsJonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith talk often. The Series Of Events That Have Followed Jonathan Marchessault's Departure From The Golden KnightsDrama has followed since Jonathan Marchessault's departure from the Golden Knights with different truths coming from the different parties involved.

On Apr. 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with a head coach who had been leading the team for a decade. And although Mike Sullivan was subsequently hired by the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh will always hold a special place for him.

And he sent the Pittsburgh faithful a heartfelt message on Wednesday.

On a billboard in the Pittsburgh area, Sullivan posted a message to Pittsburgh that read, "Thank you, Pittsburgh. Cup Family is forever."

To: Pittsburgh

🖤💛 Sully pic.twitter.com/mTsTaEkdgp

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 28, 2025

Sullivan was at the helm for Pittsburgh from 2015-2025 and led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. He left Pittsburgh as the Penguins' all-time leader in wins. In 835 games with Pittsburgh - including the regular season and the playoffs - Sullivan was 453-293-89 (.543 win percentage). That puts him at 15th all-time for wins with a single franchise.

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A look at the Panthers' Cup Final history as they make a 3rd straight appearance originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Stanley Cup Final will feature the Florida Panthers for a third straight year.

The defending champion Panthers on Wednesday secured their third consecutive Eastern Conference title, booking yet another trip to the NHL‘s championship round in the process.

Florida, the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, needed five games to take down the Metro’s No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. It was the second time in three years that the Panthers defeated the Hurricanes in the conference final, previously sweeping them in 2023.

The Panthers, who also eliminated the Atlantic’s No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning and No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2025 playoffs, are just the seventh team since the start of the expansion era (1967-68 season) to reach at least three straight Cup Finals.

They now will battle for Lord Stanley against the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Central’s No. 2 Dallas Stars and Pacific’s No. 3 Edmonton Oilers. And a second straight Cup Final triumph would put Florida in an exclusive group of repeat winners.

So, before the championship round gets underway, here’s what to know about the Panthers’ history in the Cup Final:

How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Florida Panthers made?

Florida is making its fourth appearance in the Cup Final since the franchise’s 1993-94 debut season.

How many Stanley Cup championships do the Florida Panthers have?

The Panthers won their first-ever championship last year in historic fashion, becoming just the third team since the start of the expansion era to go from Stanley Cup runners-up to winners. After losing the 2023 Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida outlasted the Oilers in a roller-coaster 2024 Cup Final to capture the franchise’s first title.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Oilers won three straight elimination games. But Florida took the decisive Game 7 at home by a score of 2-1, with a second-period goal from Sam Reinhart being the difference.

How many NHL teams have made three straight Stanley Cups?

As previously mentioned, the Panthers are just the seventh team since the start of the expansion era to appear in at least three straight Cup Finals. The last team to do so was the Lightning from the 2020-22 postseasons. Tampa Bay won it all in 2020and 2021 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Cup Final.

The record for consecutive Cup Final appearances since the start of the expansion era is five, achieved by the New York Islanders from 1980-84. The Isles won four straight titles before falling to the Oilers in the 1984 Cup Final.

Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup Final appearances

Here’s a look at the Panthers’ three previous Cup Final results:

• 2024: Beat Edmonton Oilers in seven games
• 2023: Lost to Vegas Golden Knights in five games
• 1996: Lost to Colorado Avalanche in four games

Where is the Florida Panthers’ stadium?

The Panthers’ home stadium, Amerant Bank Arena, is in Sunrise, Florida, roughly 35 miles north of Miami.

Who is the Florida Panthers’ captain?

This is the seventh season that center Aleksander Barkov has donned the “C” on his sweater for Florida. Barkov, the second overall pick of the Panthers in 2013, is the franchise leader in games played, goals, assists and points.

Who is the Florida Panthers’ head coach?

Paul Maurice has overseen the entirety of Florida’s current three-year Cup Final streak, taking over behind the bench starting in the 2022-23 campaign. The Panthers sport a .610 regular-season winning percentage over Maurice’s tenure.

The 58-year-old has 29 years of NHL head coaching experience, with previous stops in Hartford, Carolina, Toronto and Winnipeg. Maurice coached the Hurricanes to the 2022 Cup Final.

No matter where he’s playing, Arturs Silovs has a knack for bringing his best when the stakes are raised in springtime. 

In 2023, he earned MVP honors at the IIHF World Championship by backstopping his native Latvia to its first-ever medal in tournament history. One year later, he stepped in for Thatcher Demko and helped the Vancouver Canucks advance to the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

This year, Silovs has been channeling peak Andrei Vasilevskiy while taking the AHL Abbotsford Canucks to their first-ever Western Conference final. In all three of the Canucks’ series wins so far, Silovs pitched a shutout in the deciding game of the series. He also shut out the Colorado Eagles to open the best-of-five Pacific Division championship, so he now boasts a 1.73 goals-against average and .936 save percentage to go along with his 8-3 playoff record so far. 

It’s another extraordinary run, especially since Silovs didn’t play No. 1 AHL minutes this season. He spent a good amount of time in Vancouver while Thatcher Demko was sidelined but only got into 10 games and posted an underwhelming record of 2-6-1 with an .861 save percentage.

In Abbotsford, Silovs was 14-5-1 through 21 regular-season games, with a .908 save percentage. That was enough to earn him the nod over Nikita Tolopilo for Game 1 of the playoffs, and he hasn’t looked back.

While Silovs’ current star turn has been fantastic for Abbotsford, it creates a bit of a challenge for the parent club. At 24, he’ll no longer be waiver-exempt next season. 

He may not have shown especially well at the NHL level last season, but with Silovs’ proven ability to heat up when the pressure rises and with a very reasonable cap hit of $850,000 for 2025-26, he may not sneak through waivers next fall.

Right now, the NHL Canucks are set in net with Demko and Kevin Lankinen — a solid pairing if Demko’s healthy. Lankinen signed a five-year contract extension in February and has a full no-move clause for his first two years. Demko has one year left on his current deal, which doesn’t carry trade protection. 

At his season-ending media availability, Demko indicated he wants to stick around.

“I've always wanted to be a Canuck since Day 1. I want to be here,” he said. “I’d like to get an extension done to stay here.”

Demko is just one year removed from finishing as runner-up in Vezina Trophy voting. In April, he said he was “going into the summer healthy.” 

If his injury woes are behind him, he could be a tempting trade chip as GM Patrik Allvin and hockey ops president Jim Rutherford embark on their stated mission of improving their forward group through the trade market, specifically targeting a second-line center. And that would make a full-time spot for Silovs in the fall.

Karlsson, Raty To Take Next Step

Two key Abbotsford forwards are also about to lose their waiver exemption. 

Linus Karlsson will certainly draw interest, as he’s proving to be a clutch scorer. Through 12 playoff games, he’s tied for the AHL playoff lead with seven goals. Four of those came against Colorado, including the overtime-winner in Game 3 and a pair in the deciding Game 5.

Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2018 and acquired by the Canucks in a trade less than a year later, Karlsson still meets the criteria to qualify as an NHL rookie next season. He doesn’t turn 26 until November, two months after the rookie cut-off, and his four NHL games in 2023-24 and 23 games last year also keep him just under the bar. 

Karlsson’s limited NHL experience means he’ll become a Group VI UFA unless he's re-signed by the Canucks before July 1.

Then there’s Aatu Raty, the key prospect who came back to Vancouver when Bo Horvat was dealt to the New York Islanders in 2023. He turns 23 in November but lost his rookie status last season, when he played 33 NHL games. 

Raty is hard-working, versatile and strong on the faceoff dot. He’s had a little trouble scoring at the NHL level but did manage seven goals last season, while averaging just 10:39 a game in mostly a bottom-six role. He may not have the offensive upside to be the top-six pivot that the Canucks are looking for, but he’s a handy guy to have around.

Raty had three assists in five playoff games with Abbotsford before he was sidelined with an injury on May 3. He’ll be an RFA without arbitration rights this summer.

Defensive Depth

On the blueline, Canucks management has more flexibility with its young defense group, which has gotten much deeper over the last couple of years.

At 21, Elias ‘Junior’ Pettersson had cemented himself so solidly at the NHL level by the trade deadline that he was not even papered down to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. With 28 games played last season, he’s no longer considered a rookie, but he will still be waiver-exempt for two more seasons.

Victor Mancini, who turned 23 this week, was made AHL playoffs-eligible after being acquired as part of January’s J.T. Miller trade. He has dressed for all 12 of Abbotsford’s games, collecting five points, and will remain waiver exempt for another 39 games next season. 

Beyond them, Vancouver’s next wave of young defense prospects includes 21-year-old Kirill Kudryavtsev and 20-year-olds Tom Willander and Sawyer Mynio. 

A seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Kudryavtsev has been acquitting himself well in his first AHL post-season and didn’t look out of place in his two-game NHL cup of coffee in April. Mynio has been practicing with Abbotsford since his WHL season ended, and Willander will be ready to go next year after finally inking his entry-level deal on May 14.

Abbotsford’s best-of-seven conference final against the Texas Stars will be played in a 2-3-2 format. Game 1 goes Thursday (10 p.m. ET) at Abbotsford Centre.

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It doesn’t seem like so long ago that Tomas Tatar was skating alongside Philip Danault and Brendan Gallagher as part of the Montreal Canadiens’ top line. Yet, that combination was split up during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs when Tatar was made a healthy scratch after producing just one point in five games.

The following offseason saw a wind of change blow over the Canadiens, after signing a significant extension with Gallagher, GM Marc Bergevin was unable to reach an agreement with Danault who chose to sign with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent, Jesperi Kotkaniemi was signed to an offer sheet by the Carolina Hurricanes, Shea Weber, Carey Price and Paul Byron were all dealing with serious injuries and Tatar wasn’t offered a new deal.

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Still, he landed on his feet, signing a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, after which he signed a one-year pact with the Colorado Avalanche. However, he was traded to the Seattle Kraken in December. At the end of the 2023-24 season, he signed a new one-year pact with the Devils to play what appears to be his last season in the NHL, as he has elected to sign a two-year contract with EV Zug.

If this is it for his NHL career, he can leave with his head held high. In 927 games, he gathered 227 goals and 269 assists for 496 points. Throughout three seasons, he played 198 games with the Canadiens, scoring 149 points for an average of 0.75 points per game, easily the best of his career. It’s a shame to see Tatar go so close to the 1,000-game milestone; one single season would have done it. However, he probably felt like he didn’t have enough left in the tank, after all, he could only muster 17 points in 74 games with the Devils last season.

In addition to his performance alongside Danault and Gallagher, Tatar will always be remembered as the player who gave Habs fans one of the most memorable memes associated with the team: a fan saying his name as if he were calling the game. It’s right up there with the “What?!?” lady from the 2018 draft.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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NHL free agency is almost one month away, and speculation about who will get notable raises on their next contract will only increase from here.

While free agents have a chance to get a better deal on their next contract, that’s not always the case, depending on their age or performance. But having an excellent season certainly helps the player’s case in any situation.

Here are six pending UFAs who helped their case for a better contract than expected this off-season.

Vladislav Gavrikov, D, Los Angeles Kings

In a thin market for NHL defensemen, Gavrikov stands out as one of the most proven blueliners out there.

After another disappointing season for the Kings, which lost in the first round of the playoffs again, the team has a new GM in Ken Holland. Whether Gavrikov fits Holland’s new plan remains to be seen, but the defenseman is proving his worth as a shutdown guy. 

The 29-year-old averaged 23:05 of ice time for the Kings in 82 games, and he led the squad with 140 blocked shots. He’s also a workhorse, playing at least 72 games in each of the past four seasons.

Gavrikov earned $5.875 million in each of the past two seasons with Los Angeles, but the big-bodied Russian will almost assuredly get a raise on a long-term contract.

Could he return to the Columbus Blue Jackets? Stranger things have happened. But regardless, Gavrikov is in his prime, and he’s going to be paid like a top-four blueliner no matter where he winds up playing.

Andrei Kuzmenko, LW, Los Angeles Kings

Kuzmenko was a bust in his time with the Calgary Flames this season, posting only four goals and 15 points in 37 games. Making matters worse was his high-end salary of $5.5 million, so Calgary was happy to unload his contract to the Philadelphia Flyers. But after only seven games with Philly, Kuzmenko was flipped to the Kings.

He resuscitated his career after joining the Kings by putting up 12 assists and 17 points in 22 games.

Some teams could hesitate to give Kuzmenko a long-term contract. But on a show-me, don’t-tell-me contract extension, the 29-year-old will likely get a lot closer to this year’s cap hit than what it would’ve been had he stayed on the Flames.

Remember, it was only in 2022-23 when he had 39 goals and 74 points in a single-season with the Vancouver Canucks, so there will be teams out there hoping to get 25 to 30 goals out of him – and that will drive up his asking price significantly.

Kyle Palmieri, RW, New York Islanders

At 34 years old, Palmieri’s prime years are behind him. But in the past two 82-game seasons with the New York Islanders, Palmieri has combined to generate 54 goals and 102 points – very good numbers on a relatively subpar offensive Isles team and for someone earning $5 million per season.

Palmieri won’t get a long-term contract from any team. But he could pick his spot, earn about as much money, if not a little bit more than he made on Long Island, and put himself in a place to go much further than the Islanders will probably be able to go next season. 

Health has been a concern for him in the past, but so long as he’s a regular in the lineup, Palmieri can put up 25 goals and be a solid secondary scoring option for a team with serious playoff hopes.

John Tavares, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Everyone and their crazy uncle knew going into this season that Tavares would be facing a giant pay cut at the end of the year. But what many didn’t count on was that Tavares would put up 38 goals – his best goal total since 2018-19, when he potted 47 goals in his first year as a Maple Leaf. 

To justify his $11-million salary, the 34-year-old would’ve had to score 60 and produce at least 100 points. So absolutely, he’s still going to be making much less if he wants to return to Toronto for the rest of his career.

That said, the Leafs do have enough cap space to accommodate RFA left winger Matthew Knies and keep Tavares around. The question is how much Tavares will leave on the table to remain a Maple Leaf. 

Would a salary between $5 million to $7 million be fair for him? It definitely would, especially if the term is limited to two or three seasons. Tavares still has something to contribute to a Toronto team with lofty playoff aspirations, but if he wants to give the Leafs more money to deepen the lineup around superstar forwards William Nylander and Auston Matthews, Tavares will have to take a team-friendly hometown discount. Judging from his comments after the season ended, Tavares seems prepared to do that, but he likely deserves more money than any expected pay cut.

Ivan Provorov, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

Provorov has never been able to match or better his 17-goal, 41-point season he had for Philadelphia in 2017-18.

But the 28-year-old still had seven goals and 33 points for the Blue Jackets this season, and his ability to be a minute-muncher, averaging 23:21 of ice time for Columbus this year, means he’ll likely get a raise on the $6.75-million cap hit he’s made for the past six seasons.

Provorov hasn’t turned into a Norris Trophy candidate the way some thought he might, but again, we’re talking about a market for D-men that is definitely thin. Teams seeking a top-four blueliner who lose out on the Gavrikov sweepstakes will be intrigued by Provorov. He could be handsomely compensated on a five- or six-year extension.

Jack Roslovic, C, Carolina Hurricanes

For a couple of years, Roslovic’s career was on the rise, as he had 22 goals and 45 points for Columbus in 2021-22. But he had issues staying healthy of late – that is, until this year, when he netted 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games with the Hurricanes. 

The 28-year-old hasn’t been particularly effective in the playoffs for the Hurricanes this spring, posting only three assists and four points in nine playoff games. But his salary of $2.8 million makes him one of the better bargains in the NHL this season, and he should get considerably more than that on his next contract.

Roslovic won’t break the bank on his next deal, but teams aiming to help their secondary scoring could do much worse than signing Roslovic to a three- or four-year extension. Another team could offer him more playing time – Columbus has played him an average of only 13:42 in the playoffs thus far this spring – and Roslovic’s production could spike as a result. In any case, there’s no way he doesn’t get a raise.

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American-born Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, 25, has signed a two-year contract with Djurgården IF, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Tuesday.

“It’s an honor to get the chance in such a legendary team,” said Ylönen. “I know how much hockey means in Stockholm. I’ve heard that they have the best fans and the loudest arena in the league.”

“This is a really exciting player who has played a number of seasons in North America and a number of games with Montreal,” said Djurgården sports director Niklas Wikegård. “Jesse is only 25 years old and, like the entire club, is in a phase where he wants to get better. We do not see him as a finished product, but as a player who we believe can take his game to the next level with good training and under good leadership.”

Ylönen was born in Scottsdale, Ariz. in 1999 while his father, Juha Ylönen, was a player for the Phoenix Coyotes. He was raised in the Helsinki suburb of Espoo, where he played for the local Blues club, before playing three Liiga seasons for the Lahti Pelicans, recording 57 points in 130 regular-season and playoff games.

Ylönen was chosen in the second round, 58th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2021 and 2024, he played in 111 NHL games for the Habs, recording 29 points and 14 penalty minutes, but spent the majority of the time with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

Ylönen split the 2024-25 season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators organizations, but did not play any NHL games with either team.

Ylönen joins a Djurgården team that just earned a promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan and is in the process of building a competitive SHL roster. The team will have the consensus top-two ranked European draft prospects in 18-year-olds Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, as well as veteran center Marcus Krüger, who was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks.

“Exciting times await Djurgården and I look forward to being a part of it,” said Ylönen.

Photo © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Djurgarden Pair Leads NHL Central Scouting 2025 Final European Skater Rankings NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Tuesday and, among the international skaters, to no one’s surprise, the Djurgården pair of center Anton Frondell and right winger Victor Eklund top the list.

Adam Gaudette's 2024–25 season will go down as one of the more pleasant surprises in recent Ottawa Senators history.

Here was a guy who was basically out of the NHL for the past two seasons, signing a two-way contract with the Senators for $775,000 — the league's version of minimum wage. Not only did he make the team, the most competitive Senators squad in eight years, but he also finished 6th in team goal scoring with 19.

Today, as a 28-year-old unrestricted free agent, who has never signed the kind of lucrative NHL contract that will put him and his family on Easy Street after hockey, it will be tempting for Gaudette and his agent to hit the open auction and listen to offers on July 1st. No, it won't be a feeding frenzy, but he did prove this season that there is value there.

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Even on his own team, there were players like Claude Giroux and Dylan Cozens who combined for $13.6 million in salary this season, and neither of those players matched Gaudette's 19 goals, even with their superior quality of ice time and linemates. Gaudette didn't wilt in the playoffs either, finishing fifth on the team with a goal and 3 points in 6 games. His takeaway and shorthanded assist on Cozens' huge goal in Game 5 in Toronto deserved a chef's kiss.

When asked about his NHL stock at season's end, Gaudette was confident in his answer.

"Yeah, I think the stock has definitely risen," Gaudette said. "And that was a personal goal of mine is proving that I'm an everyday NHL player and finally getting over that hump of, 'Is he an AHL player or an NHL player?' And I had certain goals for personal goals that I set for myself when I signed here, and I pretty much nailed every one."

All things being equal, the Senators would love to roll it back this fall with Gaudette as their fourth-line center, a player who can move up the roster if others fall into slumps or injury trouble.

But at what cost?

Gaudette won't forego the open auction of free agency if the Sens throw minimum wage at him again. So what will it take? When does it stop making sense? $1.25 million? Two years? Three years?

After that, you have to start looking at the unpleasantness of replaceability, or the possible downsides of rolling things back. Gaudette's offensive stats in the second half of the season fell noticeably, so maybe his first half was an anomaly? What about his skating? He's not really an elite skater. You get the idea.

NHL Draft Watch: Ottawa Senators Hope To Deal Themselves Another Winner At 21So far, here in the roaring 20s, the Ottawa Senators' first-round picks at the NHL Draft have been all or nothing. They’ve either landed in the top 10 or haven’t had a first-round pick at all.

It's clear that Gaudette is wide open to re-signing. He and his wife just had a baby earlier this month, so they're probably in the mode of setting down roots. He likes Ottawa, he likes his teammates, and he has a head coach in Travis Green who likes and trusts him as a player, going back to their Vancouver days together.

Gaudette was asked at the year-ender if there have been any contract talks and didn't confirm one way or the other.

"I think they've got some things to figure out over the next few weeks, and after they talk as a staff, they hopefully come back and get something that works for everyone."

That would be nice. But in a cap world where the stars get all the money, the Sens have to be smart with their investments in role players.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Since being bought out by the Ducks in June 2019, Corey Perry has been to five of the last six Stanley Cup Finals with the Montréal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers. He is one Oilers win away from being in six of the last seven.

The Oilers have lost just twice in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs after going down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. After winning four straight against the Kings, they easily dispatched the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. A series-opening loss to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final has become merely a blip as the Oilers have rattled off three consecutive wins, with Perry scoring the game-winning tally in Game 4 on the power play.

Per NHL Public Relations, Perry’s goal, his sixth of the playoffs, is tied for the most by a player age 39 or older in a single postseason, matching Teemu Selanne (6 in 2011 with Anaheim), Mark Recchi (6 in 2010 with Boston), Ron Francis (6 in 2002 with Carolina) and Jean Béliveau (6 in 1971 with Montréal). Perry also became the fifth active player to score 60 career playoff goals, joining AlexOvechkin (77), Sidney Crosby (71), Evgeni Malkin (67) and Brad Marchand (60).

“We found a way after (Dallas tied it) to put one over the line and the power play came through tonight,” Perry said to reporters after the game.

Perry, who turned 40 a little under two weeks ago, isn’t just a long for the ride either. He’s been a valuable contributor, doubling his points total from last year’s run and tying his points total from his two previous postseason performances. Most of his ice time in this season’s playoffs has come alongside Leon Draisaitl and Oilers captain Connor McDavid. Unsurprisingly, the dynamic duo plus Perry are outshooting and outscoring opponents by a wide margin at 5-on-5.

Oilers' Corey Perry Is Their Big Playoff X-FactorEDMONTON – Every team has one.

He’s been a staple on the power play as well, pitching his tent in the five-foot area around the crease and doing his best to cause havoc for the opposing goaltender. Both of Perry’s points in the Game 4 win came on the power play.

It’s been 18 years since Perry lifted the Stanley Cup for the first (and only) time in celebration. He’s come agonizingly close to doing so on several occasions in the years since. The Oilers are looking to ensure he’ll have another chance to raise Lord Stanley once again.

Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) on X"It's one game at a time. And one period at a time. You can't look too far ahead." Corey Perry speaks with @GenePrincipe following his game winner in Game 4

Featured image caption: May 27, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) and center Connor McDavid (97) and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) celebrates a power play goal scored by Perry against the Dallas Stars during the second period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind goes back to 1926, when Chicago's NHL team came to be.

With the help of a special guest, actor, comedian and Chicago's own Jeff Garlin, let's look at how the Chicago Blackhawks name came to be, including how the team was called the Black Hawks until the 1986-87 season.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media. And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.

Promo image credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is completing a four-year, $17.7-million contract.

Eligible for UFA status on July 1, the 28-year-old couldn't have picked a better time for a career season.

Bennett is coming off a career-best 51-point regular season. The versatile, agitating two-way center is also burnishing his reputation as a clutch post-season performer. He's tied with Mikko Rantanen for the lead among playoff goal-scorers with nine, putting himself among the favorites for the Conn Smythe Trophy. 

Panthers management reportedly reopened contract extension talks with Bennett in March. He could be receptive to staying put, but could seek to double his current $4.425 million average annual value on his next contract. That could make him too expensive for the Panthers to retain.

Bennett would be the best center available if he tests the UFA market, where several clubs will bid for his services. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs might be among his suitors. Michael Traikos recently observed that the Leafs will have over $22 million in cap space if they don't re-sign pending UFA forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares. He recommends they use that cap space to pursue Bennett if he goes to market on July 1, a sentiment shared by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun. 

Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic believes Bennett would be the best UFA option for the St. Louis Blues to address their need for a second-line center.  However, the cap-strapped Blues might have to free up some salary, perhaps by placing defenseman Torey Krug on LTIR if his playing days are over.

Rutherford's colleague Kevin Kurz suggested Bennett would make a good free-agent target for the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers. Bolstering their depth at center is a priority this summer, which could lead them to free agency if suitable options aren't available in the trade market. With $26.7 million in projected cap room for 2025-26, they can afford Bennett if he's available on July 1.

Bennett could also be on the Montreal Canadiens' radar. Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazetterecently included the Panthers' star among several UFA options to address the Canadiens' need for a second-line center. 

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Former Detroit Red Wing Tomas Tatar has inked a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss National League, seemingly signaling the end of a 14-year NHL career for the Czech scoring forward.

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Tatar spent the first seven years of his NHL career with the Red Wings, accruing 115 goals and 107 assists for 222 points in 407 games.  He was ultimately traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2018 Trade Deadline for a first, second, and third round draft pick (that first would become Joe Veleno). 

After Vegas, Tatar made stops in Montreal, Colorado, Seattle, and enjoyed two tenures in New Jersey, including what seems to have been his final NHL season—seven goals, 10 assists in 74 games this year for the Devils.

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From a Red Wings perspective, Tatar was part of a generation of players that (through no fault of its own) couldn't manage to live up to the lofty standard Detroit had set  for itself, amidst a steady exodus of Hall of Fame–caliber talent. 

After 14 seasons, Tatar played 927 games, scoring 227 goals and providing 269 assists for 496 points.  That he's just shy of a few milestones (1,000 games played and 500 points) suggests perhaps Tatar might harbor fantasies of a return to fight across those lines or perhaps Tatar is satisfied with the work he's done and keen to continue his career in Europe.

Do you have a favorite memory of Tatar in Detroit?  If so, let us know in the comments.

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