Category: Ice Hockey

Last year, the Anaheim Ducks surprised the NHL draft floor in Las Vegas when they selected Oshawa Generals right winger Beckett Sennecke third overall.

Sennecke himself was visibly (and famously) surprised, and while I can't say I predicted him going in the top five, some scouts had told me late in the season they saw his stock dramatically rising.

One year later, the Ducks are looking pretty smart. Sennecke has helped his Generals to the OHL final, where he has been one of the top playoff scorers in the league while playing a robust physical game.

That got me thinking: who could be this year's Sennecke?

The draft always holds surprises, and while there are some great candidates to go in the top five this season – Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Anton Frondell and James Hagens – there are also some names that could jump up into that range. Here are three candidates.

Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Martin will come into the draft hot, having scorched the field at the World Men's U-18s with Canada and winning a gold medal in the process. He didn't have much talent surrounding him in the Soo this year but still put up solid offensive numbers.

He's physical, he's a leader, and when it comes to off-ice training, the small-town Ontario farm boy hasn't even begun his ascent.

"Martin is right in there with the top OHL guys," said one scout. "When media guys do their redrafts in a few years, he'll be considerably higher. The way he plays, he might end up being one of the best pros. You've got a kid who has never done power skating or summer skill camps; he's just a hockey player. His compete level is off the charts. He plays both ends of the ice and in all the hard areas."

Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

The knock on McQueen this season has been the injury that sidelined him for most of the campaign. Scouts suspect a back problem, and given what happened to Columbus Blue Jackets first-rounder Cayden Lindstrom, there is some reticence. However, Lindstrom just returned from his back injury and is playing for Medicine Hat in the WHL final.

On merit, McQueen is a 6-foot-5 center who skates well, has a great shot and hunts down pucks.

"Ability-wise, he's top-five, potentially even top-three," said one scout. "The injury, and being on the heels of Cayden Lindstrom not playing, I expect him to slide."

Having said that, it only takes one team to believe in McQueen and his long-term upside.

2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ferrari's Post-Lottery Top 64One week after the NHL’s draft lottery decided which franchise received the first-overall pick, it’s time for a new round of draft rankings. 

Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

When draft day actually arrives, the same thing happens every year: teams picking high go for centers or size or both.

O'Brien is a 6-foot-2 center who will only get stronger once he bulks up from his current 170 pounds. He's coming off a 98-point season with the Bulldogs and plays at both ends of the ice.

"He's in the Wyatt Johnston mold that thinks the game well," said one scout. "He's very elusive, but he's not going to run you over like Porter Martone. He'll steal pucks by lifting sticks or jumping pass routes. He's another guy who people will say 'you picked that guy over him?' in a few years. He has that potential."

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One of the developing stories around the Montreal Canadiens this offseason will be how the situation in net evolves. For now, at least, Samuel Montembeault is the Habs’ number one goaltender, and it looks like the backup role will be Jakub Dobes’ to lose.

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Newly signed prospect Jacob Fowler will need at least one season of full-time action in the AHL before the organization can even consider bringing him into the NHL. Meanwhile, Connor Hughes has already announced that he’ll be heading back to Switzerland, and Cayden Primeau will be a restricted free agent once more.

Joe Verbatic, drafted in the seventh round in 2022, has yet to be signed to an ELC, and unless he is by June 1, the Canadiens will relinquish their rights to him. Emmett Croteau, who was a sixth-round pick in 2022 will still be plying his trade with Dartmouth in the NCAA, fifth-round pick at the 2024 draft Mikus Vecvanags will move from the QJMHL to the NCAA with the University of Maine, Quentin Miller who went from the Quebec Remparts to the BCHL since he was picked 128th overall at the 2023 draft will also be moving to the NCAA with the University of Denver.

But there’s another goaltending prospect who will still be skating in the KHL: Yevgeni Volokhin. We’ve not heard much about him so far, but on Tuesday. RG.org published a lengthy interview with the netminder who was picked in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, and clearly, he has his sights set on the Canadiens and the NHL.

While we’ve not heard much about him this season, compared to, say, Ivan Demidov, whose every move was on social media, the Canadiens are keeping close tabs on him. Nick Bobrov calls or texts him every two to three weeks, and every time there’s something important. The Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting provides advice on his game and/or mental preparation.

According to the interview, Volokhin plans to attend the development camp this Summer, and it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the table. While most people believe Fowler will be the Canadiens’ number one when the team is ready to contend, it’s worth remembering that there are other options in the depth chart.

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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In a recent article published by Sheng Peng with San Jose Hockey Now, it seems as though two members of the San Jose Sharks' organization want to play in the NHL next season, but may not get that shot with the Sharks.

Danil Gushchin and Andrew Poturalski played the 2024-25 season with the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League (AHL) and weren't given too much of an opportunity to make a name for themselves at the NHL level. 

Poturalski only played three games, notching one assist with the Sharks, but had 73 points through 59 games with the Barracuda. Gushchin played 12 games with the Sharks, notching one assist, but had 51 points through 56 games with the Barracuda this season.

Poturalski admitted it was frustrating not to get more of an opportunity with the Sharks this season. It's also important to mention that he did not directly rule out the possibility of heading to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season.

While neither of them flat-out said they would be leaving or would try to pursue other opportunities, they hinted that they would prefer to get a real shot at playing in the NHL, and it doesn't sound like that opportunity would come with the Sharks next season.

Sharks Sign Defense Prospect To Entry-Level DealThe San Jose Sharks signed defense prospect Mattias Hävelid to a three-year entry-level contract on Saturday. Sharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeThe 2025 WHL Prospects Draft has now come and gone, and while there weren't many surprises or much news to report from those couple of days, there was one massive trade that caught some attention. Celebrini Calls Playing With Crosby “Dream Come True”With the 2025 IIHF World Championships starting tomorrow, the NHLPA sat down with San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini.

1. Edmonton's oft-reviled goaltender Stu Skinner proved Rangers GM Emile Francis had it right when he said, "Hockey is a slippery game; it's played on ice."

2. A couple of nights ago Skinner's blunder on Vegas' game-winning goal had Oilers fans demanding that Stu be shipped somewhere South of Pago-Pago.

3. Undaunted, Skinner took the crease last night and fooled his critics as only a haunted goalie could – with a shutout.

4. Meanwhile, Toronto's backup netminder Joseph Woll will be in goal tonight, hoping to stop the surging champion Panthers. 

5. Despite the Leafs loss in Game Four, Woll was somewhere betweenbrilliant and amazing. It wouldn't surprise me if Woll pulls off a Skinner type shutout.

6. Cup-winning coach Paul Maurice on the Blueshirts: "They have some world-class players, but they have to show up!"

7. More Maurice: "The Rangers were too often uninspired and were reacting too much and not initiating. There was not enough putting the puck in, chasing it and going to the net." (Quick! Show this to Mike Sullivan before it's too late!)

8. Gary Bettman on the Winnipeg Jets: "The hockey team has brought the people of the city together and that's all good."

9. Dallas coach Peter DeBoer on Mikko Rantanen's hot scoring: "It's the best performance I've witnessed from a guy on my team for this extended period!"

10. Neil Smith on his NHL Roundup podcast with Vic Morren: "The Rangers need more players like Will Cuylle." (By the way Cuylle was drafted by Jeff Gorton.)

11. John Tortorella's future remains cloudy. He still has a year on his current contract so he really does not have to work.

12. Until proven otherwise, Juuso Parssinen's nickname will be "Useless."

13. Unsolved remains the mystery of former Rangers trainer Jim Ramsey – one of the all-time best – and why he was fired. (And now thriving with the Canadiens.)

14. Maven Prediction via Jess Rubenstein: The Rangers will try to move K'Andre Miller, "rather than risk having to go to arbitration with him."

15. How many remember that Marv Albert once was the Rangers radio play-by-play man? (And that Marv once wrote a book called "Ranger Fever?)

A Florida Panthers minority owner has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL.

Doug Cifu, who owns a minority stake in the team and is listed as vice chairman, partner and alternate governor, was suspended on Monday night from any participation or involvement with the team.

The news was first reported by the Toronto Sun.

“The NHL has concluded that Mr. Cifu’s X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate,” the league said in a statement posted by the Sun. “As a result, Mr. Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Club and the NHL.”

The decision came after Cifu posted a series of messages on social media Sunday evening that could be considered vulgar and offensive.

Responding to a post from a user on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter, Cifu was commenting on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

In his messages, Cifu also referred to Canada as the 51st state, something first brought up by President Donald Trump that did not resonate well with Canadiens, and understandably so.

Cifu has since deleted hit account. Screenshots of the interactions can be seen in the embedded posts below, which are from the account Cifu was interacting with.

Panthers owner tilted LFG 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/qhk0DFCYOg

— Dr. Grizzo (PhD, MD, BA, MBA, 7'4 240 IQ) (@mrgrozz) May 12, 2025

LMFAOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/Q33jRFHM2P

— Dr. Grizzo (PhD, MD, BA, MBA, 7'4 240 IQ) (@mrgrozz) May 12, 2025

The back and forth came after Florida’s 2-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series.

On Tuesday, Cifu provided a statement to Florida Hockey Now, which read:

“Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media. My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.”

This is not an isolated incident, as Cifu has had an active social media presence, often not holding back when making his opinions known.

On this occasion, though, it appears his verbiage was enough to warrant the league to step in.

There will an in-person meeting between Cifu and the NHL at a later date, the league has said.

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Farjestad BK of the SHL announced they have signed Belleville Senators defenseman Filip Roos to a two-year contract beginning in the 2025-26 season. 

Roos recorded 17 assists in 68 games for Belleville this season. 

Originally an undrafted free agent, Roos signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in May 2022.

The 26-year-old appeared in 21 career NHL games for Chicago and picked up one goal and two assists. 

🌹 Tillbaka i SHL!

✍️ Efter tre år i Nordamerika och 21 matcher i NHL så är Filip Roos, 26, tillbaka i Sverige. Backen har skrivit på ett tvåårskontrakt med @farjestad_bk.

🔗 https://t.co/KNty2G19czpic.twitter.com/fqXCOgouHr

— SHL.se (@SHLse) May 12, 2025

A native of Goteborg, Swe., Roos played in 166 career AHL games with Belleville and the Rockford IceHogs, he scored five goals and added 39 assists.

Roos spent the 2021-22 season with the SHL's Skelleftea AIK, he will join a solid Farjestad team that lost in the Quarterfinals of the SHL Playoffs this season. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for Game 5 against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, head coach Craig Berube doesn’t appear to be losing sleep over the end-of-game antics that spilled over in their Game 4 loss, or the shenanigans from Matthew Tkachuk directed at William Nylander.

At the end of the game on Sunday, a video surfaced showing Tkachuk appearing to talk from the Panthers bench towards Nylander as the game wound down, seemingly saying, “I’m going to get you,” in what looked like an effort to rattle the Leafs forward.

Good luck with that.

And if the Panthers forward was attempting to get into the star winger's head, Berube isn’t convinced it worked. The Leafs coach seems to remain confident in Nylander’s ability to block out the noise, something he’s previously acknowledged, letting the 29-year-old do his thing and “leave him alone” rather than be overbearing. That mindset hasn’t changed.

“He probably didn't even hear him. He doesn't hear me,” Berube quipped after Tuesday’s optional skate. 

“They've been doing it all series. We've been doing it all series. That's playoff hockey,” added teammate Max Domi.

I am not @Jomboy_, but to me, I see Tkachuk saying to Nylander “I’m going to get you.” *wink* “I’m going to get you.”

Thoughts?

pic.twitter.com/Kgu3GbcMFV

— Evan Doerfler (@evandoerfler) May 12, 2025

The interaction capped off a fiery ending to Game 4, which saw Max Domi level Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov with a hit just before the horn. A scrum ensued, tempers flared, and Domi was fined $5,000 by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Monday for the play.

Despite all the fireworks and potential carryover, Domi and the Leafs insisted on Tuesday that their focus remains squarely on bouncing back in Game 5. From a bigger picture, winning two of the next three games in what has become a best-of-three series.

“Just looking forward to the next game,” said Domi.

'The Kulikov Hit On Marner Was 10 Times Worse': Maple Leafs' Max Domi Fined After Boarding Panthers' Aleksander Barkov In Game 4Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube didn't mince his words when reflecting on the final minutes of the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2-0 loss on Sunday to the Florida Panthers.

Speaking to the possible pushback from the Panthers, Berube echoed that sentiment when asked how his team will handle spillover from Game 4.

“What are they going to do? I mean, they can go after him, but Max has been around. Yeah, I get it. Some emotions, your emotions get high, and things happen. That's part of the game. And we all know that he's going to be fine,” said Berube. 

“You can't worry about if there's going to be a reaction. You just got to go and play. I don't know. I don't think there will be a reaction, but I don't really have a whole lot to stay on it,” he added.

'Just Talking. That's What He Does': William Nylander And Matthew Tkachuk Chirp After Panthers' Game 4 Win Over Maple LeafsChaos erupted as the final buzzer went in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday in Game 4 of the series.

Instead of engaging with the extracurriculars, the bench boss wants his group to keep their cool and stay out of the penalty box, something that was a problem in Game 4. Toronto took five penalties in the loss, including four in the first period alone – in which Florida capitalized on.

There is a fine line between playoff-style hockey and costly penalties – a difference between playing hard and playing undisciplined. Simply put, don’t expect the Leafs to do anything reckless.

“We went to the box five times. It's lots. We talked about that today. We can't go to the box that many times. Especially four in the first period, it's like it takes your momentum away. It takes certain guys out of their rhythm on the bench and overusing other guys. So it's not a good recipe. You've got to be more disciplined,” said Berube.

“Like the stick ones aren't good. You've got to control your stick. We all know that. Those are the ones, in my opinion, that hurt you. I get there's physical penalties and hits and things like that, and you're going to go to the box at times, but that's playing the game hard,” he added.

'We Don't Need To Take Those': Maple Leafs' Discipline Issues In Game 4 Killed Momentum In Loss To PanthersThe Toronto Maple Leafs managed to do what no team had done throughout the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs until their 2-0 Game 4 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday... They took four penalties in the opening 20 minutes of the game.

It’s no secret that tensions are rising. 

There have been numerous questionable hits and outcomes from both sides through four games. Discipline will be a key factor moving forward, with potentially three more games in this series.

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

There are no certainties when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres this summer, and the speculation regarding defenseman Bowen Byram may simply result in a short-term bridge deal and the 23-year-old walking to unrestricted free agency in 2027, but if that chatter regarding the Sabres potentially trading him is true, the question before GM Kevyn Adams is what do you get back for him.

Byram scored a career-high 38 points last season, an impressive feat since all but three of those points came at even strength. The former fourth overall pick is capable of greater offensive output, especially if he is utilized on the power play, making him extremely attractive to teams looking for a top-pairing blueliner and power-play quarterback.

Adams must be looking to make the same hockey deal he made when he acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche in March 2024. The deal in exchange for center Casey Mittelstadt bought Buffalo more time before having to decide on a long-term deal. A team interested in Byram will be looking to extend him long-term, but his status as an RFA should not affect his overall value in a trade, since he is arbitration-eligible and there s no chance of a holdout. 

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The important part of any potential deal is what Adams can get back in return. Ideally, the Sabres are looking for someone comparably aged, and under control on a contract, or because he is on his entry-level or second contract. The issue that continues to affect the blueline is the preponderance of left-handed defensemen, so logically, Buffalo would be looking for a right-handed complement for Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power. 

Byram was connected to his hometown Vancouver Canucks in rumors during the season, but that was connected to the chatter of them trading Elias Pettersson and that does not seem realistic after the Canucks sent JT Miller to the NY Rangers. Names that might be a fit the criteria are blueliners Brandt Clarke of the LA Kings, Jamie Drysdale of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils.  

Clarke was rumored to be possible trade fodder before the deadline, in spite of filling in nicely for the injured Drew Doughty and scoring 33 points in his first full NHL season. Drysdale finally shook off injury issues that plagued him the last two seasons and played 70 games for the Flyers this year, while Nemec – the Devils 2022 second overall pick – is growing frustrated in New Jersey after splitting time between Newark and AHL Utica for the second year in a row.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

                     

Dallas Stars look to take 3-1 series lead while Winnipeg Jets search for first road playoff win

The Dallas Stars look hard to beat as they look to be getting healthier with star defenceman Miro Heiskanen potentially coming back for game four. The Winnipeg Jets face a dire situation as they must put on a valiant effort to even up the series and do so on the road where they haven't won a game this postseason. 

A 3-1 series deficit will be very tough to overcome for the reigning President's trophy winners and adds serious stakes for game four of the series. The Stars will look to stay hot and put themselves one win away from their third straight conference Finals.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 36-26 record on our last 62 picks, including perfect records during Game 1 and 4 of the Maple Leafs-Senators series. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL:Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Best Bets:

• Over 5.5 goals (-120)
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• Mark Schefiele Over 0.5 points (-170)

This one will once again rely heavily on one player and that's Winnipeg netminder Connor Hellebuyck. After allowing five more goals in game three, we are getting a very clear image of the struggles the Michigan native is having. 

Hellebuyck reps the third-worst goals against average of the playoffs at 3.51 and the worst save percentage at .848 over ten starts. It's completely different from the goaltender that is on the verge of winning back-to-back Vezina trophies. 

At home, he's been sensational with a 5-1 record and a 1.99 goals against average but on the road his numbers plummet to a 0-4 record, a 6.65 average and a .722 save percentage.

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The numbers are so bad that we can't go against a consistent trend and should lead to a decent amount of goals, enough to cover our over. 

The Jets will be looking at this game as an absolute must-win as they should with a 3-1 series deficit virtually sealing their fate. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger has been sensational but has shown cracks with .908 save percentage in five home playoff starts.

He's lost just one of those starts and has a 2.49 average but with how hot he's been lately, he may fall off in a game where Winnipeg wants it more. 

After scoring two goals in game three, I expect a much better effort out of this group and should lead to yet another over as the Jets have totalled six or more goals with their opponent in seven of their ten playoffs game so far.

They've gone over once in the last three games and should signal for a big spot here where the Jets come out flying. 

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Winnipeg forward Mark Schefiele has been battling injuries this postseason but hasn't shown much slowing down as he's recorded eight points in as many games.

He didn't get on the board during game three but will do so in game four as his line chemistry with Kyle Connor can almost generate at least one goal once they get hot.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner has had his struggles in the post-season during his career. On Monday night, however, the former Wichita Thunder netminder gave the Oilers a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference Second Round Series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Skinner’s 24-save performance guided the Oilers to a 3-0 shutout victory over Vegas at Rogers Place. It was Skinner’s first win of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs after starting out 0-3 with an abysmal 5.36 goals-against average and .817 save percentage.

Skinner subsequently lost the starter’s job to Calvin Pickard before coming back in Game 3 of the Vegas series following a lower-body injury to Pickard. He allowed four goals in a 4-3 loss in Game 3 before looking invincible Monday night.

The 26-year-old goalie played two seasons in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder. In 44 games that spanned parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, he posted a 17-15-7 record, 3.19 GAA and .903 SP and four shutouts.

Stuuuuuu!

— Wichita Thunder (@Wichita_Thunder) May 13, 2025

Skinner was taken in the third round (78th overall) by the Oilers in the 2017 NHL Draft. As an NHL rookie, he took over the starting role from Jack Campbell in 2022-23. That season, he went 29-14-5 with a 2.75 GAA, .914 SP and one shutout. He was named to the All-Rookie Team and was in the running for the Calder Trophy before losing out to forward Matty Beniers for Rookie of the Year.

While he has thrived during the regular season, Skinner’s playoff struggles have been well-documented. Last post-season, Pickard took over for two games in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks before Skinner regained the starting role and led Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Now, it appears the task of getting the Oilers successfully through this series lies squarely on Skinner’s shoulders. Pickard’s injury is reportedly more serious, and he could be out a week or more instead of day-to-day, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Oilers fans aren’t shy about expressing their displeasure when their goaltenders struggle, but pressure is a part of the NHL and its big stage. Only time will tell whether Skinner can channel that pressure into performances like the one Monday night.

Welcome back to another Memorable Match from the Vancouver Canucks’ 2024–25 season. Last time, we looked at the team’s match against the Detroit Red Wings on December 1. This week, we’ll take a look at Kiefer Sherwood’s December 16 domination of the Colorado Avalanche. 

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The 2024–25 season was a spectacular one for Sherwood, who hit career-highs in goals (19), assists (21), points (40), and more. His NHL record-breaking hit total on the season has been spoken about at length, earning him the fan-voted title of the team’s unsung hero. The Canucks were high on Sherwood long before they signed him in free-agency, noting that their first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators opened their eyes to his skills. 

Early on in the season, Sherwood got off to a bang, expressing his confidence in possibly breaking the NHL season hit record. By December 15, Sherwood was already at eight goals, six assists, and 179 hits. 

On December 16, Sherwood broke his career-high in goals scored in one season. Previously, he’d scored 10 in 68 games with Nashville in the 2023–24 season. On the 16th, he scored his first NHL hat trick to set a new personal record. His three goals propelled the team past the Avalanche, whose only goal came from Valeri Nichuskin. 

Sherwood’s effort in this game resulted in fans starting a “Kief-er Sher-wood” chant. After the game, he’d discussed how hearing the chant was “a pretty special honour.

“I was trying to take it in,” he said at the time. “I really appreciate the fan support. Obviously, passion is something that Vancouver is known for, and that’s pretty cool. I will definitely remember it.”

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

The Winnipeg Jets' path to defeating the Dallas Stars is expected to be more challenging than it previously was, as the Stars prepare to add superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen back to their lineup. 

The 25-year-old has been out of the Stars' lineup since Jan. 28 after Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone went head-first into his knee. Prior to the injury, Heiskanen scored five goals and 25 points in 50 games, averaging 25:10 of ice time. 

Although Heiskanen's offensive numbers aren't as eye-popping as they usually are, in large part due to the emergence of Thomas Harley, his defensive game remains among the elites of the NHL. The Stars give up far fewer high-danger chances, and according to Natural Stat Trick, they outscored their opponents 42-37 at 5-on-5 with Heiskanen on the ice. 

Heiskanen hasn't been confirmed just yet, but according to John Barlett, if all goes well at their morning skate, he'll play, and the Stars will possibly run 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

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

Edmonton Oilers left winger Evander Kane should give a tutorial on irritating the Vegas Golden Knights.

Facing a team based in a city that’s all about extravagance and swagger, Vegas certainly met its match in the Oilers' Kane on and off the ice.

“Evander, I saw you rolled up in Vegas in a Rolls-Royce – you scored a goal,” longtime NHL veteran Pat Maroon told Kane on NHL on TNT after Game 4 against Vegas Monday night. “And I saw you roll up in a Rolls-Royce tonight. Is that something you thought about going into Game 4? You superstitious?”

Kane responded: “I rolled up in a Ferrari for Game 3, and that didn’t work, so I said I wanted to go back to the Rolls.”

Kane’s impact came in multiple ways in Edmonton’s 3-0 win over the Golden Knights to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Not only did he throw hits all night long, but he drove the net and crashed into Adin Hill after Adam Henrique’s second goal of the game, which sparked a mini-melee. But Kane wasn’t done there.

Kane beat Hill with a wrist shot in the second period that sealed the victory, bringing Kane up to five points in eight playoff games since his return to the lineup. Vegas only held him off the scoresheet in Game 3.

“He loves the big pressure games – when there’s a lot on the line, he just loves the pressure and level of play, and just the amount of physical play and scoring a big goal for us, crashing the net, winning puck battles, he’s contributing a lot to our team,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said post-game.

Kane’s been an important part of the Oilers’ offense from players not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Kane’s 27 individual scoring chances in all situations are the fourth-most on the team, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Not bad from a player who missed the entire regular season due to injury.

Avry Lewis-McDougall goes in deeper on Evander Kane’s impact in Game 4's win and his “muscle car” play this post-season for the Oilers in his latest video column.

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Bruins ‘believed to be among top contenders' for Rick Tocchet: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are in the early stages of a pivotal offseason for the franchise, and part of that process will be finding a new head coach.

B’s general manager Don Sweeney said last week that Joe Sacco, who replaced Jim Montgomery on an interim basis back in November, remains in the mix for the position, as does assistant coach Jay Leach.

Which external candidates might the Bruins be considering?

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken are “believed to be among the top contenders” for Rick Tocchet.

Strong indications this week Rick Tocchet will soon land another NHL head coaching job. Philly, Boston, Seattle believed to be among the top contenders. The Flyers want to be aggressive. Good fit.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 13, 2025

Tocchet, 61, parted ways with the Vancouver Canucks last month. He spent the last three seasons as Canucks head coach and led them to the playoffs only once (2023-24).

Tocchet has nine total seasons of NHL head coaching experience between the Canucks, Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth) and Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in 1,144 games as an NHL player, too, including 10-plus seasons with the Flyers and two with the Bruins.

It would make more sense for the Bruins to hire a head coach who is younger and capable of fixing the team’s lackluster offense, including the power play. Player development needs to be a priority for the Bruins, too. Tocchet probably wouldn’t be the best fit when you consider those factors, but he does have a lot of NHL experience as a player and a coach.

Sweeney also was asked last week if any potential head coach candidates were still in the playoffs, to which he replied, “yes.” There are eight teams remaining in the playoffs, as of Tuesday.

The Bruins, Flyers, Canucks, Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks are among the teams with head coach vacancies.

Marc Bergevin was criticized for many decisions during his tenure as the Montreal Canadiens' GM. Still, he made an excellent move by deciding not to match the Carolina Hurricanes’ offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

When The Canadiens Draft Twice (Or More) In The First Round…
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Four seasons later, the Finnish center is still in Raleigh, but he’s currently skating on the Hurricanes’ fourth line. He was on the ice for much longer in the first round, against the New Jersey Devils, skating for over 18 minutes twice.

In the last three games of the Canes’ second-round series with the Washington Capitals, he has spent less than 13 minutes on the ice. He has registered three assists in nine playoff games this postseason, one of which came on the man-advantage.

The Hurricanes poached Kotkaniemi from the Canadiens during the 2021 offseason, signing him to a $6.1 M offer sheet with a $20 signing bonus, a wink to the Canadiens’ failed maneuver to sign Sebastian Aho.

Before that contract expired, Carolina signed him to an eight-year extension with a $4,820,000 cap hit, and the team and player implicitly admitted that the offer sheet was overinflated.

He’s now in the third year of the eight-year pact, and he’s not in Rod Brind’Amour’s good books. Every year, he seems to be in trade rumours, but the length of his contract is somewhat prohibitive for a player who has never put up more than 43 points in a season. This season, in 78 games, he was limited to 33 points.

While not matching the offer sheet was the right call, drafting him in the first place was a mistake. The Canadiens were desperate for a quality center. They decided to draft for need rather than for best player available, picking Kotkaniemi ahead of Brady Tkachuk (who went fourth overall to the Ottawa Senators) and Quinn Hughes (who was picked seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks).

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