Welcome, once again, to Screen Shots, a regular TheHockeyNews.com series in which your humble senior digital correspondent tackles a few different hockey topics and breaks them down in a handful of short paragraphs. Let’s get right down to business.

With rumors swirling that former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland is a candidate for the Los Angeles Kings’ position, are we seeing perhaps the final GM opportunity that could come Holland’s way?

It’s tempting to say yes, although if you look at the opportunities former New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello has had, right up through his 82nd birthday, the 69-year-old Holland may still have more than one GM stint left in him.

That said, would Holland be the right person for the job in Los Angeles? Certainly, there are a number of key roles already filled for the Kings. They’ve got young stars including center Quinton Byfield, veteran anchors like defenseman Drew Doughty and left winger Adrian Kempe, and up-and-comers including blueliner Brandt Clarke. 

Meanwhile, the Kings are projected to have about $23.3 million in salary cap space this summer, and although some of that will have to be spent on a D-man to shore up the defense corps, Los Angeles will still have enough to spend on a proven veteran to shake up the chemistry of the Kings next season.

You can see, then, why the Kings’ GM job would be very appealing to Holland and why Holland would be appealing to the Kings. They need someone with the experience and track record of being a winner. 

Time will tell whether the Kings officially hire Holland, but his pedigree and hunger to still be a mover-and-shaker in the NHL world mean he’s very likely to get another kick at the can when it comes to running a team.

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It’s no secret this writer is a big believer in Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill. 

As the reigning, back-to-back winner of the NHL’s Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award, Nill has once again set the table for the Stars to continue on another deep Stanley Cup playoff run. There’s no question Nill understands how to get the most out of his draft and development team and his salary cap space, and it should surprise no one if Nill wins the award for the third straight season.

It’s probably still too early to look at what’s ahead for Dallas this summer, but let’s do it anyway: even with the salary cap ceiling rising to $95.5 million next season, the Stars are projected to have only $5.8 million in cap space.

With pending UFAs, including right winger Jamie Benn, center Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund, and RFA right winger Mavrik Bourque looking for new contracts, there won’t be room on the Stars for all of them next year.

But there’s no GM we trust more than Nill to fill out his roster with capable contributors. And no matter what happens the rest of these playoffs, Dallas is fully set up to be a top team in the NHL in 2025-26.

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Finally, we’ve seen an all-time marathon game in the PHWL, with the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire needing four overtime periods and a 5:34 game to decide a winner, Montreal. That raises the question: do hockey fans like the idea of unlimited overtime, or should extra-long playoff games be settled in a shootout or 3-on-3 overtime?

From this writer’s perspective, we’d always go with 5-on-5 OT until someone scores a playoff game-winner. It’s a different story in the regular season, where 3-on-3 play and shootouts guarantee a timely end to games. That’s crucial when fans are potentially on their own fixed schedules, but the beauty of unlimited 5-on-5 OT play is that fans know going into it that there could be many extra periods of hockey needed to decide a winner.

When you do have 5-on-5 OT in the post-season, you know teams will have to deal with fatigue as part of the challenge of unlimited overtime. That’s part of what makes playoff hockey so compelling. So yes, let’s stick with the following plan: 3-on-3 OT and shootouts in the regular season and 5-on-5 OT in the post-season.

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The Buffalo Sabres had problems with their defense this season -- and part of the blame for that is the play of their goalies. We've wrote recently about the need for the netminding to improve, but one question that hasn't been addressed yet is the future of veteran goalie James Reimer. The 37-year-old was Buffalo's best goalie late in the season, but he's a UFA this summer and could choose to retire.

If he doesn't, though, Reimer could get some interest from a team seeking goaltending depth -- and that team could be the Sabres. Reimer's 10-8-2 record, .899 save percentage and 2.90 Goals-Against Average this season weren't bad at all when you consider how poor Buffalo's defensive efforts were in front of him.

If he does return to the NHL next year, Reimer isn't going to break the bank with his salary. He earned an even $1-million this season, and he may come back on the veteran's minimum salary -- if he thought he was joining a team that gave him a good chance to make the playoffs. Is that team the Sabres? It's obviously good that Reimer knows Buffalo's organization and coaching staff, but the Sabres might be competing for Reimer's services, and that means they'd need to give Reimer an honest chance to earn playing time.

Reimer is renowned as a great teammate and calming influence, and on a Sabres team that will have all sorts of pressure to improve next year, having Reimer around might make as much sense for the dressing room as it does for the ice.

Goaltending Improvement Must Be Key For Sabres Next SeasonIt's no secret that, as is true in many sports, defense wins championships in hockey, but it underscores the importance of goaltending when it comes to which teams succeed in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And a quick look at a couple key numbers only confirms it in the current post-season.

Reimer's experience -- he's played 525 regular-season games -- is valuable for any team that wants a low-cost veteran voice on the roster. He may choose to finish his career with the Sabres, but if he doesn't, don't be surprHiised to see him sign on with another NHL team. His pedigree makes him a viable choice for a team seeking depth and veteran knowhow, and in a thin UFA goalie market, Reimer could move on from Buffalo and land in a different NHL city.

During the Florida Panthers' Game 4 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward Evan Rodrigues exited in the third period with an undisclosed injury. This was after former teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson hit Rodrigues when he did not have the puck. Following the game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared that Rodrigues would need to undergo further evaluation.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is handed a 2 minute minor for interference on Evan Rodrigues 🫣 pic.twitter.com/U7Xa9Ux8IH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 12, 2025

While speaking to reporters on May 12, including NHL.com's Jameson Olive, Maurice provided the latest on Rodrigues.

"He's not ruled out [for Game 5], but not cleared to play," Maurice said about Rodrigues. "He's still being looked at."

The Panthers will certainly be hoping that Rodrigues is given the green light to play in Game 5, as he is a very important part of their forward group. This is also a crucial game for the Cats, as a win would give them a 3-2 series lead over the Maple Leafs.

Rodrigues, 31, has played in nine post-season games this spring for the Panthers, where he has three assists and a minus-2 rating. In 82 games this regular-season for the Atlantic Division club, he posted 15 goals, 32 points, and a career-high 128 hits.

Recent Panthers News 

Max Domi fined maximum allowable by NHL for boarding Sasha Barkov at end of Game 4The physicality and nastiness of the second-round series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs has been steadily increasing. Panthers' Paul Maurice Responds To Max Domi's Dirty HitThe Florida Panthers secured a massive 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4. With this, the Panthers have now tied the series back up at 2-2 after losing each of the first two games. Sam Bennett Makes Perfect Comment After Panthers' Game 4 WinGame 4 was a massive matchup for the Florida Panthers, and they stepped up big time. The Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 2-0 final score in the contest and have now tied the series back up at 2-2 after losing both Games 1 and 2. Three takeaways: Panthers back to playing their kind of hockey, second line looking familiar in best of waysIt’s amazing how much a playoff series can change in just a few days.

With Ottawa Senators fans now neutral observers in these playoffs, it's always a fun exercise to find non-financial reasons to cheer for certain teams. If you're looking to support players who used to play for the Senators, look no further than the Dallas Stars, who have an NHL-leading three ex-Sens playing regularly.

Here's a list of ten ex-Senators who still have a chance at getting their hands on The Precious.

Connor Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 6 points

The Oilers briefly thought that maybe The Connors could rekindle their Erie Otter magic of a decade ago when Brown had 128 points in a season, and McDavid had 99. Instead, Brown gave them a 55-game goalless drought to start the season. But Brown has turned it around this season, posting 30 points in 82 games, and so far in 9 playoff games, has 4 goals and 6 points.

Josh Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 0 points

We'll also tip our cap to former Senator defenceman Josh Brown, who's only played in one playoff game for the Oilers so far. Brown was dealt to Boston for Zachary Senyshyn and a 2022 fifth-round pick, which turned into promising Swedish goalie Kevin Reidler.

Memories of Connor and Josh remind us of the various grim seasons of the Ottawa rebuild when, along with Logan Brown and Patrick Brown, the Sens kept themselves distracted from the darkness by trying to set a record for having the most guys named Brown.

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

Cody Ceci, Dallas Stars, 3 points

Ceci has had his detractors, but he's gotten north of 20 minutes of ice time everywhere he's been, and since leaving Ottawa in 2019, he's played in the playoffs every year – first with Toronto, then Pittsburgh, Edmonton, and now Dallas. His streak was ready to end this year until San Jose traded him to the Stars at the deadline. Ceci is something of an iron man, rarely spending time on the injured list. In fact, he had the rare 85-game regular season this year. He has three points in 10 playoff games for Dallas.

Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals, 3 points

When Chychrun arrived at the 2023 trade deadline, it made for exciting headlines in Ottawa, where another top-four defenceman had been on the wish list for a long time. But as a left-shot, offence-first defenceman, Chychrun wasn't the kind of defenceman they lacked.

It's been a better fit in Washington, where Chychrun posted a 20-goal season, third-best among NHL defencemen. He also had a remarkable capital gains in the plus-minus department, going from -30 in Ottawa to +17 in Washington. He has 3 points in his first 8 playoff games.

Evgeny Dadonov, Dallas Stars, 4 points

This season, Dadonov's stat line read 20-20 for 40 points on the year. Hindsight is also 20-20. And if Pierre Dorion had some right now, he'd certainly have handled the Dadonov trade differently. Dadonov will forever be known to Senator fans for his connection to Dorion getting fired in Ottawa.

When the Sens traded Dadonov to Vegas, they didn't accurately report the details of his limited no-trade clause. The league punished the Sens by taking away a first-round draft pick. Barring a change of heart from the NHL, it looks like the pick will be surrendered in the 2026 Draft. Dadonov has 4 points in 10 playoff games.

Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points

DeMelo has already hit a career high with 4 points in his first 9 playoff games. He's been rock solid for the Jets, on and off the ice, and when the Sens traded him away in 2020, there wasn't much vision there either. DeMelo was about to become a free agent, so the Sens dealt him to Winnipeg for a third-rounder. The Jets signed him to a four-year deal worth $12 million. And when that deal ended last summer, they signed him again to another four-year deal worth almost $20 million. Not bad for a guy who only cost the Jets a third-rounder.

The silver lining? The Sens used that third-rounder to select goalie Leevi Merilainen. But getting lucky with a mid-round pick doesn't excuse the mishandling of that asset. They finally filled that void by acquiring Nick Jensen last summer.

The Next Big Thing? A Glance At How Top Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Fared This SeasonFor Ottawa Senators fans, the sting of their team’s first-round elimination is starting to fade. Soon, that disappointment will give way to excitement for the future, and much of that excitement centers around young NHL prospects.

Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars, 4 points

With 30 goals (Patrick Roy is scowling somewhere) and 82 points in 82 games, Duchene had the second-best season of his career. He has 4 assists but remains goalless in 10 playoff games so far.

As with Mark Stone, Ottawa traded Duchene at the 2019 deadline, and the deal was supposed to yield some key pieces for the Senators' rebuild. After Lassi Thomson left to sign in Sweden last spring, there's nothing left. The Senators effectively traded Duchene for three non-NHL players – the pick they used on Thomson, and forwards Jonathan Davidsson and Vitaly Abramov.

Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs

Still only 30, it's hard to believe this is a goalie who won back-to-back Cups. The Sens got him in 2020, just in time for his career meltdown, a run of injuries and eventual double hip surgery. But until Anthony Stolarz returns in Toronto, Murray is wearing the backup's ballcap on the Leafs' bench. Unless he doesn't feel good.

Vladislav Namestnikov, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points

A year after the Jets took DeMelo off Ottawa's hands for a third-rounder, they acquired Namestnikov from the Sens for a fourth-round pick. Again, the Sens made something of it, sending the pick to Nashville, straight up for Austin Watson.

Namestnikov isn't what you'd call an elite NHL player, but he manages to have an impact on whatever line the Jets need him to play on. Three months ago, they rewarded him with a two-year, $6 million extension. He has 4 points in 10 games so far.

Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 8 points

We've saved the best for last (also an alphabetical coincidence). When the Sens traded away Mark Stone, it ended up being one of the worst trades in Sens history. They traded him with Tobias Lindberg to Vegas in exchange for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick, which became Egor Sokolov, who became Jan Jenik, who's now an RFA. If the Sens fail to qualify Jenik, that will be the end of the Stone trade tree. But let's be honest, the Ottawa branch on that tree began to wither the day it was planted. Unless you consider it a win to upgrade your Lindberg.

When Stone signed his long-term contract in Vegas, many pundits warned that the back half of that deal would eventually look terrible. Seven years into his eight-year deal, we're still waiting. The Vegas captain has 8 points in 9 playoff games.

So, there's the Big 10, still in hot pursuit of a Cup this year. While the hockey itself has been the star, it's still exciting to follow players like these and see the direction their careers have taken after their time in Ottawa.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

Welcome to a new set of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics with The Hockey News Wraparound.

Will The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: What’s been the most concerning part of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance in Games 3 and 4 against the Florida Panthers?

8:18: Will the Winnipeg Jets be able to shut down Mikko Rantanen?

12:15: Can the Edmonton Oilers overcome their goaltending struggles after a heartbreaking loss in Game 3 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights?

15:35: Has Frederik Andersen been the best goaltender of the Stanley Cup playoffs?

20:09: What to make of Connor Bedard’s decision not to join Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship

23:48: Could Joel Quenneville help the Anaheim Ducks potentially be competitive as soon as next season?

26:48: Will David Carle ever leave the NCAA to coach in the NHL?

29:06: Could Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom be the most sought-after prospect for NCAA teams this summer?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

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On Monday, RDS pointed out what had happened in the past when the Montreal Canadiens selected twice in the first round. While the Habs have sometimes struck gold, they’ve also had their fair share of “swing and a miss”. Let’s take a walk down memory lane…

 Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Lane Hutson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Goaltending Edition

2024: Ivan Demidov (fifth) and Michael Hage (21st)

It’s much too early to know how this double selection will pan out, but so far, so good. Demidov has made an impact since he joined the Canadiens at the tail end of the season, and Hage has had a great rookie season in the NCAA with Michigan, and he was named Big 10 Rookie of the Year.

2022: Juraj Slafkovsky (first) and Filip Mesar (16th)

Despite the criticism Slafkovsky has generated this season, 51 points in 79 games as a 21-year-old is pretty good. The young Slovak has already played 200 NHL games, and he’s still maturing. The future looks bright for the power forward. As for Mesar, he has yet to make a real impact in the AHL. After 45 games, he only has 19 points, but just like Slafkovsky, he’s still young.

2007: Ryan McDonagh (12th) and Max Pacioretty (22nd)

McDonagh is the one that got away, an incredibly talented young defenseman. He was sacrificed to obtain forward Scott Gomez and had a great career. 1010 NHL games, 420 points, two Stanley Cups, and he wore the “C” for the New York Rangers, no need to say which team won that trade.

Pacioretty has played 939 NHL games, 681 points, worn the “C” for the Canadiens, and landed them their current captain, Nick Suzuki. Those two picks were a home run. It's a shame that one of the two players never suited up for the Sainte-Flanelle.

2001: Mike Komisarek (seventh) and Alexander Perezhogin (25th)

Komisarek looked very good patrolling the Canadiens’ blueline with Andrei Markov. Still, once he went off on his own, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent, his play dropped dramatically. Did he miss Markov, or did Milan Lucic “break him” in that fight? We’ll never know.

As for Perezhogin, he skated with the Canadiens in parts of two seasons, playing 128 games and picking up 34 points before deciding to head back to Russia.

2000: Ron Hainsey (13th) and Marcel Hossa (16th)

Hainsey played 1132 games in the NHL, putting up 311 points and picking up 443 penalty minutes, but only 32 were played with the Sainte-Flanelle. No, he wasn’t traded…he was lost on waivers on Bob Gainey’s watch when the Columbus Blue Jackets picked him up.

Hossa lacked his brother Marian’s talent, and he was unable to establish himself in the NHL. He skated in 237 games and scored only 61 points.

1985: Jose Charbonneau (12th) and Tom Chorske (16th)

The PQ-born Charbonneau looked good in the LHJMQ and the minors, but he couldn’t jump to the pros, playing 71 games in the NHL, and ended his career in the German league.

Meanwhile, Chorske was packaged with Stephane Richer and sent to the New Jersey Devils for Rolland Melanson and Kirk Muller, who was a key cog in the Canadiens' 1993 championship. Chorske won his own Stanley Cup with the Devils a couple of years later, however, and hung up his skates after 596 NHL games.

1984: Petr Svoboda (fifth) and Shayne Corson (eighth)

Svoboda skated with the Canadiens for eight seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 1985-86 and playing 1028 games with the Habs, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Corson missed out on both the 23rd and 24th Stanley Cups. He hadn’t made the team for the former, and he was packaged to the Edmonton Oilers for Vincent Damphousse before the latter. Still, he would be back in Montreal for a second tour of duty when the Habs brought him back in the Pierre Turgeon trade with the St. Louis Blues.

1981: Mark Hunter (seventh), Gilbert Delorme (18th), and Jan Ingman (19th)

Hunter spent four seasons in Montreal but couldn’t make much of an impact. He was traded to the Blues in a big swap of picks and would come out of his shell there before beating the Canadiens in the 1989 Stanley Cup final as a member of the Calgary Flames. He ended his career after 628 NHL games in which he scored 384 points.

A right-shot defenseman, Delorme played for two seasons with the Canadiens before moving to St. Louis with Doug Wickenheiser and Greg Paslawski for Perry Turnbull. These days, Delorm is still a panelist on RDS’s Antichambre.

Ingman was drafted but never came to this side of the pond, electing to stay in the Swedish league, Farjestads BK Karlstad.

It remains to be seen if the Canadiens will use the two picks they currently hold in the first round, but one thing’s for sure: drafting is far from an exact science.

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

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The Buffalo Sabres have a number of roster dilemmas to address this summer, and the players whose contracts are up pose the biggest problem for GM Kevyn Adams. Defenseman Bowen Byram, who scored a career-high 38 points playing a good chunk of the season with Rasmus Dahlin, is someone with the talent to be a #1 defenseman, but may see his path to that role blocked by Dahlin and Owen Power. 

The Sabres acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche last March for center Casey Mittelstadt. That deal was partly made because Mittelstadt was an RFA one year away from hitting the open market, and Buffalo did not want to extend Mittelstadt after signing Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens to long-term deals. Byram still had a year left on a deal signed with the Avs and two years before qualifying for unrestricted free agency. 

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

The 23-year-old has encountered injuries throughout his young career, but played a full 82 games last season, which was important for him going into a contract year. Byram’s situation in Buffalo is up in the air, because he never fully realize his full potential playing behind or with a pair of top overall picks signed to long term deals. 

Excited to welcome Bowen Byram to the #QuartexxFamily ❗️🤝 pic.twitter.com/LY3XcCpEyF

— Quartexx Hockey (@QuartexxHockey) May 9, 2025

"I've been lucky enough to come in and get a really good opportunity and play important minutes and meaningful minutes, and I've really enjoyed that. I've taken some strides in my game, and I'll continue to try to improve and turn it to be the best version of myself as possible." Byram said at locker cleanout last month. "I'll talk to my camp (about a new contract)  and talk to Kevin, and we'll figure out what the next step is. I'm excited for that process."

Byram recently switched to Darren Ferris, the same agent as Toronto’s Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner is likely to go this summer. The blueliner is eligible for salary arbitration this summer, and could choose to slow walk the Sabres and sign another bridge deal, but with Adams and Buffalo looking to make a move to end their long playoff drought, there has been increasing speculation that the Vancouver native could be moved in a trade before next season.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will be a game-time decision after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3, and defenseman Brayden McNabb should be good to play after receiving a maintenance day.

Stone did not play the final two periods of Game 3, which saw the Golden Knights miraculously score with 0.4 seconds remaining. He likely suffered the injury in the first period when he fell to the ice and collided with Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry's leg. In this morning's practice, the 32-year-old skated in his usual spot on the top line and the first power play unit.

Stone's participation is an indicator that whatever he is hampered by will not keep him out of the lineup, despite his listing as day-to-day.

McNabb was a surprise addition to the lineup for Game 3. The 33-year-old was the victim of a gruesome-looking fall after he was tripped by Viktor Arvidsson in overtime. He did not practice beforehand, and all signs pointed towards his absence. It was a major shock when he appeared on the ice for warmups. 

The Golden Knights are once again in need of a win, and retaining these two veterans should help them feel more secure defensively. With the series lead cut in half, the Golden Knights aren't in a do-or-die situation or must-win territory, but falling behind three games to one is never the situation a team wants to be in. Finding any way to secure a win should help shift the momentum back into the hands of the Golden Knights. 

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.

NHL Player Safety has announced that former Carolina Hurricanes forward Max Domi has been fined $5,000 for boarding Aleksander Barkov during the Toronto Maple Leafs' Game 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers on May 12. This is the most Domi could have been fined under the current CBA.

The incident occurred in the final seconds of Game 4 between the Maple Leafs and Panthers. While both teams were battling for the puck, Domi hit Barkov from behind into the boards. For the hit, Domi was handed a five-minute major for boarding at the 20:00 mark of the third period.

Max Domi has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for boarding Aleksander Barkov pic.twitter.com/o2BQ6pKtLb

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 12, 2025

Domi is known for being a gritty player, but the former Hurricanes forward took it too far with this hit on Barkov. Because of it, he has now been fined.

Domi, 30, was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2021-22 season in a three-team trade involving the Panthers. In 19 regular-season games with the Hurricanes following the move, he posted two goals, seven points, 18 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating. He also appeared in 14 playoff games for the Hurricanes in 2022, recording three goals, six points, and a plus-6 rating.

Domi's time with the Hurricanes ended during the 2022 NHL off-season when he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in free agency.

Recent Hurricanes News 

Former Hurricanes Forward Is Red-Hot Right NowThe Winnipeg Jets fell to the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their second matchup by a 5-2 final score. With this, the Jets are now down 2-1 in the series and will aim to tie it back up on the road in Game 4. While the Jets lost, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter did his part to try to get them a victory.  Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 4After a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a big way in Game 3. The Hurricanes put together a strong effort in Game 3, defeating the Capitals by a 4-0 final score. Hurricanes Legend Eric Staal Lands Exciting New GigThe Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have hired Carolina Hurricanes legend Eric Staal as special assistant to the general manager.

Canadian defenseman Nicolas Mattinen, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Adler Mannheim, the DEL club announced on Monday.

It will be Mattinen’s second tour of duty in Germany after spending last season in the AHL.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be wearing the Adler jersey next season,” Mattinen is quoted in a club press release. “It feels great to be returning to Germany. I want to do my part to contribute to what will hopefully be a successful season and am very excited to meet everyone and start working in August.”

“We are grateful that Nicolas has decided to return from North America and join our team,” said Dallas Eakins, Mannheim’s sports manager and head coach. “He’s a proven scorer in the league and brings size and attitude. We look forward to seeing him on the ice in our colors soon.”

A native of Orleans, Ont., Mattinen played junior hockey for the London Knights, Flint Firebirds, Hamilton Bulldogs and Oshawa Generals, winning two OHL titles along the way and was a member of London’s 2015-16 Memorial Cup championship team, although he missed the final tournament with an injury.

The 6-foot-5, 216-pound Mattinen was drafted in the sixth round, 179th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play three years for the University of Ottawa, however, before finally turning pro in 2022 at age 24.

Former Leafs, Lightning D-Man Returns Home To Sweden Swedish defenseman Andreas Borgman, 29, has signed a three-year contract to play with HV71, the Jönköping-based SHL club announced on Tuesday.

Mattinen played for Villacher EV in 2022-23, winning the ICEHL’s top defenseman award, and then played for the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in 2023-24, where he won the league’s top defenseman and MVP awards. Mattinen signed a contract with Mannheim in the summer of 2024 but exercised an escape clause when he had the chance to sign with Toronto.

Last season, Mattinen played only 22 games for the Toronto Marlies, recording four assists and eight penalty minutes. He has seven points and 12 penalty minutes in 30 career AHL games.

Toronto retains his NHL rights.

Last season, Mannheim finished fourth in the DEL regular season and was swept by eventual champion Eisbären Berlin in the semifinals. In addition to Mattinen, Mannheim also has ex-NHLers Tom Künhackl, John Gilmour, Kristian Reichel and Marc Michaelis under contract for the 2025-26 season.

Kristian Reichel leaves Winnipeg for Adler MannheimKristian Reichel is moving on from the Winnipeg Jets organization where he’s spent the past six seasons, signing a three-year contract with German club Adler Mannheim.

Maple 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.

Max Domi, in the dying seconds of the game, with a loose puck along the boards, checked Aleksander Barkov from behind. A larger scrum followed, with several Panthers players jumping on Domi for the hit to their captain.

Domi was assessed a five-minute boarding major on the play and received a $5,000 fine by NHL Player Safety the morning after. At the time of publishing, no other fines or suspensions have come from Sunday night's game.

On Monday morning, before the fine was levied, Berube gave his perspective on the Domi hit on Barkov: "Whatever. That's League's stuff," he said. "To me, the (Dmitry) Kulikov hit on (Mitch) Marner was 10 times worse."

'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.

What Berube is referring to is Kulikov's elbow to the head of Marner during the second period. Marner, after looking dazed for a brief second, glanced at an official to see if there'd be a penalty called.

In the end, there was no penalty to Kulikov for the hit. Did Berube at least get an explanation as to why it wasn't a penalty?

"No," he smiled.

Toronto gave Florida six power play opportunities during Sunday's loss, four in the first period alone. The Maple Leafs killed the first three penalties before Carter Verhaeghe scored following Oliver Ekman-Larsson's delay of game call.

'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 wasn't Toronto's best game of the playoffs; however, they're going home with the series tied at two. If you like to look at things from a glass-half-full approach, that's a positive.

But the Maple Leafs need to keep up with Florida's pace and style of play. Toronto outhit (47-40) and outblocked (18-12) Florida in Game 4, indicating they can remain in the physical battles.

The toughest games are still ahead, though. The Maple Leafs need to continue showing they can stand up to the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

'Big Goal's Coming': Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube Dismisses Concerns Over Auston Matthews’ Playoff Goal DroughtFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Through the first four games of the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round series with the Florida Panthers, Auston Matthews has been held off the score sheet. And it certainly hasn't been due to a lack of chances.

"We expected it, and I think we're fine with it," Berube said of the temperature rising in the series. "We're handling it, we're physical. I thought we were the more physical team last night."

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The physicality and nastiness of the second-round series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs has been steadily increasing.

During Sunday’s Game 4, there were several big hits, some that led to penalties and some that did not.

A high elbow from Dmitry Kulikov that caught Mitch Marner in the head went uncalled and drew the ire of Toronto’s bench.

Kulikov lands a high elbow on Marner pic.twitter.com/Xtf3d0kSUb

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 12, 2025

Marner, to his credit, seemed fine and continued on in the game.

Florida’s Evan Rodrigues left the game early after taking a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson during the third period that initially was called a major penalty before officials downgraded it to a minor. Nevertheless, it was one of several nasty hits that the Cats and Leafs were laying on one another.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is handed a 2 minute minor for interference on Evan Rodrigues 🫣 pic.twitter.com/U7Xa9Ux8IH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 12, 2025

Later in the game, as the clock was about to expire on Florida’s 2-0 victory that evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece, the puck was being tied up in the corner to the right of Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

As players battled for the puck, Toronto’s Max Domi lined up Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov and drilled him from behind and into the boards, a very dangerous play.

Domi received a five-minute major for boarding at the 20:00 mark of the game.

It took the NHL Department of Player Safety just over 12 hours to come to a decision regarding the hit, fining Domi $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.

Toronto’s Max Domi has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for boarding Florida’s Aleksander Barkov.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 12, 2025

The bad blood between the two teams will have a couple days to simmer, as Game 5 isn’t until Wednesday night in Toronto.

With the series now a best-of-three, there should be no shortage of intensity, physicality and drama.

We'll see if either team responds to the nasty hits laid out during Game 4. 

Buckle up!

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EDMONTON – Ruh-oh.

The injury surrounding the Edmonton Oilers and Calvin Pickard may have gone from bad to worse. 

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

According to an NHL insider, the original diagnosis suggested that the veteran goalie was day-to-day with his injury, which may extend longer than expected. 

While appearing on Edmonton Sports Talk, Darren Dreger reported that, "I'm told it’ll probably be at least a week.”

"I'm told it`ll probably be at least a week..."@DarrenDreger on Calvin Pickard

— Lieutenant Eric (@Lieutenant_Eric) May 12, 2025

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Bad News For The Oilers

This is (obviously) less than ideal for the Oilers. Pickard recorded six straight wins, leading the team past the Los Angeles Kings in round one, and giving them a 2-0 head start on the Vegas Golden Knights before going down with an injury. 

In the six games that he started, Pickard made big saves at key moments. The Oilers have played steadily all year with Pickard in the net.

Stuart Skinner's Time To Shine

It's now or never for Stuart Skinner. The Edmonton-born native returned to the net for Game 3. He performed admirably despite allowing four goals on 24 shots.

When speaking about Skinner’s performance after the game, head coach Kris Knoblauch offered his thoughts.

“It’s a tough situation,” Knoblauch said to reporters after Game 3. “I think he made some really big saves, especially early in the game (and) On the penalty kill.”

“I don’t think there’s any bad goals. We put him out in difficult situations to defend.”

The Oilers will need to batten down the hatches and attack the Golden Knights with full force to win their second-round series. With this new injury news, they need to band together and not default to their goaltender's play—no matter who is in the net.

Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Less than a week ago, I wrote that two former Montreal Canadiens players had led the Toronto Maple Leafs in a big win against the Florida Panthers. Max Pacioretty and Max Domi played essential roles that night, notching a goal and an assist each.

Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Lane Hutson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Goaltending Edition

On Sunday night, however, as the Leafs were blanked 2-0 by the Cats, Toronto’s players were frustrated, which is normal. Nobody wants to be shut out, even less so when only managing 23 shots on goal.

Tempers can run high in the playoffs, but that’s no justification for Domi's hit on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov. The pivot faced the boards with the seconds trickling down on game four. There was nothing left to play for when the Leafs’ second-generation pest spotted him from far away and ran him from behind.

Barkov was propelled into the boards, head first, and understandably stayed down. Domi was assessed a five-minute major for boarding, but the game had already ended. There was no rhyme or reason to that hit at that stage of the game.

To those who will use the tried-and-tested line of “he was sending them a message for the next game,” I will reply that the only thing he did with this dangerous hit was to give the Panthers a big injection of motivation, as if they needed it.

On Florida’s bench, Matthew Tkachuk was talking with the Toronto bench, and with the wink he made, you know he’s put them on notice that there will be payback in game five.

Another look at the absolutely DIRTY hit from Max Domi on Sasha Barkov as time expires

Absolutely dirty. No respect for the Florida Panthers captain.

How many games suspension will Domi get for this hit? pic.twitter.com/AhFa5xzy55

— Adam (@AGBRSports) May 12, 2025

The Leafs are a very talented team, but their big guns will always come second when it’s time to play a physical game. Targeting the Panthers' captain that way was a dangerous hit and a grave tactical error by the former Hab.

Regardless of whether the Department of Player Safety decides to examine the play and issue further discipline on Domi, he has put his team in a precarious position. He’s not the one who will be headhunted; Toronto’s top players will be. While the Leafs have a few big guns, one being injured wouldn’t do them any good as they finally try to win a second-round series.

It's a shame that Domi needs to make that kind of play; he’s a very good hockey player when he puts his mind to it. In the 153 games he played with the Canadiens, he scored 116 points, including a fantastic first season that yielded 72 points and 24 even-strength goals. That season wasn’t a fluke. The talent is there, but he needs to stop getting in his way.

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Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Tempers flared at the end of Game 4 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers. 

In the dying seconds of the contest, Leafs center Max Domi hit Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov into the boards, which sparked a violent scrum. Domi received a major penalty for boarding.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the NHL’s Department of Player Safety is looking into Domi’s hit, especially because it was delivered very late in the game. He added these “message sending plays” are an area of focus in the collective bargaining agreement.

LeBrun’s predicts Domi won’t receive a suspension, but a fine isn’t out of the question.

Panthers center Sam Bennett and coach Paul Maurice reacted to the hit. 

“Trying to take a run at ‘Barky’ at the end there,” Bennett told reporters. “It’s been a physical series, so I expect more of that.”

Added Maurice: “The league looks at those things very closely, especially at that point in the game.”

During the aftermath of the Domi hit, Panthers right winger Matthew Tkachuk appeared to mouth off to the Leafs bench, specifically at Toronto’s leading scorer, William Nylander.

Reporters asked Nylander about this post-game. 

“He’ll probably do whatever he can do to get a player off their game,” Nylander said. “Next game’s going to be a fun one.”

The Domi hit was just a snippet of what transpired throughout Game 4. There were plenty of hard hits and penalties during the contest.

Can Someone Please Tell Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews There's A Playoff Series Going On?Can someone please let the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews know that there’s a playoff series going on that desperately needs his help.

It started early in the game when the Maple Leafs handed the Panthers four power-play opportunities in the first period. Florida eventually capitalized on one of them, which was the only goal of the game until the third period.

“We don’t need to take those (penalties),” Leafs coach Craig Berube told reporters post-game. “Hookings and interference, we got to be better – we’ll be smarter than that.”

Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson took two minor penalties, including an interference penalty that sent Florida left winger Evan Rodrigues to the dressing room. Maurice said Rodrigues will need further evaluation before determining his status for the next game.

Panthers D-man Dmitry Kulikov also appeared to elbow Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner in the back of the head. There was no penalty on the play.

"To me, the Kulikov hit on Marner was 10 times worse," Berube said Monday morning.

Despite this being Toronto’s second straight loss of the series, its mindset is the same as it’s been all playoffs.

“(At) 2-2, it’s going to be a long series – that’s our mindset,” Nylander said.

Added Leafs captain Auston Matthews: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We’re playing the defending Cup champs. They’re a good team. Both teams took care of home ice, so here we are.”

Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

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