May 7, 2025 - Abbotsford Centre – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada- The Abbotsford Canucks are set to host Pacific Northwest rivals, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, in a pivotal Game 3 of Round 2 in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs. Abbotsford is chasing its first Division Final appearance since relocating in 2021, while the Firebirds — led by Head Coach Derek Laxdal — are gunning for a third consecutive trip to the Calder Cup Final.

Projected Lines For Tonight!

FIREBIRDS STARTING LINEUP

1st Period:

Scoreless after 8 minutes of play. Firebirds kill a power play after Ville Ottavainen is called for slashing. Ottavainen was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in 2021, Round: 4 (#99).

Penalty called on Vancouver’s Victor Mancini for cross checking on Logan Morrison resulting in several shots on Artūrs Šilovs, but no goal. Firebirds are 0-2 on PP approaching the 9 minute mark.

Firebirds are showing great physicality and leading with 8 shots on goal. Vancouver get their first shot and first goal by Nate Smith, his second goal of the playoffs. 

A late goal by Vancouver’s Kirill Kudryavtsev stuns Firebirds’ Nikke Kokko giving the Canucks a 2-0 lead with 23 seconds late on the clock. This is Kudryavtsev’s first career playoff goal.

At the end of the first Coachella has 12 shots on goal, Abbotsford 5. 

2nd Period:

Canucks turned up the pressure on Kokko coming off the first intermission break. Cole McWard gets a little too aggressive with Jacob Melanson resulting in a holding penalty giving the Firebirds the chance at a power play goal. The ‘Birds tally 2 shots, but no points.

Kokko, making his fifth start of the season, looked a bit shaky at first, but settled in during the middle frame. With 6:38 to go it’s still scoreless with Canucks not connecting to the back of the net. 17-13 Firebirds- with shots on goal.

Ville Ottavainen picked up his second penalty of the night for high-sticking, but the Firebirds held off the Canucks. 

Tempers flare between Nate Smith and Ryan Winterton who get in a scuffle behind Vancouver’s net, but no penalties called on either player. With time running out the Firebirds pepper Silovs who stood firm in the crease. The period ends 2-0 Vancouver.

3rd Period:

Ryan Winterton scores his second goal of the series at 16:36 putting one the board for the Firebirds.

LET'S GOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/1FTfxSm3Ji

— x - Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) May 8, 2025

Kokko briefly loses his stick amid heavy traffic, but holds firm until a glove save stops play.

Some pushing and shoving as both teams feel the pressure to score in this crucial Game 3.

Tye Mueller makes a break down center ice, but his play is broken up by Kokko and Luke Henman who is charged with hooking creating the power play for Vancouver with 4:49 left on the clock.

The Firebirds are struggling to connect under relentless pressure from the Canucks. A miscommunication sees Kokko race to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Canucks pounce on the mistake and bury the empty-net goal by Phillip DiGiuseppe. 

EMPTY NET 🚨 FOR PHILLIP DI GIUSEPPE@abbycanucks | @Canucks#AHL#CalderCup#ProudlyAbbotsford#Canuckspic.twitter.com/T1fbt8wiyH

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) May 8, 2025

A late rush by the Firebirds yields nothing as the Canucks defeat the Firebirds 3-1 and take the lead in the series. The Canucks are one win away from heading to the finals to face the Colorado Eagles.

Final shots on goal : CV 26 / ABB 23

____________________________________________________________________________

Games Remaining (Best-of-Five Series):

• Friday, May 9: CV at Abbotsford (7:00 p.m. PT)
• *Sunday, May 11 (if necessary): CV at Abbotsford (7:00 p.m. PT)

Puck Drop: 7PM PST

Broadcast Info: FloHockey.tv, Stanza

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Series Recap & Milestones — Firebirds:

• This is the first-ever postseason meeting between Coachella Valley and Abbotsford.
• The Firebirds (the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken) took the first three regular-season matchups, while the Canucks won the finale.
• John Hayden was a standout in the team's Calgary series, logging heavy minutes, scoring twice, and leading with grit.
• Former Cup-winner Mitchell Stephens added three goals, including the Game 2 winner.
• Rookie goaltender Nikke Kokko starred with 36 saves in Game 1 and a 23-save shutout in Game 2 — his first of the season.

Players to Watch — Firebirds:

• Jani Nyman ranks 4th in power-play goals (9 in 58 games played).
• Ty Nelson ranks 5th in total shots with 147 (in 72 games played).

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Series Recap & Milestones — Canucks:

• Abbotsford, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, finished second in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference with 92 points.
• The Canucks scored 241 goals (4th in the AHL) and allowed 204 (10th in the league).
• Arshdeep Bains led the team with 43 AHL points and also appeared in 13 NHL games.
• Sammy Blais added 40 points in 51 games and scored in every game of the Tucson series, netting three goals.
• Right winger Danila Klimovich completed his fourth season in Abbotsford as the team’s leading goal scorer (25). At just 22, he already has 89 career AHL points.
• In goal, Arturs Silovs posted a 14–5–1 record with a 2.41 GAA in 21 AHL games, along with 10 NHL appearances (2–6–1) with Vancouver.

Players to Watch — Canucks:

• Christian Wolanin ranks 15th among the AHL's top 20 defensemen with 40 points in 58 games (4G/36A).

Related

Kraken Goalie Is Youngest Debut In The NHL For 2024-2025 Season.Goalie Nikke Kokko was called up from the Coachella Valley Firebirds to play in net for the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night in St. Louis. The 6'3", 184 lb, 2022 NHL draft pick from Oulu, Finland, is the youngest goalie to make his NHL debut this season at 20 years and 347 days old.

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

With a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.

After the results of Monday's draft lottery, the Penguins will officially select 11th overall, dropping down two spots from where they originally were at ninth. As such, we have compiled a list of potential draft prospects that should fall around the Penguins' selection. 

We recently profiled center Jake O'Brien and forward Victor Eklund. Next up? Defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson.

Penguins Drop Two Slots In NHL Draft, Will Pick 11th OverallIn past draft lotteries, the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their fair share of luck.

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Kashawn Aitcheson

DOB: Sept. 21, 2006
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 198 pounds
Team: Barrie Colts (OHL)  

One of the Penguins' biggest problem areas in the last handful of years has been their backend. They have largely lacked a shutdown defenseman to pair with their high-risk offensive blueliners, and they also haven't had a bona fide two-way defenseman. 

There's no guarantee at all that "old-time" blueliner Kashawn Aitcheson would be able to fill either of those roles in any capacity for the Penguins in the future. 

But as far as blueliners go, he - by our estimation - truly is one of the best of this draft class.

Aitcheson - who hails from Toronto - is known, first and foremost, for his physical game and his "meanness." He's good in front of the net, isn't afraid to take the body, can box out opponents, and plays much bigger than his size in general. He took a whopping 126 penalty minutes in 64 games in 2023-24 but cut that down a bit to 88 last season.

The young blueliner surely isn't afraid to muck it up. He plays an in-your-face style, and he's a thorn in the side of opponents.

But, perhaps, the biggest development in Aitcheson's game has been on the offensive side. He's good in the transition game and sees the ice well, and he isn't afraid to take matters into his own hands and go 200 feet, either.

And last season's production matches the growth in his offensive game. After recording eight goals and 39 points in 64 games during the 2023-24 season, Aitcheson broke out this season, putting up 26 goals and 59 points in the same number of games. 

That goal total is hardly coincidental, too. Aitcheson has a booming shot, making him a weapon on the power play and from the point in the offensive zone. He ended up seventh overall in OHL scoring among defensemen - finishing one point behind Penguins' prospect Emil Pieniniemi - and he was third in goals among blueliners behind only Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson, both of whom were already drafted by the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks, respectively, in 2024.

2025 NHL Draft: You Will Love Kashawn Aitcheson – As Long As He's On Your TeamThe 2025 NHL draft prospect from OHL Barrie is a throwback defenseman who punishes the opposition and doesn't mind dropping the gloves.

Aitcheson will have to make some improvements to his first-step and decision-making if he is to make an impact at the NHL level, but he certainly has the foundational toolset to be a legitimate two-way defenseman when all is said and done. 

Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas has reiterated that he wants to improve the left side on defense organizationally. While he may look to the restricted free agent market for a serviceable left defenseman, he can also draft a pretty high-ceiling one if the Penguins land on Aitcheson.

All in all, expect Aitcheson to be taken within the top-15 after the season he had with the Colts. If he is available at 11th overall, the Penguins would be wise to strongly consider taking a chance on him, as they need as much defensive depth as possible in their farm system.

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Victor EklundWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

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After not renewing the contract of GM Lou Lamoriello late last month, the New York Islanders entered a period of transition.

But after winning the NHL’s draft lottery Monday night and capturing the first overall pick in this summer’s NHL draft, the Islanders likely won’t have to suffer for as long as some less-fortunate franchises will. And consequently, whoever replaces Lamoriello in the GM role will get a very attractive position.

The Islanders' GM job always has a higher profile than many GM jobs around the league. Being in the greater New York City area puts the Isles in the spotlight. The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner also mentioned it’s an appealing position for former GMs to get back in the role or a stepping stone for people who haven’t been GM before.

A report in the Athletic has identified a couple of candidates who could be front-runners for the role – former Montreal Canadiens GM and current L.A. Kings executive Marc Bergevin is one of them, as is former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland. 

But make no mistake – the Islanders winning the draft lottery puts more shine on the team’s bumper than picking ninth or 10th overall. It makes the future much clearer for the Islanders.

Many hockey observers – including The Hockey News draft experts Ryan Kennedy and Tony Ferrari – project the Islanders to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer this summer. Bringing in a foundational blueliner gives the Isles exactly what they need – a bedrock asset with star potential the organization hasn’t had much of since they made center John Tavares the first-overall selection in 2009.

New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.

With Schaefer in tow, the Islanders can press fast-forward on their retool, and what GM candidate wouldn’t want to be part of that process? They can select a new prospect who should lead the ‘D’ corps with or without No. 1 D-man Noah Dobson for the next decade-and-a-half, and they’ll have the financial resources to add to the group in free agency and trades this summer.

The Islanders have $28.3 million in cap space this summer, with about 14 players on their active roster under contract and seven RFAs to re-sign, including Dobson. With the opportunity to select Schaefer on the table, and with center Mat Barzal being at the beginning of his prime years, the Islanders can build a younger core that learns from their aging veterans, gets competitive experience and takes over once those veterans move on.

While the Islanders needed lottery luck to have this positive spin put on their team-building situation, who cares how they got it? All that matters is that they got it and didn’t have to tank in the process.

Matthew Schaefer Should Be No. 1, But Will He Be In The NHL Next Season?The New York Islanders earned the right to select Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the popular front-runner to go No. 1 in the draft when they won the NHL draft lottery Monday night.

In many ways, NHL GMs are no different than the rest of us – we’ve all got relatively short patience spans. If we have to suffer standing in a long lineup outside a chic club, we’ll suffer to try to get in. But if there’s a way that we can jump the line and get into that club right away, we’d be fools not to take it. That’s the situation the Islanders are in. They just had the hockey gods smile upon them, and they can go about their business knowing a valuable asset fell into their lap.

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The Vegas Golden Knights held a full-team practice this morning, but were not accompanied by forward Pavel Dorofeyev and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.

Dorofeyev has been considered day-to-day since suffering an undisclosed injury in Game 5 of the Golden Knights' first-round series against the Minnesota Wild. It's been eight days since he last skated, but the team insists on labelling him day-to-day.

For Pietrangelo, the 35-year-old, was forced to miss Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers with an illness and was also absent from this morning's practice. He, too, is considered day-to-day.

With Pietrangelo out, Kaedan Korczak stepped into the lineup, playing alongside Nicolas Hague. Like every Golden Knight, Korczak was shelled, losing the battle in shot attempts, shots on goal and expected goals when he was on the ice.

HC Bruce Cassidy did decide to change his lines once again, returning to a familiar setup. 

Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Saad-Hertl-Olofsson
Howden-Karlsson-Smith
Pearson-Roy-Kolesar

McNabb-Theodore
Hanifin-Whitecloud
Hague-Korczak

The Golden Knights are back in action on Thursday for Game 2.

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.

The Winnipeg Jets continue their quest for the Stanley Cup with a heavyweight second-round matchup against the Dallas Stars as they host Game 1 tonight at the Canada Life Centre. 

The Jets and Stars will receive reinforcements tonight by way of their top scorers. Mark Scheifele and Jason Robertson seem in line to return tonight. For Scheifele, it'll be his sixth appearance in the playoffs, missing the previous two games for the Jets. For Robertson, he'll be making his 2024-25 playoff debut, likely skating alongside Wyatt Johnston and Mason Marchment.

Unfortunately for both the Jets and Stars, their top defenseman will be out. Josh Morrissey is still considered a game-time decision, but this morning's line rushes indicate that he'll be out. For the Stars, HC Pete DeBoer has confirmed that Miro Heiskanen will remain out of the lineup. 

The Jets and Stars met four times this season, with the Jets winning the regular season series 3-1. Although they got the better of the Stars, the playoffs are a different beast, and anything can happen. 

Connor Hellebuyck, for example, was dynamite throughout the regular season but set an NHL record for the worst save percentage by a series-winning goaltender. Jake Oettinger, on the other hand, was terrific against a potent Colorado Avalanche team, posting a .911 SV% and 2.86 GAA. 

The winner of the series could be decided by which goaltender can step up more frequently.

Puck drop is set for 8:30 PM Central time at the Canada Life Centre.

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.

Line Combinations: Game 1 - Dallas Stars at Winnipeg JetsThe Winnipeg Jets will host the Dallas Stars in a Central Division showdown from Canada Life Centre in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It Took Some Time, But Jets' Cole Perfetti's Shooting Luck Has Finally ArrivedThrough the first five games of the opening round series against the St. Louis Blues, Cole Perfetti could not buy a goal, robbed by Jordan Binnington on multiple occasions, but as things tend to balance out, the Winnipeg Jets forward was finally rewarded for his hard work. 

If the Philadelphia Flyers are still assessing the trade market for their highly coveted top-six center, they will be privy to the fact that Marco Rossi is increasingly likely to be traded by the Minnesota Wild this summer.

But how has this dream scenario become a reality for the Flyers?

Rossi, 23, is a pending restricted free agent this summer, likely to command a big raise on the three-year entry-level contract that carried a total value of $2.59 million.

And despite his breakout 24-goal, 60-point campaign, the Wild eventually demoted Rossi to fourth line in the six-game first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup playoffs, then publicly declared a search to find help for their No. 1 center, Joel Eriksson-Ek.

“We’ll see what happens. There’s contract talks. There’s player movement — not just for Marco; for anybody," Wild GM Bill Guerin was quoted as saying of Rossi by The Athletic. "I’m not going to try to predict the future where I see this, I see that. I have to go through the process and see where it goes.”

As for Rossi? He's steadfast in his belief in himself, even if he knows he can't fully push back on Guerin or head coach John Hynes. That can be a slippery slope, even for the most even-keeled.

“As a player, you don’t always have to understand some decisions, but it’s important to respect those decisions," Rossi was quoted as saying by The Athletic. "I’ve showed all year long how good I am (...) And anyone who knows me, it’s always going up and I always improve, and especially with my work ethic. So I’ve no doubt, I’m for sure a top-six guy.”

And a top-six guy, like Rossi, is exactly what the Flyers need.

Jett Luchanko, the Flyers' 2024 first-round pick, is still just 18 years old. The Flyers could also use one of their 2025 first-round picks, sixth overall, to add another blue-chip center prospect.

At the same time, though, it is not realistic to expect Luchanko or any other prospects to play savior, jump into an NHL lineup in their teenage years, and begin producing at a high level.

Rossi, in his first year in the NHL in 2022-23, had an assist in 19 games. That was it.

And that leaves the Flyers in the predicament they're in.

They have Luchanko and they added the enigmatic 22-year-old college standout Karsen Dorwart, but the NHL center depth is currently constituted by Sean Couturier, Ryan Poehling, and Noah Cates. Beyond them is a total mystery, be it Luchanko, Dorwart, or someone else.

Completing a highly anticipated trade for a young player of Rossi's caliber instantly supercharges this motley crew of centers and gives the Flyers and immediate running mate down the middle for Matvei Michkov--someone who can genuinely think and creatively play the game on Michkov's level.

But, to get, you have to give. The Wild won't be giving Rossi away for free, even if their trade leverage seems frayed in the public sphere.

The Flyers have an overabundance of wingers and draft picks they can offer the Wild in exchange for the 5-foot-9 pivot.

One of three Flyers first-round picks in 2025 originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche, who were dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Dallas Stars. A draft pick in the low 20s is  good starting place.

Beyond that, Cates and Tyson Foerster are two top-nine caliber players who are pending restricted free agents this summer, like Rossi. Cates, 26, is a center and a Minnesota native, but plays a different style and has a different skillset than Rossi.

Another name to consider is the uber-talented Owen Tippett, who just had the least productive season (43 points, 20 goals) of his full-time NHL career while playing on the first year of the eight-year, $49.6 million contract he signed with the Flyers on Jan. 26, 2024.

Tippett, 26, will have a 10-team no-trade list kick in ahead of the 2026-27 season, so the Flyers will be hard-pressed to trade him then if things don't start to trend upwards. It is something they will have to consider.

Veteran Wild wingers Gustav Nyquist, Marcus Johansson, and Justin Brazeau will all be free agents this summer, and the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyout charges will drop from $7.371 million each to just $833k each.

In short, Minnesota is going to be in the hunt for younger, talented wingers, and they will finally have the funds to support their ambitions.

A trade between the Flyers and the Wild seems like a dream scenario for both sides, but only time will tell if the price is right for Marco Rossi.

St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong suggested on Wednesday that defenseman Torey Krug isn't expected to play in the NHL again due to an ankle injury that won't allow him to perform in the best league in the world.

That's sad, because anyone who has watched Krug over the years, knows it must be killing him inside to not be able to do what he has done so well for the Boston Bruinsand Blues since he came out of Michigan State University in the NCAA as an undersized, undrafted defenseman in 2012.

Despite being only 5-foot-9, Krug did not just survive in the NHL, but he thrived. And he gave every bit as well as he took. And he was able to do that because of a passion for the game and a level self-confidence that were both off the charts.

Watch today's video column for what made Krug such a good NHL player.

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When we think of NHL players returning from injury just in time to help their team in the playoffs, we usually think of Patrick Kane, Nikita Kucherov or Mark Stone. 

Those three players seem to evoke the most wrath from rival fan bases after their teams discovered new ways of pumping up their playoff rosters by leveraging long-term injured reserve to unprecedented levels.

Though he is still dealing with chronic issues, Stone only missed two games after Christmas this year. His 66 games played were the most for him since the year he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, 2018-19. And Vegas was pretty healthy this year. William Karlsson missed two months, but he was back by late March, just before Shea Theodore returned from the arm injury he suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Elsewhere, though, other teams got some big boosts from less-familiar faces in Round 1. Here’s a look at some of the most impactful injury returns:

Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche

His team didn’t advance, but Landeskog’s return after three grueling years of surgeries and rehab was the feel-good story of the first round. Best of all, the Colorado Avalanche captain played just like he always has, with an aggressive jolt of energy.

Landeskog averaged a solid 17:13 of ice time after his Game 3 return. He finished with four points and a plus-four over five games.

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers

A groin injury at the 4 Nations tournament ended Tkachuk’s regular season at 52 games. But the super-pest returned with a bang in Game 1, setting the tone for the Panthers with three power-play points on the way to a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning – in Tampa, no less.

Starting Round 2, Tkachuk saw a playoff-high 19:06 of ice time in Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s now up to six points in six games.

As for Matthew’s brother, Brady Tkachuk, his playoffs are over, but he collected seven points against the Leafs while battling a hip issue that had nagged him since 4 Nations and an upper-body problem that cost him eight games near the end of the year.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which East Teams Will Win Round 2? Expect A Leafs And Panthers Game 7The second round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs starts Monday, so it’s time to predict them.

Evander Kane, John Klingberg, Trent Frederic, Edmonton Oilers

After missing the entire regular season while he got a laundry list of ailments addressed, Kane added another threat to the Edmonton offense when he returned in Game 2 of the first round.

It didn’t take long for him to get his feet under him. He chipped in a goal and an assist to help the Oilers get their first win of the series in Game 3, added another in Game 5, and delivered the pass that set up the game-winner from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in Game 1 of the second round against Vegas.

If Kane’s return has been welcome, John Klingberg’s early contributions have been downright surprising. His 2023-24 season lasted barely a month before he was shut down for hip surgery, and when he signed with Edmonton in January, he managed just 11 regular-season games. But Klingberg also joined the Oilers’ series against the Kings in Game 2 and instantly formed an airtight shut-down defense pairing with Jake Walman.

Then there’s Trent Frederic, essentially acquired on spec from the Boston Bruins at the deadline while he was out with a lower-body issue. The big 27-year-old only logged 7:10 of ice time in one game with the Oilers before the end of the regular season. But he was ready for Game 1 and has brought a dose of bottom-six grit that the Oilers didn’t have elsewhere in their lineup.

Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars

Still no Miro Heiskanen for the Stars, but Jason Robertson could return from a Game 82 knee injury for Game 1 against Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Tyler Seguin has been chipping in, even though his body has been through some things over the last few years.

After essentially duct-taping himself together to get to the Stanley Cup final in the 2020 bubble, Seguin missed almost the entire 2020-21 season following hip surgery. This year, he went under the knife for a hip issue again in December, but he looked like he hadn’t missed a beat when he put up an assist in his return for the last game of the regular season.

In Round 1, Seguin averaged 14:55 a game and chipped in four points, including the overtime-winner in Game 3. 

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The San Jose Sharks lost out on the first overall selection in the recent draft lottery for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but they didn't slip any more than that, and have earned the right to select second overall after the New York Islanders won the prize of winning of selecting before anyone else.

However, it seems as though Mike Grier, Sharks' general manager, remains open to moving the selection for the right price.

Grier is still open to moving the 2nd overall pick. Same thing he said at exit interviews. Says the package has to make sense for the #SJSharks to move 2nd overall.

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) May 5, 2025

Moving out the second overall pick would cost a lot from any team looking to move up in the draft, but the Sharks could benefit either way. On one hand, moving the pick could bring them assets that help them immediately improve, but on the other, they could add another elite prospect that could help them become a contender in the future.

Time will tell what ends up happening, but it's good to know the Sharks are considering all options in hopes of climbing their way out of the bottom of the standings sooner rather than later.

San Jose Sharks Secure Second Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft LotteryIt is unbelievable but the San Jose Sharks didn't win the Draft Lottery Celebrini Gets Incredible Opportunity To Play With Crosby & MacKinnon At WorldsSan Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has an incredible opportunity ahead of him at the IIHF World Championships. Former Sharks Ceci, Granlund Move On To Second Round With Dallas StarsAs the first round of the playoffs comes to a close, the San Jose Sharks are more focused on the offseason and the upcoming draft lottery in hopes of earning the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. However, two former Sharks have moved on to the second round.

The Buffalo Sabres were expected to make some changes to their coaching and management staff in the wake of their 14th straight season missing the playoffs, and on Wednesday, the club announced the hiring of former Sabre Eric Staal as a special assistant to GM Kevyn Adams. 

The 18-year NHL veteran played the majority of his NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2006. He also played with the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers, and 32 games with the Sabres in 2020-21.

 “As I looked for ways to enhance our existing staff, I wanted to add somebody to our group that has a fresh perspective and the direct experience of winning at all levels of hockey,” Adams said in a press release. "Eric was one of the first people I thought of when I originally became general manager, so it is fitting that he is the first addition to our organization this offseason. He has done it all as a player, and I know his experience and knowledge will be invaluable to our team as we look to take the next step."

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The move marks the first made by the Sabres since the end of the regular season, but signifies that Adams position as the club’s GM is safe, since they are bringing in his teammate from the 2006 Cup-winning Hurricanes as an advisor. It is possible that Staal, with his long history and many connections in the league, is being brought in to help recruit players to Buffalo.  

“I loved my time in Buffalo, and as a player, I was lucky to get a small glimpse of what makes the city such a special place and a terrific sports town,” Staal said. “Throughout my career, I was fortunate to be on so many successful teams and I hope I can lean on some of those experiences to help the organization moving forward. I’m thankful to Kevyn for giving me this opportunity, and I’m eager to lend my experience to help in any way that I can."

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with a pick in each round. Leading up to the draft day, we at The Hockey News will be profiling a different prospect who the Canucks could take with each of their picks. Today's prospect is Brampton Steelheads goaltender Jack Ivankovic, who Vancouver could select 47th overall.

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Wild-Kings Trade From 2022 Shows The Risk The Canucks Could Be Taking If They Move Tom Willander During The 2025 Off-Season

Ivankovic is one of the top goaltenders available in this draft. Listed at 5'11", 170lbs, the 17-year-old had another strong season in the OHL, posting a record of 25-12-5 with the Steelheads. Ivankovic was also one of two goaltenders selected to participate in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, making 10 saves for the victory.

Despite only being 17, Ivankovic already has a long track record with Team Canada. He has won back-to-back U18 Gold Medals and was named the tournament's top goaltender this past year after posting a 6-0 record with a .961 save percentage. Ivankovic was also part of Canada's World Junior team in 2025, stopping 24 of 26 shots in his only game of the tournament. 

One of Ivankovic's biggest strengths is his composure in net. He is positionally sound and doesn't fold under pressure. Ivankovic can also read how situations develop and understands when he needs to hold onto pucks for whistles.

Another area where Ivankovic thrives is athleticism. His side-to-side movement is an asset, allowing him to make cross-crease saves. Ivankovic also has good net presence, which means he understands where he is in relation to the net and how he needs to adjust his positioning to block any openings. 

While Ivankovic is a high-end prospect, there will always be concerns due to his size. Since he is on the shorter side, he does get beat up high on occasion, which is something he needs to work on. That being said, he is bigger than Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, which shows that a path to the NHL is possible at his size.

After not drafting a goaltender for the last two drafts, 2025 is the perfect opportunity for the Canucks to add another keeper to the organization. With the right development path, Ivankovic could have a bright future, as he possesses a lot of the traits needed to succeed in the NHL. If he is still available at 47, he would be a smart selection by Vancouver.

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Hockey Slovakia released a list of 26 players that will be headed to Stockholm, Sweden for this year’s IIHF World Championship. It includes no full-time NHL players, most notably Juraj Slafkovský, whose decision not to play is covered in depth by Karine Hains on THN’s Montreal Canadiens site.

Players under NHL contracts that have played either most or all of the season in the AHL include goaltender Samuel Hlavaj of the Minnesota Wild, defenseman Samuel Kňažko of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and forwards Dalibor Dvorský of the St. Louis Blues, Samuel Honzek of the Calgary Flames, Martin Chromiak of the Los Angeles Kings and Adam Sýkora of the New York Rangers. Kňažko, whose Cleveland Monsters were just eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs, will meet the team in Stockholm.

Pavol Regenda, a San Jose Sharks prospect, is two games away from elimination with the San Jose Barracuda and, reportedly, will likely join the Slovaks if his AHL team is eliminated this round.

This will be the first World Championship since 2021 that the Slovaks have included KHL players on their roster. For three years, Hockey Slovakia refused to select any player from the Russian-based league for its national teams.

However, in a controversial reversal of policy, Slovakia chose three KHL players to its Olympic qualifying roster in August. One of those, defenseman Mário Grman, is on this team as well. One other has been selected to this team: Patrik Rybár, who was the starting goaltender on the 2022 Olympic bronze-medal team.

Interestingly, neither Martin nor Kristián Pospišil is on this team. Martin plays for Calgary, which missed the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Kristián won the Czech Extraliga championship as a member of Kometa Brno. Both brothers were vocal last year about their objection to allowing KHL players on the team, but both ultimately played in the Olympic qualifiers.

Other than AHL and KHL players, the roster includes 10 players from the Czech Extraliga, five from the domestic Slovak Extraliga and two from Switzerland’s National League.

Martin Pospíšil after Olympic qualifiers: “It was never anything against the players” from the KHL Martin Pospíšil was calm and reflective after Slovakia’s 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Sunday in Bratislava, which qualified the team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The Toronto Marlies announced they have signed forward Landon Sim to a one-year AHL deal for the 2025-26 season. 

Sim recorded 30 goals, 53 points, and 105 penalty minutes in 54 games for the OHL's London Knights this season and has nine goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games so far. 

The 20-year-old was a sixth round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2022 and became a free agent after going unsigned. 

The New Glasgow, NS., native has racked up 66 goals and 124 points in 213 career OHL games, all with London. 

🖊 News | We've signed forward Landon Sim to a 1-year contract.#LongLivepic.twitter.com/WcxXdmpblU

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) May 6, 2025

Sim helped the Knights win the OHL title last season and looks to do the same this season as they face the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL Finals beginning tomorrow. 

Check out The Hockey News Toronto Maple Leafs site for more information. 

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

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind goes back to May 7, 1983, when the New York Islanders' franchise legend carried them to the Stanley Cup final.

In Game 6 of the Wales Conference final against the Boston Bruins, Mike Bossy didn't just stop at a hat trick in a series-clinching game for the Islanders.

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.

ST. LOUIS -- When the puck deflected off the stick of Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti into the upper half of the net with 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation to stun the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round to tie the score 3-3, a game in which the Jets would win in double overtime, 4-3, it signified a painful reminder of an ail that haunted the Blues all season long.

Only this time, it ultimately cost them their terrific run at upending the Presidents' Trophy winners and their season.

Unfortunately for the Blues, they were no strangers to the goals against when the opposition pulled the goalie. They allowed a league-high 13 in the regular season and two on Sunday. It marked the third time this season in which the Blues allowed multiple goals in a game when the opposition pulled the goalie, the others being Jan. 20 in a 5-4 shootout win against the Vegas Golden Knights and April 5 in a 5-4 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

They were the only team in the NHL to allow more goals-against with the goalie pulled than they scored empty-net goals (13-11).

And that's why they were sitting at a podium discussing the end of their season rather than prepping for a second-round series against the Dallas Stars.

"Yeah, yeah, it's a tough feeling around the room right now," Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. "That's just the reality of it. When you're that close to advancing and playing another day, the reality of where we are today, it's not a good feeling. That's sports and sometimes you're on the wrong side of it and that night we were."

Despite the surge the Blues took from the 4 Nations Face-Off post-schedule to their run to the Stanley Cup playoffs and qualifying on the final day of the regular season for them, the stinging feeling in blowing a 3-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining was the leftover residue that was hard to shake on Tuesday and will take time to shed moving forward.

All they needed was one extra play in that last two minutes and it's a different story, but now that the bear in the room regarding 5-on-6 grew even larger, it has to be a point of emphasis for the coaching staff to make a marked improvement in this area, even though they were 10-0-3 in those games, meaning they only lost three points, which isn't as bad as it sounds.

"It does sting. It hurts more today than it did two days ago, to be honest," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on Tuesday. "But we will use it to grow. I'll make sure that we're better in pulled-goalie situations. That's my job. I'm going to make sure the plan is better, I'll study the teams that were the best at it (Winnipeg was No. 1 with one goal allowed, followed by the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers at two) and see what they do that is similar to our D-zone coverage so we can do it easily."

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong wasn't going to offer a knee-jerk reaction to one painful segment of what amounted to a season-ending game, but does realize it's something that needs to be alleviated if the Blues are going to ascend even higher.

"My job is to look at things from 30,000 feet, not one game, one shift, one two-minute segment," Armstrong said. "That's all I can think about right now is one two-minute segment, but I do have to look at the year in its totality.

"... We ended up extremely disappointed in how that ended. The way this ended bothered me a little bit because it was a pattern of how games ended for us. It's not a pattern that we want to continue and if we're here next December and we're talking about the same issue, I'll have to go back to the old quote machine and bring back the killer instinct quote that my wife hates. But we have to find that back in us again. We have to be able to close out games. We've done the research on where we fit in the league 5-on-6, last in the league, only team in the league 5-on-6 that had a negative goal-for differential. Those are small things that make a huge difference."

And on the flip side, the Blues scored just seven goals when they pulled the goalie and made it 6-on-5 (two while on a power play at 6-on-4) and allowed 12 into an empty net. So just a small percentage of each of these stats and we could be talking about a third-place or possibly a second-place finish in the Central Division instead of being a wild card and another opponent.

But such is life and now they have an idea of one of the parts to the game that needs to change in a big way for 2025-26.

> Blues goals-against 5-on-6 (13):

* Nov. 21 vs. San Jose Sharks -- Alexander Wennberg, 19:51; led 2-1, won 3-2 in a shootout

* Dec. 3 at Winnipeg Jets -- Mark Scheifele, 15:45; led 3-0, won 4-1

* Dec. 10 at Vancouver Canucks -- Jake DeBrusk, 18:08; led 3-2, won 4-3 in overtime

* Jan. 20 at Vegas Golden Knights -- Jack Eichel, 16:50; led 4-2, won 5-4 in a shootout

* Jan. 20 at Golden Knights -- Pavel Dorofeyev, 19:30; led 4-3, won 5-4 in a shootout

* Dec. 4 vs. Edmonton Oilers -- Leon Draisaitl, 17:46; led 2-1, lost 3-2 in overtime

* Feb. 22 vs. Jets -- Gabriel Vilardi, 19:32; led 3-2, lost 4-3 in a shootout

* March 7 at Anaheim Ducks -- Alex Killorn, 19:17; led 4-2, won 4-3

* March 20 vs. Canucks -- Brock Boeser, 19:56; led 3-2, won 4-3 in overtime

* April 3 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins -- Rutger McGroarty, 19:35; led 4-3, won 5-4 in overtime

* April 5 vs. Colorado Avalanche -- Nathan MacKinnon, 17:42; led 4-2, won 5-4

* April 5 vs. Avalanche -- Sam Malinski, 19:51; led 5-3, won 5-4

* April 9 at Oilers -- Viktor Arvidsson, 1:41 of third period (came on delayed penalty); tied 2-2, lost 4-3

> Blues empty-net goals-for 5-on-6 (11):

* Oct. 24 at Toronto Maple Leafs -- Dylan Holloway, 16:42; led 3-1, won 4-1

* Nov. 2 vs. Maple Leafs -- Pavel Buchnevich, 19:21; led 3-2, won 4-2

* Nov. 25 at New York Rangers -- Buchnevich, 17:15; led 4-2, won 5-2

* Dec. 3 at Jets -- Robert Thomas, 16:21; led 3-1, won 4-1

* Dec. 23 at Detroit Red Wings -- Holloway, 15:54; led 3-0, won 4-0

* Dec. 27 vs. Nashville Predators -- Colton Parayko, 18:45; led 6-4, won 7-4

* Jan. 16 vs. Calgary Flames -- Brayden Schenn, 17:39; led 3-1, won 4-1

* Dec. 27 at Washington Capitals -- Jake Neighbours, 18:05; led 4-2, won 5-2

* March 15 at Minnesota Wild -- Jordan Kyrou, 17:40; led 4-1, won 5-1

* March 23 vs. Predators -- Schenn, 19:22; led 3-1, won 4-1

* April 5 vs. Avalanche -- Thomas, 19:29; led 4-3, won 5-4