Category: Ice Hockey

The Chicago Blackhawks face off against the Washington Capitals on Friday, April 4 with Alex Ovechkin hot on the heels of Wayne Gretzky's goal record.

While the Blackhawks only have one game before playing the Capitals, Washington plays twice ahead of hosting the Blackhawks. It seems like the likeliest time that the soon-to-be all-time goal scorer in the NHL is going to break Gretzky's record.

Ovechkin is just four goals away from tying the record as he sits at 890 goals. The Capitals play the Boston Bruins, who are on the verge of falling into last place in the Eastern Conference, and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals' captain doesn't have to get four goals in the next two games to be able to break the record at home against the Blackhawks. Chicago isn't a good team and has allowed the third-most goals against this season.

Ovechkin just has to be within range, whether that means scoring 2-3 goals in his next two games and then lighting up the Blackhawks, it can be done. The team that it would be the most special against is the Pittsburgh Penguins though. The Capitals and Penguins face off in the last game of the season in Pittsburgh.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.

As if the Washington Capitals aren't good enough, they're getting one of the top prospects outside of the NHL for the stretch run and the playoffs.

The No. 2 NHL prospect in The Hockey News' annual Future Watch edition signed an entry-level deal with the Capitals after his Boston College Eagles were eliminated from the NCAA playoffs Sunday night.

Leonard has the complete package - skill, size, competitiveness, toughness. He has the opportunity to make an immediate impact with a Stanley Cup contender.

Can he do what Cale Makar did in 2019? That might be a bit of stretch, considering he'll be eased into the Capitals' lineup on the bottom six, but don't be surprised if he proves very quickly that he can make a tangible contribution.

Today's video column has more.

Capitals' Leonard, Rangers' Perreault Lead The Most Promising NCAA Talents Signing NHL DealsThe flood of NCAA players signing their entry-level NHL contracts has begun. 

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The NHL and Rogers agreed to a new Canadian television broadcasting deal worth $7.7 billion, according to multiple reports.

With one season remaining on Rogers’ current rights deal, the media giant negotiated another 12-year deal with the NHL, Sportico first reported Monday. The Associated Press and Globe and Mail also reported the agreement, which hasn’t been officially announced. Rogers hasn’t commented on the reports.

Sportico reported owners would vote on the agreement this week.

NHL and Rogers agreed on the current 12-year deal in 2013 for $5.2 billion Cdn. It lasts through the 2025-26 campaign before the new deal – roughly $11 billion Cdn – kicks in for 2026-27 through 2037-38.

This deal is expected to keep most, if not all, national hockey broadcasts on Rogers’ Sportsnet network. The telecommunications company and the NHL agreed on a two-year deal with Prime Video to broadcast a game online every Monday, but that expires with Rogers’ current rights deal.

Rogers has a large imprint on sports in Canada. In September, it announced it’s acquiring Bell Media’s 37.5-percent stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, MLS’ Toronto FC and CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.

The company has also owned the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays since 2004.

The Graeme Roustan Show: Edward Rogers And Tony StaffieriEdward Rogers, the executive chairman of Rogers Communications, and Tony Staffieri, the president-CEO of Rogers Communications, discuss their backgrounds in hockey, why the Rogers company wanted to invest in the Maple Leafs and when a Stanley Cup is coming to Toronto.

As for NHL coverage in the U.S., ESPN and TNT hold the media rights through the 2027-28 season after reaching an agreement in 2021. That deal is worth a reported $4.5 billion.

According to the NHL, the 2024 calendar year was the best the league has seen in terms of revenue and business. This season, the NHL said it’s projected to surpass $6.6 billion in revenues.

After stagnated salary caps due to COVID-19, the NHL and NHLPA announced earlier in the season that there will be a $7.5-million increase from the current $88-million cap in 2025-26. In three years, the league projected a $113.5-million salary cap upper limit, $25.5 million more than the current cap.

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Everything is going right for the St. Louis Blues at the perfect time. After winning each of their last nine games, the Blues now have a five-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. As a result, their playoff odds are certainly increasing.

Several players have stepped up for the Blues over the last month, and forward Zack Bolduc is undoubtedly among them. 

Bolduc, 22, has been solid for the Blues this campaign, but he has hit a new level offensively down the stretch. In his last 17 contests, the 2021 first-round pick has scored 10 goals and recorded 13 points. This includes four goals and five points in his last six contests. 

With his ongoing hot streak, Bolduc now has 16 goals, 15 assists, 31 points, and a plus-19 rating in 65 games this season. The Trois-Rivieres, Quebec native has been improving as he continues adjusting to the NHL level and is showing off his offensive potential. 

From here, it will be interesting to see how Bolduc builds on his strong stretch of play. He is not showing any signs of slowing down, and it is hard not to be impressed by what he's providing for the Blues right now. 

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Jacob Fowler hasn't signed with the Montreal Canadiens so maybe it has to do with burning that year of the ELC. Guess what, that's what you do when you sign a potential NHL star who plays college. That's the deal and if the Canadiens don't do that, he will stall. This is expected.

Fowler has his NHL dream and he should get at least one game and then he should go to Laval for the playoffs.  He has great ability but he is 20. He is mature and plays like an older goalie but this isn't the time to throw him into the soup. I'm sure that's part of this conversation they must be having as well. 

Fowler needs to play at least half a season in the AHL next year to make sure he is up to the task. Most need much more time to develop. There's a reason there aren't a lot of very young goalies in the NHL. There is a path to development that most teams follow especially with goalies because it's a hard position mentally.

The Canadiens don't have any bargaining power here. Fowler could go back and then watch Montreal sweat after that. I don't think that's going to happen but the longer this goes the more it makes you think about it.

Burn the first year of ELC. Give him all top bonuses. Give him a game and move on. He is your future. Trying to reinvent the wheel here can create bad feelings between the player and the organization and that's the last thing you want to do.

The Montreal Canadiens had a disastrous road trip last week, but they still managed to redeem themselves by winning their duel with the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise. It was the third time the Habs beat the Stanley Cup champions this season, this time by a score of 4-2. The Cats appeared frustrated at the end of the game, as evidenced by Niko Mikkola's slapshot at the buzzer that nearly hit David Savard in the head.

Well, Wifi probably just circled Niko Mikkola’s number for Tuesday night’s rematch.
pic.twitter.com/qa0LwQLDVg

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 30, 2025

On Monday, the NHL Player Safety announced Mikkola had been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct. This came as a surprise to some, but it was a reckless act, and the Canadiens took it as an act of aggression. The referees quickly intervened and sent Mikkola back to the dressing room, but it wouldn’t be shocking if there were some repercussions on Tuesday night.

Canadiens: The Jacob Fowler Watch Is On
Three Takeaways From The Canadiens' Excellent Display On Sunday
Canadiens: Is Xhekaj Facing The Axe?

The Canadiens had a day off on Monday, so there’s been no indication of possible lineup changes, but generally speaking, Martin St-Louis is of the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” school of thought. It would, therefore, be surprising if he did make some changes.

I fully expect Samuel Montembeault to be back in the net; he has a 3-4-1 record with a 3.95 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage against Tuesday’s visitors, while Jakub Dobes has blanked them in his only start. Sergei Borbovsky is 16-9-1 against Montreal with a 2.47 GAA and a .918 SP. Meanwhile, backup Vitek Vanecek is 3-1-0, with a 2.74 GAA and a .894 SP.

The numbers up front haven’t changed much since our last preview. Brendan Gallagher is still the Canadiens’ point leader against the Panthers; he now has 24 points in 39 games, having added one on Sunday. Patrik Laine still comes second with 23 points in 22 games, but Nick Suzuki is closing in. Thanks to his three-point outing, he’s got 18 points in as many games.

As for the Cats, Aleksander Barkov is now the leader of the pack in points as well. His two-point performance Sunday gives him 49 points in 38 games. Brad Marchard is now in second place with 48 points in 58 games, having been held off the scoresheet last weekend, and Sam Reinhart padded his total to 23 points in 33 games.

The Habs are still holding the second wild card spot in the eastern conference, but the race is tight and the Columbus Blue Jackets could catch them up tonight if they win and St-Louis' men lose. 

The game is set for 7:00 PM, and the first 8,000 fans to come to the Bell Centre will receive a free Juraj Slafkovsky bobblehead. Montreal now has six home games remaining, with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers set to visit this week, the Detroit Red Wings next week, and the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes closing the regular season.

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Don't be surprised to see some fireworks on Monday night when the Florida Panthers open their latest road trip in Montreal.

The Panthers and Montreal Canadiens faced off on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise, with the Habs coming away with a 4-2 victory, snapping Florida's seven-game home winning streak.

It was an important victory for the Canadiens, who are clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Entering play Tuesday, Montreal is tied with the New York Rangers, each holding 77 points, but the Habs have played one less game than the Blueshirts and, as such, hold the tiebreaker.

Sunday's game was important for Florida, too, as the loss dropped the Cats down to third in the Atlantic Division.

Florida and Tampa Bay each have 91 points and 73 games played, but the Lightning have two more regulation wins than Florida, which is the next tiebreaker. Toronto is currently three points clear of both Florida and Tampa, though with one more game played.

So yeah, plenty of playoff intrigue and implications on Tuesday night at Bell Centre.

But wait, there’s more!

In literally the final seconds of Montreal’s victory on Sunday, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola fired a howitzer of a slapshot down the ice into the Canadiens’ zone, nearly hitting David Savard and incited a ruckus that had several Habs players trying to get at Mikkola.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety responded quickly, fining Mikkola $5,000, the maximum amount allowable, for unsportsmanlike conduct.

We’ll see if anything happens when Panthers and Canadiens reconvene on the ice in Montreal.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Tuesday's clash with the Canadiens:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Jesper Boqvist

A.J. Greer – Nico Sturm – Evan Rodrigues

Gus Forsling – Seth Jones

Niko Mikkola – Nate Schmidt

Tobias Bjornfot – Uvis Balinskis

Scratches: Jonah Gadjovich, Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov

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Florida fails to foil desperate Canadiens squad, fall 4-2 to Montreal

It should come as no surprise that Sidney Crosby has been, once again, recognized by his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates. 

On Monday, the Penguins announced that Crosby was the recipient of the Penguins' Most Valuable Player award for the fifth consecutive season, as voted by his teammates. It is the 13th time he's been named Team MVP, which breaks Mario Lemieux's previous franchise record of 12.

He was also given the Player's Player Award by teammates, which is awarded to the player whose leadership shines through both on the ice and away from it.

Crosby, 37, surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL's all-time leader in point-per-game seasons with 20 on Thursday in a 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The captain's 27 goals and 81 points in 73 games pace the Penguins once again, and he ranks third in the NHL in five-on-five points with 53.

In addition, forward Noel Acciari was named by teammates for the Penguins' Unsung Hero Award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies extreme effort despite little recognition. 

Acciari leads the Penguins in both hits (168) and blocked shots (98), and he is well on his way to earning the second 100-block season of his career. He also has 179 shorthanded minutes this season, which also leads the team. 

He registered seven hits and two blocked shots in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. 

"He's an important player for us," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think a lot of his contributions don't always show up on the highlight reel or they don't show up on the scoresheet. Those are the 'thankless jobs' that we're talking about.

"He pays a price. There's a cost to winning, and he's willing to pay it. I think Noel's been an invaluable player for us throughout the course of the year."

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Welcome back to Screen Shots, a regular THN.com feature in which your humble correspondent breaks down a few hockey topics and analyzes them in a handful of brief paragraphs.

On to it, we go:

Relatively quietly, Vegas Golden Knights star center Jack Eichel has been having a career season and demolishing his previous bests on offense. 

The 28-year-old center has 66 assists – 12 more helpers than his previous career high – and 93 points, 11 points more than his previous career high, set in 2018-19. 

In his last 15 games, Eichel has 16 assists and 24 points, putting up at least a point in 14 of those outings.

Eichel is far and away Vegas’ top point-producer, with 27 more points than Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in second place. But this isn’t the first time Eichel has had to do all the heavy lifting for his team. For example, when Eichel posted 82 points for the Buffalo Sabres in 2018-19, he had 17 more points than second-place Sam Reinhart. 

The difference for Eichel between ‘18-19 and now is that, in Vegas, Eichel has a far better supporting cast – and he’s playing for an organization that has shown it knows how to win. Now, Eichel is thriving and has a chance to win the second Stanley Cup of his career.

Who’s Surging In The NHL Since The 4 Nations Face-Off?There’s always a risk of peaking too early. But if all goes well, NHL players and teams hope that the positive momentum that’s built down the home stretch of the regular season will carry into playoffs and boost them when it matters most.

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The Anaheim Ducks aren’t going to make the playoffs this season, but since Jan. 21, they’ve gone 14-11-2 – something to build on when they begin next season. 

In the relatively weak Pacific Division, the Ducks have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 – and given that Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek will have about $39.56 million in salary cap space this summer, you have to think the Ducks will be a major player in free agency and trades.

Anaheim’s biggest area of need is on offense, as they’re currently 26th overall in goals-for per game, with 2.71. Their defense isn’t great, either, as they’re 21st overall with 3.12 goals against per game. But bringing in veterans who can produce points is an easier fix than landing defensive specialists, so that’s the direction we expect the Ducks to take next year.

Regardless, it’s clear Anaheim is taking steps forward. They won’t be a legitimate Cup front-runner for a while longer, but for Ducks fans who’ve watched their team stumble time and again for the past seven seasons, seeing Anaheim produce positive results is a very welcome harbinger of what’s ahead for them.

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Finally, on Canada's East Coast, two separate incidents of fighting at hockey games have triggered league investigations.

The incidents – one of which came in a senior league in Miramichi, N.B., while the other came in a U-18 tournament game in North Rustico, P.E.I. – saw fights breaking out on the ice. In the senior league game, the fights continued in the hallway, and fans of opposing squads fought in the stands as well. 

In both cases, the response from the leagues is another indication of the increasing lack of tolerance there is for this over-the-top behavior.

“The worst thing about it is it was a great hockey series, and everybody’s focused on a fight that took place at the end of the game and the fights in the crowd,” Doug White, co-owner of the Miramichi Northmen in the New Brunswick-based Beausejour Senior Hockey League, told CTV News. “It kind of took away (from the game) a bit.”

Hockey P.E.I. called the U-18 melee a “disgraceful representation of our game and completely contrary to the values of good sportsmanship, respect, and safety that Hockey PEI upholds at every level of play” in a statement.

Although there will always be a segment of players and fans who respond with glee over fights, the reality is that hyper-aggressive, violent behavior at hockey games is less acceptable as the years go by. The optics of players and fans gone wild are not ideal – to the contrary, they’re seen more and more as a stain on the image of the sport. 

Fans and players should always feel safe on the ice and in the stands, and this is why these types of incidents should be fewer and farther between. There’s no rationalizing it or promoting it anymore, and when punishments are handed out by the respective governing bodies for these events, no one should be surprised.

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The Los Angeles Kings have continued to add depth to their blue line by signing Finnish prospect Otto Salin to a three-year entry-level contract. 

The 21-year-old defenseman, drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has spent the past couple of years developing in Finland's top league, Liiga. His signing is an investment in bringing young talent into the mix with the hope of integrating it into the team's future, and his potential contribution over the next few years could be significant.

The @LAKings signed defenseman Otto Salin to a three-year entry-level contract through the 2027-28 season. pic.twitter.com/TbfTUU14cu

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) March 31, 2025

Who is Otto Salin?

Salin, who hails from Helsinki, has moved steadily up the ranks of Finnish hockey. He started playing for HIFK Helsinki and later TPS Turku, where he set career highs with eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points in 56 games last season. The right-shot defenseman is a playmaker with solid skating and is noted for his offense and skills in quickly moving the puck out of the defensive area.

Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 205 pounds, Salin is not imposingly large, but his quickness and hockey smarts allow him to be an effective two-way defenseman. He also showed flashes of being a power-play specialist, utilizing his vision and puck skills to create scoring chances.

What the Signing Means for the Kings

The Kings' blue-line defense has struggled the last few years, though it's been better this season. Veterans like Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper are the anchors on the back end, while young guns like Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence battle more significant minutes. Adding Salin into the mix gives the franchise another right-shot defenseman in the works, something of a precious gem in today's NHL.

Salin's deal suggests that the Kings see a real future for him within the organization. Even if he doesn't receive a direct promotion to the NHL, the agreement ensures he'll be in the team's system, likely starting with the AHL's Ontario Reign. If he fits into the North American game well, he could be in contention for a call-up in the next few years.

What Salin Adds to the Organization

Salin's most appealing characteristic is arguably his puck-moving ability. His skating is a huge asset, allowing him to escape the defensive zone in trouble and deliver clean breakout passes. The Kings have prioritized puck-moving defensemen over the past few seasons, understanding that speed and agility from the backend are needed in the modern NHL.

The @LAKings have signed defenseman Otto Salin to a three-year, entry-level contract, beginning with the 2025-26 season.

Salin led all U-25 defensemen in Liiga in points this past season with 28 (8-20-28) at just 21-years-old! More 👇https://t.co/9lGmo5mDmw

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 31, 2025

Defensively, Salin is not the most physical, primarily due to his size, which will be tough to overcome and adjust in the NHL, but he plays with a good positional awareness that enables him to close down plays. 

His reading of the game and anticipation will be important factors in enabling him to adapt as quickly as possible to North American hockey, where the rink is tighter and time and space are limited.

With his offensive potential, he could be a valuable power-play player in the future. His game with TPS Turku proved that he can produce offense, and the Kings, with all their young talent and veterans to guide them, could have great scoring from the blue line in the future.

What's Next for Salin?

Upon signing, Salin is set to play for the rest of the season with the Ontario Reign. AHL time will serve as valuable experience in getting used to the game's style, particularly in adapting to keep up with the quicker and harsher pace of the game than Liiga.

His priority will be establishing himself as a reliable defenseman in the AHL, playing top-four minutes, and demonstrating his ability to withstand the demands of the pro level in North America. 

If he performs well, he may receive an NHL call-up as early as next season, but the most probable scenario is that he will spend at least one complete season in the AHL before competing for a roster spot in 2026.

Long-Term Outlook with the Kings

Salin's future with the Kings will depend upon how quickly he can develop in the AHL. If he thrives with the Ontario Reign and shows he can handle defensive responsibilities while also contributing offensively, he could force his way into an NHL role sooner rather than later.

The Kings' right defense now is staffed by Doughty, Clarke, Spence, and Joel Edmundson, so breaking into the rotation won't be easy. But injuries and roster changes always leave opportunities, and Salin will be ready when his moment comes.

His best role in the NHL is that of a second—or third-pairing defenseman with power-play ability. If he can solidify his end without sacrificing his offense, he can become a valuable asset on the Kings' roster as they try to maintain success.

Final Thoughts

Signing Otto Salin is another part of the Kings' quest to assemble youth. While he will not be on the ice right away in the NHL, he can be an effective defenseman in the short term. His skating, vision, and offensive skill set make him an intriguing player as he transitions to North American hockey.

For now, Kings fans can follow his development in the AHL, where he'll be given the chance to demonstrate what he has to offer and gain experience for a potential spot in Los Angeles. Salin could be one to watch as a component of the Kings' blue line.

 

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The Nashville Predators (27-38-8, 62 points) kick off a three-game road trip with a visit to the Philadelphia Flyers (30-36-9, 69 points) Monday at Wells Fargo Center.

The Predators are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, while the Flyers have won two straight games since firing head coach John Tortorella late last week.

Nashville is also navigating multiple injuries to its forward group, including Colton Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body) and Jonathan Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body).

Justus Annunen will make his second consecutive start in goal for the Predators, while the Flyers will turn to Ivan Fedotov in net.

How the Predators Lined Up vs. Philadelphia

Forsberg-O'Reilly-Stamkos
Bunting-Svechkov-Evangelista
Smith-McCarron-L'Heureux
Vrana-Bellows

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Englund-Stastney
Oesterle

Annunen
Saros

Extra: Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body), Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body), Wood
IR: Lauzon, Wilsby, Josi

With the injuries to Sissons and Marchessault, the Predators went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen against the Flyers. Matthew Wood, who signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Saturday, has yet to make his NHL debut.

Predators at Flyers: Live Updates

First Period (NSH 0, PHI 0)

The Flyers outshot Nashville, 7-1, to begin the first period, and Annunen came up with some key saves early. Eventually, the Predators started to click offensively; while neither team found the back of the net during the first 20 minutes of play, Nashville was able to pull even with Philadelphia with seven shots on goal by the end of the frame.

Second Period (NSH 0, PHI 0)

Despite flirting with a Stanley Cup playoff spot, the New York Islanders look more like pretenders right now. 

The Islanders lost seven of their last 10 games, and they’re currently on a five-game winless skid that included a 5-3 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and 6-4 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

They now sit three points out of a playoff spot and are behind four other teams in the battle for the second wild-card place. It’s looking like another wishy-washy campaign for GM Lou Lamoriello’s Islanders, and there are very real questions about the direction of this team and past decisions.

This is to take nothing away from Lamoriello, a deserving Hockey Hall of Famer who doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. And in fairness, Lamoriello got a 2026 first-round draft pick and top prospect center Calum Ritchie in the trade that sent veteran pivot Brock Nelson to Colorado at the trade deadline. The Islanders’ future isn’t all bad news.

That said, the Islanders currently being on the outside of the playoff picture makes some contracts look pretty questionable.

Let’s start with the contract handed out to left winger Pierre Engvall – a $3-million cap hit that runs for another five years and has a 16-team no-trade list. Engvall was already placed on waivers this season, with no takers for him. 

Engvall has eight goals and 13 points in 53 games. Five of those points came in the past eight games, but more often than not, the team looks like it could have benefited more from using that cap hit elsewhere. The team was under no pressure to lock up a depth player in Engvall for so many years with protection, but that mistake can’t be undone.

Defenseman Scott Mayfield has five years left on his contract with a $3.5-million cap hit, and his playing time has dropped. His plus-13 rating leads the team, which is admirable for a defensive defenseman, but he’s averaging 16:50 of ice time, the lowest since 2016-17, and he’s been a healthy scratch. 

The 32-year-old still has a full no-trade clause through 2026-26 and a 16-team no-trade list afterward – a lot of protection for someone the team no longer thinks is a lock in the lineup. You could get a young player to play those minutes for far less money than what Mayfield is getting.

Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, meanwhile, has another season left at a $5-million cap hit. He has 12 goals and 37 points in 70 games this year, which comes after 33 points in 82 games last year and 40 points in 70 games in 2022-23. He’s good in his role, but whether that’s a $5-million role is the question – we don’t think it is.

Cap space being used this way contributes to mushy-middle results – not good enough for the team to go on a long playoff run and not bad enough to land a top draft pick, which the Isles have needed for quite some time.

NHL Sour Rankings: 2025 Mock Draft For The Bottom 10 TeamsThe NHL’s playoff picture is coming into focus, which means the bottom-end teams are solidifying their spots in the draft lottery – and the NHL sour rankings. 

Most prospect experts see the Islanders’ talent pipeline ranked near the bottom of the NHL, and they have the sixth-oldest roster in the NHL, according to eliteprospects.com. That makes it even tougher for the team to do damage in the foreseeable future.

The Islanders have all their draft picks in 2025 and two first-rounders in 2026. That will help further down the line, but right now, they don’t have many youngsters who can slot into the lineup – Ritchie is their only prospect projected to make the NHL in the next two seasons, according to The Hockey News’ Future Watch issue.

This summer will be crucial as the Islanders have seven RFAs and five UFAs to deal with. What management does this off-season could be a game-changer – one way or another – for their short- and long-term future. The last thing they need is more long-term contracts with trade protection for players that ensure the team remains in the mushy middle.

The short-term pain of choosing a direction and prioritizing a replenished prospect pool is worth it if it means acquiring elite players at the top of the draft and setting themselves up to have a terrific core for a decade or longer. Right now, this team isn’t threatening in the playoffs, the regular season or in a draft lottery.

From this writer’s perspective, it will be tough sledding for them for a long time. Lamoriello’s been running the Islanders for seven seasons now, and the team currently has its lowest points percentage since seven seasons ago. There’s legitimate cause for frustration with having next to nothing to show for this group after making the playoff semifinals in 2020 and 2021.

What matters most is whether this tough sledding results in a refreshed core a few years down the line or a similar-looking squad. If it’s not the former, it’s just more pretending.

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Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles Kings (41-23-9) defeated the San Jose Sharks (20-44-9) in an 8-1 victory at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, March 30. 

This victory was a bounce-back from the previous two losses against some of the tougher competition in the Stanley Cup playoffs—the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche. It also helped the Kings regain their top home-ice record.

Among the standout players during this match were LA Kings right wing Adrian Kempe and left wing Warren Foegele, who scored goals during a power play and again in the Kings' offensive onslaught in the second period. 

In the first period, Los Angeles drew first blood when center Phillip Danault hit a slap shot from the left side of the San Jose net to score the first goal, 1-0. The Sharks' offense was later given two power plays off of penalties by the Kings — slashing and sticking —but could not utilize their advantages. 
Meanwhile, the Sharks also gave up penalties. During the second power play, which the Kings received after a hooking penalty, Kempe hit a snapshot to the hockey net to score another goal for the Kings, 2-0. 

As the second period skated by, San Jose scored their only goal of the night by center Cam Lund, 2-1. They could not hold back the offensive prowess of Los Angeles. 

Kings left wing Trevor Moore took advantage of a defensive miscalculation by the Sharks—too many players on one person—and hit a wrist shot to the net, scoring for Los Angeles, 3-1. The Sharks gave up three penalties to the Kings, and on the second power play of the period, Foegele was able to muscle the puck into the San Jose net with a deflected shot from their goaltender, making it 4-1.

Towards the end of the second period, Foegele scored again for the LA Kings, only this time he tipped in a shot from defenseman Mikey Anderson to blow up the lead, 5-1. Even as the period was coming to a close, as the puck was being passed along nicely by Los Angeles, Kempe struck again with a slap shot from the left side of the Sharks net for a goal, 6-1.

The third period came around for the LA Kings, but San Jose's offense skipped town despite the penalties the Kings took—roughing and cross-checking by Mikey Anderson, both in the same play. 

As the latter half of the third period came, as did left-wing Andrei Kuzmenko when he shot the puck right by the neutral zone with an impressive wrister, ballooning the lead to 7-1. Los Angeles center Trevor Lewis chimed in with insurance goals near the end, nailing a wrist shot to the Sharks net, making it 8-1 and marking the end of the offensive rampage by the LA Kings with a win.

Despite the offensive magic, the Kings will face perhaps one of the biggest challenges yet in the Winnipeg Jets, considered one of the favorites to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Flyers win 3rd straight as Michkov, Konecny put up multi-point games originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers matched their season-best winning streak of three games with a 2-1 decision Monday night over the Predators at the Wells Fargo Center.

Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale provided the Flyers’ markers. Poehling has seven goals in the last 10 games.

Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny had two assists apiece. Konecny is one helper away from 50.

Ivan Fedotov did the job in net.

The Flyers (31-36-9) are 3-0-0 under Brad Shaw. They’ve scored 15 goals over his three games as interim head coach.

It’s the fifth time the Flyers have won three straight this season. They haven’t won more than three straight since Feb. 6-12 of last season, when they won four in a row.

The Flyers swept the two-game regular-season series from the Predators (27-39-8). They picked up a 3-2 overtime win in Nashville, Tennessee on the eve of Thanksgiving. Two of the Flyers’ three goal scorers that night were not in the lineup for the rematch because of trades.

• Michkov’s surge continued.

The 20-year-old rookie played an excellent two-man game with Konecny to set up Poehling’s game-opening goal in the second period. Thirty-four seconds after the Predators tied it up, Michkov and Konecny assisted Drysdale’s go-ahead goal.

Over the last 21 games, Michkov has put up 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists). He’s on a six-game point streak in which he has recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists). He’s two points away from 60 on the season and leads all NHL rookies with 24 goals.

• Fedotov converted 28 saves on 29 shots to pick up his first win since March 1.

The 28-year-old made some big stops in the third period.

“I thought he battled,” Shaw said. “Coming off a couple of tough ones for him, I thought he worked to see the puck.”

Poehling had a big blocked shot with 21 seconds left in the game as the Flyers had a gritty finish to nail down the one-goal lead.

“I think that just shows the group we have here,” Konecny said. “No matter what we’re facing as far as the standings and where we’re at, guys just can’t help themselves. They want to win games and that’s why we love this group.”

Nashville backup Justus Annunen stopped 16 of the Flyers’ 18 shots.

• The Flyers’ top defensive pair of Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler was real solid for a second straight game.

Seeler was great defensively in the final minutes.

“I think there’s a chemistry that has to be built with a pair,” Shaw said. “I like how hard they compete. Seels, there’s never a question on how hard he works. Sanny, I thought for a guy who has played a ton of minutes the last month, I thought he was fantastic tonight. I thought it was one of the better games I’ve seen him play in the month of March and that’s not an easy thing to do with what we’ve asked from him and everything’s done this year already.”

• Garnet Hathaway returned from an upper-body injury to notch his 600th career NHL game.

The 33-year-old winger had missed almost all of March after taking a blindsided hit at the end of February. More on Hathaway and Rasmus Ristolainen’s status here.

• Karsen Dorwart, who the Flyers signed out of Michigan State, is expected to join the team for practice Wednesday. Shaw said the 22-year-old center will probably be in the lineup for the Flyers’ next game Saturday.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder will wear No. 23 when he makes his NHL debut.

“We need depth at center,” Shaw said, “and hopefully he can be one of those solutions for us.”

The club has six games left.

“Hopefully he can get in the majority of them and get his feet wet,” Shaw said. “Then when training camp comes around, he has got a way better idea of what this league is all about.”

• The Flyers now have four days before their next game Saturday when they visit the Canadiens (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

They’re scheduled to practice Wednesday and Friday at 11 a.m. ET in Voorhees, New Jersey.

Flyers win 3rd straight as Michkov, Konecny put up multi-point games originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers matched their season-best winning streak of three games with a 2-1 decision Monday night over the Predators at the Wells Fargo Center.

Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale provided the Flyers’ markers. Poehling has seven goals in the last 10 games.

Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny had two assists apiece. Konecny is one helper away from 50.

“They’re certainly looking for one another,” Brad Shaw said. “I think they are feeding off one another’s success.”

Ivan Fedotov did the job in net.

“Great win for us,” Fedotov said. “Everybody played well, stayed with the structure.”

The Flyers (31-36-9) are 3-0-0 under Shaw. They’ve scored 15 goals over his three games as interim head coach.

It’s the fifth time the Flyers have won three straight this season. They haven’t won more than three straight since Feb. 6-12 of last season, when they won four in a row.

The Flyers swept the two-game regular-season series from the Predators (27-39-8). They picked up a 3-2 overtime win in Nashville, Tennessee on the eve of Thanksgiving. Two of the Flyers’ three goal scorers that night were not in the lineup for the rematch because of trades.

• Michkov’s surge continued.

The 20-year-old rookie played an excellent two-man game with Konecny to set up Poehling’s game-opening goal in the second period.

“Those are two guys that have so much offensive skill and you saw them showcase it there,” Poehling said. “For me, it was weird, it came off a backcheck, I was just trying to get in an open spot and T.K. made a great play.”

Thirty-four seconds after the Predators tied it up, Michkov and Konecny assisted Drysdale’s go-ahead goal.

Over the last 21 games, Michkov has put up 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists). He’s on a six-game point streak in which he has recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists). He’s two points away from 60 on the season and leads all NHL rookies with 24 goals.

“It’s the end of a season and there’s a long, long break,” Michkov said through translator Slava Kuznetsov, a Flyers consultant. “I’m trying to get every single moment, seize every single moment on the ice.”

• Fedotov converted 28 saves on 29 shots to pick up his first win since March 1.

The 28-year-old made some big stops in the third period.

“I thought he battled,” Shaw said. “Coming off a couple of tough ones for him, I thought he worked to see the puck.”

Poehling had a big blocked shot with 21 seconds left in the game as the Flyers had a gritty finish to nail down the one-goal lead.

“I think that just shows the group we have here,” Konecny said. “No matter what we’re facing as far as the standings and where we’re at, guys just can’t help themselves. They want to win games and that’s why we love this group.”

Nashville backup Justus Annunen stopped 16 of the Flyers’ 18 shots.

• The Flyers’ top defensive pair of Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler was real solid for a second straight game.

Seeler was great defensively in the final minutes.

“I think there’s a chemistry that has to be built with a pair,” Shaw said. “I like how hard they compete. Seels, there’s never a question on how hard he works. Sanny, I thought for a guy who has played a ton of minutes the last month, I thought he was fantastic tonight. I thought it was one of the better games I’ve seen him play in the month of March and that’s not an easy thing to do with what we’ve asked from him and everything he has done this year already.”

• Garnet Hathaway returned from an upper-body injury to notch his 600th career NHL game.

The 33-year-old winger had missed almost all of March after taking a blindsided hit at the end of February. More on Hathaway and Rasmus Ristolainen’s status here.

• Karsen Dorwart, who the Flyers signed out of Michigan State, is expected to join the team for practice Wednesday. Shaw said the 22-year-old center will probably be in the lineup for the Flyers’ next game Saturday.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder will wear No. 23 when he makes his NHL debut.

“We need depth at center,” Shaw said after morning skate, “and hopefully he can be one of those solutions for us.”

The club has six games left.

“Hopefully he can get in the majority of them and get his feet wet,” Shaw said. “Then when training camp comes around, he has got a way better idea of what this league is all about.”

• The Flyers now have four days before their next game Saturday when they visit the Canadiens (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

They’re scheduled to practice Wednesday and Friday at 11 a.m. ET in Voorhees, New Jersey.