The Pittsburgh Penguins did what many expected Monday morning, parting ways with coach Mike Sullivan after more than nine years on the job. 

Sullivan won two Stanley Cups in his first two years on the job in Pittsburgh, and he guided them to the playoffs in each of his first seven years. However, Sullivan failed to guide the Penguins to the post-season in each of the past three years, and they finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division – his lowest finish with Pittsburgh.

Sullivan’s championship pedigree will lead to multiple NHL teams seeking to bring him aboard as their bench boss. While there are currently seven teams seeking to name a permanent coach, there are three front-runners to land Sullivan’s services.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins fired Jim Montgomery early last season, replacing him with interim coach Joe Sacco. But the fact Boston hasn’t removed the ‘interim’ tag from Sacco so far tells you all you need to know about the likelihood of Sacco getting the permanent job in Beantown.

Sullivan makes sense for the Bruins on several fronts. For one thing, Boston is looking at a retool, not a rebuild, so Sullivan could take the B's job knowing Bruins management will be making roster moves to push the team back into the post-season right away. 

Sullivan also cut his teeth as an NHL coach in Boston, coaching the Bruins from 2003 to 2006. Sullivan’s familiarity with the Bruins organization gives Boston an advantage as teams try to bring him on board. Sullivan is also a Massachusetts native who appreciates what it means to coach an Original Six franchise. 

For all those reasons, Boston has to be seen as a front-runner for Sullivan. The Bruins don’t want to miss the playoffs for a second straight season, and while there would be big-time pressure on Sullivan if he took the job in Boston, he would welcome that pressure and is capable of handling the accompanying challenge.

NHL Rumor Roundup: What's Next For The Penguins Following Mike Sullivan's Departure?The Pittsburgh Penguins made headlines on Monday by announcing they and coach Mike Sullivan agreed to part ways.

New York Rangers

The Rangers gave GM Chris Drury a vote of confidence late last week, signing him to a multi-year contract extension. But the Blueshirts need a new coach after firing veteran Peter Laviolette nearly two weeks ago, and Sullivan could be the ideal replacement for Laviolette. 

Like the Bruins, the Rangers missed the playoffs, but the Rangers also intend to be a playoff team in 2025-26, and Sullivan would probably see Manhattan as an attractive option.

Sullivan also knows what it's like to coach the Rangers, as he was an assistant coach for them from 2009 to 2013. Getting a kick at the can as a head coach would make the Rangers an intriguing opportunity for Sullivan, and money wouldn’t be an object for the franchise.

The Rangers have an elite goalie in Igor Shesterkin, and every coach knows how crucial it is for a team to have a star in net if they intend on going on a deep playoff run. That will be a distinct possibility in New York City next season, and Sullivan could get right back into the playoff mix with the Rangers. 

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers don’t have an organic connection to Sullivan, but given Philadelphia’s arch-rivalry with the Penguins, Sullivan knows the passion Flyers fans have for their team. And Philadelphia is a young team many believe is on the rise, so Sullivan could see them as an attractive destination.

Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere dismissed veteran bench boss John Tortorella late in the regular season, but he shouldn’t be afraid to hire a well-versed replacement in Sullivan, who was part of Tortorella’s staff with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.

The biggest stumbling block for Sullivan may be the Flyers still rebuilding and lacking a clearly reliable starting netminder, but Briere may be able to sell the job on Sullivan by sharing the plan forward.

To get ahead of the Rangers and Bruins, the Flyers will have to be creative and forceful. But stranger things have happened than Philadelphia hiring Sullivan. A motivated and well-supported Flyers team may be extremely appealing for Sullivan.

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The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will be held Monday, May 5.

The time will be announced later this week and will be available to watch on ESPN/Sportsnet/TVA.

The New York Islanders own the 10th-best odds to land the No. 1 pick at 3.5%. 

#NHL Draft lottery odds: pic.twitter.com/gpthMXNALH

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) April 29, 2025

They have a 3.7% chance of moving into the No. 2 slot, 73.3% to remain at No. 10, and a 19.1% chance to fall out of the top 10, per Tankathon.

Why Mathieu Darche Should Be A Top Candidate For Islanders General Manager PositionWhen the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders in 2020 and 2021, Julien Brisbois was Tampa's general manager. 

The San Jose Sharks enter with the highest odds to pick first overall at 25.5%, and the Chicago Blackhawks follow at 13.5%.

Michael Misa, Matthew Schaefer, and James Hagens are leading contenders to go first overall.

The 2025 NHL Draft will be held in Los Angeles on June 27 and 28.

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Toronto Maple Leafs return home with chance to close out series versus Ottawa Senators in Game 5 on Tuesday

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The game that sticks out is the Battle of Ontario between the Maple Leafs and Senators with Toronto looking to advance to the second round with a win. 

The Buds look to close out the series and improve on a 1-11 record in closeout games during the Auston Matthews era. Ottawa looks to stave off elimination and keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 29-12 record on our last 41 picks, including perfect record during Game 1 and 4 of the series. 

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

More NHL: Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators Best Bets:

• Leafs ML (-162)
• Over 5.5 goals (-114)
• Leafs Score First (-145)
• John Tavares Over 0.5 points (-174)
• Brady Tkachuk Over 0.5 points (-132)
• Tim Stutzle Under 0.5 points (+126)

Offence has been red hot lately with Toronto's big four of Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Auston Matthews recording points in every game of the series except for Game 3 in Tavares' case.

Ottawa has simply not had an answer for Toronto's playmakers with nine goals allowed through the first two games that were played in Toronto.

More NHL: Stars' Hintz, Oilers' Nugent-Hopkins Headline Playoff Players Due for Bounce Back Performances

For Game 5, the Maple Leafs return home with a second-round bid on their mind. If they can manage to continue their success at home and keep doing what is making them successful, then they should find a favourable result on Tuesday.

Game 4 of the series will likely appear as an outlier as offence was finally generated from Ottawa winger Tim Stutzle, who scored his first goal of the series and marked his first real point of the series after recording a second assist on a Senators goal back in Game 2. 

I expect the Maple Leafs to put the clamps on the German winger once again and play a solid defensive game after getting out to an early lead. 

The Buds have scored six first period goals this series and should get another one here as Senators netminder Linus Ullmark has struggled to stop the bleeding with 15 goals allowed through four games.

The member of Toronto's big four with the best value is Tavares, who has continued his hot streak into the postseason with three goals. He has been playing alongside Nylander, who has also been hot and should set up for another offensive night for the line. 

Senators' captain Brady Tkachuk has felt the pressure of the playoffs and has responded well with points in three straight games and is surprisingly still listed at a decent value to get on the board. 

Ottawa won't go down quietly and Tkachuk will certainly be a factor for the Senators in this one. Due to Stutzle's struggles in the series, he's been pulled off Tkachuk's line and it hasn't slowed the Arizona native down. 

More NHL: Bolts, Golden Knights Present Last Call For Massive Betting Values

The Anaheim Ducks announced on April 19 that Greg Cronin would not return as head coach of the organization for the 2025-26 season.

Report: Anaheim Ducks Interview Joel Quenneville for Head Coaching Vacancy (Updated)

The Ducks are one of four teams (New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken) in the NHL with a vacancy behind their bench. Three other teams are currently employing interim coaches (Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers), while two more face uncertainty (New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks).

With as few as four and as many as nine NHL head coaching job openings, the landscape will likely require more time for clarity before hiring announcements begin.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek met with media members following the team’s announcement that they were going to go in a different direction with their head coach. During his availability, he stated the search was going to be similar to how he handled the process his first time around, in which he notably had a long list of candidates on his radar before Cronin was ultimately hired.

“Timeline, we’re going to start the search and start to make a list immediately,” Verbeek said on April 19. “I really don’t have a timeline on it. I’m going to look to hire the best candidate for this team and what it needs moving forward.”

A look at coaches currently holding head coaching positions around the league and when they were hired will indicate when to expect a coaching announcement from the Ducks.

Coaches are either let go at some point during the NHL season or shortly after the conclusion of the season. Since the Ducks elected for the latter, a look at previous offseason hires is necessary.

2022

Ten NHL head coaching hires were made in the 2022 offseason. The New York Islanders, Vegas Golden Knights, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Winnipeg Jets, and San Jose Sharks all made changes behind their bench after the 2021-22 season.

Nine of the ten were announced between June 14 and July 3. The ninth was made on July 22 (David Quinn to San Jose) because the Sharks were in the midst of a change at the general manager position.

Due to the previous COVID-shortened seasons, the 2021-22 regular season ended on May 1. The majority of the hires came between six and eight weeks following the conclusion of the regular season.

2023

Six head coaching hires were made following the 2022-23 season. The Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, and Columbus Blue Jackets all made hires before the 2023-24 season.

The earliest hires were made on May 30, and the latest one was made on July 1. Five of the six occurred in the two weeks between May 30 and June 13. The 2022-23 season ended in mid-April, as is typical for the NHL season, placing the majority of hires in the same six to eight-week period following the conclusion of the regular season.

2024

The Summer of 2024 saw seven teams make changes behind their benches. The Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, and Columbus Blue Jackets all made changes.

Compared to the two previous offseasons, 2024 was an anomaly on both sides of the hiring timeline. The Sabres got the party started just four days following the end of the season, when they hired Lindy Ruff on April 22. The next four hirings came between May 7 and May 24, while the last two came on June 13 and July 22.

Today

If patterns are to be drawn in regards to when and how teams come to decisions on their next head coach, a general target window of six to eight weeks following the end of the season can be established.

However, because there are so many openings and more potential candidates to come on the horizon, teams may be more inclined to take their time. There is typically a waiting period as teams interview candidates, followed by a first domino and several rapid announcements.

The only substantial news that has been reported within the coaching landscape this offseason is that the Ducks have interviewed Joel Quenneville and that David Carle has removed himself from contention in the Blackhawks’ search.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported on Tuesday’s “Morning Cuppa Hockey” show that the Ducks are the only team confirmed to be in the process of conducting interviews.

“I think Anaheim’s trying,” Saravalli said. “They’re the first team that I know that has actually completed interviews and has more scheduled. They’re grinding away to try and make that happen.”

The Penguins parted with Mike Sullivan on Monday, effectively adding him to the market. Rick Tocchet (Vancouver) and Patrick Roy’s (Islanders) respective positions seem uncertain, so they could become potential candidates soon as well.

Pat Verbeek said he was going to cast a wide net and wasn’t going to eliminate anyone from his search. He does seem to have a head start on the opposition with Seravalli’s report. If he doesn’t intend to interview Tocchet or Roy, the Ducks might be the first of those dominoes to fall, set the market on the coaching landscape, and make the first move, hiring their future head coach of the franchise.

Odds suggest the Ducks will hire their coach near the end of May, but if there were an outlier to make an earlier announcement, it would likely be Anaheim.

Carlsson, Lundeström to Represent Sweden at 2025 Betano Hockey Games, World Championship

Pair of Former Ducks Defensemen Come up Big in Game 3

Two games. Two third-period leads. Two stunning collapses.

The Los Angeles Kings are staring into the void of a dangerous 2–2 series tie with the Edmonton Oilers after what will perhaps be remembered as one of the most devastating and epic back-to-back collapses in franchise playoff history.

Instead of coming back to Crypto.com Arena with a commanding 3-1 series lead to try to close out the series, the Kings now have to fight to regain momentum in a best-of-three sprint — all because they couldn't close out what they opened.

However, this isn’t a surprise, as the Kings are the worst road team among all eight Western Conference playoff teams. But, even though they’ve struggled on the road in the season, they’ve had leads in games 3 and 4 at Edmonton. 

In game 3, after trailing 2-0 early, the Kings fought back and took a 4- 3 lead off of Trevor Moore sprinting down the ice in a one-on-one battle and scoring. LA would hold onto this lead comfortably until the 6:44 mark when they gave up two goals in 10 seconds and got outscored 4-0 in the 3rd period. 

Game 4 was a bigger choke job because the Kings were in control of the game for most of the time, until the third period, when they conceded two goals and went into overtime, ultimately losing on a game-winning goal by Leon Draisaitl. 

Not just that, but the Kings were held to zero goals, going scoreless after their 3-1 lead in the second period. Even though both teams were struggling to score after the score was tied 3-3, there was just a feeling that Edmonton was going to take this game because they were hustling, sprinting, and wanted it more in the final moments. 

Jim Hiller’s postgame comments on third period adjustments. pic.twitter.com/1LFvQqsEoN

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 28, 2025

The Oilers were moving the puck around and had so many chances to score early in overtime, but were just missing their shots. Edmonton outshot LA 48-41, proving to be the more physical and aggressive team last night in their efforts to score goals. 

For Los Angeles, these back-to-back road losses are not just painful. They're exhibiting a disturbing pattern that has defined their playoffs: third-period meltdowns, defensive play with the lead, and a failure to match the sense of urgency of an Oilers team that can smell blood in the water.

A Golden Opportunity Slips Away

Again, they became passive. Again, they stood by and watched as Edmonton's suffocating pressure broke down their defense. Evan Bouchard tied the game on a blue-line one-timer early in the third, and Leon Draisaitl finished it off with a power-play goal in overtime after a Kings penalty that cost them the game.

What was meant to be a commanding 3–1 series lead is now in jeopardy — all onus now squarely on Los Angeles.

Third-Period Miscues the Story

The first four games of the series have witnessed the third period controlled by Edmonton. The Kings have been outscored 7-0 in the third period, outshot 32– 14, and are increasingly uncertain with the puck in big-game situations.

LA Kings were 30 seconds from a 3-1 series lead. Give up a Bouche Bomb and then lose in OT. Series tied 2-2 going to LA, Game 5 pivotal in LA as I had the Kings in 6. However, if Edmonton wins Game 5 then IMHO the Oilers win in six games.

If LA loses this series, Game 4 will be…

— John A. Labban (@johnalabban4629) April 28, 2025

That is the biggest story for this series, as it is split 2-2 heading into Crypto.com Arena. The Kings have become a lesser version of themselves in the third period on the road compared to the first and second, where they’ve started off looking great and building up leads. 

Despite giving up all these goals in the third period, you can’t blame Darcy Kuemper, who was phenomenal tonight in OT, standing on his head for 18 minutes, making several spectacular saves. 

Kuemper was giving his team every possible chance to get the win, but the offense just couldn't get the momentum going in the third period or overtime.

Game 5: A Defining Moment Awaits

With the series tied 2–2, Tuesday evening's Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena is now a season-defining game for the Kings — and perhaps for this generation of Kings hockey, too.

Oilers and Kings are tied 2-2 heading to Game 5.
Story of the series so far... pic.twitter.com/8atGvwtYda

— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) April 28, 2025

Win, and the Kings seize control of the series with a chance to finish off an Oilers team that has haunted them for three straight playoff seasons. Lose, and Edmonton returns home to Rogers Place with an opportunity to send L.A. home in Game 6, thrusting the Kings' playoff hopes — and the assumptions about the window of their core's chance at a championship — into the spotlight. 

There is no fake-it-till-you-make-it anymore. There are no moral victories. The Kings have shown that they can play with Edmonton for long periods. But until they figure out how to close games, until they stop bleeding late, and until their top players step up in clutch situations, their playoffs will end like the previous three: riding the bench while watching Edmonton move forward as they wish they could've.

With two third-period meltdowns, agonizing as they were, the Los Angeles Kings are no longer battling the Oilers. They're battling themselves.

The NHL awards are nigh.

On the second day of the week designated by the NHL for releasing major award nominees, the league announced the finalists for the Norris Trophy for 2025.

Colorado Avalanche superstar defender Cale Makar is, once again, nominated. Apart from his rookie season (where he won the Calder Trophy), he’s either won or been a finalist.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

He was the runner-up to the New York Rangers’ defender Adam Fox in 2020-21. The following year, Makar would win the award after putting up an 86-point season. The Avalanche would go on to win the Stanley Cup, with Makar also taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy.

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GAME PREVIEW: Girard and Avalanche Look to Carry Momentum to Dallas for Game 5Sam Girard capped off a dominant 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars during Game 4 in Denver on Saturday. Girard, Logan O'Connor, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog all contributed goals in the win at home, only made more dominant by Mackenzie Blackwood, who earned his first career postseason shutout. Blackwood has played his first four career postseason games with the Avalanche this year.

In the last two years, he’s been one of the three finalists. Erik Karlsson and Quinn Hughes won the trophy in those years (playing for the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks respectively).

For 2025, he joins Hughes (again) and Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski as this year’s finalists. 

Makar’s season is well deserving of a nomination. He’s had a career year and is putting his name in the ring for one of the best offensive defenders ever to play the game.

Six years in the NHL, five Norris nominations. 

Cale Makar is ________________. pic.twitter.com/KJN3mcYTMH

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 29, 2025

He collected 30 goals and 62 assists for 92 points in 80 games. Makar also averaged 25:43 of ice time per game. He set career-highs in goals and points this past season.

Makar also began the season with a 13-game point streak, which is only the second all-time to Bobby Orr.

Avalanche fans will have to wait until the end of the playoffs to see if Makar will add a second Norris Trophy to his collection.

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The most successful coaches in the NHL right now are do not belong to the Rangers

That, of course, is because the Blueshirts – for the moment at least – don't have one and even if they sign Mike Sullivan he'll be ranked 32nd best out of 32.

Picking out the perfect coach for a team is not easy but the Tampa Bay Lightning solved that problem a long time ago with Jon Cooper.

When the Lightning signed him on March 25, 2013 Coop had no NHL experience but had done exceptional work in the AHL. Instead of going for a retread, the Boltd gambled on Cooper and it paid off. 

"Jon has more than proved his worth," says Tampa Bay broadcaster Larry Hirsch. "The fact he's been around for more than a decade says it all for how he has adjusted with the seasons and changes in personnel."

Stanley Cup champion Paul Maurice has an even longer track record, dating back 20 years to the Hartford Whalers. Witty, insightful and wisely self-critical, Maurice walked away from the Winnipeg gig without being pushed.

"Paul instinctively knew that for the Winnipeg Jets' sake – and his sake – it was imperative to withdraw, take stock and reevaluate what works what does not," says The Old Scout. "That's what Sully will have to do if he comes to Rangers."

Right now Sullivan is the ultimate recycled retread with nothing impressive about his work but three missed playoffs in a row with the Penguins.

"Instead of Malkin and Crosby," adds The Old Scout, "his Rangers keys will be Panarin, Shesterkin, some promising kids and Fat Cats. There's nothing about what he did in Pittsburgh that suggests he'll do better on Seventh Avenue."

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

Chris Drury blew it when he bypassed Rangers farmhand coach Kris Knoblauch for Peter Laviolette. In case you missed it, Knoblauch took Edmonton to the Cup Final last spring and who knows? – might even do it again.

Now we wait and see whether Drury does what everyone thinks he's gonna do; hire Sullivan. If so, New York will be Retread City all over again; except that the Rangers' version inevitably will be just like Pittsburgh's. 

Ersatz!

Rangers' logic defies credulity.

Chris Drury spends the 2024-25 season multiplying mistakes from dumb trades to overpaying fat cats by the ton.

His club misses the playoffs and instead of being booted into the East River the guy gets a new contract. Rangers' illogical logic prevails.

Now the talk is that Mike Sullivan has all but clinched the open head coaching slot and isn't that wonderful when you consider how badly he failed in Pittsburgh that not even his buddy Sid Crosby could save his job. 

With Hall of Famers Crosby and Geno Malkin leading the Penguins' lineup, Sully has missed the playoffs for three straight years.

That should make him a perfect Rangers fit: A. An over-the-hill retread. B. A three-straight loser. Isn't that a wonderful combo. Like tapioca pudding with ketchup. OY VAY!

Owner Jim Dolan's spin on rehiring Drury was...was...was..something like, "I just like this guy and that's all there is to it" kind of spin. 

Well there's gotta be something good about Drury other than his name is easy to spell and he's got a pizza business.

As for Sullivan, well, let's see. Sidney likes him. Geno likes him. Hmmmm!

The talk also has the Bruins wanting sulled Sully. And that figures because the one thing you really gotta love about the Bostonians is that their high command can match the Rangers on the Ineptitude scale.

This is how dopey the Beantown general staff is these days. First, they open the season with good coach Jim Montgomery. Then, they panic durin an early season slump. 

Next they dump Monty who goes to St.Louis and turns the Blues into a playoff team while the Bruins fade and go into non-playoff hibernation.

NHL General Managers Reportedly Believe Mike Sullivan Will End Up With The Rangers Now that Mike Sullivan has officially parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Rangers have already jumped in as the favorites to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach.

Gimme a break. If Mike Sullivan is so good; so desirable perhaps theRangers and Bruins ought to make a lend-lease deal and share him. Hey, you get him for October and we get him for November. 

And we fire him for Christmas!

Does all the Tocchet talk point to coach's return with Flyers? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As the Flyers search for a new head coach, we’re looking at potential candidates to fill the vacancy.

“Communication and teaching are probably two things that will be at the forefront of our next coach,” general manager Danny Briere said April 19 at his end-of-the-season press conference. “When you have a young team in place, I really think those two attributes are extremely important.”

We started our series with Mike Sullivan. Next up, we profile Rick Tocchet, whose time in Vancouver came to an end Tuesday. The Canucks did not exercise their club option on Tocchet for next season, but wanted him to stay. If the sides didn’t come to terms on a new contract, Tocchet would become a free agent.

And that became the case Tuesday.

“I’m choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks,” Tocchet said as part of a statement released by the team. “Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time. While I don’t know where I’m headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.”

We’ll see if Tocchet becomes the Flyers’ top target.

This was from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently on the Donnie and Dhali show: “My bet is if he’s coaching next year, it’s either in Vancouver or Philadelphia.”

And from ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski: “Most of the sources we spoke with expected that Philadelphia would be Tocchet’s next stop if he and the Canucks part ways.”

Why Tocchet would be a fit

There are connections abound with Tocchet and the Flyers.

He adores the city and franchise. He’s in the Flyers Hall of Fame. He and Briere were teammates with the Coyotes and he was a Flyers teammate with president of hockey operations Keith Jones.

“I’m sure the players will tell you, there’s no better place to play,” Tocchet said in November 2021 at his Flyers Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“I don’t think there’s a better fan base in the NHL. You guys support the team, you guys want to win as bad as anybody.”

Not only does Tocchet know what it takes to play in this market, but he has also proven he can coach a little, too. He won the Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year) last season in his first full year with Vancouver. The Canucks put up 50 wins, 109 points and took the eventual Western Conference champion Oilers to seven games in the second round.

This season, Vancouver had a drama-filled year and finished with 90 points (38-30-14) to miss the playoffs.

Overall, though, the Canucks played with structure and smarts. They were tied for the fourth-fewest goals allowed at 5-on-5 in Tocchet’s two full seasons. They made high-percentage plays and limited shots, creating offense through work ethic.

If the Flyers wanted to reinvigorate some of their fan base, landing Tocchet would do the trick. The 61-year-old has the presence to put butts in seats.

He also has three Stanley Cup rings, all with the Penguins — one as a player and two as an assistant coach. He never got a ring in Philly but came oh-so close. Motivation would be pretty high for Tocchet behind the Flyers’ bench.

Why Tocchet would not be a fit

Tocchet is not rich with experience. He has been to the playoffs twice as an NHL head coach and his 11 postseason victories are tied with former Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol.

The 12-win, 19-point drop-off with Vancouver this season might have some feeling that last season was more of an outlier, perhaps that initial jump teams often take under a new voice.

It’s worth noting, though, that Tocchet’s résumé may be a bit skewed from his previous stop. He spent four seasons leading the Coyotes, one of the NHL’s most challenging markets at the time.

As outlined above, Tocchet has a deep Flyers background. Would outside perspective from a younger, up-and-coming coach be a better fit for a rebuilding Flyers team? It’s a question that may be asked.

After the last game of the season, as Montreal Canadiens players were gifting the jerseys they were wearing to lucky fans who had won the “Jerseys Off Our Back” traditional contest, Brendan Gallagher gave his to a special fan. After the alternate captain lost his mother in early March, Lucie Lachance had offered to give him the Hockey Fights Cancer jersey he had worn to honour his mother’s fight with cancer a few years ago.

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As they swapped jerseys on the red carpet, Lachance gave him baby gifts for his newborn daughter, while Gallagher also gifted her with a game-used stick. The next morning, Canadiens V.P. of Communications Chantal Machabee contacted Lachance to tell her the player wanted to give her tickets to a playoff game.

She received a pair of tickets for game four and went to Montreal from her hometown of Gatineau. On her way to the Bell Centre using the metro, she was recognized by a dozen of fans who had seen the video of the jersey swap, and they thanked her for the incredible gesture. She was even hugged by a man who told her he too had lost his mother to cancer and was touched by her good deed.

She realized she was sitting in the players’ friends and family section when she got to the arena. Then, the Canadiens showed the video of the jersey swap on the jumbotron, and Lachance was cheered by the whole arena.

During the game, a few mothers recognized her, including Alex Newhook’s mother, who was particularly moved, and Samuel Montembeau’s mom, who also came over to thank her for what she had done.

She also met one of the most active mothers on social media, Simona Xhekaj, who took a picture with her. While the Canadiens couldn’t pull off the win against the  Washington Capitals on the night, Lachance had a day she won’t forget anytime soon.

Got lucky enough to meet @SimonaXhekaj who was 4 seats away from me. Thank you for the big hug and pic You’re the 🐐❤️❤️❤️ Monthy’s family was right the row below me. Got to see the wags goat from Daryanne up close and talked t her and Sam’s mom. They are the sweetest 🫶🫶 pic.twitter.com/8FhjlHl6iF

— x-Lucie Lachance (@LucieLou08) April 28, 2025

---

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The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before playing Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Based on Monday's practice, we could see a few changes for tonight's game against the Golden Knights. 

Zeev Buium, who has played with Zach Bogosian for the first four games of the series, was skating with Declan Chisholm. Jon Merrill was with Bogosian. 

This would mean that Merrill is likely to draw in for Buium. 

Wild head coach John Hynes did not confirm it on Monday, he will on Tuesday later, but all signs point to Merrill slotting in for the Wild for Game 5.

Merrill, 33, played in 70 games for the Wild this season. He had two goals, six points, 85 blocked shots, and 41 hits. He has been with the Wild the last four seasons and has played in eight playoff games for Minnesota. 

In those eight games, Merrill has one assist, 16 blocked shots, four hits, and is a minus-5.

Liam Ohgren was listed on the "black aces" squad for the first four games but was now added to the roster. He traveled with the team to Vegas but is not expected to play. 

Marcus Johansson missed Game 4 with a lower-body injury but is expected to be back for Game 5. 

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

Wild Related News

Former Wild Goaltender Named Vezina Trophy FinalistThe NHL announced the three finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy today. The trophy is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position. (4-28-25) Minnesota Wild Practice Update: Eriksson Ek, Ohgren, Johansson, MerrillST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before going to Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Here are a few notes. Cassidy Hoping Line Changes Spark Golden Knights In Time For Game 5LAS VEGAS -- As the second-seeded Golden Knights saw their opening round series with the Minnesota Wild slipping away, and on the brink of becoming out of hand, coach Bruce Cassidy did what he has done countless times: put his forward lines in a blender.

Jon Cooper sounded frustrated. But he also sounded defeated.

Like someone who had lost control of a situation and had given up trying to get it back.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had just lost 4-2 to the Florida Panthers on Monday night, putting them down 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. But the Lightning coach’s reaction had less to do with the score and more to do with another on-ice incident that is becoming far too common in a series where we’ve seen more instances of star players getting hurt — than showing off their skill.

In Game 2, Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel was suspended for a game after delivering a late hit to an unsuspecting Florida's Aleksander Barkov.

In Game 2, Florida's Matthew Tkachuk was ejected after doing something similar to Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel.

In Game 4, Hagel then received payback for his hit on Barkov, with Aaron Ekblad delivering a forearm to the face of Hagel, who left the game after smacking the back of his head against the ice.

In Game 5, what do we expect?

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reaction To Panthers' Comeback Win Vs. Lightning After Game MisconductWelcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game,” said Cooper, who asked reporters what they thought about the hit. “If anybody in here has something, stand up and let me know. Alright, let’s move on.”

Adding insult to injury was that Ekblad scored the goal that tied the game 3-3 in the third period. Eleven seconds later, Seth Jones scored the game-winner, putting the Lightning one loss away from being eliminated.

"I want to be consistent with what I've said," Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters. "On the Hagel (hit), I saw it. I've seen it before. Saw it last year. We'll all coach, the players will play, the refs will make the calls, and the league will do what they will. I just want to be — I don't want to use this platform to start making my case on this. Everybody's got a job to do. I'll stay in my lane."

In other words, it crossed a line. And it wasn't the first time.

Lightning Coach Jon Cooper Is Sick Of Talking About Dirty HitsGame 4 was an incredibly frustrating one for the Tampa Bay Lightning. After being up 2-1, the Lightning allowed three unanswered goals to the Florida Panthers in the third period and lost by a 4-2 final score. With this, the Lightning are now down 3-1 in the series and need to win their next three games to advance to the second round. If they are unsuccessful in doing so, it will mark the end of their season. 

We all love the physicality of the playoffs. What makes hockey so unlike other sports is that the playoffs are so different than the regular season. It can sometimes be like watching a different sport. There's a different standard.

You can say that there’s a different standard of officiating. But the bigger issue is that there is a different standard of hatred.

Teams are not just trying to win. At times, it seems like they are also trying to hurt. Or injure.

We’re obviously seeing that in the Battle of Florida, which features some of the roughest players in the league. But we’re seeing it everywhere.

In the Battle of Ontario, Ottawa's Artem Zub somehow got away with a headshot on Toronto's John Tavares that prevented the former Leafs captain from being on the ice in overtime in Game 4. The following night, Habs fans were freeze-framing Washington's Tom Wilson’s massive hit on Montreal's Alexandre Carrier to see if it was a headshot or not.

Matthew Tkachuk hit on Jake Guentzel won't lead to disciplinary hearing, per report Matthew Tkachuk will not be facing any supplemental discipline following Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Even the coaches are getting in on the action, with Maurice and Cooper taking turns chirping each other in their post-game news conferences.

After the Hagel hit in Game 2, Maurice told reporters: “The only players we hit are the ones that have pucks.”

After Tkachuk hit Guentzel in Game 3, Cooper trolled Maurice by repeating the line: “The only players we hit are the ones with pucks.”

To the refs' credit, they are calling penalties. And to the league's credit, they are doling out suspensions and fines. And yet, it's not really changing anything.

At some point, the players have to police themselves.

Playoffs or not, they can't go around injuring one another and then offering supplemental retribution in the following game. If they do, no one will be left standing by the end of the first round — much less the Stanley Cup final six weeks from now.

Winners And Losers From Week 1 Of The 2025 Stanley Cup PlayoffsWhenever he’s asked about expanding the Stanley Cup playoff pool, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has come up with a response that’s tough to argue: the current format creates the most compelling first round in all of sports. 

After four hard-fought games, the Montreal Canadiens are on the brink of elimination in their first-round series against the Washington Capitals. The Habs had a day off on Monday. Still, alternate captain Brendan Gallagher spoke to the media and explained this was nothing new, reminding the press that Montreal was down 3-1 in their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021.

Canadiens: About That Devastating Hit
Canadiens: Tough Loss In Hard Hitting Battle
Canadiens: After The Warnings, The Fines

Granted, there aren’t that many players left on the team (Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Joel Armia, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Jake Evans), but they are leaders the other players look up too, so leading the way will be nothing new for them when the puck drops on Wednesday night.

Going back even further, in the Spring of 2010, the Habs were also down 3-1 against those same Capitals and ultimately prevailed. Of course, none of the players from then are still around, but the circumstances were similar. The Habs had qualified from the skin of their teeth while the Capitals were the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

Montreal won the first game 3-2 in overtime before losing the next three, including two one-sided games. Still, the Canadiens rose from their ashes thanks to Jaroslav Halak. They put up three consecutive wins to eventually dispatch the regular season champions in seven games on their turf.

The fact that the Canadiens haven’t won a game in Washington so far doesn’t mean they cannot do it. Despite the scoreline of Sunday night’s game, the Habs were in it until the very end and were by no means dominated.

The efficiency of both special teams may also play a significant role in game five. The newly formed first power play unit was impressive in game four and will be hungry for more in game five, especially with the high stakes.

SON NOM : GOAL CAUFIELD#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/DiORuuqqjk

— x - Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2025

The Canadiens will hold a practice in Brossard at 11:00 on Tuesday morning before departing for Washington at 2:00 PM. They’ll then have a morning skate on Wednesday at 10:30 in Washington to prepare for game five, which is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

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With the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.

Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas certainly has his work cut out for him. When speaking with the Pittsburgh media on Monday following the announcement of Sullivan's departure, Dubas mapped out the timeline for their coaching search, specifying that the organization expects to name a new head coach in early June.

He also tipped off some ideas about the kind of coach he might be looking for, and the sticking point seemed to be prioritizing the development of their young players as the Penguins navigate a transitional period back to Stanley Cup contention.

With that in mind, here are eight candidates that Dubas should consider for the position.

BREAKING: Penguins And Head Coach Mike Sullivan Mutually Part WaysAfter nearly 10 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a new voice behind the bench for the 2025-26 season.

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The "best-case scenario" category

David Carle

After turning down an opportunity with the Chicago Blackhawks, it remains to be seen whether or not Carle - head coach of the University of Denver Pioneers - is interested in coaching at the NHL level altogether right now. 

But if he is an option, he's certainly someone Dubas shouldn't hesitate to call.

Carle is only 35 years old - so, yes, he's younger than Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby - but if the Penguins are looking for a head coach with a proven track record of success in development, there's arguably no one more fitting than Carle. In seven seasons coaching the Pioneers, he's won two national championships and has a .694 winning percentage. 

He also led Team USA to gold at the World Junior Championship this season, and he will helm the 2025 squad as well. He's great with young players, he knows how to win, and he's the perfect fit for the Penguins if he's open to the position.

Todd Nelson

Although Dubas ruled out first-year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins head coach Kirk MacDonald as a candidate, that doesn't mean he won't turn to other AHL head coaches as options.

And there's, perhaps, no better such option than Nelson.

A former Penguin as a player, Nelson - head coach of the Hershey Bears, AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals - has shown a proven track record of success at the AHL level. He spent some time with the Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins before coaching the Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024, with another potentially on the horizon. 

He also has some experience at the NHL level. Nelson was an assistant coach for the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers from 2008-10 and for the Dallas Stars from 2018-22. In between, he was named the interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in the back half of the 2014-15 season before being replaced by Todd McLellan in the season's aftermath.

Nelson has the right mixture of experience, developmental acumen, and success for the Penguins' vacancy, and he should be a top option in their search.

Rick Tocchet

Although his NHL coaching career has had some ups and downs, there's no denying Tocchet's connections to the Penguins.

In addition to winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1992 as a player, Tocchet was behind the Penguins' bench as an assistant coach during their back-to-back Cup runs in 2016 and 2017 before taking a head coaching position with the Arizona Coyotes the following season, where he remained until the end of the 2021-22 season. 

He was then brought on to coach the Vancouver Canucks in the 2023-24 season, and after leading the team to a Pacific division title, he received the Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year. 2024-25 was tumultuous, however, as the Canucks missed the postseason amid a lot of drama surrounding the organization all season long.

Tocchet's contract with the Canucks has expired, and although it's believed that Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford wants to retain the sought-after coach, it's not clear yet what Tocchet's intentions are. 

He has a great relationship with the veteran core of the Penguins, and his reputation with young players is a very positive one. Since both things are crucial to Dubas's plan moving forward, if the Penguins are to choose a "re-tread," there is a very high chance that Tocchet would be their guy.

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

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The "inexperienced but intriguing" category

Mike Hastings

Of all the options on this list, Hastings is certainly the most unproven. But "unproven" may not necessarily be a bad thing in this case.

Hastings was bred from the USHL program, where he racked up both USHL Coach of the Year and General Manager of the Year honors with the Omaha City Lancers over the years. He then turned around a near-irrelevant Minnesota State Mavericks collegiate team from 2012-23, leading them to the Frozen Four in 2021 and earning him a nod as an assistant coach for the 2022 U.S. Men's Olympic team that never came to fruition with the NHL backing out of the games.

He has spent the last two seasons coaching the Wisconsin Badgers with a combined 38-31-5 record.

Hastings is a prime example of a coach who has earned everything he's gotten, rising from his humble beginnings in the USHL and elevating himself to a Big-10 coaching role. That organic growth seems synonymous with what Dubas is looking for.

Aaron Schneekloth

Jumping back to AHL candidates, Schneekloth, 46, has been at the helm for the Colorado Eagles - AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche - for the past two seasons, putting up a very respectable 83-46-10-5 record. Prior to that, the Eagles were actually the ECHL affiliate of the Avalanche, and Schneekloth won back-to-back Kelly Cup championships in 2017 and 2018.

The Eagles are known for their high-octane offense - they led the AHL in goals for this season with 250 - which should go over well with the Penguins and the types of high-end offensive players they have at the top of their lineup. 

He is held in high regard in the Avalanche's system, and he has grown along with the players in that system. If development is a priority, Schneekloth would certainly qualify.

Inside the Numbers: Mike Sullivan's Decade As Penguins Head CoachOn April 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they mutually parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. As the winningest coach in franchise history, it's a monumental day for the organization, which will begin its search for a new leader for the first time since 2015.

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The "worthwhile re-tread" category

David Quinn

Even though Dubas said that the rest of the Penguins' coaching staff was deemed free to pursue other opportunities - including Andy Chiodo, Ty Hennes, and Mike Vellucci - Quinn's name still remains in the fold because he is still under contract.

It's hard to deny the work that Quinn did with the Penguins' power play this season, and he has some familiarity with the Penguins' players and their system but not enough tenure for any philosophy to be engrained. He's also notorious for his "people skills," which Sullivan himself pointed out multiple times throughout the season.

Since the Penguins are in a transitional period, it might not be the worst idea to have someone around who is somewhat familiar but still relatively fresh. He may not be a long-term option, but he's not necessarily a bad one for the "now." 

'He's Very Detailed': Quinn Makes Impression In First Season As Penguins Assistant CoachPenguins assistant coach David Quinn - who oversees the defense, power play, and overtime - has brought an element of authenticity to the room

Jeremy Colliton

Colliton - who is currently an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils - has a bit of a bumpy track record. His first NHL head coaching gig didn't exactly go swimmingly, as he was named the successor to Joel Quenneville with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018 and was fired almost exactly three years later in 2021 after falling short of expectations.

A former NHL player with the New York Islanders from 2005-11 (three goals, six points in 57 games), he's seen AHL stints with the Rockford Icehogs and Abbotsford Canucks in addition to his NHL experience.

The 40-year-old certainly has more to prove, but he may be worth a gamble by the Penguins and could even be a "bridge" option for them if their rebuild turns out to be longer-term than expected.

Jay Woodcroft

Woodcroft's resume may be short, but that doesn't mean it is lacking.

During the 2021-22 season, Woodcroft was promoted from his position with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors in February and managed to revive an Oilers team that was dead in the water at the time of his hiring, leading them to the Western Conference Finals. The Oilers went 50-23-9 with 109 points in the following season, which was good enough for the second-best regular season finish in the Western Conference.

Even though he was fired after Edmonton's abysmal 3-9-1 start to the 2023-24 season, it felt like Woodcroft had a lot left in the tank. Aside from being an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, however, he hasn't had a coaching gig since, and he has been awaiting another opportunity.

Woodcroft is known for his work with young players, and that's something the Penguins and Dubas will need out of their new coach. He may technically be a "re-tread," but of the non-Tocchet re-treads available, he's probably the most intriguing option.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

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The Comeback Cats made their first appearance of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night in Sunrise.

Down by a goal late in the third period, the Panthers struck the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring two incredibly quick goals and winning by a 4-2 final.

Florida now leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading back to Tampa.

Both teams did well to limit the others’ opportunities during a scoreless first period.

Tampa finished with six shots on 14 attempts while Florida had six shots on 16 attempts. The Lightning blocked five shots and the Cats blocked four.

Florida finally broke the ice near the midway point of the game.

The play started with Brad Marchand hustling after a puck in Tampa’s zone to negate an icing. After tying the puck up along the boards, Eetu Luostarinen arrived to quickly take the puck and, after drawing a defender, pass it back to Marchand.

With Anton Lundell alone in the slot, Marchand quicky delivered the puck to Lundell, who beat Andrei Vasilevskiy blocker side to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Not long after, Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad sent Tampa’s Brandon Hagel to the locker room with a crushing check that appeared to get part of Hagel’s head.

That appeared to motivate the Lightning because they quickly scored two goals in the span of just 11 seconds to shock the Panthers and take a 2-1 lead into the third period.

Tampa’s lead led until the final minutes of the third period.

Aaron Ekblad, who had a goal called back earlier in the period due to the play being offside, jumped on a rebound and beat Vasilevskiy at the 16:13 mark to tie the game at two.

Stop me if you’ve heard this already, but just 11 seconds later, a Seth Jones shot from the point went off a skate and past Vasilevskiy to suddenly and shockingly put the Panthers back in front.

Carter Verhaeghe added an empty-net goal to make the already frenzied crowd even louder.

On to Game 5.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Lundell’s goal was his first point of the postseason. He added an assist on Jones’ goal.

Marchand is up to three assists in four playoff games with Florida after notching a pair in Game 4.

Florida went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, including a five-minute major, and is now 14-for-15 in the series when down a man.

Ekblad’s goal was his first since January 25.

Sasha Barkov has four assists in the four games so far this series.

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