The Ottawa Senators held their second annual Season Seat Member Spring Summit at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night. It was an opportunity for season ticket holders to rub elbows and get an insider's view on what's happening with the club.

One of the biggest pieces of news on the evening was a glimpse at what the Senators and Fanatics (the NHL's outfitter of on-ice uniforms) appear to have settled on for their new third jersey. It appeared in a video the team showed to fans on the CTC big screen. Naturally, it had some fans and media members grabbing their cell phone cameras to share on the new look on social media.

The video provided close ups of the new third jerseys, which are all-red with black and metallic gold trim (think Vegas Golden Knights). At the end of the video, a blurry image of a player wearing the jersey walks toward the camera, came into reasonably clear view for one single frame before the video ends.

This image falls completely in line with a social media post that surfaced earlier this season from a Reddit user. It had photos of a player wearing a similar uniform, standing on the CTC ice surface on a non-game day, perhaps as part of the production of the very video that was shown to fans on Tuesday, or simply testing how it looked to the TV cameras.

For example, for TV viewers, going with black numbers directly on red is rarely a good choice. They look fine and they're legible up close but the lack of colour contrast makes it a struggle on the standard wide shot from a distance. Perhaps the gold trim in this case will make them stand out enough. Regardless, this is the kind of thing they test for.

The only visible difference in the two images might be the added detail in the centurion's red plume and possibly the removal of the S logo on the shoulders, but it's hard to tell for certain. 

(Image at left credit: Sens Reddit user)

It's probably not fair to fully judge a jersey until you see it in person, or at least in higher resolution. But barring any last minute changes, this gives you a good sense of what appears to be the Sens' new thirds that will launch in September.

We'll have more on Tuesday's Season Seat Member Spring Summit coming up shortly.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

Two Intriguing Right-Shot UFA Defensemen Who Would Look Good In Ottawa This FallWith veteran Nick Jensen recovering from hip surgery and uncertain to start the 2025–26 season, the Ottawa Senators would be wise to explore the free agent market for some reliable, defensively sound options to stabilize and provide some top-four depth to their blue line.

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The Florida Panthers picked up a massive 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. With this blowout win, the Panthers now have a 2-1 series lead over the Oilers in the series. 

With Florida's Game 3 win, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has hit an incredibly rare milestone behind the bench. 

According to NHL Public Relations, Maurice is now just the third coach in the history of the NHL to reach 1,000 career wins (regular season and playoffs combined). The only other coaches who have reached this incredible feat are Scotty Bowman (1,467 wins) and Joel Quenneville (1,090 wins).

Make that 1,000 NHL wins for Paul Maurice as a head coach.

He joined Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090) as the only head coaches in League history to reach the mark. #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/t85G7yQ6unpic.twitter.com/C1LyDgM08v

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 10, 2025

This latest accomplishment for Maurice only shows just how fantastic of a career he has put together as an NHL coach, and the Panthers are certainly lucky to have him as their bench boss. 

Maurice and the Panthers will now look to stay hot and pick up another victory in Game 4 from here. It would be huge if they did, as the Panthers would take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Oilers. 

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Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers played Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Sunrise.

It did not feel like a normal Stanley Cup Final game.

There were multiple fights, a line brawl and cheap shots left and right.

When the dust settled, officials had called 140 minutes of penalties, which is the fourth-most ever in a Stanley Cup Final game.

Many of the physical interactions were either instigated or exacerbated by the Oilers as Florida's lead ballooned from three to four to five.

While there were plenty of questionable decisions, a couple by Oilers defenseman Jake Walman caught the attention of the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Walman was fined a total of $10,000 by the NHL DOPS for two separate incidents that occurred during Game 3.

One came after he and Florida's A.J. Greer had a little run-in, which ended up with Greer skating away and to his bench with Walman's glove.

Walman responded by taking a water bottle from the Oilers bench and spraying it several times at Florida's bench.

Walman was spraying water at the Panthers bench 👀 pic.twitter.com/gzuvCi9WJM

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 10, 2025

That "incident involving Florida's bench" cost Walman $5,000, the maximum allowable fine under the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA.

"I obviously did that for a reason," Walman said after the game. "I won't go into the details. It's just gamesmanship, I guess. I've just got to realize there's cameras everywhere and they see that stuff."

The second $5,000 fine stemmed from an altercation with Matthew Tkachuk in front of Edmonton's net.

While Tkachuk's arms were being held by Oilers blueliner John Klingberg, Walman laid several punches to Tkachuk's face and head.

Officials gave Wallman a double minor for roughing and a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Jake Walman just gave a couple rights to Matthew Tkachuk 😳👊 pic.twitter.com/gSv9SgT33Z

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 10, 2025

Tkachuk, who finished the game with an assist and, surprisingly, no penalty minutes,

"We just went out there and played hockey," he said. "We talked about it in the third (period), if you have to take a punch, you take a punch. If you have to take a cross-check, take a cross-check. A spear or a slash in the face, whatever the case is."

It will be interesting to see how the Oilers respond after such an undisciplined performance.

Game 4 between Florida and Edmonton is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. from Amerant Bank Arena.

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (17) fights Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) during the third period in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

The Edmonton Oilers were nearly impossible to shake in the first three rounds of the playoffs. 

As they beat the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars, the Oilers had brief moments here or there where they looked unnerved, but that was only temporary. For the most part, the Oilers imposed their will on their opponent and made relatively short work of them.

But now, after three Stanley Cup final games against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, the Oilers have been reactionary, knee-jerk-ish and ultimately, very beatable. 

In Game 1 against the Panthers, Edmonton pulled out a win, but in the last two games, the Oilers have been increasingly overwhelmed by Florida’s waves of provocation. 

The frustrating part for the Oilers is that they had to know the provocation was always coming, yet they still look very much like a team that doesn’t have the capacity to turn the other cheek. They’re down 2-1 as a result.

The Panthers made their bones by pushing the envelope, playing an extremely physical game and basically daring their opponent to maintain their composure. 

Everybody knew what they were doing. And thus far, only the Toronto Maple Leafs – which took the Panthers to seven games in the second round – absorbed Florida’s punches, literally and competitively, and gave the Panthers a run for their money. But even then, the Leafs eventually wilted under Florida’s unending pressure with blowout losses at home.

You would think Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch would’ve made it clear to his players that they couldn’t give in to the temptation to pound the Panthers into a new zip code. Trent Frederic even discussed that before the Cup final.

"You have to stay away from the stuff after whistles," Frederic told Ryan Kennedy. "I like our power play a lot, but we can't fall into their trap."

Florida had 11 power plays on Monday. They scored three times with the man advantage in the 6-1 win. Edmonton went 1-for-6 on the power play.

After the game was essentially out of hand for Edmonton, the Oilers completely melted down, getting into something close to a line brawl. Some might’ve viewed the late-game breakdown as a sign of life for Edmonton, but this writer saw it as a sign that the Panthers were utterly and completely under the Oilers’ skin.

If the Oilers are going to get back in this series, their discipline will have to drastically improve. Florida’s professional troublemakers, such as Sam Bennett, must be ignored as much as possible. Otherwise, the Panthers will just push forward with the Oilers under control.

In Game 1, Florida only had two power plays, compared to Edmonton's four. The Oilers looked like they were playing their game instead of letting Florida dictate the tone. And although the Oilers had six power plays in Game 2, they gave Florida four as well, leading up to Game 3's chaos.

If Games 4 and 5 look anything like Game 3, the Oilers will be on the losing end of the Cup final for the second straight season. They must stick to their game if they intend on winning.

Promo image credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

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The NHL announced the winner of the Selke Trophy last week with Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov taking home his third.

After having a finalist for the award last season as well as another top-10 finisher, the Hurricanes did not have a single player within the top-10 this season, although three were inside the top-20.

Jordan Staal, 36, finished 11th in Selke voting this season, after finishing second overall in 2023-24.

The veteran centerman continues to be one of the league's premier defensive and shutdown players at both 5v5 and on the penalty kill, but his lack of scoring keeps him from being a true contender for the award.

Staal received five first-place votes this season.

Seth Jarvis also fell a few spots going from 8th overall in voting in 2023-24 to 12th this season.

While it's hard for wingers to get as much credit for their defensive work, Jarvis continues to be a strong candidate for consideration, especially given the fact that he was tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals (5) this season.

Jarvis received two first-place votes.

Barkov, Cirelli, and Reinhart is a worthy trio of Selke nominees, but Jarvis should at least be in the conversation. pic.twitter.com/sRtVGf6CDf

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 2, 2025

Rounding out the voting for the Hurricanes was Sebastian Aho, who finished in 20th this season after an 11th place finish in 2023-24.

Aho is a elite two-way player who plays in all situations. He's a top-end penalty killer and he even had seven shorthanded points this season.

Jordan Martinook did not receive any votes this season after finishing 30th last season.

Rod Brind'Amour Receives Zero Votes For Coach of the YearThe NHL announced the results for the Jack Adams Award on Saturday, given annually to "the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success" as voted on by the NHL Broadcasters' Association. Hurricanes Rookies' Strong Seasons Validated In Calder Trophy VotingThe results from the 2025 Calder Trophy voting for the NHL's Rookie of the Year were announced on Tuesday with Montreal's Lane Hutson taking home top honors.

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

Although it was already known Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov wouldn't be a finalist for the 2025 Calder Trophy, the voting process painted a much different picture.

With the final voting results released Tuesday morning, Montreal Canadiens starlet Lane Hutson was the runaway winner, earning 165 of the 191 total first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf earned 15 first-place votes, while San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini reeled in 11. As for Michkov? The Flyers winger didn't receive so much as even one first-plate vote.

The final tally showed Hutson earning 1,832 points, Wolf earning 1,169, and Celebrini earning 1,104. Michkov was a distant fourth with his meager 645.

Perhaps even worse was that Michkov received just 34 total votes for second and third place, respectively, but pulled in 151 votes for fourth. Somehow, the affable Flyers rookie was hardly even a consideration to be a finalist amongst voters.

Flyers Trade Rumors: Division Rival Trying to Hijack Nicolas Hague TradeIf the Philadelphia Flyers truly want to trade for Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague, they may have to outbid two other NHL teams, including a Metropolitan Division rival, to get the deal over the line.

The 20-year-old Michkov was the Flyers' lone representative in Calder voting, though former Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier finished behind him in fifth place with six fourth-place votes and 74 fifth-place votes.

Michkov himself wasn't all that concerned with the results of the Calder Trophy voting, though it would have been nice for him to earn some silverware on behalf of the Flyers as the NHL's most outstanding rookie.

The Russian sensation finished his debut season in the NHL with 26 goals, leading all rookies. Michkov's 63 points were tied with Celebrini for second amongst all rookies, trailing Hutson's 66.

A Flyers player has never won the Calder Trophy, and this trend will continue for the foreseeable future with no big-time young talents expected to make the jump to their NHL roster in 2025-26.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

William Karlsson's name has been floated out by many insiders, and although no concrete reports have come from the Vegas Golden Knights, a trusted insider revealed fresh information.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, that "All I'm going to say is that I got pushback from teams about Karlsson," Friedman said. "Now, I haven't spoken to Vegas directly, and it's always possible... I asked a few people about Karlsson, and either they told me they're not under the impression he's available, or, I suspect, in at least one or two cases, they asked and were told no."

"I asked around about Karlsson, and just the people I spoke to, they told me they had either no indication Vegas was willing to do it, or had been specifically told Vegas wasn't doing it. So if Karlsson's available, and I stress if... you'd have to show me what the situation would be."

HC Bruce Cassidy trusts Karlsson quite a bit, and it would take a lot of convincing from GM Kelly McCrimmon to convince him that moving him is the right move. Karlsson is trusted defensively at even strength and on the penalty kill, and chips in offensively when needed. Several reports have indicated that the Golden Knights are going to make a strong push for Mitch Marner, and they would need to free up cap space to do so. 

Karlsson's $5.9M cap hit would do so, and he could fetch a very strong return in a market that craves two-way centermen. 

Marner is a winger but is regarded as one of the best pure playmakers in the NHL. He is also one of the best defensive wingers, with the ability to shut down the opponent's top line and kill penalties. 

With several reports stemming from numerous insiders on multiple players, the Golden Knights could be in line to be very busy this offseason.

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

REPORT: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes Discussed Three-Team Deal Involving Mitch Marner At The Trade DeadlineSince the conclusion of the Vegas Golden Knights' 2024-25 season, they've been linked and named as possible favorites to land top free agent Mitch Marner. A recent report shared by The Athletic's James Mirtle states that the Golden Knights nearly completed a three-team trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes, which would have sent Marner to Vegas. Golden Knights Forward Finds His Name On Offseason Trade BoardVegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev, alongside defenseman Nicolas Hague, found his name on Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos' Offseason Trade Board. 

Welcome back to another Memorable Match from the Vancouver Canucks’ 2024–25 season. Last time, we looked at the team’s 4–3 overtime loss against the St. Louis Blues on March 20. This week, we’ll take a look at the Canucks’ record-setting 6–5 overtime win against the Dallas Stars on April 8. 

Coming into this game, the Canucks’ playoff odds were slimmer than a hair. If they won this game, they would continue to be in contention — barely. Dallas, on the other hand, had already clinched their playoff spot and looked to be Stanley Cup favourites after acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes. Because of this, Vancouver’s chances at winning looked slim even before they’d stepped onto the ice. 

The Stars took the lead in the first period with a goal from Rantanen 13:48 into the first period. Mason Marchment added to their total around five minutes after, sending Dallas to the first intermission with a 2–0 lead. Nearly halfway through the second period, Matt Duchene scored to make the score 3–0 for the Stars. 

Vancouver’s first goal didn’t come until the third period, when Jake DeBrusk found the back of the net 17 seconds into the final regulation frame. Victor Mancini added to this total while on the power play four minutes later. With the game now 3–2, the Canucks had a chance to tie things up and gain a valuable two points. After around 13 minutes, Maverick Bourque scored to give Dallas a two-goal cushion. Mikael Granlund made it 5–2 after scoring an empty net on the Canucks, who’d hoped to even things up. 

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What came next may have been one of the most impressive things the Canucks did this season. With only a minute left in regulation and a three-goal deficit, Aatu Räty scored Vancouver’s third goal of the game. 30 seconds later, it was Pius Suter who found the back of the net. With six seconds left to go in the game, Suter scored yet again to tie the game at 5–5. No other team in NHL history had ever come back from being down by three goals in the final minute of regulation. That is, not until the Canucks did so during this game. 

While this comeback may have come a bit too late, as the Canucks were eliminated from postseason contention the night after, this win was still a testament to the team’s character. If they can continue to carry this spirit into the 2025–26 season, Vancouver will be a difficult team for others to face. 

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

Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine last weekend, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles later this month, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.  

The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.  

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Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka is a possibility for the Sabres, based on the fact that the club is looking to address the right side of the blueline. According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, the 6’6” defenseman can skate and move the puck, which could make his path to the NHL a relatively short one. 

"I want to be better offensively and get better in every (aspect) of the game,” Mrtka said on Saturday.  "(Coming over to Seattle) helped me a lot. They gave me a lot of time and chances, and I think it went pretty good. It's my dream to be in the NHL. So it's kind of preparation for me to live here and stay here." 

Mrtka joined the WHL’s Thunderbirds after starting the season in the Czech League, and while he put up solid offensive numbers in the WHL, scouts aren’t expecting him to duplicate that in the NHL. There’s still a lot to like about the big 18-year-old as a future middle-pair blueliner, who models his game after Victor Hedman and Moritz Seider. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The New York Rangers are getting to know the top hockey prospects in the most unique way at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo. 

With the NHL Draft approaching later this month, all teams are beginning to interview prospects. 

Rangers Select Explosive Defenseman In NHL Mock DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is coming up soon and the New York Rangers have to decide if they want to keep the 12th overall selection in the first round. 

It seems as if the Rangers brass are using some interesting tactics during their interviews, to say the least. 

“Multiple prospects confirmed that they played a game during an interview,” Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers wrote via X. “They were presented a 10 X 10 board of numbers, randomly placed 1-100. They were asked to find 3 different numbers on that random board as quickly as possible. The team? The New York Rangers.”

The Rangers hold the 12th overall pick in the first round and have a decision to make whether to give away this year’s first-round pick or next year’s selection due to the J.T. Miller trade. 

The Bluehsirts hold nine picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.

With both the NHL Draft and free agency on the horizon, trade speculation is running rampant in hockey circles at the moment.

And one of the latest reports by an NHL insider is beginning to crowd the airways.

Speaking on SN590 Tuesday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested that Dallas Stars superstar forward Jason Robertson's name is out there and that he could potentially be moved to provide some relief for a very cap-strapped Stars team.

Roberston, 25, has been one of the league's best goal-scorers for the past several seasons, and he registered 35 goals and 80 points in 82 games during the regular season. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound left wing has one year remaining on a contract that pays him $7.75 million annually before becoming a restricted free agent (RFA) in 2026, and - with the cap spiking for the next three seasons - he is due for a raise.

On the surface, it doesn't make much sense for the Stars to move on from Robertson, especially given the 1-2 punch they have with him and Mikko Rantanen, who was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes on Mar. 8.

However, with only $4.95 million in projected cap space for this season and with several pending-RFAs and UFAs - such as forwards Mikael Granlund (UFA), Matt Duchene (UFA), Jamie Benn (UFA), and Mavrik Bourque (RFA) and defensemen Cody Ceci (UFA) and Nils Lundkvist (RFA) - it gets a bit more complicated, as the Stars would ideally like to hang onto some of them.

Should The Penguins Target Dallas Stars' RFA Forward?Ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency, the Pittsburgh Penguins - in addition to hiring a new head coach - figure to be busy.

In addition, they will need to fill out the rest of their roster for 2025-26, and the Stars will need to extend young star defenseman Thomas Harley, who will also become an RFA in 2026. 

In other words, the chances of Robertson being dealt may still be slim and very speculative at this point, but they're not zero. And, if he is available, is he someone the Pittsburgh Penguins can make a serious push for?

Honestly, it may not be as far-fetched as it seems.

Per data from Puckpedia, Pittsburgh has more draft capital than any other team in hockey over the next three years, and that includes 18 picks within the first three rounds. They have $24.5 million in cap space to work with this summer, and they will have nearly $53.9 million next summer, which will pretty much all be free spending cap because they will have no obligations to extend anyone on their current roster at that point. 

Conceivably, cap should be a non-issue for acquiring someone like Robertson, who more than fits the mold of young talent that Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas is looking for in the trade market. The biggest question is whether or not they have the assets to pull something like that off. 

And, hey, they just might.

Dallas will definitely be looking for a hefty return for Robertson, should they pull the trigger on any sort of trade - and it will most certainly have to include a mix of everything - NHL talent, prospect talent, and picks. Although the Penguins may not have a golden prospect pool, they may be able to somewhat compensate for that elsewhere.

If Dallas is looking to shed some of Robertson's $7.75 million cap - but still net NHL talent in return - they could consider Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. Rakell makes $5 million for three more years and matched Robertson's 2024-25 goal total with 35 while also notching 70 points, meaning the 32-year-old winger can help Dallas in their current win-now mode. 

Penguins Trading Star Forward Would Come With Big RiskFor much of the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell was the subject of trade speculation. It was understandable, as the Penguins were out of the playoff race, while Rakell enjoyed himself a career year. In 81 games, the 32-year-old winger set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points.

If the Penguins retained some salary, that should still open up approximately $4 million, and the Stars would be getting some goal-scoring replacement to be deployed in their top-six. Rakell would have to be shipped off with other assets, too - likely a first (which could, perhaps, be the New York Rangers' conditional first), another pick in the second or third round, and a prospect along the lines of, at the very least, goaltender Joel Blomqvist or forward Tristan Broz.

In addition, Robertson does not have any form of a no-trade or no-movement clause on his current contract, making it a bit easier for Dallas to deal him.

Realistically, if Robertson is available - and the Penguins are interested - they could, conceivably, put together a package to get a deal across the finish line. They have a player in Rakell who can fill a need for Dallas for a cheaper price tag than Robertson, and they have the assets to balance out the value in return.

Of course, this will be a situation to monitor in the coming weeks before the draft and prior to free agency. But, if the opportunity arises to acquire a young, star talent, Dubas should not hesitate.

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Bruins in rare spot with lots of draft capital to improve roster now, long-term originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are loaded with first-round draft picks. It’s a pretty unique situation for the B’s to find themselves in.

After all, the Bruins have not made first-round picks in back-to-back years since 2016 and 2017, and they’ve picked in Round 1 in just four of the last seven drafts.

But after dealing away several veterans at the March 7 NHL trade deadline, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney now has a high amount of draft capital to restock the team’s lackluster prospect pool. He could also use some of these picks in potential trade packages to acquire established talent that could help Boston get back into the playoff mix quickly.

In total, the Bruins could have five first-round picks and four second-round picks over the next three drafts:

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Sweeney was asked Tuesday during head coach Marco Sturm’s introductory press conference about the team’s draft capital.

“It’s always going to be what’s best for the organization. We’re in a unique position this year drafting in the top 10,” Sweeney said. “We haven’t been there for a significant amount of time. We’re excited about that. We have two second-round picks. Two first-round picks the following year. We’ve been an aggressive organization. Whether you want to point out fault in regards to trying to win and accomplish the ultimate goal, that’s what we’re here for.

“We will use the draft capital and try to improve our hockey club this year and moving forward in every capacity possible. It might be making the selection, but it won’t mean that we aren’t having conversations that say, ‘How do we improve our hockey club today and moving forward?’” 

The crown jewel of the Bruins’ draft picks is their 2025 first-rounder, which is No. 7 overall. The last time the Bruins’ own selection was in the top seven was 2006, when they took forward Phil Kessel at No. 5.

Would it make sense to trade the No. 7 pick? The only scenario in which dealing away this pick would be smart is if a young star under contract was part of the return package. That said, a strong case can be made for keeping this pick and using it to bolster a prospect pool considered by many experts to be among the worst in the league. In fact, the Bruins’ prospect pool ranked 30th out of 32 teams in Scott Wheeler’s latest evaluation for The Athletic in February.

The Bruins’ No. 1 need at the NHL level and throughout the organization is a top-six center. And luckily for the Bruins, the 2025 draft class is loaded with quality centers.

Players such as James Hagens (Boston College), Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds), Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs) and Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings) could be available at No. 7 and give the B’s a future top-six center.

The Bruins will be busy on Day 2 of the upcoming draft, assuming they keep their picks. Boston owns two second-rounders — the St. Louis Blues’ pick at No. 51 and the Carolina Hurricanes’ pick at No. 61 — one third-rounder at No. 69 and one fourth-rounder (the Philadelphia Flyers’ pick at No. 100). Boston owns its fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks, too.

Sweeney has to balance building for the future while executing a short-term retool. He has the draft capital to travel both paths simultaneously. The real question is whether Sweeney and his scouts will pick the right players. The Bruins’ draft history during his 10-year tenure as GM has been subpar.

New Seattle Kraken head coach Lane Lambert's tenure as an associate coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs was one of the "most enjoyable years" he's had with a staff in the NHL.

The 60-year-old, who spent one season on Toronto's bench, spoke with TSN's Mark Masters on Monday afternoon about his time in the Maple Leafs organization and what made it such a special year of coaching.

"I thought it was a great experience. Original Six city, it was fun. And the passion the fans have, it was a very good experience," Lambert said. "I lived downtown, so I was right across the street from [the Rogers Centre] and was able to walk back and forth to the rink and whatnot, so just enjoyed my time there."

The Kraken head coach had not worked with Maple Leafs bench boss Craig Berube before last season. He called the Stanley Cup-winning coach someone that's great to work beneath.

"Very direct. You knew exactly what he wanted from you," he said.

"Just a lot of keeping things light under pressure, enjoying ourselves, doing things together outside of the game, kind of getting away from the game a little bit. And I think that was probably the main thing, it was just an enjoyable experience for me."

Maple Leafs Hire Derek Lalonde As Assistant Coach: What He Brings To Toronto's BenchThe Toronto Maple Leafs officially announced on Friday the addition of Derek Lalonde to their coaching staff as an assistant. This move filled a  vacancy on head coach Craig Berube’s staff after associate coach Lane Lambert departed to become the Seattle Kraken’s new bench boss.

Lambert was responsible for Toronto's penalty kill during his one season with the club. Most days during the regular season, the former associate coach spoke passionately about the penalty kill during practice or morning skates.

While in charge, he transformed Toronto's penalty kill from 23rd in the league (76.9 percent during the 2023-24 season) to 17th (77.9 percent) in the NHL this past season. Lambert was also a big part of the Maple Leafs' defensive improvements following the additions of Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline.

"It's just about preparation and having the right structure, demanding the detail, and keeping players accountable. That's really the biggest side of it," said Lambert.

"But I think it's so important to make sure there's an understanding of why we're doing what we're doing, and today's player wants to know that, so we made sure that they did know that, and I thought the team did a pretty good job."

What's The Ideal Contract For Matthew Knies And The Maple Leafs?When the Toronto Maple Leafs plucked Matthew Knies out of the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, his potential was unknown.

The Maple Leafs lost in the second round for the second time in three years to the Florida Panthers. Toronto took the Stanley Cup Champions to seven games before being walloped out of the playoffs in Game 7.

"You have different moments in playoff series that you look back on and you say, 'Oh gee, maybe if this moment didn't happen, it'd be a different story,' and I think we have some of those moments," Lambert said.

"(Anthony) Stolarz getting hurt, the overtime-winning goal by (Brad) Marchand in Game 3 to stop us from going up 3-0. I thought we were well prepared for what they had. Clearly, we were in a position to win, and just didn't get it done."

After falling to Florida 6-1 in Game 5, Toronto extended the series with a 2-0 win in Game 6. The Maple Leafs had an opportunity to close the series out in front of their fans, but their season ended with a lopsided 6-1 loss.

Maple Leafs 2025 Offseason: Breaking Down Salary Cap Space and Free Agent PrioritiesThe calendar will soon flip to June and for the Toronto Maple Leafs, their focus will be on roster construction for the 2025-26 NHL season.

How did that happen?

"I'm sure you've asked Chief. I'm sure you've asked [Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving], all those guys," Lambert told Masters." I think they probably would've given you a good answer on that. I don't want to get into that."

Following the Maple Leafs' seven-game series against the Florida Panthers, a big talking point was the pressure of playing under the microscope in Toronto. Whilst Lambert said he didn't spend time watching TV or on social media, the pressure can still affect you. But he didn't feel it.

"I don't pay attention to social media, really. Turned the TV off when I got home (laughs). I think you can be affected by that if you let it," Lambert said.

"But the one thing I was told is, you're not going to be able to go to a restaurant without somebody saying anything to you. Never [happened]. If anybody knew me, which apparently they didn't, they were super respectful about it."

Report: Max Pacioretty 'Leaning Toward' Return To Maple Leafs After Toronto Expressed Interest In Keeping HimNearly three weeks after Max Pacioretty contemplated his NHL future in front of the cameras at Ford Performance Centre in Toronto, a reunion could be possible.

Auston Matthews' season was filled with ups and downs as he dealt with an injury for the entire year. The 27-year-old finished with 33 goals and 45 assists for 78 points in 67 games. Lambert was impressed with Matthews' attitude as captain in Toronto and his game in all areas of the ice.f

"There's a lot of things that impressed me about him, but I was most impressed with his team-first attitude and the fact that he plays a 200-foot game," he said. "I think he unfairly doesn't get considered in certain defensive categories or defensive awards, I should say in the NHL. I think as we go forward here, he's going to get more and more recognition."

Lambert was also moved by Mitch Marner, whose defensive intelligence struck a good chord with the former associate coach. Although Marner's future in Toronto remains up in the air, Lambert says the 28-year-old is a player who wants to win.

"He wants to be the guy on the ice to get the job done," Lambert said. "Obviously, we had some tough losses there, but it wasn't for a lack of will."

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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews aims return to NHL action next season with next team betting odds revealing surprising contenders. 

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews is looking to make a return to hockey. The reports came as Toews is coming back after battling a number of ailments including long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome. 

Toews was one of the league's best players in his prime with a dominant two-way game that labeled him as one of the best defensive forwards of his generation. Any team would be lucky to have his experience, veteran leadership and hopefully decent production on the scoresheet. 

No one knows where the now 37-year-old centre will go but new betting odds posted by several sportsbooks give us a subtle indication of where he might go. 

Jonathan Toews Next Team Betting Odds Per FanDuel Sportsbook

• Winnipeg Jets +210
• Toronto Maple Leafs +300
• Colorado Avalanche +470
• Vegas Golden Knights +650
• Edmonton Oilers +1100
• Tampa Bay Lightning +1500
• Detroit Red Wings +1900
• Anaheim Ducks +2200
• New York Rangers +3400
• Dallas Stars +4500
• Los Angeles Kings +4500
• Washington Capitals +4500
• Minnesota Wild +4500
• Florida Panthers +4500
• New York Islanders +5000
• Calgary Flames +5000
• New Jersey Devils +5000
• Chicago Blackhawks +5500
• Carolina Hurricanes +5500
• Boston Bruins +6000

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The leader is Toews' hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba where he can play for a legitimate cup contender as well as be close to his family. One of the surprising names towards the top is the Red Wings, with the seventh-best odds at +1900, making them an intriguing option with one storyline in mind. 

Chicago's dynasty in the 2010s was highlighted by the dynamic duo of Toews and Patrick Kane. The duo hasn't played together since 2023 when Kane was dealt to the New York Rangers. A reunion would instantly become one of the league’s most compelling storylines and could give the Red Wings a dependable second-line centre option. 

It's been noted by several NHL insiders this off-season that the second line centre position will be one that many teams are looking to fill. 

The Red Wings are one of these teams in need with Marco Kasper and J.T. Compher being their only current options. Adding a player of Toews' caliber would be massive and would likely add some line chemistry by placing him with Kane once again. 

More Red Wings: Red Wings 2025 Free‑Agent Class: Breaking Down Patrick Kane, Alex Lyon and More

Detroit has just $23.1 million in cap space heading into the off-season, which means they'll potentially have a chance to land the longtime Blackhawks captain However, they could be outbid, as the Red Wings will likely need to prioritize their spending elsewhere such as re-signing Kane before exploring other free-agent additions. 

Kane remaining with the team could help entice Toews to join Detroit, offering him the chance to reunite with a familiar face while becoming part of a team trending toward playoff contention.

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