Category: Ice Hockey

The Florida Panthers played their best game of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Sunrise.

Florida took an early lead and kept their foot on the gas, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 and taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

What turned out to be a great night for the Panthers was anything but for Edmonton.

As the game continued to get away from them, the Oilers resorted to dishing out some questionable hits resulting in the expected fisticuffs. At one point during the third period, every non-goalie player on the ice was fighting.

It will be interesting to see how the two teams respond to a game like this, because it’s far from what we saw in Edmonton during Games 1 and 2.

Let’s get to the Game 3 takeaways:

PENALTY-FEST

Well before the game got out of hand and the misconducts starting piling up, the Panthers and Oilers played a first period that saw more special teams play than even strength.

A total of eight minor penalties were called during the opening 20 minutes, yet only one power play goal was scored.

By the time the dust settled on the night, officials had called a total of 140 penalty minutes.

Edmonton finished 1-for-6 on the power play while Florida scored three times while up a man on a whopping 11 opportunities.

To his credit, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice seemed to downplay the amount of penalties that were called.

“Most of those weren't important, right?” Maurice said. “The last important ones were around the nine minute mark of the third period. Still, I watched that Vancouver-Dallas game where (Vancouver) scored three goals in a minute, so there's still a hockey game there at the nine minute mark, then we go into the power play. So all the ones after that don’t matter.”

GLOVES WERE DROPPED

Generally, you don’t often see fights in the Stanley Cup Final.

That’s what made the third period of Game 3 so strange to see play out.

Not only were there multiple fights, but at one point, everyone on the ice not wearing goalie gear was tied up with someone.

The Oilers definitely lost their cool during that period.

There is no arguing that.

But even in moments of such anger and hostility, there is a camaraderie in how the players will stick up for their teammates that makes it pretty cool to see, especially with two teams as tight as the Panthers and Oilers.

“I think you're going to get that answer from any team in the National Hockey League that’s playing in June, or we're not here. Both teams,” Maurice said. “There's so much passion in the game, by the time you've gone on this journey, Edmonton and Florida I believe are the two teams that have been on the longest journey for the last three years. We've both been through it, right? So both teams are going to stick up for each other. They care about each other. The core is pretty much the same for both teams. The drivers of the team are the same for the last three years, so we'll always have each other's back.”

EKBLAD SHINES

The first couple games of the Stanley Cup Final were a little rough on Florida’s top defensive pairing.

Both Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling struggled during Game 1 and finished a combined minus-4 with no points and just one shot on goal apiece.

Game 2 saw Forsling bounce back in a big way, making several spectacular defensive players, breaking up opportunities for Edmonton left and right, and in some very big moments.

Ekblad was steady in Game 2, but boy did he look good in Game 3.

The smooth skating blueliner appeared more comfortable on Monday night, finishing with a goal on three shots and a plus-1 rating to go with five hits and six penalty minutes.

“I thought he was all energy in the first two games,” said Maurice. “He was covering a lot of ice, and tonight, I thought he was perfectly focused on the game. He was still doing it, but defined in the areas (like) when he was pinching. I thought he played a really smart, veteran game. He's a physical player. He can close the gap now. It’s all part of that, Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad, both of these guys came into the league as offensive players, but there's quite a bit more to their game than that, and (with) Aaron, that's on full display now.”

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; A fight breaks out during the third period between Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

SUNRISE, FLA - Panthers pounce. It's what they do.

In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final, the Florida Panthers did indeed jump all over the Edmonton Oilers, with a couple of usual suspects doing damage.

Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand once again led the charge as the Cats looked faster and more focused than the Oilers. In the end, it was a 6-1 trouncing that gave Florida a 2-1 lead in the series and Edmonton needing some serious introspection after an outing that lacked a lot of discipline.

"You guys have seen it enough," Panthers right winger Sam Reinhart said. "We're trying to play the same way every night, keep it as simple as possible and take away time and space."

The first period got off to the same quick start as the previous two games of the series, with Marchand finding a puck out of a scramble and wristing one past Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner.

"Playing with the lead is huge," said Marchand's teammate, Carter Verhaeghe. "Both teams want to have good starts, get your foot in the door and play with a lead. 'Marchy' has been huge all playoffs for us."

After that, the opening stanza was, unfortunately, a parade to the penalty box for both teams.

There were eight minors called in all - two on Edmonton's Evander Kane, whose physicality became a double-edged sword for the Oilers. Despite all the man-advantages, the score remained 1-0 until Viktor Arvidsson was given the gate for goalie interference on Sergei Bobrovsky with less than three minutes to go. Florida made the Oilers pay on the ensuing power play with Verhaeghe cashing in off a sweet feed from Evan Rodrigues in the bumper position.

"He's got so much speed and one of the best releases in the game," Reinhart said about Verhaeghe. "There are moments when guys get nervous, and it seems like his heart rate might be 60, he's just skating around out there, doing his thing. And it's not like he plays a light game, either."

The Oilers showed some life early in the second as Corey Perry continued his awesome playoff run, popping in a rebound on Bobrovsky's doorstep to cut the lead in half. But a Sam Reinhart wrister put Florida back up by two after the Panthers forced a turnover on Jake Walman in the offensive zone less than two minutes later.

The deluge continued when Eetu Luostarinen sent Sam Bennett in alone on a breakaway after an offensive zone turnover by Vasily Podkolzin to make the score 4-1. Bennett hit Podkolzin in open ice before the play.

"He's been an animal these whole playoffs," Marchand said of Bennett. "He's built for this time of year with how competitive and intense he is and the physicality piece. That shift was a perfect example of his game: blows two guys up and somehow leads the rush after that and scores a beautiful goal. He can do it all."

Things temporarily looked even worse for Edmonton after Connor McDavid was rocked by an open-ice hit from Aaron Ekblad, sending the Oilers captain down the tunnel. Luckily, McDavid returned soon after and seemed fine.

Heading into the third, the Oilers needed some pushback. But it was the Cats keeping the pressure on, and Ekblad extended the Florida lead to 5-1 with a blast on the power play off a great behind-the-back Reinhart pass. That was also the end of Skinner's night, as he was replaced by Calvin Pickard - but to be fair, this was not about Skinner having a bad night but rather everyone in front of him.

This was certainly the nastiest game of the series so far and a line brawl broke out midway through after Trent Frederic mugged Bennett. Darnell Nurse and Jonah Gadjovich had an extended fight near center ice while even Connor Brown and Nate Schmidt threw down with each other.

" 'Gadjy' did an incredible job sticking up for the guys there and taking on Nurse, who's obviously a tough guy as well," Marchand said. "(The fourth line's) entire game, they carried so much emotion and gave us so much energy. There were a lot of momentum swings in our favor because of the style they play."

Edmonton basically spent the rest of the game attacking Panthers, leading to yet another parade to the penalty box and a number of game misconducts. But Florida tried to keep its composure.

"It's not too difficult; you're just trying to close out a game. That's what we did," Reinhart said. 

Rodrigues put home an emphatic slap shot goal with less than four minutes to go as a rejoinder.

Just like that, the Panthers are two games away from defending their Stanley Cup championship. Game 4 takes place on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

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A little home cooking sure did the Florida Panthers some good.

Hosting their first game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, Florida jumped all over the Oilers early and often, skating to a resounding 6-1 win in Game 3.

Florida now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to send the home fans into an early frenzy.

Right off a faceoff in the Oilers zone, Anton Lundell took the puck behind the net and tried a spinning centering pass.

The puck bounced around the slot and found its way to Brad Marchand, who wired a shot past a down and out Stuart Skinner to give Florida a 1-0 lead just 56 seconds into the game.

Both teams ended up with multiple power plays during the opening 20 minutes, but after three man advantages apiece, neither team could cash in.

That was until Florida’s fourth power play, which came on a goaltender interference penalty against Viktor Arvidsson.

Carter Verhaeghe found some open ice in the right circle and sent a laser of a wrist shot just inside the near post that went over Skinner’s blocker and into the net, giving the Cats a 2-0 lead that they would take into the first intermission.

Thanks to a penalty by Lundell at the end of the first period, Edmonton went on their fourth power play of the game to open the middle frame.

Cory Perry picked up his own rebound after deflecting a shot by Evan Bouchard and quickly fired the puck over Bobrovsky’s pad to get the Oilers on the board.

Just 80 seconds later, Sasha Barkov forced a turnover in Edmonton’s end, and the puck quickly found its way to Sam Reinhart who picked up his first goal (and point) of the Final to put the Cats back up by two.

They weren’t done there.

Sam Bennett scored on a breakaway less than five minutes later, extending Florida’s lead to 4-1 and sending the Amerant Bank Arena crowd into jubilation.

Florida would go on their sixth power play of the game early in the third period, and it led to their fifth goal of the game.

A pretty passing play that saw the puck go from Matthew Tkachuk to Reinhart to Aaron Ekblad ended with the blueliner beating a sprawling Skinner to make it 5-1 Panthers.

The goal would send Skinner to the showers early as Calvin Pickard came in to replace him after the starter allowed five goals on 23 shots.

As the game got later, the penalties came fast and furious.

Evan Rodrigues added a power play goal with under four minutes left to put the Panthers up 6-1 while the Oilers just seemed to be taking chap shots wherever they could.

Edmonton finished the game with 85 penalty minutes while Florida logged 55 of their own. 

This series is getting heated, people.

On to Game 4.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Marchand has scored a goal in every game of the Stanley Cup Final so far. He's up to four goals in three Final games.

He’s also racked up eight goals and 18 points through 20 playoff games.

Bennett also has goals in each Final game. He’s scored in four straight overall, but all but two of his 14 playoff goals have come on home ice.

Anton Lundell picked up the primary assist on Marchand’s goal, his third helper over his past two games.

Reinhart’s goal and assist were his first points of the Final.

Nate Schmidt picked up an assist on Verhaeghe's goal, his fifth helper of the Final. He's got at least a point in each game so far.

Evan Rodrigeus extended his point streak to four games after assisting on Verhaeghe’s goal. He has points in three straight and 12 points over his past nine games.

Speaking of Verhaeghe, he’s also picked up points in four straight, with two goals and six points during the streak.

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand (63) celebrates scoring against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the first period in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After each game of the Stanley Cup final, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan, Michael Traikos and Michael Augello react to the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers' going at each other in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

Join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.

Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers Game 3 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

Stay tuned to The Hockey News and Playoff Frenzy Live throughout the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the show here.

Promo image credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Playing 16 seasons in the NHL is no small feat. But when you’ve had a career like longtime Washington Capitals star right winger T.J. Oshie, you’re especially fortunate – and you’ve done more than enough to assure you of a prominent place in the history of hockey’s top league. 

Oshie announced his retirement in a special event in Washington D.C. on Monday. A retrospective of his on-ice days underscores the impact he had, not only as a Stanley Cup champion but on the international stage as well.

The 38-year-old Oshie spent his first seven years with the St. Louis Blues, which drafted him 24th overall in 2005. He established himself as a dangerous scorer and a shootout specialist in particular. In six of his seven years with St. Louis, Oshie posted at least 34 points, and the one season he didn’t, it was because injuries limited him to only 30 games. When the Capitals traded for him in 2015, they knew they were getting a player who could produce.

Capitals Forward T.J. Oshie Announces Retirement After 16 NHL SeasonsWASHINGTON — After 16 historic seasons in the NHL, Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie is hanging up the skates.

Oshie also proved to be a clutch performer, particularly in his international career. 

At the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, in a round-robin game against Russia, Oshie was used five straight times in the shootout and six times in total, scoring four times and potting the game-winner in the eighth round to give Team USA a 3-2 win. 

Oshie represented America six times – once at the world juniors, three times at the men’s World Championship, once at the Olympics and once at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was never held off the scoresheet in any of those tournaments, posting eight goals and 15 points in 28 senior Team USA games.

Meanwhile, Oshie was an instant hit in Washington, posting a then-career-high 26 goals and 51 points in his first season with the Capitals. For four of the next five years, he posted at least 22 goals – and in 2016-17, he had a career-high 33 goals and 56 points in only 68 games.

But his most clutch performance came in the Capitals’ Stanley Cup-championship run of 2017-18, when he amassed eight goals and 21 points in 24 playoff games to help steer the Caps to their first-ever Cup victory.

Immediately after the Cup win, Oshie memorably referred to his father, Tim Oshie, who had been afflicted with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. 

“My dad’s here in the crowd,” Oshie said of his father, who passed away in 2021. “He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he doesn’t remember a lot of stuff. But…you bet your ass he’s going to remember this one.”

Oshie frequently honors his father by supporting Alzheimer fundraising and awareness initiatives. The Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation presented him with a $10,000 donation to the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation on Monday as a result.

The other highlight of the Capitals’ Cup run was Oshie and some of his teammates diving into Washington Harbour’s fountain, taking the Cup into the fountain with them. So it was only fitting that Oshie’s retirement announcement Monday took place at that same spot. It was a moment that will live in the minds of Caps fans forever, and Oshie earned a key place in that memory.

In 1,010 career regular-season NHL games, Oshie put up 302 goals and 695 points. In 106 career NHL playoff games, he posted 34 goals and 69 points. And as a player with Ojibwe roots, his accomplishments are something Indigenous peoples can aspire to follow. 

In the end, injuries took their toll on Oshie, as he was limited to 207 games in his final four NHL seasons. But his heart and persistence carved out a special place for him in hockey history, and his incredible moments are bound to stand the test of time.

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The 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. 

As part of the trade for J.T. Miller, the Rangers either have to give up their 2025 first-round pick or 2026 first-round pick.

In The Athletic’s most recent NHL Mock Draft, Scott Wheeler has the Rangers selecting defenseman Jackson Smith. 

Smith is a 6-foot-3 defenseman who’s coming off of an impressive year with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League where he recorded 11 goals, 43 assists, 54 points in 68 games. 

The 18-year-old is ranked  No. 9 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft.

“Smith’s a big, strong, powerful left-shot defenseman who plays hard and can impact play in a variety of ways,” Wheeler wrote. “He’s strong through his pushes as a skater, regularly beating the first layer of pressure laterally.”

On top of his impressive defensive abilities, he’s known for his blazing speed on the ice, which translates offensively. 

“Smith is an excellent skater,” Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala wrote. “He has the legs to escape pressure and lead the rush on his own, plus the agility to walk the offensive blue line to open up shooting and passing lanes.”

The NHL Draft is set to take place from June 27-28 in Los Angeles, California. 

The Philadelphia Flyers still hold the sixth pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but this expert's latest mock draft says that's not such a bad thing after all.

Much of the dialogue to this point has centered around which players the Flyers are interested in, where those players will fall in the draft, and which teams are jockeying for their services.

Philadelphia figures to be one of the teams most locked onto a center, even despite their public comments regarding their willingness to take a winger or a defender.

Fortunately for the Flyers, momentum is starting to pick up around the fall of one of the very best centers in the draft class in James Hagens.

In his latest mock draft for The Athletic, prospects expert Scott Wheeler predicts Hagens will fall right into the Flyers' laps at No. 6, with Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, and Porter Martone getting drafted ahead of him.

"If Hagens gets here, I think the Flyers like him and would consider taking him. Same goes for Desnoyers, whose well-rounded game and smarts could really support and complement Matvei Michkov. But Desnoyers isn't going to be there," Wheeler wrote. "If Hagens isn't, I think they lean [Brady Martin] over Jake O'Brien here in terms of the other centers (though they did take O'Brien to dinner in Buffalo). The pull of a center, and a player like Martin, is real in this range."

The Utah Mammoth, who pick fourth, are said to be high on Martin as well and could consider taking him inside the top five. Perhaps Utah and Philadelphia are playing a game of chicken with the draft's most violent forward prospect.

NHL Scouting Combine: Flyers Draft Board, Targets Taking ShapeThe Philadelphia Flyers, as expected, had a hectic week meeting with various top prospects at the NHL Scouting Combine. Such is life as a team with three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.

That said, Hagens is an undeniable talent who continues to draw comparisons to New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes, who's already come within one point of a 100-point season early in his NHL career.

Pairing the 18-year-old Boston College talisman with Matvei Michkov will set the Flyers up for offensive success for two decades, and the remainder of the grueling rebuild would then center on adding cornerstone pieces around those two.

Defenseman Jackson Smith, a potential top-10 pick, could be a trade-up candidate for the Flyers if management and scouts think he can be one of those pieces. On the right side of the defense, the Flyers have Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill, and Helge Grans, so they have no need to force an early pick at this position.

Plus, who knows what the future holds for Rasmus Ristolainen?

Wheeler had other surprises in store for the Flyers in his latest mock draft (be sure to check those out), but landing Hagens would assuredly be the best-case scenario for the Flyers, who finished higher in the standings than many fans would have liked on the heels of that dreary ending to the 2024-25 season.

And that dream scenario seems to be gaining real momentum with the 2025 NHL Draft less than three weeks away.

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

For 15 years, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane formed one of the most lethal duos in the NHL. 

As part of the Chicago Blackhawks’ modern-day dynasty, Toews and Kane won three Stanley Cup championships, assuring them of an eventual place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Although time and health have separated them in recent years, Kane and Toews might just decide to end their careers with the same team.

Toews has been out of the NHL since 2022-23, dealing with long-term health issues that limited him to only 53 games that season. But now, at age 37, Toews is intent on making a comeback. 

The 36-year-old Kane moved on from the Hawks around the 2023 trade deadline to play with the New York Rangers and the next two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. 

Toews and Kane are now UFAs looking to continue their on-ice careers. Wouldn’t it be something if they picked the same team to sign with this summer?

Maybe that possibility comes in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs are looking for a third-line center like Toews and a veteran scoring winger like Kane. 

Maybe it comes with the Red Wings, which are desperate to make the playoffs and could get Kane and fellow former Blackhawks player Alex DeBrincat to help recruit his former Chicago teammate to the Motor City. 

Maybe it comes with the Dallas Stars, which are close to being a Cup front-runner and could use the championship pedigree the duo could provide. Or maybe it comes with the Rangers, which intend on having a bounce-back season and could re-recruit Kane while adding Toews to give the Blueshirts first-rate depth.

The possibilities are many, and that’s what’s so intriguing about them right now.

The exciting part – the part that makes them a distinct possibility to be brought in together – is that Toews and Kane many not break the bank on what could be their final NHL contract. 

Kane did have a solid season this year with Detroit, posting 21 goals and 59 points while earning $4 million, while Toews’ most recent salary was $10.5 million, when he posted 15 goals and 31 points for Chicago. They’ve become very rich men very early in their lives, and so their main motivation now is likely more about the chance to win another Cup than anything else. So while there may be a bidding war for their services this summer, a team could probably pick them up together for something in the area of a combined $6 million or $7 million.

Adding one of Kane or Toews would certainly help any team, but two of them as a package deal? Well, that could prove to be the piece that elevates a team from a fringe playoff team to a legitimate Cup contender. The line that separates elite teams is thinner than ever, after all.

Who knows – perhaps Kane and Toews go their separate ways. But maybe there’s a GM out there who recognizes an exciting opportunity when they see one and sells both veterans on the value of playing together once again. 

You don’t often get the chance to acquire potential Hall of Famers in hockey’s top league, but the chance to acquire two of them in one fell swoop has to be exceedingly tempting.

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As the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers get ready to face off in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Canadiens fans can reminisce about what happened 32 years ago today. On June 9, 1993, the most storied franchise in the NHL won its 24th Stanley Cup.

The Habs posted a 4-1 win in the fifth and final game of the series. Paul DiPietro stole the show with two goals on a pair of assists from John LeClair, while Kirk Muller and Stephane Lebeau also beat Kelly Hrudey to seal the deal for Montreal.

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Goaltender Patrick Roy was nearly flawless, surrendering a single goal on the 19 shots he faced, giving him a .947 save percentage. For the second time in his career, the netminder was also awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoffs MVP, having signed 16 wins on 20 games with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .929 SV.

What was even more impressive was that 10 of the 16 wins were achieved in overtime. The only extra time game Montreal lost that year was against the Quebec Nordiques in the first round of the playoffs. From that point on, the Canadiens and Roy became invincible in overtime.

The Habs dispatched the Nordiques in six games, swept the Buffalo Sabres in four tilts, vanquished the New York Islanders in five meetings before finishing the job against the Los Angeles Kings in the Cup final. It was the last time Montreal would get to win the biggest prize of them all, but it wasn’t for its star goaltender.

Three years later, after a mid-season trade to the Colorado Avalanche, Roy would raise the Cup as a member of the newly established Denver franchise. At that time, he didn’t win the MVP trophy. He would make history in 2001, winning his fourth Cup and his third Conn Smythe Trophy. To this day, he remains the only player to have won that honour three times, with two different teams.

Photo credit:  Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

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The NHL Combine in Buffalo last weekend did not do much to clear up the draft order of the 2025 draft in Los Angeles later this month.

Aside from the New York Islanderslikely selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first pick, top prospects, such as Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Caleb Desnoyers and James Hagens could all go anywhere from second to sixth overall, but the name shooting up the draft board in recent weeks has been Swedish center Anton Frondell.

The 18-year-old scored nearly 25 points in 29 games in the second-level Allsvenskan last season and enjoyed much of his success with fellow 2025 draft prospect Victor Eklund. The younger brother of San Jose Sharks left winger William Eklund hounded Djurgarden coach Robert Kimby to put the two friends together on the same line. 

"It's been pretty easy to play with Anton," Eklund said on Friday. "We didn't get to do it in the start of the season, but then we had to tell the coach that we needed to play (together), and I think we did pretty well. I just knew from the beginning that if we get the opportunity, we'll be the best (duo). We did pretty good, and the coach probably got sick of me asking, so they finally put us together."

When most of the Swedish prospects were asked to name the best player in this draft class they faced this season, they said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Frondell, who compares his game to Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

"We actually played against each other when we were young, and he played for Farjestad, Eklund said. "I remember playing him, and he actually made a move on me, like the puck between my legs. I just can't forget that. He says he doesn't remember that (to which Frondell later said he did). We've played against each other, but we really got to know each other when both of us started and played for Djurgarden."

Eklund is an exciting prospect in his own right, known for his speed, energy, and offensive creativity, and he is expected to go in the top 10. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward had 19 goals in 42 games this season and scored six points for Sweden in the 2025 world juniors.

"I don't think I've played with a player with so much energy," Frondell said about Eklund. "He wins every battle, even when we play against men... It's just easy for me to find the open spot."

Final 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ryan Kennedy's Top 100The 2025 NHL draft is fast approaching, and with that, it's time to drop some final rankings.

Both players indicated that they intend to return to Sweden next season and play for Djurgarden, which earned a promotion from Allsvenskan to the Swedish League, and are looking forward to playing together for at least one more season before going their separate ways in North America.

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Back again with a Stanley Cup Finals NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team Fantasy Card update. 

There have only been eight card updates since our last article. 

Sebastian Aho is up to 98 overall, and that is where he will finish after the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated by the Florida Panthers. His card is one of the best in the game and plays like a 99. 

 Anton Lundell is up to 98 overall while Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, and Brad Marchand are 96 overall. Viktor Arvidsson is 95 overall.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sam Reinhart received new Fantasy Cards prior to Game 1 and are both 95.

Marchand (x2) and Kane scored since the last update and will be 98 and 97 overall resptively after tomorrow's content additions. 

The Hockey News' Stanley Cup Final simulation predicted the Florida Panthers to win in five games here.

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.         

Photo Credit: © Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres played host to the NHL Scouting Combine last week, and with the ninth pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the club focused on a number of prospects who could be a target in Los Angeles later this month, but GM Kevyn Adams is also devoting a great deal of energy on free agent possibilities and a rather brisk trade market.   

The names that have been the most frequently mentioned since the end of the season have been restricted free agent winger JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram, but another player who could be on the move may be veteran forward Alex Tuch. According to James Mirtle of the Athletic, who is coming off a career-high 36-goal campaign last season, could be dealt with a year left on his contract if he and the Sabres cannot come to an agreement on an extension.   

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The 29-year-old was acquired in November 2021 as part of the Jack Eichel deal with the Vegas Golden Knights and has 106 goals for the Sabres in 281 regular season games. At the end of the season, the Syracuse, NY native indicated that he wanted to be part of the group that wants to get Buffalo into the postseason for the first time since 2011.

Tuch is in a strong negotiating position with the Sabres, as he and Tage Thompson represent the most consistent scorers on Buffalo’s forward complement. It is likely with the salary cap going up and coming off a seven-year deal making a rather economical $4.75 million salary that the winger is looking for a substantial pay increase, but the Sabres may be holding the threat of a trade (Tuch has a five-team modified no-trade clause) over his head to get an extension with a lower AAV or less term.    

 

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner appears likely to hit the open market on July 1, but there was a chance earlier this season that he could've been a Vegas Golden Knight.

In the aftermath of the NHL's trade deadline, reports surfaced that Marner, who possessed a no-movement clause in his contract, declined to waive it to go to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Mikko Rantanen. Carolina, ultimately, sent Rantanen to the Dallas Stars. 

Following Toronto's elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, another report emerged from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, saying the Maple Leafs were in trade talks with the Golden Knights and wanted defenseman Shea Theodore in return.

This reported discussion, however, reportedly occurred in the summer.

"I heard [Vegas] told people, 'You wanna watch Shea Theodore? You can buy a ticket to watch him play for us,'" Friedman said on 32 Thoughts earlier this month. "And they followed through on their word."

'He's Got A Say In The Process': Where Do Things Stand Between Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and Mitch Marner?Mitch Marner's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs still remains up in the air.

We're 22 days into Toronto's offseason and another report of a trade including Marner, which ensued before the deadline, has surfaced, via The Athletic's James Mirtle, who wrote, "according to league sources, there were also discussions around a Marner-to-Vegas transaction before the trade deadline this year, a move that would have involved the Hurricanes in a three-way deal.

"Theoretically, the Leafs would have received Mikko Rantanen while the Golden Knights got Marner and sent something to Carolina."

Mirtle added that while it's unknown how far trade discussions went, the deal didn't fall apart from the Maple Leafs' side.

"It’s unclear just how far those talks went, or if Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause to go to Vegas, but it sounds like what killed the deal was Vegas and Carolina failing to find the right assets to include to get it done — not anything on the Toronto side."

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.

Drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round (4th overall) in 2015, Marner sits fifth all-time on the franchise's points list (741 points in 657 games), fourth in assists (520), and fifth in the team's all-time playoff points (63 points in 70 postseason games).

Marner is coming off his first-ever 100-point season, scoring 27 goals and 75 assists in 81 games. The 28-year-old never gave a definite answer when asked several times this year whether he'd like to be a Maple Leaf beyond this season.

"Always loved my time here," Marner said during locker cleanout day, in what could be the final team he speaks to the media as a Maple Leaf. "Like I said to you guys the other night, I've been so grateful. I haven't processed anything yet. It's still so fresh."

Should The Maple Leafs Pursue Brad Marchand In Free Agency? How Much Is Too Much To Pay?Brad Marchand is once again proving why he's one of the NHL's ultimate premier playoff performers. As an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the question must be asked: Should the Maple Leafs aggressively pursue the veteran player who consistently performs well against them?

Despite inching closer to the top of Toronto's record books, it appears likely that Marner will be a free agent on July 1, with most NHL clubs preparing to bid for the free agent forward. While returning to the Maple Leafs is still possible, it feels unlikely at this point in time.

If this is the end of his tenure in Toronto, the forward finished the 2025 playoffs with 13 points — two goals and 11 assists — in 13 games, against the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers.

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With a strong free agency market for wingers, a potential deal involving Lucas Raymond may be on the table.

In the calm before the chaos of NHL Draft season, few teams are sitting at a more pivotal crossroads than the Detroit Red Wings. After missing the playoffs again in 2024–25, despite almost making it the season prior and showing flashes of promising young core, fans and analysts alike are left wondering if general manager Steve Yzerman might finally push the franchise into bold new territory. 

While no current reports suggest it, there’s one scenario lurking in the shadows that could turn the league on its head: what if Detroit traded Lucas Raymond for the first overall pick?

Raymond, drafted fourth overall in 2020, has been a foundational piece for the Red Wings since his NHL debut. The Swedish winger has blossomed into a legitimate top-line NHL winger after leading the Red Wings with 31 goals and 41 assists, totaling 72 points, and was rewarded with a lucrative eight-year, $64.6 million extension in September 2024.

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In 316 NHL games so far, he’s notched 97 goals and 152 assists, showcasing his consistent production and growth. With his contract locked in, trading Raymond wouldn’t be just a cap dump, it would be a massive, strategic shakeup of Detroit’s roster heading into the off-season. 

The Islanders currently hold the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and are reportedly open to offers. Detroit might have a unique opportunity to trade up and select consensus top pick defenceman Matthew Schaefer, which would add much needed depth to their blueline. 

Analysts from The New York Post to international scouting services have called him the only “Tier 1 projected All-Star” in this year’s class. Known for his poise, skating, and leadership, Schaefer is already being described as a future NHL captain and star. 

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For the Red Wings, it would be a highly unlikely move but you never know as even Wayne Gretzky was once traded. The move would be resetting the core of the team by adding a player at a slightly younger age and at desperate position of need. 

Outside of Moritz Seider, Detroit’s defensive group has lacked reliability and top-pairing talent, finishing bottom 12 in goals against average last season.  Seider, who regularly logs around 24 minutes per game and drives possession with an elite two-way game, has carried the burden largely alone. 

Team insiders and beat writers have repeatedly listed defensive help as Detroit’s most pressing offseason priority but there may not be many high-quality targets available. However, the winger position that has plenty of depth in the market and could produce a solid replacement for Raymond if not an improvement. 

Trading Raymond would obviously leave a massive hole up front but the Red Wings could quickly pivot to fill it with the likes of Toronto's Mitch Marner, whose future in Toronto is increasingly in doubt. 

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Reports suggest that the Maple Leafs may not be able to come to terms with Marner, as he's now considering options outside of Canada but still close to his hometown of Toronto. Detroit is one of the best options with a tantalizing young, skilled roster, that could present an appealing opportunity.

If Marner doesn’t land in Detroit, there are many other high-end wingers who could slot into Raymond’s former spot. Names like Brock Boeser, Sam Bennett, Nikolaj Ehlers, and even Brad Marchand have all surfaced as potential fits in this free agent class, depending on Detroit’s direction and timeline. 

Boeser provides a similar goal-scoring punch, Bennett adds grit and playoff experience, Ehlers brings speed and transition play, and Marchand offers leadership and a wealth of experience few have.

A trade of this magnitude hasn't been reported by almost any media outlets yet as it's very unlikely but if the Red Wings want to make a transformative move, packaging a proven scorer like Raymond to land the No. 1 pick and a franchise-altering defenseman in Schaefer could redefine their future. 

With cap space to replace Raymond’s production immediately, and with the blue line in need of reinforcements, the logic is there but the boldness of Yzerman is the question.

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