Category: Sports News

Twenty-three years ago today, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore won the Hart Trophy. It was the 16th time a Hab player had won the MVP honor and only the second time a goaltender had managed it (Jacques Plante won it in 1961-62).

That season, Theodore played 67 games for the Canadiens, posting a 30-24-10 record while maintaining a 2.11 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. While Plante won 42 games in the year of his win, his numbers weren’t as high as the Laval native's; he had a 2.37 GAA and a .923 SV.

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That year, Theodore also won the Vezina Trophy and the Roger Crozier MBNA Saving Grace Award, in recognition of the goaltender with the best save percentage in the NHL. It was presented from the 1999-00 season through the 2006-07 season, and only seven goaltenders won it, including another Canadiens’ goaltender, Cristobal Huet.

It looked like the Canadiens were set in goal for a long time with Theodore, but things didn’t go as planned. His stats plummeted in 2005-06, when he posted 17 wins in 38 games with Montreal, but only maintained a 3.46 GAA and a .881 SV%. During that season, he also failed a random drug test because he was taking hair loss medication; he wasn’t sanctioned by the NHL but was banned from international play for two years. Outperformed by backup Cristobal Huet, Theodore was flipped to the Colorado Avalanche at the deadline for Swiss goaltender David Aebischer.

Theodore struggled to find his form back in Denver. He spent part of three seasons in Colorado, with his last being his best, boasting a 2.44 GAA, a .910 SV%, and a 28-21-3 record. Still, the Avs had seen enough, and he wasn’t offered another contract at the end of the 2007-08 season and joined the Washington Capitals on a two-year contract.

Theodore had hoped that joining Alexander Ovechkin’s side would be a path to a Stanley Cup win, but the Caps lost in the second round to eventual Cup champions Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins. Then, in 2009-2010, Theodore was a casualty of the Halak Spring when the Canadiens beat Washington in the first round of the playoffs. The former Hab started the first two games, but was replaced by Semyon Varlamov in the second one, and the Russian remained in the net for the rest of the series. That same year, Theodore won the Bill Masterton Trophy after playing through the trauma of the death of his two-month-old son, who had been born prematurely.

Theodore would go on to play three more seasons in the NHL, one with the Minnesota Wild and two with the Florida Panthers, but he retired without ever winning the Stanley Cup.

Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

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A center with ‘really, really strong' upside could be first-round sleeper for Flyers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and No. 31 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Jack Nesbitt

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 186
Shoots: Left
Team: Windsor

Scouting report

Nesbitt has excellent length and smarts, which make him super effective on the forecheck and finishing in close.

With more opportunity down the stretch, the 18-year-old pivot stood out on a loaded 2024-25 Spitfires club. From February to the end of the regular season, he put up 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 18 games.

For a team that had 124-point Ilya Protas and 119-point Liam Greentree, Nesbitt recorded 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 65 games. Six of his goals came on the power play, two were at shorthanded and he won 51.4 percent of his faceoffs. He added 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 12 playoff games.

“He’s a player that, like, it’s unanimous with our group,” Dan Marr, the vice president of NHL Central Scouting, said June 11 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Nesbitt is the 15th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. When Marr worked for the Maple Leafs as an amateur scout, Toronto drafted Nesbitt’s head coach Greg Walters in 1990. Thanks to that connection, Marr had no problem letting Walters know about his displeasure with Nesbitt’s minutes earlier in the season.

“I was getting mad at him because I didn’t think he was playing him enough,” Marr, who worked in scouting and player development for over 20 years, said. “But I give the kid credit, the kid earned more and more ice time as the season went along, they had him out in more key situations.”

The knock on Nesbitt right now would be his lack of foot speed. His ability to separate and score will need work. But he brings intriguing size down the middle and a fluid skating stride.

“We think his upside is really, really strong,” Marr said. “I think teams will step up for him. It was consensus with our group and I think it’s consensus with a lot of NHL teams. Windsor was very well-scouted near the end of the year and in the playoffs just because he continued to elevate his game as the season went along. So I think this is a player that teams will step up for. He has got so much room to grow, so much room.”

EliteProspects.com has Nesbitt at No. 48 overall, while Button has him at 38th.

“This is a guy who can really move well, he has got good hands and he has got a decent touch around the net,” Marr said. “Just his hockey instincts, with and without the puck, they’re very, very impressive.”

Fit with Flyers

So much has been made of the Flyers potentially landing a center at No. 6. But if they were to snag Nesbitt with their second or third first-round pick, that would add some solid depth at a position of need.

His strengths are in the details of the game, so his floor at worst might be a third-line center. But his ceiling really seems to be high and he could be in for an offensive breakout as he becomes a go-to guy with the Spitfires.

The Flyers went the OHL route in the first round last summer when they took speedy center Jett Luchanko. Nesbitt would be another OHL center with some all-situation qualities.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

• Could a 6-foot-6, ‘just blossoming’ defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6?

• Will Flyers grab prospect with ‘really, really unique’ combination at No. 6?

• Reschny’s performance vs. 2024 top prospect should have Flyers’ eye in first round

• Flyers could have three shots at ‘dynamic, explosive skater’ on the wing

• Finding another Foerster? Flyers may have one if they draft Bear in first round

• Martone would offer Flyers ‘pretty complete package’ if he’s there at No. 6

• Flyers’ future power play QB? 6-foot-4 defenseman has ‘offensive punch’

• ‘That’s how tight it is’ — Eklund could interest Flyers among international prospects

ST. LOUIS -- Now that the 2024-25 season is behind and the Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions, it's a quick turnaround for everyone looking ahead to 2025-26.

For the St. Louis Blues, the focus turns to the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles on June 27-28, where they'll -- barring trade(s) -- have a first-, a fifth-, and a sixth-round pick and no rest for the weary because free agency then kicks off July 1st. 

There's also a development camp, which takes place June 30-July 3 and features some of the top prospects in the organization, but for the immediate needs, what will be the focus of the Blues to improve on their 44-30-8 record and entry into the playoffs for the first time in three years?

The center position seems to be a logical place, but since we last wrote on some prospective targets in the UFA market, even taking a stab at the RFA market should general manager Doug Armstrong go down that route, the center position has dwindled with the recent signings of Brock Nelson back to the Colorado Avalanche and Matt Duchene re-signing with the Dallas Stars, among others. 

What will happen with pending restricted free agent Joel Hofer, who could be in line for an offer sheet should the goalie and the Blues not come to an agreement by July 1?

Do the Blues look to alter the blue line, where it has already been confirmed that veteran Torey Krug's days in the NHL are likely over barring a miraculous recovery from an arthritic condition in his left ankle? Will veterans Justin Faulk and/or Nick Leddy be in play on the trade market?

The Blues have all sorts of options on the table and just north of $13 million in cap space at their disposal should they get the green light to use it or choose to use it. 

The NHL’s free-agency period is fast approaching, so it’s time to break down the key free agents who will soon be on the open market. 

We began the process by looking at the top seven looming UFA defensemen. And today, we’re turning our attention to the league’s top-six soon-to-be UFA wingers.

1. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Far and away the most high-profile UFA, Marner is heavily rumoured not to be returning to the Maple Leafs, his hometown team and only employer in his nine-year NHL career. Marner set new personal bests on offense in 2024-25, including 75 assists and 102 points in 81 games. He’s going to get a significant raise on the $10.9 million he made last season, and the only question is which new team he’ll be playing for next year.

At 28 years old, Marner is in his prime, and he’s likely to choose a team close to winning a Stanley Cup. That could be the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights or a different team. But regardless of where he goes, Marner is going to be earning north of $12 million, and there will be plenty of teams willing to pony up that amount for him.

2. Brad Marchand, LW, Florida Panthers

Few NHLers earned themselves more of a raise in the 2025 post-season than Marchand, who posted 10 goals and 20 points in 23 playoff games. Marchand was always likely to get some sort of raise heading into the playoffs, but his dominance when games matter most is what will be driving his asking price well beyond the $6.125 million he earned in 2024-25.

The 37-year-old Marchand may be looking at his final NHL contract, so contract length could be the difference between him choosing one team over another. But there’s no question teams including the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will be highly motivated to add his championship pedigree and dogged-determination-to-win to the table. Marchand did all the right things this year, and his salary is going to get a giant boost because of it.

3. Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks

In eight full NHL seasons, Boeser has posted six seasons in which he’s had at least 23 goals, and while the 2024-25 campaign was a down year for him, in 2023-24, he put up a career-best 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games. Staying healthy has been an issue for the 28-year-old, but that’s not going to stop many teams from offering Boeser much more than the $6.65 million he earned last season.

At the end of last year, Boeser talked like his days as a Canuck are over. And the Minnesota native may well want to play closer to home. But a number of teams will be jostling to employ him, and he ultimately may choose a team he sees as being closest to winning a Cup. Could that be the New York Rangers? Maybe the Bruins or Maple Leafs? Time will tell, but it’s clear Boeser will be one of the first UFAs snapped up once July 1 arrives.

4. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets

The 29-year-old Ehlers tied his career-high in assists (39) this season, and with 63 points in 69 games, he came within one point of matching his career best in points. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the lifelong Jet, and now, he’s assured of being the subject of a bidding war for his services.

Ehlers’ 2024-25 salary of $6 million will be dwarfed by his next contract, which is likely to be for seven or eight seasons in length. Winnipeg has done well when it comes to retaining its free agents, so there’s a chance Ehlers remains a Jet. But if his asking price gets too high, Winnipeg may part ways with him. And a team like the Detroit Red Wings or Chicago Blackhawks could turn out to be his new employer.

5. Patrick Kane, RW, Detroit Red Wings

When he left the Blackhawks in 2023, Kane had his longevity as an elite winger questioned by some. But since then, mostly as part of a young Wings team, Kane has shown he has lots left in his competitive tank, posting two years of at least 20 goals and 47 points.

Now, Kane has a different choice before him: sticking with Detroit and trying to get the Red Wings into the post-season for the first time since 2016, or going in another direction, and signing with a team like the Leafs, Rangers, Minnesota Wild or Kings. The 36-year-old is likely looking for a two or three-year contract, but so long as his average annual salary is in the area of $4 million, Kane will have his choice of several potential employers. 

6. Claude Giroux, RW, Ottawa Senators

When he went home to play for the Senators in 2022, Giroux was coming off a year in which he put up 21 goals and 65 points in a season split between the Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers. But after his first season in Ottawa, where he posted 35 goals and 79 points, Giroux’s productivity has fallen off in successive seasons, dropping to 15 goals and 50 points last season.

Thus, Giroux’s asking price for his next contract will probably be for a maximum of the $6.5 million he made in 2024-25. Surely, the Sens will be interested in bringing him back, but Giroux could choose to sign with a different team. Ottawa isn’t flush with cap space, so perhaps another team – say, the Montreal Canadiens – could swoop in and scoop him up.

In any case, teams that lose out on one of the aforementioned UFA wingers could make Giroux a priority, and that should keep his salary around the same number as it was last year. 

7. Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

Benn has spent the entirety of his 16-season NHL career with the Stars, and while Dallas GM Jim Nill is on record as saying he wants Benn to finish his career as a Star, the reality is the Stars have limited cap space after signing center Matt Duchene. Needless to say, while Benn was always going to have to sign for far less than the $9.5 million he earned in each of the past eight seasons, the Stars are going to have to move money around to even have a hope of retaining Benn’s services.

Another potential issue for Benn is that his offensive numbers took a serious hit in 2024-25, as he generated only 16 goals and 49 points in 80 regular-season games. And in 18 playoff games, Benn produced only one goal and three points.

Teams will value Benn’s experience and grit, but the 35-year-old may have a tough choice to make this summer: take the biggest payday he can find, regardless of where it is, or accept a gigantic pay cut to sign with a true Cup contender.

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Back on Jun. 4, the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Dan Muse as the 23rd coach in franchise history.

And, now, his supporting cast has been made official.

On Jun. 20, the Penguins announced that they have brought on assistant coaches Todd Nelson, Nick Bonino, and Rich Clunen as well as Troy Paquette, who will be the team's assistant video coach under Madison Nikkel. 

Andy Chiodo will remain on the staff as the team's goaltending coach.

Nelson, 56, has been the head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears - affiliate of the Washington Capitals - for the past three seasons and won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024. He has also coached the Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins as part of his AHL resume - earning 450 total AHL wins, which is the fifth-highest mark in AHL history - and his coaching experience at the NHL level includes the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers - which was a brief stint as head coach in 2014-15.

A bonus nuggest? Nelson, a former defenseman, was drafted by the Penguins in 1989, appearing in only one NHL game with the organization.

“With over two decades of coaching experience, Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself,” Muse said. “He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, most recently in Hershey, and his leadership qualities and wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to build a culture of excellence.”

'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head CoachOn Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas formally introduced Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Bonino, 37, said publicly that he would be joining the Penguins' staff on Wednesday. He was selected in the sixth round (173rd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and spent parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

He was part of the famous "HBK Line" - which also included Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin - that helped lead Pittsburgh to its 2016 championship. Bonino did see a short-lived second stint in Pittsburgh during the 2022-23 season post-trade deadline, appearing in only three games due to injury.

In his NHL career - primarily as a responsible, shutdown two-way centerman - Bonino registered 159 goals and 358 points in 868 games, including 27 goals and 66 points across his two full seasons in Pittsburgh. 

Former Penguin Set To Join Coaching Staff For 2025-26 SeasonA few weeks after it was announced that Dan Muse would become the 23rd head coach in Pittsburgh Penguins franchise history, it appears that a former Penguin will be joining his coaching staff as well.

“Nick's understanding of what it takes to win at the NHL level is unmatched, and his unique experience as a player who filled many different roles over the course of his career will only help him as an assistant coach,” Muse said. “His familiarity with the Penguins organization, as well as my familiarity with him as a player, and person, made him a great fit for this role, and we’re excited to welcome him to our coaching staff as he enters the next phase of his career.”

An assistant for the Anaheim Ducks last season, the 37-year-old Clune was also involved with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization in player development as well as with the AHL's Toronto Marlies as an assistant coach in 2023. 

The specific roles on the coaching staff for Nelson, Bonino, and Clune have yet to be announced.

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Featured image credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday morning that both Matthew Stienburg and Jason Polin have signed one-year deals with the organization through the 2026 season.

Both Stienburg and Polin were RFAs heading into this upcoming offseason.

Another one!

We've signed Matthew Stienburg to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/GfCLnPq3a2

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 20, 2025

From Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stienburg spent most of last season nursing an upper-body injury. Prior to sustaining his injury on November 1st, he played in three games with the Eagles, earning three points (1G/2A). He returned during the Eagles' postseason run, playing in three total games before they were eliminated by the Abbotsford Canucks.

Stienburg made his NHL debut on October 16th with the Avalanche, finishing the stint off with eight total games. During his time with the Avalanche, on October 30th, he made a hit against the boards that earned him a two-game suspension for charging. His suspension was served during a call-up to the Avalanche for their playoff run against the Dallas Stars.

The 24-year-old was selected by the Avalanche in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Prior to his professional career, he played with Cornell University, appearing in 73 games and tallying 46 points (20G/26A).

We've signed Jason Polin to a one-year contract through the 2025-26 season ✍️ pic.twitter.com/z1qFI4M4vb

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 20, 2025

From Holt, Michigan, Jason Polin appeared in 39 regular-season games for the Colorado Eagles last season, totaling 19 points (11G/8A) despite missing a good portion of the season due to injury. He dressed for seven games in their most recent postseason run, during which he scored his first professional postseason goal.

The 26-year-old made his NHL debut in January of 2024 and has appeared in nine games for the Avalanche. He scored his first NHL goal on January 16th, 2024 against the Ottawa Senators.

Polin has skated in 88 AHL games, earning 30 total points (15G/15A) across that run. He signed with the Colorado Eagles as a college free agent in March of 2023.

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It's been said before, and I'll repeat it: Pittsburgh Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas appreciates his people.

Nearly one year after bringing in Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Player Personnel, Wes Clark, the Penguins have added two more coaches who've spent time in Toronto's organization. Pittsburgh hired former Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rich Clune and video coach Troy Paquette on Friday afternoon, rounding out the team's coaching staff under new bench boss Dan Muse.

Clune was most recently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. He spent one season with the NHL club after holding a similar role on the Marlies' coaching staff for part of the year prior, after assistant coach Eric Wellwood went on medical leave. 

The 38-year-old ran Anaheim's power play last season, which finished at an NHL-worst 11.8 percent. The Ducks also finished 25th in the league with 80 points. Clune had been captain of the Marlies for part of two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) before shifting into a development role with the organization after retirement in August 2022. 

Following former Anaheim head coach Greg Cronin's dismissal in April, questions arose about the rest of the team's coaching staff. A month later, the Ducks announced that Clune and assistant coach Brent Thompson would not return next season.

Can Matt Duchene’s Extension Offer Clues For John Tavares’ Next Contract With The Maple Leafs? One of the few center options the Toronto Maple Leafs could've had in free agency is now off the market.

This will be Clune's second season behind an NHL bench as an assistant coach.

"Rich brings a wealth of knowledge across every level of professional hockey, spanning from his 15-year playing career to his time in development and coaching at the AHL and NHL levels over the past three years," Muse said.

"Rich’s experience in coaching, development and as a former player and captain will be extremely valuable in this role, and we’re excited for his addition to our coaching staff."

'We Were Down 2-0 And You Got Us Here': Paul Maurice's Viral Stanley Cup Comment Serves As A Painful Reminder For Maple LeafsWhen the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup, some Toronto Maple Leafs fans lamented another missed opportunity. After all, the Maple Leafs were the only team to push Florida to seven games during its championship run.

After four seasons with the Marlies, Paquette joins the Penguins as an assistant video coach. Before joining AHL Toronto in 2021, Paquette spent three seasons with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs (2018 to 2021) and two as a goaltending coach with USports' Queen's University (2019 to 2021).

The 29-year-old will work underneath video coach Madison Nikkel, who's been with the Penguins since 2019.

Possible Maple Leafs Trade Target Gone As Kraken Land Former Prospect Mason MarchmentAny hopes the Toronto Maple Leafs had of re-acquiring Mason Marchment were dashed Thursday , as the Dallas Stars traded the gritty forward to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round selection in the NHL Draft. The Maple Leafs are in the hunt for more forward depth, and Marchment brings plenty of playoff experience, having played with the Stars in the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive season.

(Top photo: Toronto Marlies / X)