Category: Sports News

By Josh Casper, Features writer

In 1938, Edward VIII, the former Prince of Wales, publicly congratulated the NHL’s Boston Bruins on winning the Prince of Wales Trophy, which he had donated nearly a decade-and-a-half earlier, for the only time on record.

Two years earlier, the entire British Empire listened with bated breath as King Edward VIII told his subjects that he could not be their king without the support of the woman he loved. He was thus abdicating the throne, and he would become the Duke of Windsor the following year. ‘The Abdication,’ like ‘The Cup,’ is self-explanatory. Royalty, like sports, is, if nothing else, theater. The Royal Family attempted to erase Edward, now a failed king remembered as the charismatic Prince of Wales, from history so the new reticent king might step out of his brother’s vast shadow.

Similar mythology surrounds the Prince of Wales Trophy, such as why the Montreal Canadiens had their name engraved twice. The silver chalice hovers above an uncut crystal at the base – to symbolize ice – and is buttressed by four legs shaped like gold hockey sticks, surrounded by four golden hockey pucks. Francophone hockey fans often mistake the Prince of Wales feathers atop the trophy, which is emblazoned with the Royal Arms of Canada, for a fleur de lis. Prince Edward gifted the $2,500 trophy (equal to about $45,000 today) to the NHL in 1925.

As the Prince of Wales, Edward was renowned worldwide, especially in North America, where he became a symbol of a generation as the jazz-loving bachelor who also endured the travails of war. In 1919, Edward crisscrossed Canada from St. John’s, Nfld., to Vancouver on a special Canadian Pacific Railway train.

“I want Canada to look upon me as Canadian, if not actually by birth, yet certainly in mind and spirit,” said the Prince of Wales in St. John’s.

Edward developed a particular affection for the Canadian West and its pioneering ranchers. Before coming back east to America, the prince bought a cattle ranch in Alberta’s High River Valley that he visited five times during the next decade. He said the Canadian West was one of the few places that treated him like a person rather than a prince.

“Canada is a great country,” said Edward to comedian Will Rogers. The prince described Canadians as vigorous and confident.

Americans were more acquainted with the Prince of Wales than with hockey. But that was slowly changing. Ice hockey at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics garnered almost as much attention as (Chariots of Fire runner) Harold Abrahams at the Paris Summer Games. Team Canada and the United States facing off for gold only stoked expectations. Suddenly, hockey was heating up.

The Prince of Wales, a devoted sportsman, took particular interest and planned to attend. Then, days before the final, the avid steeplechaser was thrown from his horse while trying to clear a five-foot jump.

Edward’s equerry noticed a protruding bone: “I am afraid your collarbone is broken, sir.”

Unable to move his mangled shoulder, the prince drolly replied: “Yes, I believe it is.”

The gold-medal game was shaping up to be a similarly gruesome affair. By the first intermission, the players’ blood-soaked sweaters tinged the ice with a crimson hue, mainly from Harry ‘Moose’ Watson, who was bloodied and knocked out cold for two minutes but returned to score the go-ahead goal. Led by captain Dunc Munro, Canada shut down the Americans and claimed the gold with a 6-1 victory. The U.S. took silver and Great Britain got the bronze.

Though he missed the banquet while recovering from surgery, the Prince of Wales was determined to meet Team Canada. The day before they were set to depart, Edward invited them to York House. Manager William ‘Billy’ Hewitt and Munro led the team into the prince’s study. As they sat by the fireplace, Prince Edward turned to Munro and said, “You will know that dislocating a collarbone is not serious. It easily comes out and is easily put back.”

They laughed. Hockey was a rough sport. No helmets. So was point-to-point racing. Not wanting a dead Prince of Wales, the British Racing Association made helmets mandatory in 1924.

The prince had never been to a hockey game, but Hewitt was impressed by his hockey IQ. Edward even recognized Harold McMunn, who was added to the Allan Cup-winning Toronto Granites team that represented Canada.

Like the prince, Munro later admitted that his biggest obstacle came after dark. “Just think of the temptation,” said Munro of the casinos filled with young French ingenues. “But we resisted it.”

Hewitt had them in bed by 10 o’clock, something the prince never mastered. Edward’s nocturnal speakeasy adventures became such press fodder during his 1924 New York holiday that King George V never allowed him to return.

“It seemed a great hardship then,” Munro quipped. “We did not always feel too friendly to Mr. Hewitt, but we are glad of (him) now.”

In 1924, when the NHL added two clubs, the Montreal Maroons and the first U.S. club, the Boston Bruins, Munro signed a three-year, $22,500 contract with the Maroons (over $400,000 today). He played in the first NHL game on U.S. soil, a 2-1 Bruins win at 5,000-seat Boston Arena (now Northeastern’s Matthews Arena) over the Maroons.

To familiarize American audiences with pro hockey, newspaper scribes described the new Prince of Wales Trophy as the NHL pennant, given to the NHL champion, whether or not they beat a western team for the Stanley Cup.

“It is not the intention of the prince that his Cup shall displace the Stanley Cup. There is a championship trophy in Canada, the Stanley Cup, but that is the supreme prize of all.”

Had the 1924-25 season gone smoothly, the Hamilton Tigers might’ve won the first Prince of Wales Trophy, but incensed that they would not receive a $200 bonus, Hamilton quit on the eve of the 1924 playoffs. The third-place Canadiens, next up, got to defend their 1923 Stanley Cup and beat second-place Toronto for the NHL title before losing the Stanley Cup final to Victoria of the Western Canada League.

After the Hamilton players declared they would never again play for Hamilton, Tex Rickard, building a new Madison Square Garden, pounced to help bring hockey to his new arena. The New York Americans were born. Instead of awarding the Prince of Wales Trophy to Montreal, the NHL brass saw an opportunity.

The Prince of Wales Trophy was to be awarded to future NHL champions, so NHL president Frank Calder decided that the winner of the first game at MSG between the New York Americans and Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 15, 1925, would receive the trophy until the next NHL championship.

The Canadiens, reeling without terminally ill goaltender Georges Vezina, beat the Americans 3-1 to earn the first Prince of Wales Trophy. The defending NHL champions, the Canadiens later engraved their name twice: once for their 1924 NHL title and again for winning the Prince of Wales Trophy game.

In March, before an afternoon game between the Maroons and Canadiens, thousands of fans queued in front of silversmith Mappin & Webb’s display window on Rue Ste-Catherine to see the Prince of Wales Trophy, which stayed in Montreal. Munro and his Maroons, who were at Madison Square Garden as spectators, kept the trophy in Montreal, winning the 1926 NHL title and the last inter-league Stanley Cup.

Much more was decided that December 1925 day than who possessed the Prince of Wales Trophy. The NHL was transformed forever. If they weren’t already, the beckoning bright lights of Broadway and dollar signs of Wall Street would forever be part of pro hockey.

From 1927 to 1938, the Prince of Wales Trophy was given to the winner of the American Division. From 1938 to 1967, it was presented to the NHL’s regular-season champion. Since expansion in 1967, the trophy has been awarded to a division or conference champion for the regular season or playoffs. Most recently, since 1993-94, it’s served as the title trophy for the Eastern Conference playoff champ.

This article appeared in our 2025 Playoff Special issue. Our cover story focuses on Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, who looks primed for another deep playoff run. We also include features on other Cup contenders, including the Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and more. In addition, we give our power ranking of the top playoff teams heading into the 2025 post-season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Buffalo Sabres will host the annual NHL Draft Combine this week, with the 2025 NHL Decentralized Draft in Los Angeles late this month. Buffalo will select ninth overall if they do not trade the pick, but between now and the night of the first round. Draft prognosticators have begun to decipher what teams will select and how the draft will unfold, and according to the Athletic’s most recent mock draft, the Sabres are projected to select OHL defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with their pick. 

The 18-year-old blueliner had a breakout offensive year with the Barrie Colts, jumping from eight goals last season to 26 goals, finishing behind only 2024 first rounders Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson among OHL defenseman. Aitcheson led the Colts with 59 points and scored 12 points in the OHL playoffs.  

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Corey Pronman indicated that Aitcheson was the second ranked blueliner on The Athletic’s draft list next to presumptive top overall selection Matthew Schaefer, and that the 6’2”. 196 lb. defenseman “brings a combination of tenacity, skill and athleticism to the blue line and will help us at both ends of the ice on top of making our team harder to play against”. 

While the possibility of taking a blueliner is good, the Sabres might be hesitant to take a offensive lefty such as Aitcheson with both Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power locked up on long-term deals and aged 25 or younger. Buffalo’s blueline organizational depth is thin on the right side, with 21-year-old Vsevolod Komarov in Rochester, and 2023 second-rounder Maxim Strbak and 2024 second-rounder Adam Kleber in the NCAA.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

For the second straight season the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals. There are three former Wild players who will be competing for the Stanley Cup. 

REPORT: Possible Landing Spots For Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi.

Minnesota Wild Free Agent Target: Brock Nelson.

Wild Top Prospect Danila Yurov Signs Entry-Level Contract.

Dmitry Kulikov, who won the Stanley Cup last season for the Panthers, will be joined by Nico Sturm as the two former Wild players on the Panthers. 

John Klingberg is the only Oiler on the roster who will compete for the Stanley Cup. Travis Dermott was claimed off waivers by the Wild earlier in the season but was eventually put back on waivers and claimed by the Oilers. He is not listed on the roster though. 

Sturm, 30, spent his first four NHL seasons with the Wild before he was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22. He won a cup that season. Kulikov spent just one season with the Wild in 2021-22. 

Klingberg, 32, was acquired by the Wild at the trade deadline in 2022-23. He played 17 regular season games for the Wild and four playoff games. 

Photo: May 25, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman John Klingberg (36) celebrates after he scores a power play goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images.

By Jack Sponagle, The Hockey News intern

Sometimes, small places can produce big names in the world of hockey. Despite these players coming from remote areas and small communities, their success in the world of hockey proves that it doesn’t matter where you come from. You can always set your sights on the NHL, because in the end, everyone was just a kid from somewhere at one point.

Al MacInnis: Inverness, N.S.

Known for his weapon of a slapshot, MacInnis played 23 NHL seasons with Calgary and St. Louis on his way to a Hall of Fame career. MacInnis was born in Inverness, N.S., with a population of 1,300, but was raised in Port Hood, a nearby fishing village with a population of 900. He was the seventh-born of eight children.

Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich and Ron Sutter: Viking, Alta.

All six brothers of the legendary Sutter family come from this small Alberta town of about 970 people. At least one Sutter brother played in the NHL every season from 1976-77 through 2000-01. And all six of them played in the NHL at the same time from 1982-83 through 1986-87.

The town of Viking was settled by Scandinavian settlers, explaining its name. Viking can also lay claim to Carson Soucy, the current New York Rangers blueliner.

Nicklas Lidstrom: Krylbo, SWE

Undoubtedly, one of the best defensemen to ever play the game, Lidstrom hails from Krylbo, a small market town of 2,500 people. Lidstrom’s seven Norris Trophies are tied for second all-time with Doug Harvey, behind only Bobby Orr (eight).

Travis Sanheim: Elkhorn, Man.

Sanheim was born to grain-farming parents in Elkhorn, a small village in Manitoba near the Saskatchewan border of around 450 residents. More than 19,000 spectators fit into the Flyers’ home rink, the Wells Fargo Center, meaning that you could fit about 43 times the population of Elkhorn into the stadium.

Carey Price: Anahim Lake, B.C.

Born in Vancouver, the 15-year NHL veteran was raised in Anahim Lake, a small town in central B.C. with a population of around 360. The closest organized hockey for Price to play as a child was five hours away, meaning a 10-hour round trip. Eventually, his father bought a personal plane to fly the two of them back and forth for practices and games.

Pheonix Copley: North Pole, Ala.

Copley has 77 NHL games under his belt for the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues. Copley’s hometown of North Pole boasts a population of around 2,700. What makes the town stand out is its year-round Christmas celebration. Here are some of the town’s actual street names: Kris Kringle Drive, St. Nicholas Drive and Santa Claus Lane. No, we’re not kidding.

Jake Sanderson: Whitefish, Mont.

One of two Montana-born NHL players, Sanderson hails from Whitefish (approximate population of 7,200). Son of former NHLer Geoff Sanderson, who himself is from Hay River, N.W.T. (approximate population of 3,400), Sanderson and his family moved to Calgary when he was 12.

Erik Karlsson: Landsbro, SWE

The 15th overall pick in 2008, Karlsson has seen action in 1,084 games. If Karlsson plays for another four or five seasons, he could have more games played than Landsbro (approximate population of 400) has residents.

Mikko Rantanen: Nousiainen, FIN

Nousiainen is a town in the southwestern area of Finland that has 4,600 residents. Rantanen left Nousiainen for Colorado when he was drafted by the Avalanche 10th overall in 2015.

James Reimer: Morweena, Man.

Since arriving in the NHL in 2010-11, the 37-year-old journeyman netminder has played for Toronto, San Jose, Florida, Carolina, Detroit, Anaheim and Buffalo – but his roots are in Morweena, Man. Morweena has a population of around 150. In his NHL career, Reimer has both won (225) and lost (187) more games than there are people in Morweena.

Jonas Hiller: Felben-Wellhausen, SUI

A veteran of 404 NHL games, Hiller was born in Felben-Wellhausen, a town that was made by the merger of two villages called – wait for it – Felben and Wellhausen in 1983. It had a population of around 2,900 as of December 2018.

Jordin Tootoo: Churchill, Man.

The first Inuk player in NHL history, Tootoo played in 723 NHL games with Nashville, Detroit, New Jersey and Chicago. Tootoo’s hometown, Churchill (approximate population of 900), is known as the polar bear capital of the world, so much so that it is illegal to lock the doors of your car in the event that someone needs to get inside to get away from a polar bear. While he was born in Churchill, Tootoo and his family moved to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, when he was young, and that’s where he first learned to play hockey.

Garnet Hathaway: Kennebunkport, Maine

Originally born in Naples, Fla., Hathaway was raised in Kennebunkport from the time he was six months old. Kennebunkport is a small resort town near the New Hampshire border with a population of 3,700, and it’s famously home to the Bush (George H.W. and George W.) family’s summer compound.

Hannu Jarvenpaa: Ii, FIN

Jarvenpaa played in 114 NHL games for the Winnipeg Jets in the late 1980s. What makes him stand out is his hometown’s two-letter name. Spelt with just two I’s, Ii is the shortest location name in Finland. Jarvenpaa, a member of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, calls those two letters home. Ii had a population of 9,900 as of December 2023.

John LeClair: St. Albans, Vt.

LeClair was born in a small town not far from the Vermont/Quebec border. St. Albans, with around 7,000 residents, did not have any organized hockey when LeClair was growing up. LeClair and his friends had to play in an old railroad shed.

Andrei Kuzmenko: Yakutsk, RUS

With a population of over 280,000 people, Yakutsk isn’t exactly a small town. What makes it stand out is that Yakutsk is the coldest major city in the world. It has an average daily temperature of minus-8 degrees Celsius, and in the winter temperatures can range between minus-20 at its highest and a record low of minus-64. So you can see why the Kings winger seems so at home on the ice.

Morgan and Conor Geekie: Strathclair, Man.

Boston center Morgan Geekie and Tampa Bay center Conor Geekie both grew up in Strathclair, Man. In 2016, the population barely exceeded 700. The two brothers played many sports growing up in Strathclair, and in fact, they often signed up for every sport offered just to ensure there would be enough players to field a team.

Ryane Clowe: Fermeuse, Nfld.

Clowe had a 491-game career that was plagued with concussion issues that were so severe they even ended his coaching career. Clowe had returned to Newfoundland to coach the Newfoundland Growlers, a now-defunct ECHL team based in St. John’s, about 50 miles from Fermeuse (approximate population of 300).

Elias Pettersson: Ange, SWE

Pettersson – the Vancouver Canucks center, not the Vancouver Canucks defenseman – was born in Sundsvall, Swe., but raised in Ange. Ange is a town of nearly 3,000. Pettersson played youth hockey in Ange, but had to play his junior hockey in Timra, about 60 miles away, due to the lack of opportunities in Ange. Ange is also the hometown of Samuel Pahlsson, a 798-game veteran in the NHL and Stanley Cup champion with Anaheim.

Bryan Trottier: Val Marie, Sask.

Val Marie is a village of roughly 130 people that’s nestled between Swift Current and the Montana border. Val Marie is where the Islanders legend and Hall of Famer grew up, alongside his brother Rocky, who played in 38 NHL games. Trottier scored more playoff points (182) than there are residents in Val Marie.

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The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers is set to begin this Wednesday in Edmonton, marking a highly anticipated rematch of last year's thrilling seven-game series. 

The Panthers are playing in their third straight Stanley Cup Final, continuing a streak that marks the sixth consecutive year an Eastern Conference team from Florida has reached the final. They advanced by beating the Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, and Lightning. The Oilers, meanwhile, look to overcome last year’s loss, when they nearly came back from a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7. They earned their spot by defeating the Stars, Kings, and Golden Knights. This rematch sets the stage for a hard-fought battle as both teams compete for the Cup.

Both teams listed at near-even odds with Edmonton at -118 and Florida at -108 but bettors will have a wealth of intriguing betting options to make this year's final that much more exciting. 

🏆 Series Odds & Outcomes

• Oilers in 7: +390 (shortest odds)
• Panthers in 7: +460 (2nd-shortest odds)
• Panthers in 6: +470 (3rd-shortest odds)
• Oilers sweep (4-0): +1400
• Panthers sweep (4-0): +1500 
• Series Over 5.5 Games: -210
• Series Under 5.5 Games: +168

The betting market and the entire hockey world anticipate another tightly contested series, with both teams facing off once again, knowing each other better than they know themselves. It should culminate in another seven game series for the ages.  

More NHL: NHL Insider Reports Maple Leafs, Golden Knights May Have Discussed Marner Trade

Top Goal Scorer Odds

• Leon Draisaitl (EDM): +300
• Connor McDavid (EDM): +500
• Sam Reinhart (FLA): +800
• Matthew Tkachuk (FLA): +800
• Sam Bennett (FLA): +1200

Draisaitl leads the odds, showcasing his trademark scoring ability with seven goals this postseason. Right behind him is McDavid, who remains a major threat thanks to his elite offensive skill set. And let’s not overlook Florida’s Sam Bennett, the league’s current top scorer with ten goals, who’s making a strong case for a new contract with his standout performance.

Series Points Leader Odds

• Connor McDavid (EDM): +140
• Leon Draisaitl (EDM): +240
• Aleksander Barkov (FLA): +1200 

McDavid’s odds are notably strong, highlighting his potential to take over the series offensively. He leads all players in playoff points once again, tallying 26 in 16 games. Over the past two postseasons, he’s racked up an incredible 68 points in just 41 games, solidifying his status as the clear favorite. Close behind him, though, is Draisaitl with 25 points, keeping the race tight.

More NHL: Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Next Team Betting Odds Revealed

🧢 Potential Hat Trick?

Any player to record a hat trick: +168

Hat tricks are a rare feat in the Stanley Cup Final, but 33 players have accomplished it throughout NHL history. The most recent came in 2023, when Mark Stone scored three goals in Game 5 against the Panthers while playing through a fractured wrist. With elite offensive talents like McDavid, Draisaitl, and Tkachuk on the ice in this year’s series, the possibility of another hat trick emerging is very real and definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Conn Smythe Trophy Odds (Playoff MVP)

• Connor McDavid (EDM): +100
• Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA): +250
• Aleksander Barkov (FLA): +500

Alternate Bets:

• Winner's position - Forward: -360
• Winner's position - Goaltender: +270
• Winner's position - Defenseman (e.g., Evan Bouchard): +21000
• Winner's nationality - Canadian: -110
• Winner's nationality - Finnish: +450
• Winner's nationality - American: +2400 

McDavid leads the Conn Smythe odds, reflecting his pivotal role in Edmonton's playoff run.  Bobrovsky and Barkov provide strong value picks for Florida, especially if the Panthers clinch the series. 

More NHL: Veterans First: NHL Insiders Pick Players Who Deserve Cup First From Each Contender

🏆 Who Will Receive the First Cup Handoff?

Edmonton Oilers:

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: +260
• Leon Draisaitl: +300
• Adam Henrique: (+10000) 

Florida Panthers:

• Nate Schmidt: +380
• Seth Jones: +750
• Aaron Ekblad +1200

Insiders suggest veteran forward Adam Henrique for the Oilers, given his long-awaited opportunity, and Nate Schmidt for the Panthers, recognizing his leadership and experience. 

Notable Player Props

• Connor McDavid to record 10+ points: +140
• Leon Draisaitl to record 7+ points: -280
• Sam Reinhart to record 5+ points: -172
• Aleksander Barkov to record 5+ points: -230
• Sam Bennett to record 5+ points: -112
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to record 5+ points: -172
• Jake Walman to record 3+ points: +108

These props highlight players expected to make significant contributions throughout the series.  Jake Walman, in particular, presents a potential steal given his recent offensive surge of four points over his last four games. 

Stanley Cup Finals Fun Facts

• The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers marks only the third time in NHL history that the same two teams have met in consecutive Finals. Previously, back-to-back matchups occurred in 1983 and 1984 when the New York Islanders faced the Edmonton Oilers, and again in 2008 and 2009 with the Detroit Red Wings against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Each team that lost the first series, came back and won the following year.       
• The distance between Rogers Place in Edmonton and Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, is approximately 2,541 miles (4,089 kilometers). This marks the longest travel distance between two teams in Stanley Cup Final history, surpassing the previous record of 2,500 miles set in the 2011 Final between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.         
• The geographical spread between Edmonton and Sunrise also represents the largest latitude difference between two cities in a championship series in North American professional sports history. Edmonton is situated at 53.5461°N, while Sunrise is at 26.1670°N, creating a significant north-south divide.         
• Due to the substantial distance, both teams face unique travel challenges. The Oilers' flight to Florida takes approximately five hours and 38 minutes, not accounting for the two-hour time difference between Edmonton's Mountain Standard Time and Florida's Eastern Standard Time. 
• To pass the time during their flights, players engage in various activities, according to reports. The Panthers' plane features a card table for games, while the Oilers' plane is reportedly equipped with a Nintendo Switch, where players, including goalie Stuart Skinner, enjoy competitive rounds of Mario Kart.

• The Oilers boast 16 Canadian-born players on their roster, the most among all teams in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.         
• During the 2024–25 regular season, the Panthers defeated the Oilers in both encounters. In the first game on December 16, 2024, Florida won 6–5 in Edmonton. In the second game on February 27, 2025, the Panthers secured a 4–3 victory in Sunrise.         
• Corey Perry is set to be the first ever player to reach the Stanley Cup Final representing five different franchises; the Anaheim Ducks (2007), Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021), Tampa Bay Lightning (2022), and now the Edmonton Oilers (2025).

It’s taken a year for us to get right back to where we were in 2024: a long-haul Stanley Cup Final between the sunbelt champion Florida Panthers and the team that pushed them to the limit last year, Canada’s Edmonton Oilers. 

Round 3 wasn’t as gruelling for the winners as last season, with both sides advancing in five games instead of six. But with no more than seven games remaining before we wrap the 2024-25 NHL campaign, here’s a look at six players whose narratives changed in Round 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, for better or for worse.

Winners

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, LW, Edmonton Oilers

The top-scoring players from the conference finals were a trio of Edmonton Oilers who each recorded nine points in five games against the Dallas Stars. 

Naturally, two of the names were Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But it’s impressive to see that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has kept pace. He currently sits fourth in playoff scoring with 18 points in 16 games, on track to beat his 22 points in 25 games from 2024. 

Now 32, Nugent-Hopkins is frequently overshadowed by the Oilers’ superstars. Fourteen years in, the last holdover from the 'Decade of Darkness' is playing an impactful role as he gets his second crack at a Cup.

Seth Jones, D, Florida Panthers

With 14 points in 17 games and boundless enthusiasm for the spotlight, Brad Marchand has been the most conspicuous new addition as the Panthers try to repeat.

Meanwhile, Seth Jones has been content to fly under the radar. But after the Panthers said goodbye to defensemen Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson last summer, Jones has been their ice-time leader with 24:59 a game in the playoffs — and is bringing out the best in his partner Niko Mikkola. 

After nearly four years in purgatory in Chicago, Jones is showing no sign of wilting in his first playoff experience beyond the second round. Once considered a potential Norris Trophy candidate, Jones is the latest trade acquisition to tap into his best self after arriving in South Florida.

Troy Stecher, D, Edmonton Oilers

Has a journeyman defenseman ever received such a glow-up this late in the playoffs? Swapped in for Ty Emberson late in Round 2, Stecher made the most of every minute of his ice time for the next six games. He provided a calming presence for partner Darnell Nurse as Edmonton outscored its opponents 3-0 at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice. 

Playing with heart and determination that makes up for what he lacks in stature, Stecher gave his all when called upon, then ceded his spot graciously when Mattias Ekholm suited up for Game 5 against Dallas.

“I want him healthy and I want him to help us win,” Stecher said. “He's a better player than I am. That's just the reality of the world.”

That type of team-first attitude goes a long way when building a champion.

Losers

Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars

A third-straight conference final loss would inevitably have made tongues wag about whether the Stars’ starting goaltender has the mettle to take his team to a title. But Peter DeBoer’s dramatic decision to yank Jake Oettinger just 7:09 into a potential elimination game poured gasoline onto that spark.

Oettinger announced himself as a big-game goalie in the 2022 playoffs, posting a 1.81 goals-against average and .954 save percentage in the Stars’ first-round loss to the Calgary Flames. 

But now that DeBoer has brought it up, it’s hard not to un-see the fact that Oettinger hasn’t played to that same standard in his three subsequent runs. Though he’s second only to Sergei Bobrovsky in games played (56) and wins (29) over the last three years, Oettinger’s .905 save percentage and 2.69 GAA over the same timeframe come in below not just Bobrovsky but also goalies like Igor Shesterkin, Adin Hill, Frederik Andersen, Jeremy Swayman, Logan Thompson and others.

Next season, Oettinger starts an eight-year contract extension that carries a cap hit of $8.25 million. And he has no trade protection in Year 1, before a full no-movement clause kicks in. 

With cap space at a premium in Dallas, is Oettinger’s long-term future with the team that drafted him suddenly in doubt? 

Taylor Hall, LW, Carolina Hurricanes

It’s not all bad. Taylor Hall’s January trade from the Blackhawks to the Carolina Hurricanes earned him a spot in the conference final for the first time in his 15-year career. 

His 18 points in 31 regular-season games with Carolina also earned the 33-year-old a new three-year contract with a no-move clause. That could give him a shot at more playoff runs in future seasons. 

But after collecting six points in 10 games through the Hurricanes’ first two playoff rounds and earning first-star honors in Game 4 against Washington, Hall struggled against the mighty Panthers. 

He wasn’t just pointless. Hall wasn’t on the ice for a single 5-on-5 Canes goal in the series, while the Panthers scored six times at 5-on-5 with Hall on the ice. It was a disappointing finish to what was looking like a successful change of scenery for the 2018 Hart Trophy winner.

Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars

If only the Stars could have played the Colorado Avalanche in every series.

After almost single-handedly eliminating his old team with 12 points in Round 1, Mikko Rantanen suffered an unfortunate case of diminishing returns as the playoffs progressed. He collected seven points in Round 2 against the Winnipeg Jets, all in the first four games. Against the Oilers, he settled for just three points, all assists, and he was on the ice for just two goals at 5-on-5, compared to five against.

Rantanen bowed out of the playoffs with 22 points in 18 games. That’s on par with his career post-season scoring rate, but after seizing savior status early on in the Lone Star State, he couldn’t make a difference against the Oilers when Dallas desperately needed goals.

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