Category: Sports News

Marchand cements Hall of Fame legacy with second Stanley Cup title originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s settled. There’s no more debate. Brad Marchand is a Hall of Fame player. And not only that, he deserves to go in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

He already had a very strong Hall of Fame case going into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after playing at such an elite level for the Florida Panthers and helping them clinch back-to-back championships, there is no counter argument anymore.

The Panthers secured their latest title by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night. Marchand skated around the Amerant Bank Arena ice with the Stanley Cup — 14 years after he did it with the Boston Bruins as a rookie.

GOTTA SEE IT: BRAD GETS ANOTHER 🏆

For the second time in his career, Brad Marchand lifts the #StanleyCup

Presented by Moosehead Breweries 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/o1BKXVmN5a

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 18, 2025

“It’s incredible,” Marchand told TNT’s Jackie Redmond postgame. “It’s a feeling you can’t really describe.”

Brad Marchand was feeling all the feels after the Stanley Cup win ❤️

"Everybody wrote us off … we knew we had something special." pic.twitter.com/MqHV2x6fxp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2025

Marchand, whom the Panthers acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline in March, was absolutely brilliant for the Panthers all postseason long. And he played his best hockey when they needed it most.

His first clutch goal came in overtime of Game 3 in the second round. The Panthers were on the brink of a 3-0 series deficit to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Marchand rescued them. He then scored a goal with two assists in a Game 7 win at Toronto.

IT HAD TO BE HIM 🐀🐀🐀

Brad Marchand calls game for the Panthers with his Game 3 Subway Canada OT winner 🚨 pic.twitter.com/hMOSxDNSQ1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 10, 2025

Marchand was arguably the best player of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. He scored in four of the six games, including the winning goal in overtime of Game 2, and a two-goal performance in a dominant Game 5. He is just the second player since 1968 to score five-plus goals in multiple Cup Final series.

OH MY BRAD MARCHAND 😱 pic.twitter.com/EQzrDQlhIW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

Marchand finished the playoffs with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 games. His 158 career points in the playoffs are the second-most of any player since he made his NHL debut in the 2009-10 campaign. Only three players in the history of the sport have more postseasons with 10-plus points than Marchand, and they are Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jean Beliveau.

His 66 playoff goals over that span are the second-most of any player. His 16 game-winning goals in the playoffs are the most during that period.

When he won his first Stanley Cup title with the Bruins in 2011, he scored twice in a Game 7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. He had five goals in the series.

“This is a Hall of Fame stat right here.”@FriedgeHNIC and the panel discuss Brad Marchand’s Hall of Fame potential. pic.twitter.com/XfEyEhQbQo

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2025

Marchand’s regular season stats are tremendous, too. His 980 points are the 12th-most since the start of the 2009-10 season. All 11 players ahead of him will be in the Hall of Fame. Only five players — Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane — have scored more goals than Marchand’s 424 since he entered the league.

His 36 shorthanded goals are 14 more than any other player during that span. He also ranks No. 1 with 21 overtime goals in that period.

Barring injury, Marchand will hit 1,000 career points next season. And he might need to play just three more years to reach 500 goals.

And you can’t forget about Marchand’s defense. He was an elite two-way forward for a long time. It’s one of the reasons why the Bruins’ penalty kill was so good for much of his career in Boston. Marchand and Patrice Bergeron were arguably the top defensive duo of their era.

Marchand isn’t everyone’s favorite player. If you live in Vancouver or Toronto, you’re probably not much of a fan of the 5-foot-10 forward.

But even his most vocal haters and critics now have to come to terms that, yes, he is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday. And it will be well-deserved.

It has been rumored that the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to trade up in the 2025 NHL Draft.

And, according to a new report, they could possibly have a dance partner.

On Monday during the DFO Rundown Podcast, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff (DFO) reported that the Chicago Blackhawks's 3rd overall pick in this year's draft is in play. Seravalli also mentioned that Chicago would be looking for a "difference-maker" in return. 

Chicago - like many other teams in the league - is at a bit of a crossroads in terms of their rebuild and their competitive window. There were reports last week that the Penguins would be the only "true sellers" on the market, and teams like the Blackhawks and several others are looking to take the next steps in their competitive process.

When taking all of this information and putting it together - adding in that GM/POHO Kyle Dubas and the Penguins are apparently enamored with right wing Porter Martone, who many expect to be selected in the top-five - a trade between the Blackhawks and Penguins might make a large degree of sense. 

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Porter MartoneWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

The Blackhawks have enough young talent on their roster at this point wth the likes of Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Ilya Mikheyev that they could, conceivably, be looking to improve their NHL roster. Luckily, the Penguins have several tradeable assets on their roster - including wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust and defenseman Erik Karlsson.

Karlsson's full no-movement clause makes it unlikely that he would approve a move to Chicago, but the other two would upgrade a forward unit for the Hawks that is probably in need of some veteran leadership and experience as well.

Report: Penguins Only 'True Sellers' On NHL MarketWith the NHL Draft and free agency approaching fast, the NHL trade market is beginning to come into focus. 

Rust and Rakell both happen to be coming off career seasons and each have three affordable years left on their current contracts (at $5.175 million and $5 million, respectively). Rust put up 31 goals and 65 points in just 71 games, while Rakell notched 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games. 

If the Penguins and Blackhawks were to agree to terms on a deal involving their third overall pick, Martone or James Hagens would, seemingly, be the obvious candidates for draft selections. Martone recorded 37 goals and 98 points in 57 games for the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL, where he was teammates with Penguins' defensive prospect Finn Harding.

Hagens - a two-way center threat - had 11 goals and 37 points in 37 games to go along with a plus-21 rating for Boston College last season.

Bryan Rust Is In High Demand. But Is Trading Him The Right Call?It is sure to be an active, interesting offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Feature image credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

There’s an increased speculation that K’Andre Miller will be traded by the New York Rangers this offseason. 

Since the 2024-25 season came to a close for the Rangers, speculation about Miller’s future has run rampant. 

With no contract extension in place, the reality of the Blueshirts moving on from the young defenseman has become more and more real. 

Yes, it’s hard to believe every rumor you see, but when multiple trusted NHL insiders are reporting about Miller’s availability, it’s hard not to put stock into those reports. 

NHL insider Frank Seravalli used strong language when discussing the Rangers’ desire to trade Miller. 

“If there’s more than smoke, there’s absolute fire when it comes to K’Andre Miller,” Seravalli said. “They are looking to re-shape their defensive core. My understanding is back from his days in Pittsburgh even before he got to New York that Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh was not a huge fan of K’Andre Miller’s game. That probably further enforces and supports that Miller is going to be on the move or likely be on the move.”

The Rangers Reportedly Don't Want To Give K'Andre Miller A Long-Term Contract ExtensionThere is one major aspect that is holding up negotiations between the New York Rangers and K’Andre Miller. 

It’s unclear if Miller and the Rangers have made any sort of progress on a new contract extension or what the trade market for the 24-year-old blueliner looks like at this moment in time.

Panthers rout Oilers in Game 6 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Déjà vu.

The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 on Tuesday to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. Sam Bennett collected the Conn Smythe trophy with 15 goals across Florida’s run.

It’s the same exact outcome as last season, when the Panthers avoided losing a series 3-0 by winning Game 7 versus the Oilers with Sam Reinhart scoring clutch goals. But this time, he scored lots of them.

Reinhart started the scoring within the first five minutes of the opening period, stealing the puck away, splitting two defenders then rounding it home.

Matthew Tkachuk then added the second for Florida with 46 seconds remaining in the period. With Eetu Luostarinen doubled on the right wing, he laid it off for Tkachuk, who faced no defensive reinforcement and drilled it home.

Reinhart then added a second late in the second period, but it came in unusual fashion. Carter Verhaeghe flipped an unexpected shot toward the net before falling to Aleksander Barkov, who shot and saw it deflect off Reinhart and in.

Reinhart’s hat-trick came with 6:34 on the clock in the third period, as Barkov logged another assist thanks to an empty net.

It became the first playoff hat-trick by a Panthers player in franchise history. But he wasn’t done there.

Just moments later on another empty net, Reinhart got a wrist shot off while falling. Of course, no Panthers player has scored four goals in a playoff game.

Reinhart’s fourth tied the Stanley Cup record for most in a final, last done so by Montreal’s Maurice Richard in 1957.

Edmonton didn’t come away empty-handed, however. It responded shortly after through Vasily Podkolzin, who rounded the keeper off a Jake Walman assist, silencing the crowd for a brief moment.

The Panthers became the 11th franchise to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the expansion era in 1967-68. The last team to do so was the Tampa Bay Lightning, who beat the Dallas Stars in the 2020 final before repeating the following year over the Montreal Canadiens.

This occasion is a bit different, though. While Tampa Bay beat two separate opponents, Florida handed Edmonton consecutive heartbreaks. The last team to suffer such a fate was over 50 years ago, when the Canadiens took down the Boston Bruins twice in 1977 and 1978.

Edmonton still has five Stanley Cups in its trophy cabinet, but it’s been multiple decades since a new addition. The Oilers have won it all in 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1989–90.

The Oilers are also one of the last Canadian teams to lift the Cup, as Canada’s drought is equally as parched. Montreal is the last Canadian franchise to hoist the silverware, having done so over the Los Angeles Kings in 1993.

Florida is among the franchises capitalizing on the U.S. momentum. This win marks the team’s second ever Stanley Cup, so it’s a team relatively new to the major title scene.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also became the first coach in NHL/NFL/NBA/MLB history to win multiple championships after winning none over his first 25 seasons, via Opta Stats. Maurice previously coached the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets before joining Florida in 2022.

The Panthers then reached the final in 2023, but lost to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Safe to say that experience shaped Florida’s future for the better. If they can retain unrestricted free agents Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Bennett, among others, the Panthers may very well be on the hunt for a rare three-peat.

Panthers rout Oilers in Game 6 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Déjà vu.

The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 on Tuesday to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. Sam Bennett collected the Conn Smythe trophy with 15 goals across Florida’s run.

It’s the same exact outcome as last season, when the Panthers avoided losing a series 3-0 by winning Game 7 versus the Oilers with Sam Reinhart scoring clutch goals. But this time, he scored lots of them.

Reinhart started the scoring within the first five minutes of the opening period, stealing the puck away, splitting two defenders then rounding it home.

Matthew Tkachuk then added the second for Florida with 46 seconds remaining in the period. With Eetu Luostarinen doubled on the right wing, he laid it off for Tkachuk, who faced no defensive reinforcement and drilled it home.

Reinhart then added a second late in the second period, but it came in unusual fashion. Carter Verhaeghe flipped an unexpected shot toward the net before falling to Aleksander Barkov, who shot and saw it deflect off Reinhart and in.

Reinhart’s hat-trick came with 6:34 on the clock in the third period, as Barkov logged another assist thanks to an empty net.

It became the first playoff hat-trick by a Panthers player in franchise history. But he wasn’t done there.

Just moments later on another empty net, Reinhart got a wrist shot off while falling. Of course, no Panthers player has scored four goals in a playoff game.

Reinhart’s fourth tied the Stanley Cup record for most in a final, last done so by Montreal’s Maurice Richard in 1957.

Edmonton didn’t come away empty-handed, however. It responded shortly after through Vasily Podkolzin, who rounded the keeper off a Jake Walman assist, silencing the crowd for a brief moment.

The Panthers became the 11th franchise to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the expansion era in 1967-68. The last team to do so was the Tampa Bay Lightning, who beat the Dallas Stars in the 2020 final before repeating the following year over the Montreal Canadiens.

This occasion is a bit different, though. While Tampa Bay beat two separate opponents, Florida handed Edmonton consecutive heartbreaks. The last team to suffer such a fate was over 50 years ago, when the Canadiens took down the Boston Bruins twice in 1977 and 1978.

Edmonton still has five Stanley Cups in its trophy cabinet, but it’s been multiple decades since a new addition. The Oilers have won it all in 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1989–90.

The Oilers are also one of the last Canadian teams to lift the Cup, as Canada’s drought is equally as parched. Montreal is the last Canadian franchise to hoist the silverware, having done so over the Los Angeles Kings in 1993.

Florida is among the franchises capitalizing on the U.S. momentum. This win marks the team’s second ever Stanley Cup, so it’s a team relatively new to the major title scene.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also became the first coach in NHL/NFL/NBA/MLB history to win multiple championships after winning none over his first 25 seasons, via Opta Stats. Maurice previously coached the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets before joining Florida in 2022.

The Panthers then reached the final in 2023, but lost to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Safe to say that experience shaped Florida’s future for the better. If they can retain unrestricted free agents Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Bennett, among others, the Panthers may very well be on the hunt for a rare three-peat.

With seven picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, the possibilities are endless for the Philadelphia Flyers. They could use all seven picks, trade up once, trade up twice, or even trade down like they did in 2024.

At the end of the day, though, the Flyers are all about adding talent to their cupboard and building the best team possible, both now and in the future. So, how can they do that?

The 2025 draft is widely regarded as a top-heavy one, with talent beginning to drop off substantially outside the top 10-12 players, depending on what you're looking for.

The Flyers, of course, own the No. 6 pick, and then they're back on the clock with No. 22 a short while later. After those two is Pick 31, which is still subject to change based on the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 22nd and 31st picks are the keys for the Flyers to make any trades, regardless of if they yield players or prospects. For the sake of this exercise, we'll put these two picks to work and discuss which 2025 draft prospects are worth sacrificing the draft capital for from various different draft positions.

Trading up from No. 6

Flyers GM Danny Briere already revealed Tuesday that many teams, including the Flyers themselves, are trying to trade up and climb the draft order. The Flyers also tried to do this last year, and Utah forward Logan Cooley believed they tried to do so to acquire him in the 2022 draft.

Basically, there are no surprises to be had here. The Flyers want the most talented player they can get.

Michael Misa, F,  Saginaw Spirit (OHL) 6-foot-1, 183 pounds

Michael Misa is, by all accounts, the best forward prospect the Flyers could conceivably get their hands on this year.

The 18-year-old speed demon scored 62 goals, 72 assists, and a whopping total of 134 points in 65 games this year, though his three points in four playoff games and -10 rating were less encouraging.

Still, Misa's routes, speed, timing, and all-around offensive package are top notch. Misa always knows where he needs to be, when, and why. He's equal parts shooter and playmaker and would be the Flyers' No. 1 center of the future in league with Matvei Michkov on the top line.

There's no telling if he'll ever be as good as them, but names that come to mind for me are Nathan MacKinnon and Patrick Kane.

The Flyers would have to strike a deal with the San Jose Sharks to acquire the No. 2 pick in order to land Misa.

Anton Frondell, F, Djurgardens IF (SHL) 6-foot-1, 200 pounds

Anton Frondell went from potential No. 1 pick a year ago to a borderline top-10 pick this year, depending on who you ask.

A lack of consistency makes Frondell a massive gamble, as does his mostly meat-and-potatoes play style. The 18-year-old Swede is a bully in the small areas and has a missile of a shot, but he hasn't shown much as a playmaker or a puck transporter.

These holes make him one of the worst trade-up targets for the Flyers, but it's possible the team likes Frondell for the other reasons mentioned above.

It's widely believed that Frondell is in play for teams like the Chicago Blackhawks (3) and Utah Mammoth (4), but how much will it cost the Flyers to move up two or three spots? That is the golden question.

If the hype is real, the Flyers should avoid biting on the bait on this one. They would be better served standing pat and keeping their draft picks in this instance.

Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Briere and the Flyers love Caleb Desnoyers and his family, which includes Flyers prospect and older brother Elliot Desnoyers.

The new Moncton Wildcats captain is always one of, if not the smartest player on the ice at all times, which allows him to constantly deceive and manipulate to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

At 18, Desnoyers is already a U18 World Juniors champion, a QMJHL champion, and Hlinka-Gretzky gold medalist. He's a proven winner, smart, and hard-working - all the hallmarks of the things the Flyers outwardly preach to the public.

Desnoyers may not necessarily be the most talented on the board, but he has such a high floor as an NHLer that the Flyers may be tempted to go up and get their guy. However, they may need to jump up as high as No. 3 to get him.

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA), 5-foot-11, 185 pounds

There has been some momentum to the notion that James Hagens could fall to the Flyers at No. 6, but even if he doesn't, he's good enough to justify moving up in the draft for.

The Boston College ace was once in league with Frondell as a contender for the No. 1 pick, only to be punished for not having as mind-boggling of a season as some other risers in the class.

Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Big Board: Can Philly Afford to Pass On Top Centers?With the NHL Scouting Combine now in the rearview mirror, the Philadelphia Flyers have just over two weeks to make final preparations for the 2025 NHL Draft.

Hagens is one of the best playmakers in the group, and while some are concerned about his size, Hagens already has a pretty average build for a skilled forward. Most guys who are 5-foot-11 and 6-foot and really skilled aren't usually deterred from NHL success by two inches off their height.

The 18-year-old center is already a two-time World Junior winner, claiming gold at the U18 and U20 levels. If they can do something about it, the Flyers would be foolish to willingly pass on Hagens.

Trading up from No. 22

Most of the players the Flyers would trade up for from No. 6, aside from Misa, are examples of playing it safe and just guaranteeing you get the guy you want. But what about after that?

Moving up upwards of 10 spots in the draft can come at a hefty cost, but one the Flyers are apparently willing to pay for the right players.

Victor Eklund, W, Djurgardens IF (SHL) 5-foot-11, 160 pounds

Some of you may be asking, 'Jon, why would the Flyers go after ANOTHER undersized right winger?'

And you are right, in a way. We'll get to that later, but Eklund is really good. Eklund, like Michkov, is much stronger than he looks, and Eklund himself even cited Flyers star Travis Konecny as an inspiration for his play style.

The Swede is a dynamic, unrelenting, buccaneering forward who will be able to do so many different things at the NHL level with the right environment around him.

Eklund and Michkov could form a formidable one-two punch along the flanks for years to come, especially if the No. 6 pick yields a bigger, shoot-first center like Frondell, one of Eklund's linemates.

Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 6-foot-4, 190 pounds

Lynden Lakovic is a supremely skilled left winger, and quite a large one at 6-foot-4.

He needs to add some weight to his wiry frame, but Lakovic is already a gifted skater for his size with superb shooting and passing capabilities to match. If the Flyers are hellbent on adding size and left-shooting wingers to the organization not named Alex Bump or Nikita Grebenkin, Lakovic is their guy.

He'll need to be coached, however, as he's more of a finesse player despite the size advantages. Size is only useful if you know how to use it, and that's something that held a top prospect like Pavel Zacha back, for example, from reaching his full potential in the NHL.

You can't teach size or talent, but you can teach how to play the game, and that's a worthy bet for the Flyers.

Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) 6-foot-6, 210 pounds

The Flyers are almost guaranteed to be considering a defenseman in this range should they trade up, and Radim Mrtka is up there among the best in the class.

Mrtka, at his size, is a dominant physical presence and already a strong play-killer. His offense is okay and there is some potential in there, but Mrtka is more likely to become an elite insulator rather than a dominant two-way force given his tools.

Flyers Mock Draft: Expert Predicts Philly's Best-Case ScenarioThe 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.

The Czech rearguard would be a good add to a small Flyers defense corps, but they already have Travis Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, and Spencer Gill for the present and future.

Mrtka is a really intriguing prospect, but the Flyers can find better ways to use their draft assets than on another right-shot defender with a limited skillset.

Jackson Smith, LHD, Penn State (NCAA), 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

If the Flyers want a defenseman, Jackson Smith, a newly-minted Penn State commit, is going be right in their backyard for the next few years.

Smith is a tall, marauding defenseman who is so slippery and quick for his size. He's capable of creating offense in a flash, though he struggled with (and improved on) his decision-making and turnovers throughout the year.

With some polish around the edges, Smith could conceivably become the heir-apparent to Travis Sanheim and even exceed him as the Flyers' No. 1 defenseman of the future.

Smith is wildly talented, though many seem to believe he could escape the first eight or so picks in the 2025 draft. Beyond that, it's up to the Flyers to pull the trigger.

The Buffalo Sabres are likely to be active on the trade front this summer. And as part of an ongoing series on THN.com's Sabres site, we're examining potential trade partners for Buffalo.

We kicked off the series with a look at the Utah Mammoth, then followed it up by examining the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks. And in today's Sabres file, we're focusing on the Philadelphia Flyers. With that said, let's get down to business.

TEAM: Philadelphia Flyers

CAP SPACE: $18.9 million

FREE AGENTS:  Jakob Pelletier, LW (RFA); Cam York, D (RFA) 

NEEDS: Depth at center; depth on defense; quality starting goaltender; overall depth

SABRES FIT? The Flyers are in the midst of a full roster rebuild, and Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere has been frank and open with the public as he navigates his way through improving the lineup in all areas.

The biggest need for the Flyers is goaltending, as their goals-against average was the NHL's fifth-worst at 3.45 G.A.A. per game. However, proven high-quality goaltending is nearly impossible to find on the free-agent or trade fronts, so Briere will have to take a chance on a mid-tier netminder -- perhaps New Jersey Devils veteran Jake Allen. But he'll have to overpay significantly to convince an experienced hand to join a Flyers team that will still be a longshot to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs next year.

Briere came out Tuesday with an acknowledgement that the Flyers need to improve at center, but he also said that finding a first-or-second-line center in trades or free-agenchy is virtually impossible. That means he's going to have to be patient and creative to address that need.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Vancouver CanucksThe NHL's off-season is more or less at hand, and teams are beginning to make significant trades. And in this new series on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site, we're looking at potential trade partners for the Sabres.

That said, the Sabres may be able to help out Briere in that regard, and in return, the Flyers could help the Sabres improve in one particular area: on defense. 

We're talking about Sabres center Peyton Krebs, and Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Krebs did set new career highs in goals (10) and points (28) this season, but those are rather modest totals for someone drafted 17th-overall in 2019. Krebs currently slots in as Buffalo's fourth-line center, and he could get a much better opportunity with Philadelphia. And he's a low-cost acquisition, earning just $1`.45-million next season, after which time he'll be a restricted free-agent.

The other side of this trade is Ristolainen, who spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Sabres. The big-bodied, physical D-man would instantly make Buffalo harder to play against, and his $5.`1-million salary runs for the next two years, an important factor as the Sabres try to balance out their payroll. If the Sabres deal blueliner Bowen Byram, Ristolainen can improve Buffalo's depth on 'D', and he's a highly-valued right-shot defenseman whose experience and snarl will help the Sabres in many regards.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Colorado AvalancheThe Buffalo Sabres are entering the 2025 off-season as one of the key NHL teams to watch. As they try to re-jig the roster with the goal of ending their 14-year streak with no playoff appearances, the Sabres are highly-motivated to make a splash. But what are they likely to do on the trade front -- and what teams are out there that could be a trade partner? That's the focus of this new series on THN.com's Sabres site. 

Yes, the Sabres would be giving up on the promise of Krebs, a player who, at age 24, still has his best years ahead of him. But you have to give something to get something, and Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams has to change the chemistry and composition of his team. Moving Krebs would free up some opportunities to the Sabres' youngsters, and adding Ristolainen would give Buffalo one of the deeper defense corps in the Atlantic Division.

This move works for both the Flyers and Sabres. Philadelphia gets a young center who could excel given a bigger opportunity. And Buffalo gets a 30-year-old blueliner who is a cost-controlled asset on a very reasonable salary. Ristolainen certainly isn't perfect, but if Byram is dealt, Ristolainen could step in and eat up 20 minutes of ice time per game. The Sabres have to be better defensively, and Ristolainen would be a key competitor on the back end.

Like all the trades we're proposing in this web series, a Ristolainen-for-Krebs deal is compelling for each team.  The Flyers are focused on the future, and the Sabres are focused on the present. Briere would be able to go to Philadelphia fans and show them a young player who could develop into a core component for the long haul, and Adams would be able to go to Sabres fans and show them a capable blueliner who improves Buffalo's toughness and size.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Utah MammothThis is the first file in what will be an ongoing series on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In these files, we're going to identify a number of teams the Sabres could be making a trade with this summer, and we'll be picking out specific players who could be trade targets for Buffalo.

The other alternative for the Flyers is to pursue Byram, and that's something that has been talked about before. But there may have to be more assets in that type of deal than Adams and Briere would have to move than they would in a Krebs/Ristolainen swap.

Still, this proposed trade should be tempting to both Philly and Buffalo. And we'll be watching closely to see if anything comes of it.

 

As the Florida Panthers try and close out the Stanley Cup final Tuesday night and claim their second straight championship, there’s a mountainous task for GM Bill Zito after this week.

The Panthers have only $19 million in salary cap space to spend this summer, with UFA star forwards Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett in need of new contracts and with Florida needing a backup goalie behind Sergei Bobrovsky. That cap space will evaporate very quickly. 

One pending Panthers UFA veteran also needing a contract extension – star defenseman Aaron Ekblad – could be the core component who gets squeezed out has to head elsewhere in free agency.

A simple mathematical evaluation tells you it’s highly unlikely the Panthers can retain Bennett, Marchand and Ekblad. One of the three has to go, or at least two of them have to take massive discounts. And if you look at the moves Zito has made, it’s probable that Ekblad – by no fault of his own – is playing on borrowed time with Florida. 

Zito acquired right-hand D-man Seth Jones this season from the Chicago Blackhawks, which retained $2.5 million of his $9.5-million cap hit. He only carries a $7-million cap hit on the Panthers for the next five years, which makes him a better bargain than Ekblad will turn out to be next year and beyond. 

With defensemen Jones, Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola and Dmitry Kulikov all under contract for next season, the right-handed Ekblad is shaping up to be a luxury the Panthers can no longer afford.

It’s a shame that Ekblad is likely to be the odd man out. The 29-year-old is in his prime, and other than his suspension for violating the terms of the NHL and NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, Ekblad has been a solid player for Florida. He’s logged 732 regular-season games in 11 NHL seasons, and he’s the longest-tenured defenseman in Panthers history. By the time he retires, he’s going to be recognized as an all-time great for Florida.

Unfortunately, all the accolades coming his way likely won’t prevent him from being moved. Ekblad’s current $ 7.5-million salary makes it obvious that he’s going to get (and deserve) a raise this summer, and a raise is too rich for the Panthers.

It’s not like Zito’s afraid of parting ways with Panthers defensemen, either. 

Whether it’s Brandon Montour or MacKenzie Weegar, Zito has demonstrated that he’s very capable of cutting ties with top blueliners for cap reasons or to acquire an upgrade in a trade. It’s that type of cold-blooded approach to salary cap management that’s turned the Panthers into a modern-day powerhouse.

Like every NHL GM, Zito has to balance the needs of the moment with the needs of the long term. The moment Zito acquired Jones to lead the blueline through the 2029-30 season, the clock was ticking on Ekblad’s time in Florida. The Panthers were able to thrive this post-season with two top-end right-handed defensemen, like they did last year with Ekblad and Montour, but that comes at a cost. 

There’s still a chance that Zito decides to sign only one of Marchand or Bennett and finds a way to hang onto Ekblad, but the market for a top defenseman like Ekblad is going to bump his asking price into a strata that’s too expensive for the Panthers to match. 

So whether the Stanley Cup final against the Edmonton Oilers ends on Tuesday or Friday, it may be Ekblad’s final game action with Florida. Time will tell if he makes the most of it.

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As the 2025 off-season continues, many players will be linked to the Vancouver Canucks. Whether through trade or free agency, Vancouver is expected to be busy over the next few weeks as the management group builds a roster that can compete for a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. One familiar face that the Canucks could bring back is forward Vitali Kravtsov, who is reportedly wants to return to the NHL for the 2025-26 season.

According to Hockey News Hub, which covers the KHL, Kravtsov wants to at least attempt an NHL comeback next season. The 25-year-old has spent the last two seasons in the KHL, playing for Traktor Chelyabinsk. While Kravtsov has not been on Vancouver's roster since 2023, the organization still holds his rights, with the Russian forward being a restricted free agent this off-season.

The Canucks acquired Kravtsov from the New York Rangers at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline for a 7th round draft pick in 2026 and William Lockwood. He played 16 games with Vancouver, recording two points while averaging 10:50 of ice time. After the season concluded, Kravtsov signed in the KHL, where he has been for the last two years.

Over the past two seasons, Kravtsov has recorded some impressive numbers for Traktor. He had 92 points in 121 games and finished this season with a league-high plus/minus of +31. Kravtsov also helped his team make the KHL Final this season, before falling to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in 5 games.

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With the Canucks searching for more offence, there is a chance that bringing back Kravtsov is a low-risk, high-reward move. He has good size at 6'2", 187 lbs, and is capable of producing offensively. Kravtsov has also been part of the organization before, meaning that members of Vancouver's management and coaching staff have some experience working with him on a day-to-day basis. 

The big question surrounding Kravtsov is if his game can translate to the NHL. He did struggle during his limited time with the Rangers and Canucks, and in Vancouver, could not find a way to gain the trust of then head coach Rick Tocchet. That being said, he does have more experience at the pro level now, which may have helped his game mature since leaving the NHL. 

In the end, bringing Kravtsov back to the NHL could be a smart move by the Canucks. Vancouver needs more offensive-minded players in their bottom-six, which is exactly what the 25-year-old could bring to the roster. While he may not be able to live up to his ninth-overall draft position, Kravtsov has the potential to provide some value to the Canucks lineup during the 2025-26 season. 

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