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Jun 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Former Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 NHL Awards at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

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Oct 15, 2018

Top 100 Goalies Of All Time

48. PEKKA RINNE

Drafted so late that the round doesn’t exist today, he scored one of hockey’s greatest victories for deep-dive scouting

BY RYAN KENNEDY

BORN Nov. 3, 1982, Kempele, Fin.

NHL CAREER 2005-present

TEAMS Nsh

STATS 311-168-66, 2.37 GAA, .919 SP, 51 SO

ALL-STAR 2 (First-1, Second-1)

TROPHIES 1 (Vezina-1)

GIVEN HIS MODEST roots, it’s heartwarming to see goaltender Pekka Rinne as an elder statesman in the NHL, even as he continues to play some of the best hockey of his long career. Not only was he an excellent last line of defense for the most successful Predators team ever – the edition that went to the 2017 Stanley Cup final – but he has also become one of the most veteran Finnish players in the league.

At All-Star Game weekend in Tampa, young Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov stood by himself in the corner of a buzzing hotel lobby while other elite NHLers moved to and fro. Barkov was alone until Rinne, his fellow Finn, came over and chatted up the humble center.

On a more regular basis, Rinne has been a mentor for his Nashville backup, Juuse Saros. While Saros is one of the smallest netminders in the NHL at 5-foot-11, he always liked the 6-foot-5 Rinne’s style and idolized him growing up in Finland. Now, Rinne influences Saros in person.

“He has helped me a lot on and off the ice,” Saros said. “Any question I have, he’s usually got the answer. He even gives me tips on some players if he knows their habits.”

The story of how Rinne was discovered is well-known in NHL circles, but an abridged version is necessary. He was taken in the eighth round of the 2004 draft – a slot that doesn’t even exist in today’s seven-round draft – as a flyer by the Preds thanks to Finnish scout Janne Kekalainen.

Other members of the Preds brass (such as then-assistant GM Ray Shero) had only seen Rinne in warmups, because the youngster played behind Niklas Backstrom for Karpat Oulu and didn’t see the crease often.

Clearly the gamble paid off, as Rinne holds Nashville’s franchise records for wins, shutouts and games by a goalie. And just as Rinne has been a mentor for Saros, Backstrom was a mentor for Rinne.

“I always looked up to him and paid a lot of attention to him in practice,” Rinne said. “The way Niklas carries himself, he’s a super-nice guy, and he was very good to me, very helpful.”

It’s impressive what an incubator those Karpat Oulu teams turned out to be. Backstrom had a stellar career with the Minnesota Wild before returning home, while Jussi Jokinen has played in the NHL for more than a decade.

Mika Pyorala eventually did a year with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, as did Mikko Lehtonen with Nashville.

“We had so much talent back then on those teams,” Rinne said. “A lot of those guys had success either in Europe or here in the NHL, and it’s awesome. I have very special memories from those days, and that being my hometown made it special.”

While his long career is winding down, it’s too early to plan the retirement party. Rinne’s past two seasons have been his strongest since 2010-11, when he was a second-team NHL all-star. Going to the Cup final in 2017 was huge for the veteran, even with all his past individual success.

“Last year, we all as a team gained a lot of confidence, going to the final,” he said. “But also, it’s expectations inside the room. It shows on the ice. We expect to win, and it’s no different for myself. I’ve always believed that it goes hand in hand with the team, just that a goalie (on his own) can never make your team successful, and together we’ve done a great job.”

With his imposing frame and bear-trap reflexes, it’s amazing to think in retrospect that Rinne almost went undiscovered. But Nashville took the risk, and the team’s most important player ever was their reward.

“A lot of people have covered that story, it’s pretty funny how I was drafted,” Rinne said. “Never in my wildest dreams…of course I dreamed about the NHL, but the Finnish League was my main goal. But as you reach certain goals, you set other goals. I’ve been extremely fortunate. If you asked me back then, I never thought I would play this long in the NHL and have the success I’ve had.”

DID YOU KNOW?

RINNE AND MIKA PYORALA have an on-ice connection from their days with Karpat and also share a family bond.

Pyorala married Rinne’s twin sister Anna. The couple has two sons, and when Pyorala’s 2016-17 season with Karpat finished, the whole family came over to watch Rinne in the Stanley Cup final.

While Rinne missed the 2018 Olympics, his brother-in-law was there repping the family, as Pyorala suited up for Finland.

Czech left winger Vojtěch Čihař, who turned 18 in March, was drafted in the second round, 59th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which happened to be in Los Angeles.

With the obvious long-term goal of making the NHL, Čihař is currently contemplating where to play in order to give him the best shot of fulfilling his dream. He has already played 57 regular-season and playoff games with Energie Karlovy Vary in the Czech Extraliga, where he has recorded only 10 points in a rather limited role. Should he stay there and try to earn more ice time in the pros, or should he go overseas to play for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, who selected him in last year’s CHL Import Draft?

Čihař was a member of the Czech team that won a bronze medal at last year’s IIHF World Junior Championship and he recently attended a summer training camp for the national junior team for the upcoming season. There, he spoke at length with Czech media about the Draft and all the considerations that are going into his decision.

The following excerpts come from Martin Voltr’s article at Hokej.cz:

First, can you explain what kind of experience it was to attend the Draft in Los Angeles?
“Well, I have to say that the Draft is unpredictable and everyone has to wait until the moment their name is called. Speaking for myself, as soon as I heard (my name) called by Los Angeles, I was really excited and even a little emotional. I had my family and girlfriend there, which was wonderful too. For me, the main thing was to have the people closest to me there.”

If you had to wait too long, it would probably turn into a bit of an unpleasant situation.
“Yeah, exactly. The whole time, my agent and parents talked about not making any predictions and just waiting for the moment. It was better than thinking about whether I should be taken somewhere higher. At the end of the first round, then at the beginning of the second … I thought to myself that it should go in the second. I was happy that it turned out that way – 59th is decent, in my opinion.”

The decentralized Draft seemed a bit bizarre. Did the fact that you were selected by the host team bring you any special attention?
“I guess so. As soon as I put on that jersey and went to do the various things that come next, I walked through the theater and the workers turned around, congratulated me and welcomed me to the City of Angels. Then I went somewhere to get a bag with things from the team and former Kings players who still work in their organization gave it to me. They also greeted me, people at the hotel recognized me … It was nice.”

Two Czechs Lead Off 2025 CHL Import Draft A pair of 18-year-old Czech forwards were the first two picks of the 2025 CHL Import Draft on Wednesday. They were part of a record 35 Czechs taken overall.

You said you treated the trip to Los Angeles as one big holiday.
“Absolutely! I really went there to enjoy it, thinking that if I was drafted, that would make it even better. We were in Hollywood and also quite close to the sign where we took the picture. We went to Beverly Hills to see the villas there, then we were on the beach in Santa Monica. I quite like the game GTA 5, which takes place in LA, and we also went to the observatory from that game. And then to Malibu Beach. We tried to travel there and of course we couldn’t miss the shops.”

Do you like hot weather and the beach?
“Oh yeah. I don’t really like the crazy heat, but the weather in Los Angeles is just right. The temperature there suits me quite well.”

So maybe one day you’ll enjoy it as an NHL player. How far off would you estimate that is?
“You know … Unfortunately, I don’t really have an answer for that, because it’s just so hard to say. Of course, I’d be happy if it were as soon as possible, but right now I mainly want to move on to the next step. Another year, two … I think that’s how we’ve set it up with the people in LA, so now we’re deciding whether I’ll stay in Karlovy Vary or maybe move somewhere overseas.”

Did they tell you that they would prefer you over there?
“They did say that because they haven’t seen me there yet. They don’t even know that some teams here in the Czech Extraliga have smaller rinks, so they meant it from the perspective of me adapting better there. Now it depends on when and how the Kings and Karlovy Vary reach an agreement. LA has the rights to me there, Vary here. I have to wait, but then the final decision will be up to me.”

Czech Club Disappointed By Adam Novotný’s Decision To Go To OHL Czech winger Adam Novotný, who turns 17 in November, is currently projected by most sources to be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Do you have a personal preference?
“I’m always talking with the Karlovy Vary management about where I would fit in. Of course, I know that if I went to the Canadian juniors, I would get more ice time there. To have that in the Extraliga, I would have to play on the first line, but the competition is extremely demanding for a young player to get those minutes. It depends on what their thoughts are about me. I’ll decide whether to stay or go based on that. It depends on where I would develop more.”

If you weigh your options between the tough competition in the Extraliga and playing among top juniors, where you would be more successful, which do you think would win?
“I think that in terms of offensive development, overseas it would be … I don’t want to say easier, but I would have more opportunities to get chances and develop my offensive abilities. At the same time, I know how it works in the Extraliga, so if I stayed here, it would be almost on the same level as playing in the AHL, for example. If I were given more ice time, which I would have to earn, it would still be a good move to stay here. But if not and LA had other plans for me, then unfortunately there is also the possibility that I would leave.”

Why do you say “unfortunately?” Would it be a bad thing?
“I still haven’t planned to leave the Czech Republic anytime soon, but as far as my development is concerned, I’ll just do what’s best for me. On one hand, I’d be sad to leave, but on the other hand, I’d be excited to move on to somewhere else.”

Photo by Martin Voltr.

Report: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training Camp Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.

The Anaheim Ducks pulled off a nice bit of roster work this week, signing No. 1 goalie Lukas Dostal to a five-year, $32.5-million contract that carries an average annual value of $6.5 million. Dostal’s signing was the latest goalie news in an NHL off-season where teams quickly snapped up most of the available netminders.

For instance, in Philadelphia, the Flyers signed veteran Dan Vladar. In Los Angeles, the Kings signed Anton Forsberg. In San Jose, the Sharks traded for former Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. In New Jersey, the Devils re-signed experienced hand Jake Allen, and in Pittsburgh, the Pens traded for former Vancouver Canucks youngster Arturs Silovs. In Montreal, the Canadiens signed journeyman Kappo Kahkonen, the Panthers traded for former Blue Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov, the Sabres signed Alex Lyon to ostensibly be their third goalie, and of course, Dostal’s former teammate, goalie John Gibson, was dealt from the Ducks to the Detroit Red Wings.

It’s readily apparent, then, that it’s extremely difficult to develop good netminders at the NHL level. And Dostal’s career arc is an instructive example of how teams should be signing and developing their goalies.

At 25 years old, Dostal already has 121 games of regular-season experience. He’s been brought along steadily and methodically, and his individual numbers, despite playing on terrible Ducks teams, have consistently improved.

Here’s what we mean: Dostal’s first extended taste of NHL hockey was in the the 2022-23 season, where he appeared in 19 games and posted a .901 save percentage and 3.78 goals-against average. Then, in 2023-24, Dostal appeared in 44 games, with a .902 SP and 3.33 GAA. And last season, with Gibson frequently out of the lineup with injuries, Dostal emerged as a legitimate No. 1 option when he appeared in 54 games and registered a .903 SP and 3.10 GAA.

Dostal’s evolution into a starter really couldn’t have gone better for Ducks GM Pat Verbeek. Rather than having to overpay on the free-agent market for a goaltender who didn’t come up in Anaheim’s system, the Ducks brought along their own young talent, who eventually pushed out the de facto No. 1 (Gibson) and allowed Verbeek to make a trade of his former No. 1 goalie from a position of strength and leverage. Dostal just naturally took over the starter’s job from Gibson, and that’s exactly what teams want to see from their young goalies.

As of mid-July, most of the free-agent goalies were off the market, and most teams had established who’ll be patrolling their pipes in the fall. There are a couple of options still available – former Maple Leafs and Golden Knights veteran Ilya Samsonov chief among them – but for the most part, the game of musical chairs for goalies has come to an end.

In Anaheim, Dostal has secured a strong payday for himself for the next half-decade, and the Ducks have secured goaltending reliability for that period. In bringing along Dostal slowly but deliberately, Anaheim has done very well in terms of goalie development. And as they make a push for relevance in the near future, the Ducks can rest assured they did things the right way with what is arguably their most important position.

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Grading, evaluating Sharks' offseason heading into upcoming 2025-26 NHL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

How would I grade the Sharks’ offseason?

It appears as if the Sharks don’t have too much left up their sleeve this summer.

“I would say we probably are finished,” GM Mike Grier said last week.

Let’s review each move…overall grade at the end!

William Eklund

The Sharks inked their 22-year-old star winger, who broke out with a career-high 58 points last season, to a three-year, $16.8 million extension ($5.6 million AAV) that kicks 2026-27.

That figure was in line with San Jose Hockey Now’s predictionin early June: “If Eklund and the Sharks discuss three or four-year extensions, over $5 million AAV seems like a realistic possibility.”

So no argument with the not my money anyway.

The Sharks, however, may regret not locking up their budding star to more years…but Eklund is also not a sure thing to develop into a playoff-caliber first-line winger. And from Eklund’s perspective, he’s sick of losing, so I’m sure that he would want to commit long-term to a winning program. 

So it’s couple that’s moving in together, but isn’t sure if they’re ready to get married yet.

Grade: A

John Klingberg

Klingberg, 32, signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Sharks.

If healthy, the 6-foot-2 right-hander should prove to be a bargain. In his prime, he was one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL, and he looked spry during the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup Final run.

But he’s also played just 25 regular-season games over the last two years because of persistent hip troubles.

The Sharks also don’t have a secure safety net to quarterback the top power-play unit after Klingberg. So he better stay healthy.

It’s high-risk, high-reward move, even on a one-year pact. But it also could have the greatest pay-off of any of Grier’s moves this summer.

Grade: B-

Adam Gaudette

The Sharks inked 28-year-old center-winger Gaudette to a two-year, $4 million contract.

Gaudette has had an interesting career track: In 2019-20, he had 33 points in 59 games with the Vancouver Canucks. Last year, he scored a career-high 19 goals with the Ottawa Senators.

In between, however, Gaudette bounced between the NHL and AHL with multiple organizations.

NHL scouts think that he’s a legitimate talent though, so if he’s finally found his consistency, he could prove to be another bargain.

At worst, he should be a usable fourth-liner.

Grade: B+

Philipp Kurashev

Kurashev, 25, signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Sharks.

The 6-foot-0 center-winger is yet another reclamation project: The Chicago Blackhawks declined to qualify him after he scored just 14 points in 51 games last year. In 2023-24, he had a career-high 54 points.

So will the real Kurashev please stand up?

Grade: B

Alex Nedeljkovic

The Sharks traded a 2028 third-rounder to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Nedeljkovic.

On and off the ice, Nedeljkovic should be an excellent complement to star prospect Yaroslav Askarov.

Dealing a third-rounder seems like a high price for your backup goalie, but it was important to find a compatible personality who’s capable of stepping up between the pipes if Askarovfalters, but also has no problem taking a backseat.

Losing a third-rounder hurts, but the Sharks should be able to easily recoup that by the 2028 Draft.

Grade: A-

Dmitry Orlov

Orlov, 33, signed a two-year, $13 million contract ($6.5 million AAV) with the Sharks.

For most of his career, Orlov has been one of the better two-way defensemen in the league and was the No. 2 blueliner for the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals. Orlov, however, had an up-and-down last two seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Like many of the Sharks’ acquisitions this off-season, Orlov will have to find the fountain of the youth, but the 5-foot-11 left-hander is still a quality blueliner, and should be a steadying force for what’s been one of the league’s worst defenses over the last three years.

And if his decline is real, a two-year commitment won’t hurt. Orlov is also regarded as a solid locker room presence, which the young Sharks always need.

Grade: A-

Nick Leddy

The Sharks claimed the 34-year-old blueliner off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. 

In his day, the 6-foot-0 left-hander was also one of the better two-way defenders in the league. Leddy slipped last year, but still retains most of his trademark skating chops.

He’s in the last year of his contract, $4 million AAV. Just two seasons ago, Leddy still provided top-four caliber work, so hopefully he was just banged up last year.

Grade: A

Ryan Reaves

The Sharks acquired the 38-year-old enforcer for Henry Thrun.

On the surface, swapping a 24-year-old defenseman for a limited and older skater — Reaves played 7:48 a night last year — seems like an obvious no-no.

But honestly, both Thrun and Reaves are considered low-value trade assets, and Reaves brings a very particular set of skills to the Sharks that they don’t have.

Thrun is a fork, which the Sharks have plenty of, while Reaves is a meat tenderizer, one of the few around the NHL.

Although Reaves has slowed down on the ice, non-Sharks league sources believe he’s still one of the most feared enforcers in the NHL, will protect San Jose’s many young stars, and will also inject a one-of-a-kind energy into a quiet locker room.

Grade: B

I’d give the Sharks a B- grade this offseason.

Individually, Grier has made a series of good-to-great moves. But collectively, I’m not sure that these moves will take the Sharks out of the cellar.

On one hand, it’s not necessarily Grier’s fault, it’s hard to sell the top free agents on a last-place team. Grier, wisely, also exercised caution with his free agent expenditures, not overextending himself in the middle class of the market — there’s a danger in overspending on free agents and ending up with a better-but-ultimately-mediocre team.

On the other hand, Grier built the team that has finished last in back-to-back seasons. If San Jose is still unattractive to free agents, it’s Grier’s short-term pain for his vision of long-term gain.

The Sharks need to get out of last place sooner than later, and hopefully, this is the group that does it. Right now, that’s very much still in doubt.

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A look back at the intense rivalry and infamous clashes between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche. 

There are storied rivalries in hockey like the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens, the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Lightning, or even the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was one that defined the league as a whole and took many by surpise as it came out nowhere. 

It was a violent war on ice whenever the Red Wings would clash against the Colorado Avalanche as cheapshots and dirty plays would ignite grusome saga. The 1996 Western Conference Finals had left a bitter taste in Detroit’s mouth as the newly competitive Colorado Avalanche eliminated the Red Wings in six games. 

The most notable part of the series is a hit that many Red Wings fans remember as the final game of the series saw forward Kris Draper of the Red Wings get blindsided by a vicious check from Colorado’s Claude Lemieux. Draper’s face required reconstructive surgery and when Lemieux didn't apologize and was suspended for only two games. Detroit knew they were going to have to take things into their own hands when they faced off again.

Red Wings Set To Open 100th Season Versus Montreal CanadiensThe Detroit Red Wings will face off against the Montreal Canadiens in their 2025-26 season opener on October 9th.

 Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

On March 26, 1997, it was clear the Red Wings had a score to settle as the brawls ensued halfway through the first period with Red Wings forward Darren McCarty finding Lemieux and pummeling him near the boards while Lemieux turtled, unable to respond. 

The brawls extended to the goalies as Detroit's Chris Osgood and Colorado's Patrick Roy fought center ice. Brendan Shanahan laid out Roy with a flying check. Igor Larionov and Peter Forsberg got into it. It was pure chaos as the crowd in the Joe Louis Arena erupted.

More than 18 fighting majors were handed out with the Red Wings happy that they got to exact their revenge. Detroit would go on to win the game 6-5 with McCarty scoring the game winner in dramatic fashion. From there, the rivalry only escalated. 

The two teams met in the playoffs five times between 1996 and 2002, including the 2002 Western Conference Final, where Detroit obliterated Colorado in a 7–0 drubbing during Game 7 in which Roy was embarrassed by a glove save where he got up and celebrated thinking he had the puck, only to realize it was in the back of the net. 

During their years of hatred from 1996 and 2002, either the Red Wings or Avalanche won the Cup five times with both side elevating their play solely to beat the other. With loaded rosters including several hall-of-fame players, the rivalry was one of the greatest in hockey history and will always be remembered when the Red Wings and Avalanche face off again.

2025 Red Wings Draft Pick Michal Svrcek Announces Where He's Playing Next Season The 2025 NHL Draft wrapped up in late June, and among the players selected by Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was Slovakian forward Michal Svrcek in the fourth round (119th overall). 

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Not that I blame them, but the Blueshirts talk optimistically about a revival because that's what they're supposed to do but we – feet firmly on the ground – take their "talkin' the talk" with two grains of salt and a glass of Ovaltine.

What matters about Rangers futures is what independent NHL thinkers have to say. One such Wise Man is Joltin' Joe Dionisio, former Newsday columnist. Now running the Hockey Program at Santa Barbara's Ice In Paradise rink, Joe D does not hold back.

"Most of the Rangers' challenges are mental," says Dionisio who points a pinky at  Mike Sullivan. "If the coach can cultivate a better attitude from his players, they'll behave better on the ice.

"If Sully can quell the bad locker-room karma lingering from Trouba, Goodrow and the like, he might well steer his club back on course."

Joe does not wear NHL blinders. He knows all about the Mika Zibanejad "You-can't-trade-me" issues and Iggy Shesterkin's bumpy-slumpy play last season. 

Dr. Dionisio doesn't care if The Mighty Mika has Blue Cross or not, Jultin' Joe has the prescription. 

"Zibanejad was mentally fatigued from his pedestal as whipping boy," Dionisio argues. "The coach needs to play shrink and rebuild Z's confidence. If he can do that, it would be a huge boost.

"As for Shesterkin, Sully has to find a cure – same as for Alexis Lafrenière – for what ails them. I diagnose it as 'Bloated Contract Syndrome.'’

Hustling back to his real job, Joltin' leans on that legendary catcher-philosopher Yogi Berra for a cool thought: "Hockey is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical!"

There is always plenty of excitement among NHL fans when their favorite teams sign a big player in free agency. It is understandable, as they are expected to make a significant impact, and in many cases, they do. 

However, in some cases, there are scenarios where players end up struggling after joining a new team. This was certainly the case with a few of last year’s top free-agent signings. 

Let’s now look at three notable signings from this past summer who underperformed in 2024-25 and also why they could end up turning things around next season.

Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators 

After signing a four-year, $32-million contract with the Nashville Predators last off-season, Steven Stamkos struggled with consistency in his first year with the Central Division club. In 82 games with the Predators, he posted 27 goals, 53 points, and a minus-36 rating. This was after he had 40 goals and 81 points in 79 games during his final year with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023-24.

Stamkos showed flashes of his star form at times with the Predators this past season, but he also had serious offensive struggles. For example, he did not record a point in 13 consecutive games from Jan. 25 to March 2, which is simply unheard of from the future Hall of Famer. He also started the season with just one point in his first eight games. 

Why Stamkos Can Turn Things Around 

While Stamkos’ first season with the Predators did not go as planned, fans certainly should not sleep on the 2008 first-overall pick. He still produced like a legitimate star just back in 2023-24 with Tampa Bay and has been one throughout his NHL career. Thus, the possibility of him turning things around cannot be ruled out. 

Furthermore, this was the first season Stamkos played on a team that was not the Lightning in his 17-year NHL career. As a result, it naturally took him some time to adjust to the Predators’ system, and a bounce-back season could be on the way for him in year No. 2 in Nashville.

Jonathan Marchessault, C, Nashville Predators 

Sticking with Nashville, Jonathan Marchessault also did not necessarily perform up to expectations in 2024-25. After scoring a career-high 42 goals and recording 69 points in 82 games in his final season with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24, he had 21 goals, 56 points, and a minus-29 rating in 78 games this past season with Nashville. 

Like Stamkos, Marchessault had trouble producing at the level expected of him for much of the season. When noting that the 34-year-old winger has a $5.5-million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season, they will be hoping that he has a bounce-back campaign in 2025-26. 

Why Marchessault Can Turn Things Around 

Marchessault may have had his rough moments this past season, but it is hard to believe that he can’t pick his play back up next season. He has shown throughout his career that he can produce like a star, and a clean slate next season could help things on that front. 

Furthermore, the Predators as a whole simply had a bad year in 2024-25. Thus, players like Marchessault and Stamkos could improve their numbers next season if the team around them also gets things back on track. 

Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins 

After signing Elias Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25-million contract this past off-season, the Boston Bruins thought they found their long-term first-line center. However, Lindholm did not reach expectations in his first season in Boston, posting 17 goals, 30 assists and a minus-4 rating in 82 games. 

Lindholm’s struggles this past season led to him being bounced around the lineup, and he even spent time on Boston’s third line. With Lindholm carrying a $7.75-million cap hit, this is not ideal, and the Bruins will be hoping that Lindholm can prove he can be a full-time top-six center for them next season. 

Why Lindholm Can Turn Things Around 

Lindholm’s finish to the season should provide some optimism. After being moved back up to the first line, Lindholm formed strong chemistry with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. In his final seven games of the season, he recorded four goals, five assists, nine points and a plus-11 rating. This is undoubtedly encouraging, and the Bruins will be hoping he can build off it in 2025-26. 

Lindholm also revealed at the end of the season that he had been dealing with a back injury that he suffered during training camp, which negatively impacted him at the start of the campaign. Now that he is healthy, perhaps he can have that big season the Bruins will be hoping for in 2025-26.

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