Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz and Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins among names listed for struggling players yet to produce in Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have seen some exciting moments early on like Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog returning to the lineup after being sidelined for three years or Toronto depth defenceman Simon Benoit finally getting his moment and contributing two overtime winners.

It's been fun to see some players get their day in the sun but for others, this postseason has been one to forget following a slow start. Here are some players that have either been out to slow starts or have done well but aren't being respected at the sportsbooks.

Roope Hintz - Dallas Stars

The 28-year-old Finnish winger has struggled to generate offence early on after recording 28 goals and and 39 assists for 67 points this season. His 0.88 point-per-game average was still very solid and people expected the young centre to play a big role in the Stars' postseason success.

After the first four games of the opening round, Hintz has recorded just one point—a surprising turn considering he came into the series riding a three-game point streak against Colorado and had finished the regular season strong with 12 points in his final 13 games. Points will come eventually for Hintz and I expect his prop bets to become a great value over the final three games.

Ivan Demidov - Montreal Canadiens

This one is more of a player simply being due as the highly-anticipated Russian prospect has now played five career games in the NHL and hasn't gotten on the scoresheet since his debut. His wild first game was fun to watch and I expect another big Demidov game as the Habs have the momentum in the series after a big game three win.

The Capitals have also lost a ton of steam after losing starting goaltender Logan Thompson to what looked like a painful knee injury. They will likely smell blood in the water and play a very tight second game in Montreal. Demidov is seeing more chances after playing just over 15 minutes in game three which was his most time on the ice since his debut. If he gets more ice-time the chances should come.

More NHL: Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have really struggled to find secondary scoring with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl being forced to carry the load. While both star players were out this season, Nugent-Hopkins stepped into a much bigger role as the team's top centre and finished the season strong with ten points over his last 13 games.

He recorded his first point of the series with a goal in a 7-4 game three win and I expect him to build on it as the Oilers will only look to get hotter and climb back into their series with LA. Nugent-Hopkins sees time on the first power play unit, which has been shown to be deadly in the past and could provide a cheap option to get in on scoring from McDavid and Drasaitl for odds at plus money.

More NHL: Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings Round 4 Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Mark Stone - Vegas Golden Knights

It was a breakout year for the Vegas captain, who managed a 1.02 point-per-game average with a career-high 67 points through 66 games. It was a solid campaign from the 32-year-old Winnipeg native but since turning to the postseason, he hasn't found nearly the same success.

Stone is known to be a gamer for Vegas with 64 points through 75 playoff games with the Golden Knights. However, the Minnesota Wild have been shutting down Stone and limiting his chances with just one point through the first four games of the series. I expect a huge bounce back from Stone after finishing second on the team in points during the regular season and will most certainly see points start to come as he plays with lethal forwards in Ivan Barbashev and superstar Jack Eichel.

More NHL: Bolts, Golden Knights Present Last Call For Massive Betting Values

John Carlson - Washington Capitals

A name that many may forget about is Carlson as a solid defenceman that has helped quarterback the Capitals blueline since being drafted back in 2008 with the 27th overall pick. The now 35-year-old defenceman has been a decent source of points throughout his career with 51 points this season and passing the 50-point mark for the seventh time in the last 11 seasons.

When making the playoffs, Carlson has also been one of the highest producing blueliners in the game with 40 points over his last 54 playoff games. He has no points through the Capitals' three games so far and I expect this to change over the next few games.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog grabbed the headlines with a storied goal against the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.

For the first time in nearly three years, Landeskog has scored a goal in the NHL. It took him over 1,000 days to recover from his chronic knee injury that he suffered back in 2020 and lingered for another two years. Furthermore, he has undergone three surgeries since March 2023.

However, he made a dramatic return to the Colorado lineup on Wednesday for Game 3, playing his first game since June 2022. 

Now, in his second game since returning, he has scored his first goal since June 20, 2022. “There were days where I didn’t know if I would ever score again,” Landeskog told reporters after the Avalanche's 4-0 victory over the Stars to tie the series at two games apiece.

“There were days where I didn’t know if I would ever score again”

- Gabe Landeskog

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) April 27, 2025

His goal came in the second period to give the Avs a 3-0 lead. It came off an assist from trade-deadline acquisition Brock Nelson. Nelson recorded his first playoff point as a member of the Avalanche on the play, as he coasted into the offensive zone on the left wing, found Landeskog in the slot, and the Avs captain wired it home. 

🚨 GABRIEL LANDESKOG GOAL! GABRIEL LANDESKOG GOAL! 🚨

His first goal in the NHL since June 20, 2022 puts the @Avalanche up 3-0 in this one! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT (TBS) & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️… pic.twitter.com/w7UBXIWFpM

— NHL (@NHL) April 27, 2025

Landeskog’s teammates were smiling ear-to-ear as they joined him along the boards in celebration. And their excitement for him didn’t wear off after the game.

“There's only one Gabe Landeskog in the world," said Nathan MacKinnon, a longtime teammate and friend of Landeskog’s. "It was more than just a playoff goal... It was a life goal."

Along with teammates, the hockey world acknowledged the incredible comeback story that has unfolded in front of their eyes.

NHL on TNT host Liam McHugh said on X (formerly Twitter), “The best story in sports just keeps getting better. Gabe Landeskog buries his first goal in 1,041 days — and the roof is about to rip off of Ball Arena.”

Landeskog’s goal wasn’t the last time he would make an impact in this contest. He added a secondary assist in the third period, connecting with Nelson again, with defenseman Samuel Girard scoring the fourth and final goal of the game – his first goal of the 2025 playoffs.

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LAS VEGAS -- When the Golden Knights traded for Mark Stone in 2019, general manager Kelly McCrimmon knew the franchise landed much more than one of the most talented 200-foot forwards in the NHL.

"That's when I felt we were moving into the contender category," McCrimmon said one day before the Knights opened their postseason series with the Minnesota Wild.

Sure, the Golden Knights had already shocked the hockey world with an impressive run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. But, to sustain a certain prowess that allows you to navigate through 82 games annually, to be a perennial favorite, they would need a leader.

"That was a tremendous acquisition," McCrimmon continued. "Fantastic player that makes players better. Really adds a lot to your team, to his linemates, the leadership, he's our captain. The emotional energy that he brings to the team, to a game, what that does for a team.

"He's been everything that we would have ever hoped for, and more."

Since his first game as a Golden Knight, Stone ranks No. 1 with 323 points, along with his team-high 91 power-play points.

He also has a franchise-best 23 game-winning goals, while his +86 margin is fourth behind current Knights Brayden McNabb (+102), William Karlsson (+88) and Shea Theodore (+87).

But it's more than numbers when it comes to the captain.

For instance, his leadership and mere presence couldn't have been any clearer than in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win in Minnesota that evened the opening round series, 2-2.

Just 1:48 into the third period, Wild rookie Zeev Buium gouged the blade of his stick into Stone's eyebrow and sent Vegas' leader to his knees. As he emerged, Stone was bleeding profusely, left the ice immediately, and sprinted down the tunnel once it was determined they couldn't stop the blood flow.

Stitched up and ready to skate, Stone returned to the ice later in the period, knowing the importance of his presence in a game that held even more urgency.

"I think what makes Stoney so great at what he does is he's himself every day," team points leader Jack Eichel said. "His character, and I think his values and his ability to relate to people, he never strays from who he is, he's himself. He doesn't change, he's very honest, he's honest with himself, he's honest with us.

"He's a special guy."

GOLDEN STONE

Bloody eye aside, Stone has dealt with his share of injuries since 2022, including two back surgeries and a lacerated spleen. And yet he's still considered by many as one of the league's best two-way wingers. His fierce tenacity that comes from within is the same vibrant energy displayed after he scores a goal.

It's an energy felt by anyone on the ice, the players on the bench, the roughly 18,000 fans inside T-Mobile Arena every home game, and in living rooms across Southern Nevada with fans glued to their television sets.

"His emotions during the games, it's something special," veteran forward Tomas Hertl said. "I think that's why he's such a good captain, probably one of the best in the league. And he shows it on the ice, off the ice, he cares.

"After every loss, he's pissed. After wins, he's super excited. On the ice, if somebody scores, the emotion you see from him is something special. And you don't see that from many guys. And I think his leadership is really good here. I think that's why the locker room works like (it does), everybody having great time. But when it's time to work, everybody (is) ready to go."

And it's shown.

Since Feb. 26, 2019, his first game with Vegas, the franchise ranks fifth in the NHL with 605 regular-season points, one of only seven teams with 600 or more points, spanning 474 games. Though Stone has played in only 340 of those games, it's his presence and captainship that continues to fuel one of the league's most powerful vessels.

In addition, since Stone started wearing a Knights jersey, Vegas has the fourth-most playoff wins (45), ranks third with 3.20 goals per game, and in allowing 2.47 goals per contest.

Most importantly, getting back to McCrimmon's notion, the 32-year-old captained the Knights to a Stanley Cup title in 2023, fulfilling owner Bill Foley's goal of the franchise doing so by its sixth year in the league.

"I've been around a lot of leaders, and he's obviously the best captain that I've played with," Eichel said. "I think he exemplifies what it means to be a leader. He's just such a great guy, too. Somebody enjoy being around.

"Obviously his play on the ice, I think, speaks for itself. But I think what he means to our locker room and the organization goes far beyond that. We're really lucky to have him."

THE ROLE

Stone, the franchise's first and only captain, understands and appreciates the 'C' he wears on his sweater, but said he doesn't overthink the role, knowing how important all the personalities in the room have become as McCrimmon annually constructs the roster.

When the team is experiencing a lull, or certain players might be in scoring droughts, Stone said there's no elixir as a captain to fix things. It's more about providing support and simply being there for a teammate like anyone else in the room might do.

"I don't think I've really done much different than anything that I've done in the five years that I've been the captain," Stone said. "I don't think it's been much. We've had a lot of guys kind of elevate their games in times where we needed it. I haven't really changed anything, to be honest with you, I don't think I've had to."

As the Golden Knights maneuver their way through another postseason, which has come down to a best-of-three series with the Wild, Stone said if there's one thing he's become appreciative of when it comes to learning new things, it's observing his teammates evolve their game by coming into their own and playing to their potential during the grind of an 82-game season.

"Whether it's elevated roles, or maybe you see a guy bring a little more than he has in the past, I think we've had that this season," said Stone, who is signed with the Golden Knights through the 2026-27 season. "I think that's the only thing that I noticed that's a ton different throughout a season, is guys elevate their games, they rise in the lineup I guess you could say. I think that's been mostly the things that I noticed throughout the years. You find different things out about different about people."

And it's those teammates who are elevating their games that give Stone credit for helping them evolve.

"I think it was bound for him to be captain, I think it was an obvious choice," said Brayden McNabb, one of four original Knights on the roster. "He's meant everything to this city, and the team. He's a good friend, great leader, and his play on the ice shows. He's a very smart player. If you have any questions in terms of hockey in your game or anything like that, he's a very smart guy. He sees the game well, and he can analyze the game very well, and he's fun to be around."

Added veteran defenseman Noah Hannifin: "He's just one of those guys that comes to the rink, he does his job hard every single day, leads by example, and when he speaks everybody listens. I think for me, those are usually the most impactful types of leadership. Sets the example for us every day. And obviously, he's a winner. Just a great guy to have in the room, great teammate, we all love him here."

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Finding a good coach can be challenging.

Luckily, the Colorado Avalanche have a Stanley Cup-winning coach in Jared Bednar who has no desire to skip town. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

Other teams aren't so lucky. Currently, there are coaching vacancies available with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks. 

Now, it appears that one of those teams has found their man.

According to a report in the RG publication, Joel Quenneville could be the next head coach of the Ducks. 

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According to this report, Quenneville has been offered the head coach position with the Ducks. However, it's not official as Quenneville is still deciding if he wants the position. 

Other teams have reportedly offered him a position in their organization. 

Quenneville has a history with the Avalanche. He began his NHL coaching career as an assistant with the Quebec Nordiques in 1994. After one year, they moved to Colorado and were renamed the Avalanche. He remained with the team for another two years following the move. 

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He became the head coach of the St. Louis Blues in the 1996-97 season. After eight years there, he moved on to coach the Avalanche. Quenneville spent three seasons (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) with the Avalanche. In two of those three seasons, they lost in the second round of the playoffs. In the middle season, they didn’t make the playoffs.

Joel Quenneville's Coaching Qualifications

Quenneville has 25 years of coaching experience. This, combined with his three Stanley Cups as a head coach, is why he is highly sought after to coach in the NHL (again).

He has a .612 regular season points percentage in 1768 games. Quenneville has a lifetime coaching record of 969-572-77-150. His 969 career wins rank him second all-time in coaching wins, behind only Scotty Bowman.

Time will tell if the one-time Jack Adams trophy-winner will return to the NHL, and if the Ducks will be the team he makes his return with.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a number of defensemen that they have to figure out what to do with ahead of next season. While the team hasn't pulled out of the rebuild yet, more than enough young talent is flooding the NHL and deserving of playing time.

This makes it so the Blackhawks have some tough decisions to make. There is room for seven defensemen on the roster and Chicago has 10 who have played NHL games and can play more as soon as next season.

This list includes Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, Connor Murphy, TJ Brodie, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Louis Crevier.

Three don't have to go, but 1-2 may be on their way out.

The first and most likely on his way out is Brodie. He wasn't utilized in the latter half of the season and his game has fallen off from his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He ended the season with 54 games played, had two goals and 10 points, was a -18, and logged 15:38 per game. The only d-man on the Blackhawks who averaged fewer minutes per game in the NHL this season was Allan, and he's 21 years old and still played 43 games of better hockey than the veteran.

Brodie will have to go via a buyout. As the Blackhawks are a team other teams would look at to take on bad contracts, it doesn't make sense for them to waste an asset moving the final year of the veteran's contract when cap space isn't a concern. Buying Brodie out wouldn't be a difficult thing to do at all. The only other way I can see this going is if the Blackhawks just bury him in the minors, but he'll take up playing time over a young defenseman if they do that.

The Blackhawks can't have zero veterans left on the team with Alec Martinez already announcing his retirement. That should mean there is a good chance Murphy is kept around through at least the first half of the season. He has one year left on his deal and if the Blackhawks were to trade anyone at the deadline next season, it would be him. That would make 23-year-old Vlasic the veteran on defense, but we've seen that kind of look on the back-end with the Buffalo Sabres this season. It's better to play the young players than to have to move them or lose them.

3 Standouts in the Blackhawks' Pipeline Have Already Debuted This SeasonNear the end of January of this year, general manager Kyle Davidson mentioned six prospects playing outside of the NHL/AHL that caught his eye and stood out. This list of talented young players in the Chicago Blackhawks' organization included Nick Lardis, Sacha Boisvert, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Roman Kantserov, and Ryan Greene.

Vlasic, Levshunov, and Rinzel are seemingly untouchable at this time, but I wouldn't say the same for Kaiser, Del Mastro, Allan, and Korchinski. I think Korchinski, being drafted as high as he did and still so young, deserves a much longer look and leash. All four should be safe for now and rotated into the lineup. That leaves Crevier.

He is a RFA, the only one on defense, is 23 years old, and is a former seventh rounder. I don't just write off players drafted that late, but if there is an easiest player to go out of the young bunch, it would be him. The other way to look at it is that the Blackhawks don't have anyone else coming on defense, so Crevier could be brought back and played here and there or used as a depth body.

Tough decisions do have to be made and sometimes the wrong ones are made with so much young talent coming in all at once. You can never be certain who is going to pop off and who is going to fizzle out so early in their pro careers. Fortunately, major decisions don't have to be made for the Blackhawks yet.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.

The Anaheim Ducks parted ways with head coach Greg Cronin on April 19, following his second season behind the Ducks’ bench.

Why Now was the Right Time for the Ducks to Part with Cronin

Just one week later, on April 26, the first sizable news around general manager Pat Verbeek’s coaching search surfaced, a somewhat surprising development considering Verbeek’s statements alluding to casting a wide net and being open to any coach at his media availability following Cronin’s firing.

“It’s much like the way I took the approach last time,” Verbeek said. “The net’s going to be cast wide. I’m not going to really eliminate any options as far as my approach to the next coach.”

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s John Buccigross sent a cryptic post on social media of side-by-side images of controversial (to say the least) three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville and a family of Ducks.

Nearly four hours later, James Murphy of RG Media reported that a “well-connected NHL source” told him the Ducks offered Quenneville their open head coaching job.

“The job is his if he wants it, and I’d be stunned if he doesn’t take it,” Murphy’s source relayed to him. “I’d say it’s 99.999999 percent he becomes the next head coach in Anaheim.”

Roughly an hour and a half later, PHWA President Frank Seravalli from DailyFaceoff.com slightly contradicted Murphy’s report, confirming the Ducks interviewed Quenneville, but stated the team is early in their process.

“Joel Quenneville recently interviewed for the (Ducks) head coaching vacancy,” Seravalli reported on social media. “He is a strong candidate but it’s still early in the process, multiple interviews to come in Anaheim.”

Quenneville (66) sits second on the NHL’s all-time wins list for head coaches with 969. He hasn’t coached a game since Oct. 28, 2021. He resigned from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers following the results of Jenner & Block’s investigation into the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.

The Ducks have stated that they are not going to confirm or deny each report and rumor on candidates.

UPDATE

The IIHF U18 World Championship is underway in Frisco, Texas, the final big on-ice draft event of the season. Making up most of the attendance numbers are NHL coaches, scouts, media, and family members of players.

Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports and Elite Prospects offered an update on the Anaheim coaching search via social media on Saturday.

“Chatter at U18s from some in the NHL coaching circles is that Anaheim has interviewed, but not offered the job to anyone,” Shapiro said.

Elliotte Friedman from SportsNet is one of the NHL's premier insiders. He gave his thoughts on Monday’s rendition of his “32 Thoughts” podcast.

“The way I understand it, he’s definitely a serious candidate there, and we’ll see if he ends up being the guy. But he’s definitely a serious candidate. I don’t think that’s the only team that’s interested in him.

“I think the Ducks are very serious about it from a hockey perspective. You’ve heard Pat Verbeek say that they want to make the playoffs next year, and that’s why I think he’s looking at Quenneville, and Quenneville is a possibility. And I think the two of them met face-to-face last week.

“The bottom line is the Ducks are considering him, and he is a very serious contender for their job.”

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