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Five Of The NHL's Best Defensive Defensemen In 2024-25

Chris Tanev (Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images)

The three finalists for the NHL’s Norris Trophy are more than capable in their own end.

The Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski have developed into fantastic all-around defenseman. But their recognition as the NHL's top defensemen of the year are are centered around their ability to produce offense from the back end.

Makar, Werenski and Hughes finished the regular season as the top three scorers among defensemen in the NHL. The Avalanche, Blue Jackets and Canucks also all heavily outscored their opponents with their star defenseman on the ice at 5-on-5, according to naturalstatrick.com.

Despite that, the NHL’s best defensemen at keeping the puck out of their net sometimes get overlooked and do not receive the praise they deserve. 

Here are five of the NHL’s best defensive defensemen this season. Advanced stats are according to Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise noted.

Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers

Forsling has become more of a household name after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, but his ability to shut down his opponent's top players is evident each night.

In 80 games this season, the 28-year-old scored 11 goals and 31 points, averaging 22:57 of ice time. While his offence from the back end was appreciated, his 89 blocked shots and just 16 penalty minutes are the true indicators of where his value lies for the Panthers. 

Taking a deeper look at his game, it shows how much better the Panthers were with him on the ice. They had a 56.32-percent share of shot attempts, outscored their opponents 66-48 and dominated the high-danger chance share and scoring chance share at 5-on-5 with Forsling on the ice.

Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild

When Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek sustained long-term injuries, the Minnesota Wild went through a difficult stretch of games. What kept them afloat was their ability to keep the puck out of their net, highlighted by Brodin's play.

The 31-year-old Swede played just 50 games this season due to multiple injury absences but blocked 104 shots while averaging 22:57 of ice time. His return to the lineup in late March came at an important time, helping Brock Faber regain his footing and propelling the Wild to the playoffs despite a late push from the Calgary Flames.

At 5-on-5, the Wild outscored and outshot their opponents with Brodin on the ice. Brodin has not received the same appreciation as Kaprizov and Eriksson-Ek, but if you ask the players on the Wild roster, they will tell you how vital he is to their success. 

Why The NHL's Three Norris Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinWhy The NHL's Three Norris Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinThe NHL revealed the three finalists for the Norris Trophy, which goes "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Slavin has been known for his defensive game for quite some time now, but it became undisputed when he put his game on full notice at the 4 Nations Face-Off. 

His skating and tremendous stick work make him so difficult to beat in 1-on-1 situations. He reads the game extremely well, and it's why the Hurricanes held 56.44 percent of the expected goals with Slavin on the ice at 5-on-5.

In 80 games, Slavin blocked 136 shots and took just eight penalty minutes, while also adding six goals and 27 points offensively.

The Hurricanes have an identity of limiting chances against them that they stay true to no matter what, and Slavin personifies it. With Slavin at 5-on-5, the Hurricanes held 57.87 of the Corsi-for share, 56.83 percent of the high-danger chances and 57.38 percent of the scoring chances. 

Chris Tanev, Toronto Maple Leafs

Tanev is by far the oldest player on this list, but at 35 years old, he still managed to block 189 shots in 75 games, ranking sixth in the NHL. Pairing with Jake McCabe, the pair routinely served as the shut-down defenders for Craig Berube, and the Toronto Maple Leafs reaped the benefits.

The Maple Leafs outscored their opponents 55-34 for a goals-for share of 61.80 percent at 5-on-5 when Tanev was on the ice, the fourth-highest among defensemen to play at least 250 minutes. Tanev also limited opponents to 170 high-danger chances despite starting 279 of his shifts in the defensive zone. 

The Maple Leafs put a lot of faith into Tanev that he could continue to play at this level, signing him to a six-year contract. After one season, he showed that he was worth every penny.

NHL Awards Poll: Predicting The Winners Of The Hart, Vezina, Norris And MoreNHL Awards Poll: Predicting The Winners Of The Hart, Vezina, Norris And MoreWhen playoff season rolls around in the NHL, it also signals award season for the league's best players and staff.

Dylan Samberg, Winnipeg Jets

When Samberg was out with a broken foot, the Winnipeg Jets went through their worst stretch of the season. When he returned, they immediately went back to their winning ways, in large part due to how calming a presence the 26-year-old is on the blueline.

Samberg played in 60 games this season, blocking 120 shots and adding six goals and 20 points. His work on the penalty kill was greatly appreciated by the Jets, but his 5-on-5 dominance may have been the more important factor to the Jets’ success.

Listed at 6-foot-4, Samberg moves very well for a player of his size and uses his reach to break up transition and cycle opportunities. The Jets outscored their opponents 57-36 and had the advantage in Corsi, Fenwick, high-danger chances, shots on goal and scoring chances with Samberg on the ice.

He ranked fourth on the Jets in ice time, averaging 21:08, in large part because of the lack of power-play time. He’s developed into a true shutdown defenseman at just 26 years of age.

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Tottenham 3-1 Bodø/Glimt: Europa League semi-final, first leg – as it happened

Spurs produced a (fairly) authoritative performance to earn a two-goal first-leg advantage against Bodø/Glimt

“If any Spurs fans are thinking of heading to north Norway to sample the atmosphere for the second leg (I assume tickets are long gone), I can confirm that the (12-hour) train journey north from Bergen is absolutely stunning, the highlight of an interrail trip to the arctic circle last year,” writes Stuart Jenkinson, as the referee orchestrates the pre-match coin toss. “Every other house/ apartment was sporting a Bodo/glimt flag, as was the local peak, but unfortunately no home games in the short time we were there.”

The players have joined them, and they’re on their way out! One end of the ground is displaying the Spurs club motto by means of holding up black and white plastic sheeting. Flags wave everywhere. One corner is very, very yellow.

Continue reading...
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Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Manchester United: Europa League semi-final, first leg – as it happened

Manchester United have one foot in the final after a commanding display against 10-man Bilbao

3 min: … but nothing comes of it, Ruiz De Galarreta attempting a shot from distance that bounces apologetically through to Onana.

2 min: Bilbao on the front foot quickly. Nico Williams makes good down the left and looks for his brother Inaki at the far stick. Dorgu is forced to turn it behind for the first corner of the game.

Continue reading...
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Diamondbacks place Justin Martinez on 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation

NEW YORK — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed reliever Justin Martinez on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation after after his velocity dipped while he failed to record an out against the New York Mets.

To replace Martinez, the Diamondbacks recalled left-hander José Castillo from Triple-A Reno. Left-handed reliever A.J. Puk (left elbow inflammation) was moved to the 60-day injured list.

Martinez entered with a three-run lead in the ninth inning, but allowed Tyrone Taylor’s homer before walking Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. Ryan Thompson got the final three outs in the 4-3 win.

Martinez’s fastball was clocked between 95 and 96 mph — down a couple of mph from his previous appearances against the Atlanta Braves and down 5 mph from his peak velocity last season.

Martinez, who flew back to Arizona to undergo an MRI, battled right shoulder fatigue during the back half of April.

“It was clear last night, we were all watching the same thing — his stuff was down,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said before the series finale against the Mets. “We’re going to find out what’s going on with his shoulder. He feels strongly there’s nothing wrong, but we felt like, at the very least, we give him a little bit of a blow, get him healthy, get him back to full speed. That’s the most important thing.”

Lovullo said he didn’t know who would step in as the closer for the Diamondbacks. Martinez and Puk have combined for seven of Arizona’s nine saves this season.

“We miss A.J. and we’re going to miss ‘J-Mart’ — but they’re going to heal and they’re going to come back and help us win games,” Lovullo said. “In the meantime, everybody’s going to hold down the fort, keep their seats warm — hold down the fort and help us win baseball games.”

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Things Are Reportedly Getting Close And Trending Toward Mike Sullivan Becoming The Rangers' Coach

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers appear very close to hiring their next head coach. 

According to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today, nothing has been confirmed or announced yet, but it sounds like things are getting close and very much trending toward Mike Sullivan becoming the 38th head coach in franchise history.

Earlier this week, The Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with Sullivan after spending ten seasons with the organization.

The Rangers fired Peter Laviolette following a lackluster 2024-25 season where the Blueshirts missed the playoffs. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury has direct ties to Sullivan and has reportedly been intrigued with hiring the Stanley Cup-winning coach for years. 

Multiple NHL insiders have reported that Drury waited to see if Sullivan would leave the Penguins in 2021 before going ahead and hiring Gerard Gallant. 

Now, Sullivan is available and the stars perfectly align for him to make his way to The Big Apple. 

Since parting ways with the Penguins on Monday, there have been rumblings linking Sullivan to the Rangers and they have only continued to pick up steam. 

It only seems like a matter of time before Sullivan is the Rangers’ head coach. 

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Yankees claim OF Bryan De La Cruz off waivers

The Yankees have added some outfield depth, claiming Bryan De La Cruz off waivers from the Braves on Thursday.

After the claim, the Yanks optioned De La Cruz to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

To make room on the 40-man roster, Giancarlo Stanton was transferred to the 60-day IL.

De La Cruz, 28, hit .191/.240/.213 in 50 plate appearances over 16 games earlier this season for Atlanta.

He is a career .251/.295/.698 hitter in five big league seasons with the Marlins, Pirates, and Braves.

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Sacramento Kings hire Doug Christie as full-time coach following an interim stint

The Sacramento Kings announced they have hired Doug Christie as their full-time head coach following an interim stint that ended with a loss in the play-in tournament.

The Kings announced the hiring in the first major decision made since Scott Perry was hired after the season as general manager. Christie will be formally introduced at a news conference.

“I’ve known Doug a long time and have been impressed with his leadership, presence, and ability to connect deeply with his players,” Perry said in a statement. “He embodies the core values we believe in — toughness, discipline, professionalism, a defensive mindset, and a selfless, team-oriented approach on offense. Our goal is to support him fully and help set the stage for his long-term success. We’re excited to move forward with Doug as our leader.”

Christie took over the Kings after Mike Brown was fired in late December and posted a 27-24 record in his interim stint. Sacramento made it into the play-in tournament as the ninth seed but lost its home game to Dallas.

General manager Monte McNair and the team “mutually parted ways” immediately following that game and Perry was hired as his replacement.

Perry said he wanted to come to a quick resolution on the coaching decision, and he did that by keeping Christie in the role. The two will now try to get the Kings back to the postseason after losing in the play-in tournament the past two seasons.

Christie had previously played for the Kings and served as both an assistant coach and announcer.

“I am deeply humbled to be named head coach of the Sacramento Kings,” he said. “This organization and city have been home for over 20 years. I want to thank the Kings organization and Scott for their support during this process. For me, this opportunity is all about service to the team, the organization, and the city of Sacramento. My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter.”

The Kings have made the playoffs just once in the past 19 seasons, losing in the first round to Golden State in 2023 in Brown’s first season as coach.

Sacramento has the fifth-worst record in the NBA since Vivek Ranadive took over as owner in 2013. The team has had five lead executives and nine head coaches — including interims — in that span.

The Kings hope the new team of Perry and Christie brings needed stability to the franchise. The team has a core in place led by Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Malik Monk.

The team likely won’t have a first-round draft pick; the Kings have a 3.8% chance of moving into the top four in the lottery. Otherwise the pick will go Atlanta as part of a previous deal made for Kevin Huerter.

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Kings make the expected official, name Doug Christie as head coach

This move was expected — and not just when it was reported the sides were close to a deal just days after the Kings' season came to an end. With Doug Christie being a favorite son of Sacramento's ownership and front office, this was expected even before Scott Perry was hired as the new general manager. It was expected from the day he got the job on an interim basis.

Christie is officially the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings, the franchise announced Thursday.

"I am deeply humbled to be named head coach of the Sacramento Kings," Christie said in a statement. "This organization and city have been home for over 20 years. I want to thank the Kings organization and Scott for their support during this process. For me, this opportunity is all about service to the team, the organization, and the city of Sacramento. My family and I couldn't be more excited for this new chapter."

"I've known Doug a long time and have been impressed with his leadership, presence, and ability to connect deeply with his players," Perry said in a statement. "He embodies the core values we believe in — toughness, discipline, professionalism, a defensive mindset, and a selfless, team-oriented approach on offense. Our goal is to support him fully and help set the stage for his long-term success. We're excited to move forward with Doug as our leader."

The Christie hire is a great narrative that will play well with the fan base. Christie was a popular starting two guard in Sacramento in the early 2000s who has been part of the coaching staff through multiple regimes.

Christie was hired as the interim coach mid-season after Mike Brown was fired after a 13-18 start.

Sacramento went 27-24 overall under Christie, 12-15 with a bottom-10 defense after the All-Star break (and after the trade of De'Aaron Fox that brought back Zach LaVine). For the second consecutive year, the Kings advanced to the Play-In Tournament but were eliminated there.

Who is on the roster that Christie will coach next season is the bigger question — Perry needs to provide a clear direction for this franchise. Sacramento has a core of Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and LaVine, but can they win with that group? The Kings had a -3.5 net rating when those three were on the court together last season.

Whatever direction Perry points the team, he is counting on Christie as coach to be a stabilizing influence who can get the most out of this roster and get the Kings back to the playoffs.

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It's time to get a true No. 1 Carolina Panthers WR for fantasy football — and it could be Tetairoa McMillan

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

If you’re piecing together your dynasty fantasy football rosters (or doing some redraft season-long research) after the NFL Draft, you’ve probably noticed the rising buzz around Tetairoa McMillan — otherwise known as "T-Mac"— the talented Arizona receiver who landed with the Carolina Panthers.

If you’re wondering what makes McMillan such an intriguing fit, particularly paired with Bryce Young, this week’s Yahoo Fantasy Forecast episode dropped some illuminating insights.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Let’s break down why Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon and Nate Tice believe the McMillan-Young duo could become fantasy dynamite.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

To start, Tice gushed about McMillan’s pro-readiness as a classic X receiver. The Panthers’ receiver room needed a genuine No. 1 target to stabilize the pecking order. As Harmon put it, McMillan can “bump everybody down to a more comfortable position, both from just a hierarchy, but also where they're going to line up in the receiver room.”

This gives the Panthers much-needed clarity and, more importantly, gives Young a true outside go-to threat. McMillan isn’t just a perimeter guy — he proved repeatedly on film he thrives on dig and in-breaking routes, excelling on “scramble drills” where he stays alive as a target for his QB.

Not all quarterbacks are created equal when it comes to supporting fantasy wideouts, especially rookies. While Young had his ups and downs in his rookie campaign, both Harmon and Tice see tangible reasons why his development points to a McMillan breakout.

Harmon pointed out that even though Young is a smaller QB, he “actually does operate the middle of the field really well,” a trait that matches McMillan’s best attributes. McMillan’s separation, especially on dig routes (where he posted above-average success in charting), lines up with what Young likes to throw, and on those critical, high-reward intermediate targets.

Additionally, Young, like No, 1 pick Cam Ward, is a QB who “likes to scramble, to throw ... he likes to run around and find throws.” McMillan, as noted by both hosts, shines on scramble drills and is adept at finding space when the play structure breaks down. That chemistry could mean big spike weeks for fantasy managers.

What also makes this pairing so tantalizing is the context. As Tice said, McMillan is going to be “the No. 1 receiver there.” There are complementary pieces, but McMillan is the target alpha — and that alone is significant for fantasy. And with a stronger offensive line, and a new staff making sound process moves, the Panthers offense is primed to take a leap. Tice even went so far as to say he sees Carolina being “at least a top-half unit, top-15, top-16 unit” on offense.

Both Harmon and Tice reminded us that not all rookie wideouts pop as instant superstars. We’ve become spoiled by chasing Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase-type breakouts. Even if McMillan’s start is more modest, the talent, role and fit all point toward a bet worth making.

“No matter what…I think he's going to make it in the league,” Tice said. “I don't think that's a bold statement. ... He's going to be the No. 1 receiver there. They have auxiliary options, but I think McMillan's going to hit the ground running.”

Dynasty managers looking for long-term value at the receiver position should be eagerly targeting McMillan — especially if they’ve already invested in or believe in Young’s emerging skillset.

Why? Because their games mesh perfectly: Young’s willingness (and ability) to operate over the middle and trust big receivers on in-breakers, McMillan’s route-running and scramble-drill polish, and the clear WR1 workload on a rising offense.

In short: The McMillan-Young pairing could be the exact kind of early dynasty connection you’ll want to plant your flag on before your league-mates catch up.

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What Dray told Kerr before coach pulled Warriors starters in Game 5

What Dray told Kerr before coach pulled Warriors starters in Game 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Warriors, trailing the Houston Rockets 76-49, walked off the floor at halftime during Game 5 on Wednesday at Toyota Center, coach Steve Kerr posed a question to veteran forward Draymond Green.

“You can feel that it’s a game that is highly unlikely to go our way,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” the day after Golden State’s eventual 131-116 loss. “And Draymond and I know each other so well, I didn’t even have to express the question explicitly. All I said to him was, ‘What do you think?’ And he knew exactly what I meant.

“And he said, ‘5 minutes.’ And I said, ‘I think that makes sense, too.’ “

That’s exactly how long Kerr waited in the third quarter before pulling his starting five of Green, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield off the court, replacing them with reserves Pat Spencer, Gui Santos, Quinten Post, Moses Moody and Kevin Knox II.

By then, the bench still faced a 29-point deficit.

“[Warriors assistant coach] Terry Stotts and I had talked about [pulling the starters] even before halftime started,” Kerr continued. “We debated, do we send them out at all [for the second half], and we agreed it didn’t make sense to pull them out at that point altogether. Let’s give them a chance to make a little push, but we’re not messing around because Game 6 is 48 hours later, and at that point it becomes risk [versus] reward.

“The obvious choice was to get them off the floor.”

Kerr wrestled with the decision to give his starting five a chance to make things interesting against the Rockets, and Green clearly knew that if something special didn’t happen within the first five minutes of the second half, all bets were off. But it actually was the Warriors’ bench that pulled within 11 points of the Rockets at one point in the fourth quarter.

Golden State’s reserve surge forced Houston coach Ime Udoka to put his own starters back in the game with 7:59 remaining, cutting their rest for Game 6 short while the Warriors’ mainstays remained on the bench.

“I thought that was important,” Kerr said of the Warriors’ bench bringing the Rockets’ starting five back into the game. “And to play with that kind of aggression and to force some turnovers and to make them uncomfortable, because the first 30 minutes of that game were entirely too comfortable for Houston. So I loved what our guys did in the fourth quarter.”

Kerr said it was “highly unlikely” that the Warriors’ starters would re-enter the game, because their minds already had turned the page to Game 6 and what they must do to close the first-round NBA playoff series out on Friday at Chase Center.

“My experience has always been, you let the bench ride it out and see if they can get it done.”

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Could We See Some Lineup Changes For The Wild In Game 6?

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild held an optional skate this morning ahead of its Game 6 matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Marcus Foligno was on the ice with just his skates, gloves and his stick shooting pucks before the scratches came on the ice to get some work in. 

Wild head coach John Hynes said that all signs point to Filip Gustavsson starting tonight after leaving Game 5 with an illness. 

Marc-Andre Fleury who came in for the third period and overtime, was on the ice this morning with the scratches so it looks like Gustavsson will start.

Hynes said this morning he has not made and final lineup decisions and will wait and see after the guys got their work in on the ice. 

But the guys on the ice were the normal healthy scratches. Vinnie Hinostroza, Liam Ohgren, Devin Shore, Declan Chisholm and Zeev Buium were on the ice with Fleury. 

So, it looks as if the Wild will be rolling the same lineup for Game 6 as they did in Game 5. The lines could be different but the players look to remain the same. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

Wild Related News

Golden Knights Face Wild For Game 6 Tonight Without Their Top Goal ScorerGolden Knights Face Wild For Game 6 Tonight Without Their Top Goal ScorerST. PAUL, Minn - The Vegas Golden Knights will be without its top goal scorer from the regular season. Head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed this morning that Pavel Dorofeyev will not play tonight.  Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury Sets NHL Playoff Goaltending RecordWild's Marc-Andre Fleury Sets NHL Playoff Goaltending RecordIn a 2-1 game after the second period in Game 5, Marc-Andre Fleury led the Wild on the ice for the third period. 
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Yankees Mailbag: Will Devin Williams get his closer job back?

SNY's Andy Martino is responding to and breaking down answers to Yankees questions from readers. Here's the latest...

Do you think Devin Williams will ever get the closer role back? - @NYsportSufferer

That’s the hope. Part of Aaron Boone’s rationale in removing Williams from the closer role so early in the season was to try to get Williams right before his year became a lost cause. Given Williams’ profound lack of command and exposure to fan vitriol, Boone yanked him from the ninth inning with the goal of getting him right while pitching in other situations.

So far, so good. Williams pitched in two of the Yankees’ three games in Baltimore this week, allowing no hits, walking one and striking out two in a pair of scoreless innings.

There is no rush to restore Williams to the closer role, because the team has so many other pitchers capable of locking down saves. But Williams was one of the best in baseball before his ghastly Yankee April. His resume calls for at least one more extended chance.

Apart from acquiring starting pitching and third base help at the trading deadline, do you anticipate any significant moves from the Yankees? Will they pursue trades for starting pitcher Fedde and a right-handed third baseman like Arenado at the deadline? - @Blaze4551

Ever since spring training, the Yankees’ top trade priority has been a right-handed bat more so than a third baseman per se. The idea is to give Boone a better option than Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza against tough lefty relievers.

The Yankees made a move in that direction on Thursday, though not a trade, by claiming righty-hitting outfielder Bryan De La Cruz off of waivers from Atlanta. The club optioned De La Cruz to Triple-A, but he is now on the 40-man roster and available to possibly be that guy. The team will surely keep looking.

The Yankees also clearly lack starting pitching depth behind the stellar work of Max Fried and Carlos Rodon. The pitchers who seemed the most obvious targets -- San Diego’s Dylan Cease and Michael King and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara -- no longer do. The Padres look like contenders rather than sellers. And as one person connected to the Marlins puts it regarding Alcantara, who is 2-3 with an 8.31 ERA in his return from Tommy John surgery, "Sandy just isn’t the same."

As for Arenado, the next time that the Yankees are interested will be the first time.

I got Soto questions - @Davidq3434

So do a lot of people. But he did just homer while I was writing this.

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The Hockey News Big Show: NHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to not only discuss the closing stages of the first round but some of the other biggest topics in the NHL.

NHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More by The Big ShowNHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Katie Gaus discussed in this episode:

0:47: Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators is Thursday night. Are the Leafs still "fine," or could they blow another series lead again?

3:30: How much pressure is on the Maple Leafs in Game 6, and do you expect any lineup changes? 

6:06: Even if the Maple Leafs do win the series, have they changed your mind about them being a "contender?"

9:30: The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet in the second round. Thoughts on this series? 

13:28: In Game 5 between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, there was a league review for a kicking motion, which gave Vegas time to watch the goal, and when it was determined there was no kick, Vegas challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned. Many online comments suggest that this is ruining hockey. Do you agree?

16:43: Most surprising series so far?

20:11: First-round MVP candidates so far?

22:07: Player that's been the biggest surprise in the first round, for good or bad reasons?

25:19: The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning like crazy, with so many open jobs. Where do we see Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan landing? Could more coaches lose their jobs?

29:15: The NHL’s Hart Trophy finalists are Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck and Nikita Kucherov. Thoughts on no Nathan Mackinnon? Who will win it? 

33:16: Taylor Hall signed a three-year contract extension worth $3.167 million annually. Do we like it? 

34:25: Utah Hockey Club’s YouTube channel briefly showed "@UtahMammoth"  as the handle... sounds like this is it? Yay or nay?

36:58: Who do you want to see win the NHL draft lottery? Who actually wins it?

39:59: Patrik Laine enters the final year of his contract next season. Do the Habs re-sign him over the summer?

Watch the full episode here.  

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

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Mets Mailbag: Is a trade for bullpen help coming?

SNY's Andy Martino is responding to and breaking down answers to Mets questions from readers. Here's the latest...

Andy, do you think the Mets could make any moves to acquire a lefty for the bullpen? If so who would we most likely target? - @SleeperMets

Yes, my understanding is that the Mets are looking to trade for lefty bullpen help after the injuries to A.J. Minter (lat strain) and Danny Young (elbow). Most estimates have Minter out until September. I’ve heard some cautious optimism that it could be August. Young, unfortunately, appears headed for season-ending UCL surgery.

For what it’s worth, Genesis Cabrera looked good in spring training despite a 6.75 ERA, and Jose Butto and Reed Garrett are among the Mets’ righties who do well against lefties.

As far as identifying specific trade targets, let’s not worry about that. It’s not like we’re talking about Tanner Scott. If the Mets are able to swing a deal, it’ll be for Pretty Good Lefty Guy (or Righty Guy With Good Splits). We’ll find out his name when he gets here.

Hi Andy, can you go into details about the Mets pitching lab? What part tech, what part coaching, etc.? Could there be an equivalent hitting lab? What would that look like? Thanks a million - @mets_positive

Even Mets officials roll their eyes when praised for their pitching lab. The reality is, David Stearns and his group of scouts, analysts and player development officials are excellent at finding and developing pitching. But the lab itself is simply industry standard. The Mets were actually behind the curve on that one. There is nothing magical about this lab, and we should all probably stop referring to it. It’s not quite like saying an organization has a weight room or batting cage, but it’s getting there.

And you’re right, they know that the next frontier involves technological advancements in hitting.

New York Mets relief pitcher Dedniel Núñez (72) reacts after recording a save after defeating the Colorado Rockies 7-3 at Citi Field.
New York Mets relief pitcher Dedniel Núñez (72) reacts after recording a save after defeating the Colorado Rockies 7-3 at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

When do we think Dedniel Núñez is coming up? - @nymzach

We received so many (fair and reasonable) questions about Núñez that I addressed it on the pregame show Tuesday evening. Every time the Mets call up a different reliever, fans want to know why it wasn’t Nunez.

Here’s the answer: The Mets are in the middle of a stretch of 13 games without an off day. During that stretch, they have needed and will again likely need spot starters and bulk guys like Brandon Waddell on Tuesday. When Núñez arrives, he’ll be here to stay, probably very soon. The team just needs to get through a period in which near-daily optionality is the focus.

Núñez has walked seven batters in nine innings for Triple-A Syracuse, but this is actually not a concern. The team mostly attributes that to cold weather and is happy with how Núñez is throwing.

What do we do about Ryne Stanek? And Brandon Waddell should stay on the roster especially with the news of Minter and Danny Young circulating this week. - @MichaelDeitch33

Stanek actually looks to be throwing the ball pretty well. And hard as ever. Not worried. Waddell was always going to be an optionable spot starter/bulk guy for now, as explained as part of the above Núñez answer.

Who put the bomp in the bomp shu bomp sha bomp? - @GoatsofMuhammad

I don’t know who was that man. But I can tell you that I would like to shake his hand.