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Jake Walman: Do Red Wings Fans Still Care?

Jake Walman (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

All eyes are on Edmonton.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Wednesday June 4th. However, on Tuesday a host of players participated in Media Day.

One of those players was former Detroit Red Wings defender Jake Walman.

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

The Hockey News had the pleasure of participating in the event. I was able to speak to Walman during the event.

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He spoke at length many topics: what it felt like to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid, who he was cheering for last year, Stuart Skinner, a recent interaction with some Oilers fans and more.

Do Red Wings fans want to read more content on Walman? What kind of things are you interested in reading about from the availability?

Caleb Kerney (@CKerneyWriter) on XCaleb Kerney (@CKerneyWriter) on XI spoke to Jake Walman today at the NHL Media Day ahead of Game 1 of the #StanleyCupFinals. Walman said that his mom's uncle is Jake LaMotta. Jake LaMotta is the boxing legend who was portrayed by Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull, a film directed by Martin Scorsese. #LetsGoOilers

Let us know in the comments what you would like to read about. And vote in the poll to let us know your thoughts!

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Josh Hart, former players react to Knicks' Tom Thibodeau firing: 'Forever grateful'

The Knicks' firing of Tom Thibodeau shook the basketball world on Tuesday, and some current and former players joined the conversation around the fourth-winningest coach's ouster.

The most notable current player reaction came from Josh Hart. Hart joined Thibodeau's crew when the Knicks traded for the combo guard/forward in the middle of the 2022-23 season. Once the Thibodeau news was out, Hart took to social media to post a simple message for his coach: "Forever grateful. Thank you."

Under Thibs, Hart had his best seasons as a professional player. In his two-plus seasons in New York, Hart averaged 11.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. This past season saw Hart break the Knicks' franchise record for triple-doubles, and he even recorded the first Knicks postseason triple-double in more than 50 years.

While other current Knicks have yet to comment on the move, there were plenty of other reactions from around the basketball world. Ben Stiller, award-winning actor and die-hard Knicks fan, gave Thibodeau his flowers for making the Knicks "relevant again."

"I am a Tom Thibodeau fan. He brought this team back," he wrote on Tuesday. "I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners again with him. Thank you COACH THIBS."

And then we had former Knicks shocked by the news.

Knicks legend Charles Oakley, who played for New York while Thibodeau was an assistant coach, was being interviewed by News10NBC in Rochester when the news dropped.

"I don't know who is gonna do a better job," Oakley said. "That's sad news, I like Thibs."

After the Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, the organization will now have to find a coach who can do a better job.

Thibodeau went 226-174 in the regular season, and 24-23 in the playoffs in five seasons as the Knicks' head coach.

One former player has thrown their hat into the ring to coach the Knicks. Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, played just one season for the Knicks but has roots in New York as a Queensbridge native. He also excelled at the college level for St. John's en route to being a first-round draft pick in 1999.

Peace broke down his resume and why he believes he's the right man for the Knicks job. Other former NBA players have also shared their preferences.

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Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas ‘living [his] worst nightmare’ as he starts injury rehab

BOSTON — Triston Casas isn’t happy about having to watch the remainder of the Boston Red Sox’s season following season-ending knee surgery. But he’s ready to attack the rehab from his second major injury in two years head on.

Casas spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since having the procedure last month to repair the ruptured left patellar tendon he injured running to first base after hitting a slow ground ball and then falling awkwardly during Boston’s win over Minnesota on May 2. He was carted off the field and taken to a hospital for testing.

He had surgery two days later.

He was still using crutches Tuesday and said he will be off them soon. He will then head to the Red Sox’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, where he’ll spend most of this summer and the offseason undergoing rehab. The 25-year-old plans to be ready in time for opening day next season.

“I’m living my worst nightmare right now to go through a double-digit recovery that’s months long,” Casas said Tuesday. “But going through it now, I feel like I’m going to be better as a consequence of it. It’s just part of the game. It’s part of running hard down the line. Part of just playing the game how you feel like it should be. I wouldn’t have changed anything about it. It’s just a move that I’ve done a thousand times. ... It’s just onward from here, I guess.”

The first baseman batted just .182 with three homers and 11 RBIs prior to the injury, but the biggest void he left is on defense. The Red Sox have explored multiple options to replace him, including initially asking Rafael Devers to learn the position after he was replaced at third by offseason, free-agent acquisition Alex Bregman, and moved to DH.

Since Casas’ injury, Abraham Toro has split time at first along with Romy Gonzalez.

Casas is attacking this latest injury setback just a year removed from missing a large portion of last season with torn cartilage in his rib cage.

“I’d rather be out there helping the team win games,” Casas said. “But considering everything that’s happened I’m in a good headspace. Just focused on making a healthy comeback and progressing every day in whatever fashion it is and trying to fill my time and get better any way that I can.”

He said the recovery timeline he was given has varied in length, but hasn’t been anything over a year.

“As of right now, our goal is opening day next year,” Casas said. “So, I’m going to take it slow. Going to spend the winter in Fort Myers rehabbing and until then just try to stay in a positive mindset. I know there’s a lot of healing that’s done outside of the training table. So I think I’m trying to take it one day at a time, be positive and maintain a good headspace is going to be important as well.”

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Bryce Harper homers in first at-bat in return to Phillies’ lineup after missing five games

TORONTO — With Bryce Harper back in the lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies got off to a booming start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Harper hit one of two Philadelphia home runs in a six-run first inning off right-hander Bowden Francis in Tuesday’s series opener in Toronto.

Harper was back in action after missing five games with a bruised right elbow.

The Phillies went 1-4 without Harper and fell out of first place in the NL East.

Harper followed a two-run home run by Trea Turner with a 394-foot blast, with both homers landing in Philadelphia’s right field bullpen.

It was Harper’s first at-bat since he was hit by a 95 mph fastball from Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider during the first inning of a game last week. The home run was his ninth of the season.

Harper’s elbow, which underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2022 World Series, remains a sensitive area. In light of the injury, Harper wore a protective guard on his right elbow Tuesday.

Alec Bohm had shifted from third base to first base to replace Harper. Edmundo Sosa had taken over at third. Bohm was back at third base against the Blue Jays. He singled and scored in the first.

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Knicks firing head coach Tom Thibodeau

The Knicks' Tom Thibodeau era has come to an end.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports that the Knicks are firing Thibodeau after five seasons as the team's head coach.

Begley previously reported that Thibodeau had been on shaky ground in the past and survived, with team president Leon Rose making the decision to stick with Thibodeau amid past uncertainty. 

Sources tell Begley that Thibodeau will not have a role in the Knicks' front office and will be owed north of $30 million on his extension.

Begley also reports that the Knicks conducted meetings with select players, Thibodeau, and some of his staff this week to assess the season. Knicks owner James Dolan was at the meetings. The ultimate decision on Thibodeau, though, was made by Rose and supported by Dolan.

"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction," Rose said in a statement released by the team. "We can't thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Working with Rose, Thibodeau led the Knicks to a period of sustained regular season success that had eluded the organization, making the playoffs in four of his five seasons. But even with a talented roster that features Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and other key pieces, the Knicks couldn't get over the hump in the playoffs, falling to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals as questions arose about Thibodeau's rotation and substitutions.

Overall, Thibodeau went 226-174 in the regular season, and 24-23 in the playoffs as the Knicks' head coach.

The Knicks now begin a search for the 32nd head coach in franchise history.

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Sabres Can't Afford To Wait For Star-Studded UFA Group Of 2026 — They Need To Spend Their Salary Cap Space Now

Connor McDavid (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

There are some very good players available in NHL free agency this summer.  Toronto Maple Leafs stars Mitch Marner and John Tavares are looming UFAs, as is Vancouver Canucks star winger Brock Boeser. But with that said, let's be honest -- this year's group of free agents isn't particularly deep with high-end talent. And that may result in some teams waiting until the summer of 2026 to spend the bulk of their salary cap space. But the Buffalo Sabres can't afford to be patient and wait until then to improve their lineup. The change for the Sabres has to come right away.

To be sure, it will be tempting for the Sabres to punt the ball down the line and take bigger swings at free agents a year from now. The 2026 class of free agents is much more tantalizing, including superstars Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin. But who's kidding who -- the Sabres aren't going to be a destination for players of that caliber. For various reasons -- the lack of winning paramount among them -- Buffalo will be a distant second (or worse) in the minds of star players and their agents. So pretending that waiting a year will somehow lead to a gold mine of talent is about as disingenuous as it gets.

This is why the Sabres have to get off their wallet and use every dollar available to them this summer. Buffalo currently has $23.2 million in salary cap space, and while some of that will go to restricted free agents J.J. Peterka and Bowen Byram, there will still be more than enough cap space to add more skill and experience to the roster. Whether they acquire that in free agency or trades is immaterial. The bottom line is the status quo in Buffalo is not an option. And skimping on their payroll is only going to fuel the fire of Sabres fans who believe the team will never succeed with its current ownership.

By the time the free-agency race kicks into high gear on July 1, the Sabres have to be aggressive and persistent when it comes to the players they target. Nobody wants to hear excuses about the things that hamstring Buffalo management in making the team better. This rebuilding plan cannot wait another year, or another minute, for that matter. There has to be legitimate progress, right away. 

Maybe that means kicking the tires on someone like Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri. Maybe it means checking on the availability of Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras, or maybe it means pursuing New York Rangers RFA defenseman K'Andre Miller.  We're not suggsting any of those players would welcome a deal to Buffalo. 

But doing nothing? That's bordering on an unforgivable offense. The Sabres aren't going to end their 14-year-playoff-free streak by sitting back and hoping their current cast can get the job done. They need to alter the chemistry and show players that losing will no longer be tolerated. And you don't do that by bringing back the same group of players to try again.

Stars Veteran Forward Would Be Solid Pickup For SabresStars Veteran Forward Would Be Solid Pickup For SabresThe Buffalo Sabres need to be a significantly different team next season. Whether it's via free-agency or trades, the changes to Buffalo's roster have to be extensive. And Mikael Granlund -- a veteran center who revitalized his NHL career with the Dallas Stars this season -- should definitely be a free-agent target for the Sabres.

Sabres fans have been through enough calls for patience. The NHL is a results-driven business, and positive results are the only metric Buffalo supporters will be happy with.

And while throwing money at a problem isn't a guarantee that the problem is going to be addressed, doing something on the cheap isn't a guarantee things will get better, either. And waiting for the class of 2026 isn't an assurance of anything. Many of the aforementioned superstars could sign long-term contract extensions long before then.

It may be a comfort to some to envision a day where the Sabres will be an attractive destination for NHL players. But that day isn't going to be in 2026, and it definitely isn't going to be today. Buffalo has to take the bull by the horns, own where they are in the NHL food chain, and do whatever possible to improve right away. 

Minnesota Wild Youngster Is Going To Be Well-Paid This Summer -- But It Shouldn't Be By The SabresMinnesota Wild Youngster Is Going To Be Well-Paid This Summer -- But It Shouldn't Be By The SabresThe Buffalo Sabres have their own collection of restricted free agent players to deal with this summer -- most notably, defenseman Bowen Byram and left winger J.J. Peterka -- and although the Sabres have more than enough salary cap space to make a splash ($23.2 million, as per Puck Pedia), one looming RFA who is getting a lot of attention of late is one they should absolutely steer clear of.

Any other philosophy will almost assuredly going to lead to more disappointment and more fan anger. And whatever money they save in the short term by not spending to the cap ceiling will be lost in the areas of public relations and customer content.

The Sabres need to spend their money right away, and any argument to the contrary is not going to go over well with those long-suffering Buffalo fans. The team's pocketbook needs to be wide-open, and it needs to be so until further notice.

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Giants still confident in Doval despite blown save in loss to Padres

Giants still confident in Doval despite blown save in loss to Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — In a series of unfortunate events for the Giants, things came crashing down quickly for Camilo Doval in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday night.

San Francisco held a 2-0 lead and was one inning away from securing its first win of the season against the San Diego Padres. But Doval, who replaced a struggling Ryan Walker and reclaimed his role as the Giants’ closer last week, ran into trouble with consecutive walks to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez before giving up the tying hit, a two-run single, to Padres star Manny Machado.

The Giants couldn’t score in the bottom of the ninth or 10th, and the Padres’ lone run in the top of the 10th was enough to secure their seventh straight win against San Francisco.

Doval blew his first save since re-entering the closer role and allowed his first earned runs since April 7 as the Giants collapsed to the Padres 3-2 in extra innings Tuesday at Oracle Park. The blown save erased a great start by Landen Roupp, who pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings and lowered his ERA on the season to 3.18.

Still, the Giants’ confidence in their closer hasn’t wavered.

“Yeah, he just had a little off night with the couple of walks,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said postgame. “Look, we feel great every time he’s in the game. He’s had quite the run. We shut them [the Padres] down for eight innings. They scored two in the ninth. Ball off the end of the bat, it’s a hit, but a good at-bat by Manny.

“But it’s the walks that got him the most.”

Doval’s 20 2/3-inning scoreless streak ended Tuesday, and despite the rough outing, he has a 1.67 ERA across 27 innings this season with seven saves, seven holds and three blown save opportunities.

After being an MLB All-Star in 2023, Doval had a down season in 2024 as he eventually lost the closer role. But aside from a rough patch in early April, Doval has been lights-out for the Giants this year. Roupp doesn’t expect one bad outing to change that.

“Yeah, a bunch,” Roupp said when asked how much confidence he has in Doval. “Things like that are going to happen. Just an unfortunate ending tonight. We want him in the ninth and that’s what’s going to happen.

“I’m just looking forward to seeing him get back out there and continue to throw the ball well.”

After Roupp’s shutout outing, Giants relievers Erik Miller and Tyler Rogers got into some trouble. After the Padres loaded the bases in the seventh, Miller escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam after Arráez grounded out to third. The Padres’ offense was a threat once again in the eighth, but Rogers, too, escaped trouble without allowing a run.

Unfortunately for Doval, he failed to do the same.

Perhaps the blame shouldn’t all fall on Doval.

Outside of Heliot Ramos’ two-run home run in the third inning, the Giants’ offense continued to struggle. One night after being shut out by the Padres and going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, they were 1-for-6 with RISP on Tuesday night. They now are 7-for-63 with RISP over the last 10 games.

It’s easy to point fingers after a tough loss. But in the midst of an up-and-down career with the Giants, Doval has shown flashes of his potential to be one of the most dominant relievers in baseball.

It will just come down to how he responds to Tuesday’s tough outing. After all, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey confirmed last week that the closer role is “fluid” between Doval and Walker.

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Oilers' Trent Frederic Could Be An X-Factor In Stanley Cup Final Vs. Panthers

In any playoff series, the stars will be the stars, and the goaltending duels will be integral to wins and losses. 

However, most series also have an unsung hero or X-factor that needs to step up for a team to win. In Edmonton, that could be Trent Frederic. 

Frederic, who joined the Edmonton Oilers this season at the trade deadline, is no stranger to rough stuff. Against the Florida Panthers – a gritty and rough team that has the edge physically on paper in this series – that might be a critical element Frederic must embrace. 

During Frederic’s time with the Boston Bruins, he attempted to reignite tensions during the NHL season opener by trying to fight Matthew Tkachuk. That moment wasn’t just about early-season fireworks – it was a clear callback to last year’s heated playoff series between the Bruins and Panthers. In that second-round matchup, Florida center Sam Bennettknocked Brad Marchand out of the series, fuelling animosity that hadn’t faded. 

Ironically, Marchand now finds himself as a teammate to Bennett and Tkachuk. But for Frederic, this is a chance to prove he’s willing to light those fireworks again. 

The rugged forward has already made his presence felt this post-season, especially during the Oilers’ hard-fought series against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Frederic dropped the gloves and went slightly viral when he snapped his stick over his own head like it was a twig. He wasn’t an offensive force, but his willingness to stand tall in the face of an aggressive forecheck helped push the Oilers past Vegas. 

Against Florida, he might be ready to raise his impact even higher.

Trent Frederic (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

One incident that highlighted Frederic’s ability to get under opponents’ skin came when Vegas forward Nicolas Roy was ejected after cross-checking Frederic in the face, earning a five-minute major and a game misconduct in overtime. 

That sequence showed how Frederic’s physical play and agitator style can force opponents into costly mistakes – a skill that could become even more valuable in a tightly contested Cup final.

While he hasn’t yet delivered his best offensive performance, with one goal and four points in 16 games, this series against the Panthers might be his opportunity to step up and become an unlikely difference-maker. 

Edmonton needs nastiness and physicality to combat Marchand, Tkachuk and Bennett. 

As for facing his former teammate, Marchand, Frederic said it was a bit weird and didn’t really know how to feel about it. 

“If you asked me 10 months ago, I would have jumped on a grenade for the guy, and now, it’s the complete opposite,” he told NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek on Tuesday. “It’s very weird, but that’s the hockey world.”

Frederic will need to put past friendships aside, forget about former teammates and play a key role, one he was brought in to play. 

The Oilers need him to hit and forecheck. Better yet, they need him to try to intimidate players who aren’t easily intimidated. If he can do that, he becomes an X-factor Florida will have to contend with.

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Examining how Panthers, Oilers stack up for Stanley Cup Final rematch

The excitement is building ahead of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

This year’s championship series offers a rare rematch of season’s epic seven-game series, which pitted the Florida Panthers against the Edmonton Oilers.

Florida won the first three games, convincingly, before dropping the next three, even more convincingly, and eventually emerging victorious in a Game 7 the hockey gods would’ve been proud of.

The Panthers won that seventh game on home ice, which is a luxury they won’t have this time around should the series go the distance again.

That shouldn’t be an issue for these Panthers, however.

Paul Maurice’s crew has been historically good on the road during this postseason, winning eight of the ten games they’ve played outside of Sunrise by a ridiculous goal differential of plus-27.

That’s right, in those ten away games, Florida has scored an eye-popping 48 times while allowing just 21 goals against.

Conversely, they’ve given up the same amount of goals at home, 18, as they have scored, which makes sense when seeing as though they hold just a 5-4 at Amerant Bank Arena.

One thing that many can agree on is that both teams arrive at this year’s Final better than they were a season ago.

Edmonton is averaging a league best 4.06 goals per game this postseason while the Panthers are putting up 3.88.

Defensively, Florida is allowing 2.29 goals per game, lowest of any playoff team, while the Oilers have given up a similarly stingy 2.81.

It’s to no one’s surprise that Edmonton remains one of the best in the business on the power play.

They enter the Final operating at a 30.0% success rate while on the man advantage, which is actually a tick higher than last postseason.

Florida is also executing at a higher rate during this year’s playoffs than they did last year, rising from 18.5% to 23.2% this postseason.

One of the big differences from last June to now is on the penalty kill.

While the Panthers have remained consistently solid on the PK – last playoffs they killed 88.0% of penalties and this year they’re killing 87.9% - it’s the Oilers who have seen a significant drop-off.

Last year they were lights out, allowing only four power play goals during the entire postseason while killing 94.3% of the power plays they faced.

We’ll see if that element comes into play when the series kicks off on Wednesday night.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from Rogers Place in Edmonton.

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Photo caption: Jun 21, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

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WBS Signs Goaltender From Kazakhstan To One-Year AHL Contract

It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins' organization has gotten even deeper at the goaltending position.

On Tuesday, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - signed goaltender Maxim Pavlenko to a one-year AHL contract. 

Pavlenko, 22, represented Kazakhstan at the IIHF World Championship and appeared in seven games, posting an .881 save percentage behind a defense that didn't offer him much support. He has been in Russia's VHL for the past two seasons with Ryazan HC and has earned a .919 save percentage and two shutouts in that span.

The 6-foot-5, 181-pound netminder will join a goaltending prospect pool that is already pretty deep for Pittsburgh, as Joel Blomqvist, Sergei Murashov, and Filip Larsson - in addition to Taylor Gauthier if he re-signs as a restricted free agent - will already be jostling for positioning in WBS barring any major goaltending shakeup at the NHL level.

Will Joel Blomqvist Be On Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Will Joel Blomqvist Be On Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Between injuries and inconsistency, the 2024-25 season was one of ups and downs for Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist. 

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

Photo/Logo Credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

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Oilers And Panthers' Conn Smythe Contenders Ahead Of The Stanley Cup Final

The NHL’s Stanley Cup final starts Wednesday, and players on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are making a strong case for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Whether it’s piling up the points like nobody else, coming in with timely contributions, playing well at both ends of the ice or combining skill with grit, the front-runners for the NHL’s playoff MVP award should give us some entertaining hockey in the final.

Here’s more on the Conn Smythe Trophy contenders for each team.

Florida Panthers’ Conn Smythe Contenders

The Panthers didn’t need a Conn Smythe winner to win the first Cup in franchise history last season, as Oilers superstar Connor McDavid took home the trophy despite losing the final. 

If Florida comes through once again, there are three clear candidates from the Panthers to win the award.

The Panthers’ best all-around player is captain Aleksander Barkov, who was just named the winner of the Frank J. Selke Award as the NHL’s best defensive forward for the second straight season. 

Barkov has six goals and 17 points in 17 games, but his play at both ends of the ice sets him apart from most NHLers. Last year, Barkov posted eight goals and 22 points in 24 playoff games, so he’s essentially on the same point-per-game pace. He deserves all the laurels that come his way.

Another candidate is goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who has a .912 save percentage, 2.11 goals-against average and three shutouts in 17 games. Bobrovsky hasn’t been perfect, but he’s made big saves when needed, including outplaying Frederik Andersen in the Eastern Conference final, and that counts for something. 

However, our pick for the Panthers’ Conn Smythe front-runner is center Sam Bennett. He has 10 goals, including one game-winner, and 16 points in 16 games. That’s already better than the seven goals and 14 points Bennett had for Florida in 19 playoff games last season. Bennett also has four more playoff goals than the next-highest-scoring Panther. 

Bennett’s done it all for Florida, especially his hard-nosed play, which makes him so effective. It’s why he will be one of the most coveted free agents this summer. Bennett has already done enough to be the Conn Smythe winner this year, and an individual honor on top of his second Cup win would be icing on the cake for the 28-year-old.

Connor McDavid and Sergei Bobrovsky (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Edmonton Oilers’ Conn Smythe Contenders

The Oilers have thrived because they’ve gotten terrific contributions from up and down the lineup, including from defenseman Evan Bouchard, the injured Zach Hyman, center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and greybeard left winger Corey Perry. That said, we like three other Oilers as the Conn Smythe winner this year.

Believe it or not, that includes goaltender Stuart Skinner. 

Yes, Skinner has been in the lineup only for 10 playoff games this season and was not good against the Los Angeles Kings. But he came up strong in Edmonton’s Western final win over the Dallas Stars, and another strong performance against the Panthers would improve his .904 SP and 2.53 GAA.

He probably won’t win the Conn Smythe, but Skinner does deserve credit for his turnaround this post-season.

That said, it should be obvious that Edmonton’s most valuable players in this post-season are superstar centers McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. 

McDavid – who posted an incredible 34 assists and 42 points in 25 games last post-season – is currently the Oilers’ top scorer, with 20 assists and 26 points in 16 games. 

McDavid is also far and away the most involved Oilers forward, averaging 23:16 of ice time – nearly a minute-and-a-half more than Draisaitl. The Stars, Kings and Vegas Golden Knights had no answer for McDavid, and he’s intent on imposing his will on the Panthers.

McDavid and Draisaitl are tied for the team lead in game-winning goals, with two apiece. But McDavid looks determined to ensure the Oilers come out of this year’s Cup final in the winner’s circle. 

At 28 years old, he’s in the prime of a Hockey Hall of Fame career, and he’s essentially putting his team on his shoulders and showing a tenaciousness and hunger that Edmonton needs to be able to knock off the Panthers. 

Draisaitl is an all-world player in his own right, but McDavid is our choice for this year’s Conn Smythe – and that goes whether or not the Oilers win the Cup.

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