Who's feeling the heat? Below is a list of 10 people under supreme pressure ahead of the 2025-26 ...

Who's feeling the heat? Below is a list of 10 people under supreme pressure ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. It consists of five players, two head coaches, two general managers, and one franchise owner, presented in alphabetical order.<h3>Kevyn Adams</h3>The margin of error is razor-thin for the Sabres and GM Kevyn Adams.Tensions are high in Buffalo as the club tries to snap an NHL-record playoff drought of 14 years. A deep Atlantic Division makes for a crowded path to the postseason. In other words, this could go off the rails quickly for Adams, who's become the main punching bag for a smart, (rightfully) fed up fan base.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Adams recently traded young core pieces Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka for Josh Norris, Josh Doan, Michael Kesselring, and Jacob Bernard-Docker, who was then replaced by free agent Conor Timmins. Those moves will elicit elation or another round of face-palming in the coming months. It feels like there's no middle ground for a franchise that's finished 31st, 24th, tied for 19th, 22nd, and 26th during Adams' five years in charge.Other important business: The futures of first-line winger Alex Tuch (pending unrestricted free agent) and top-four blue-liner Bowen Byram (trade rumors).<h3>Rasmus Andersson</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/cropped_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leah Hennel / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Andersson's intentions of leaving Calgary are out in the open, and fresh takes on his future seem to hit the rumor mill every other week. It can't be easy for him to fully concentrate while on the ice."The thing that bothers you is fake information that comes out," the 28-year-old Flames defenseman <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/rasmus-andersson-flames-can-co-exist-just-fine-in-contract-year/">told reporters</a> last Tuesday."I saw some reports that I would only sign with one team (Vegas) and this and that. I mean, it couldn't be further from the truth. Me and (Calgary GM Craig Conroy) have had a few conversations over the summer, and I would never handcuff him and give him one team."So, how does the pending UFA start the season? Will Andersson boost his trade value by doing his usual thing - eating minutes and pucks while pitching in offensively in a prominent role on the right side of Calgary's back end? How will he factor into the Swedish national team as it works to solidify an Olympic roster that will rely heavily on D-men performance?Andersson's $4.55-million cap hit won't be overly difficult for a Stanley Cup contender to absorb. The Golden Knights are an obvious fit as a super aggressive team with a gaping hole at RHD now that Alex Pietrangelo is out long term.<h3>Andrew Brunette</h3>Brunette's seat might be the hottest among all 32 head coaches.The Predators were a disaster last season, collecting only 68 points after being crowned winner of the 2024 offseason for reeling in free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The offensive attack, a supposed strong suit under Brunette, slumped from 10th in goals scored to 31st and dropped from 12th in expected goals generated to 20th (per Sportlogiq).Brunette, a former Preds player who's entering his third season as bench boss, doesn't deserve all the blame. Management hasn't exactly assembled a Cup-contending roster, and virtually every player on the 2024-25 squad - including star goalie Juuse Saros - had a down year. It's certainly possible, arguably probable, that the pendulum swings in a positive direction in Nashville.If it doesn't, surely GM Barry Trotz will strongly consider a coaching change.<h3>Connor Hellebuyck</h3>The numbers are damning. Hellebuyck, one of the greatest goalies of his generation, is rocking a .918 save percentage through 568 regular-season games. He won the Hart and Vezina trophies last year after posting a .925 during a season in which the league average settled way down at .900. But the longtime Jet's SV% plummets when his team needs him most (.903 in 58 career playoff games, including an ugly .866 mark across 13 games versus St. Louis and Dallas this spring).Hellebuyck tried to adjust on the fly during the 2025 playoffs, and it backfired."I thought maybe I could add something here, tweak something there. That's typical stuff you do during the regular season too," he said during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. "But once I did that, I didn't like it. I didn't like the look of the game. I thought I was out of what makes me, me."The upcoming campaign could offer Hellebuyck playoff redemption - or provide another bit of evidence suggesting he simply can't perform under the bright lights. Along with his heavy workload in Winnipeg, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck is the presumptive starting goalie for Team USA at the Olympics, though Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Thatcher Demko are capable of stealing the job.<h3>Craig Leipold </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/cropped_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w220xh124_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w320xh180_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w640xh360_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w768xh432_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Leipold, the billionaire owner of the Wild, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3337621" href="https://thescore.com/news/3337621">said</a> in early September that the club and superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov were "not that far off" with regards to hammering out a contract extension. A week later, NHL insider Frank Seravalli <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342420" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342420">reported</a> that Kaprizov turned down what would've been the richest contract in league history ($128 million over eight seasons).Oh ... OK then.Owners typically aren't directly involved in negotiations, but this is an atypical situation. Leipold's influence looms large because Kaprizov, the best player to ever don a Wild uniform, is clearly testing the team's commitment level. Either the financial stakes will raise enough to sell the Russian on staying or Leipold and GM Bill Guerin pivot. If Kaprizov is intent on testing free agency, the Wild can try to trade him midseason (his current deal includes a no-move clause). They could also keep him and treat 2025-26 as a "last dance" of sorts.The Wild's middling existence complicates the issue. Having missed the playoffs or lost in Round 1 each of the past 10 seasons, they need more game-breaking talents like Kaprizov, not fewer, to truly challenge for a Cup.<h3>Mitch Marner</h3>Without proper context, Marner shouldn't be on this list.With it, he's a no-brainer.The 28-year-old playmaker is coming off a career-high 102 points as well as a strong showing for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He's starting an eight-year, $96-million contract after Vegas acquired him in a June sign-and-trade with Toronto. Marner is no longer at the center of a hockey-mad market or angling for a massive long-term deal.But - and this is a significant but - Marner still needs to slay some demons. Regardless of market size or intensity, the dazzling winger must finally elevate his game late in playoff series. The pressure's on until he breaks through.<h3>Auston Matthews</h3>Matthews' shine has worn off over the past 12 months, with multiple injuries limiting him to 67 games (and 33 goals) in 2024-25 and the Leafs again failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs. Toronto has tallied just two series wins in the captain's nine seasons with the team.If you asked players, coaches, managers, media members, and fans to list the NHL's top five players, Matthews would be left off many ballots despite scoring 69 goals two years ago. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3333617" href="https://thescore.com/news/3333617">As I wrote last week</a>, he's somehow become underrated.Three questions linger: Can Matthews, who's believed to be fully healthy ahead of his 10th NHL season, return to his dominant two-way form in the regular season - without Marner by his side? What impact will No. 34 have on the Olympics as a top-six center on a stacked Team USA? Can Matthews and William Nylander carry Toronto to its first deep playoff run?<h3>Elias Pettersson</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/cropped_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Derek Cain / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Pettersson doesn't need to come out of the gate flying. He doesn't have to outproduce ex-teammate J.T. Miller - now in New York after a fallout between the two - or set a new personal best in goals or points. He just needs to show early progress, look like himself again, and ride that momentum.Bounce back - that's all.It sounds like a small ask for a $11.6-million player. And, hey, maybe it is. But being a solid top-line center would be a nice first step toward removing the target from his back in the Vancouver market and beyond. Pettersson is currently a wildly overpaid second-liner, having accumulated 59 points in 84 games since signing an extension in March 2024. Yes, he's a high-end defensive player; however, at that cap hit, he needs to also lead the attack.Quinn Hughes sees a rebound coming: "He's a competitive guy," the Canucks captain said recently. "I don't think he gets that stature (as a highly paid NHLer) without having some intangibles inside you. I've seen it before."<h3>Joel Quenneville</h3>Quenneville last coached in October 2021, resigning from his coaching job with the Panthers in the wake of the Blackhawks' sexual abuse case. The NHL determined Quenneville and other staffers <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2934557/nhl-reinstates-bowman-quenneville-after-ban-for-their-role-in-blackhawks-assault-scandal">inadequately responded</a> in 2010 to allegations that player Kyle Beach had been assaulted by Chicago's video coach, who reported directly to Quenneville.Reinstated by the league in July 2024, Quenneville was hired in May to run the Ducks' bench. Similar to Mike Babcock's return to the NHL in 2023, Quenneville's behavior will be under the microscope, especially in the early going. On a more practical, coaching-specific level, it's fair to wonder if the sport has passed him by. He's 67 and hasn't worked at all the past four years.That said, Quenneville - a Jack Adams Award winner and three-time Cup champion - has inherited a team on the rise. Anaheim jumped from 59 points in 2023-24 to 80 last season. Its core has a ton of untapped potential. Plus, management has slowly but surely filled out the roster with useful veterans.<h3>Steve Yzerman</h3>Armed with the so-called Yzerplan for rebuilding an Original Six franchise, Yzerman is about to embark upon Season 7 as the Red Wings' GM.Detroit has yet to make the playoffs, and it's a coin flip if the skid ends at nine years given the competition for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Yzerman's job should be hanging in the balance, but then again, he's a franchise icon who's ostensibly mastered the art of tempering expectations.Detroit's forward group is roughly NHL average. Its blue line is one gigantic question mark beyond cornerstones Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Goaltending's been upgraded through the John Gibson acquisition. Todd McLellan, meanwhile, can flex his coaching muscles in his first full season.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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10 people under the most pressure entering the 2025-26 NHL season

LAS VEGAS - Jack Eichel insists he's consumed by the day-to-day existence of an NHL star, single-...

LAS VEGAS - Jack Eichel insists he's consumed by the day-to-day existence of an NHL star, single-mindedly focused on preparing for his 11th season.At the same time, the Golden Knights center says he's the type of person who doesn't need to push aside potential distractions as the season ramps up. Eichel, a pending unrestricted free agent, would in fact love to sign a contract extension with Vegas and has no issues with negotiating during the season."I just try to focus on the things that are in my control. If a contract happens organically, then it happens," Eichel said Tuesday at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour, one week away from the start of Golden Knights training camp.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Eichel, 28, is entering Season 8 of the eight-year, $80-million deal he signed with the Sabres in 2017. One legitimate possibility: a long-term extension with Vegas (perhaps committing to the maximum eight years again), with an average annual value in the neighborhood of $13 million.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800825/cropped_GettyImages-1386568566.jpg?ts=1757552754" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800825/w220xh124_GettyImages-1386568566.jpg?ts=1757552754 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800825/w320xh180_GettyImages-1386568566.jpg?ts=1757552754 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800825/w640xh360_GettyImages-1386568566.jpg?ts=1757552754 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800825/w768xh432_GettyImages-1386568566.jpg?ts=1757552754 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800825/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1386568566.jpg?ts=1757552754 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ethan Miller / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Eichel re-upping with the Golden Knights would be a significant blow to the 2026 UFA class, though it's got no shortage of star power. Connor McDavid is <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3336902" href="https://thescore.com/news/3336902">the whopper</a>, while Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin, and Adrian Kempe headline an exceptionally strong second tier of potential UFA forwards. How many of them actually make it to market remains to be seen.Kempe, who's spent his entire nine-year career in Los Angeles, hopes he and the Kings' front office can find common ground on a deal "that's fair for me and for the team." The electrifying shoot-first winger predicts talks will pick up in the "next weeks or months" and hinted he'd prefer something long term."It's tough for me because this is probably the biggest contract of my career. Probably the last contract, hopefully, of my career," the 29-year-old said.Kempe added, "I don't want to rush anything. I feel like we're not in a rush on my part. I feel like the team is not in a rush."<h3>Barzal may 'never feel back to 100%'</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800827/cropped_GettyImages-2193614804.jpg?ts=1757554086" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800827/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193614804.jpg?ts=1757554086 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800827/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193614804.jpg?ts=1757554086 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800827/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193614804.jpg?ts=1757554086 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800827/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193614804.jpg?ts=1757554086 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800827/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193614804.jpg?ts=1757554086 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Stobe / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Mathew Barzal was penciled in by many as a potential future Olympian as recently as a couple of years ago. Making Team Canada isn't even on the center's radar right now thanks to a long, patience-zapping rehab process."My mindset is a little bit shifted from that and more so (aimed at) just trying to get back to the player I know I can be," said Barzal, who was limited to 30 games in 2024-25 after blocking a shot off his kneecap in early February.In one breath, Barzal notes he'd be healthy enough to be in the Islanders' lineup if the season started this week. In the next, he laments the lingering physical effects of the injury and the associated mental and emotional grind."An injury like this, you'll potentially never feel back to 100%. Mentally, I'm at a point now where it doesn't really matter," he said, later adding: "I've got six years left on my contract and I'm just fully committed to doing everything I can to be the best player I can be."<h3>Hughes wants bro on Devils' PP1</h3>Jack Hughes <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342391" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342391">raised eyebrows</a> this week by publicly admitting he wants to play with big brother and Canucks defenseman Quinn one day. The Devils star of course already plays with the third Hughes, and it turns out Jack believes little bro Luke deserves a full-time spot on New Jersey's top power play unit."Hopefully Luke can come in and just be on power play one from Day 1," Jack said of the currently unsigned 22-year-old blue-liner. "I think that's so important for him. He's got so much upside, and when we do give him (high-leverage minutes) that all the other No. 1 D-men get, we get great return."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800832/cropped_GettyImages-2191219720.jpg?ts=1757556950" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800832/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191219720.jpg?ts=1757556950 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800832/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191219720.jpg?ts=1757556950 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800832/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191219720.jpg?ts=1757556950 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800832/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191219720.jpg?ts=1757556950 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800832/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191219720.jpg?ts=1757556950 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Luke Hales / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Veteran Dougie Hamilton led all Devils defensemen in power play ice time last season with 180 minutes over 62 games. Luke, then in his second full NHL campaign, finished with 115 minutes over 69 games. Overall, the club scored 10.6 goals per 60 minutes to rank third in the NHL in power-play efficiency.Featuring Luke more prominently on PP1 versus PP2 would be "a start," Jack said. "Then the rest of the game he'll take care of himself. He's a great skater. He's a really good defender too. I think he can be a true No. 1 for us."<h3>Ditch shootout for extended OT?</h3>The NHL introduced the shootout in 2005-06. Has it run its course? Linus Ullmark thinks so. The Senators goalie would like to see the shootout ditched for five additional minutes of overtime action - like at the 4 Nations Face-Off.Ullmark, who ironically sits <a href="https://records.nhl.com/records/goaltender-records/shootouts/best-shootout-save-percentage-career">sixth all time</a> in shootout save percentage, likes the idea of all games being decided by action that at the very least resembles regular hockey. He has a love-hate relationship with the breakaway challenge."When you go out there and you actually manage to save all three (attempts) and you win in the shootout, you feel like the best guy," the affable Swede said with a smile. "You have a rush and you're so happy with it because you know the game is on the line and it's just you and the shooter."On the flip side, the goalie often gets blamed for shootout losses, which sucks, "plain and simple." It's even worse when the netminder is unbeatable in regulation and overtime action. As Ullmark puts it, if the opposition solves you in the shootout, all of a sudden, "You feel like you're the worst goalie ever."<h3>Makar's clever D-man award idea</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800836/cropped_GettyImages-2211040739.jpg?ts=1757559368" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800836/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211040739.jpg?ts=1757559368 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800836/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211040739.jpg?ts=1757559368 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800836/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211040739.jpg?ts=1757559368 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800836/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211040739.jpg?ts=1757559368 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800836/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211040739.jpg?ts=1757559368 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Martin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>There's only one award dedicated to defensemen: the Norris Trophy, which is "presented to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in the position during the regular season." Some Norris winners aren't particularly strong all-around D-men, just the year's top point-getter at the position.Fans and media have long wondered if creating an award for the best defensive defenseman would be an effective way to reward blue-liners who dominate in less glamorous ways. Hold on, 2022 and 2025 Norris winner Cale Makar may have a better idea: Why not establish the Bobby Orr Award for most points?Makar's rationale is simple. In theory, it sounds nice to introduce a defensive defenseman award, but in practice, "It's always hard to quantify what that means." Hockey statistics, while vastly improved over the past decade, don't capture the essence of defensive play well. So, keep the Norris as is ("greatest all-around" D-man) and add the Orr as the defenseman's equivalent of the Art Ross."I might get roasted on that, but that's my take on it," Makar said.Hey, it's actually a pretty clever idea.<h3>Ovi's bullet, Cats three-peat, Jarvis chirps</h3>Ovi's bullet: Dustin Wolf of the Flames is one of 184 goalies to dig a puck out of the net thanks to Alex Ovechkin. His two goals against Wolf came in the 10th game of his young career. The first was an inner-slot deflection, the second a gorgeous one-timer from the sniper's so-called office. "You don't understand what it looks like until you stand behind it," Wolf said of Ovechkin's legendary shot. "It comes off like a saucer disc. The puck's flat. There's no wobble to it. You pray you're in a good spot and it hits you. There's a reason why he has almost 900." Ovi, who turns 40 next week, will start the season at 897 goals.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800841/cropped_GettyImages-2211163434.jpg?ts=1757565527" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800841/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211163434.jpg?ts=1757565527 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800841/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211163434.jpg?ts=1757565527 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800841/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211163434.jpg?ts=1757565527 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800841/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211163434.jpg?ts=1757565527 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800841/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211163434.jpg?ts=1757565527 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Carlson / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Cats three-peat: Reporters from various national media outlets, including theScore, interviewed players in a small room at the Waldorf Astoria hotel for three days this week. Division rivals Sam Reinhart and Victor Hedman visited back-to-back on Monday. The first thing out of the Lightning captain's mouth as he walked in? "No! They're not going to win three in row!" It was a playful jab. Everybody laughed. But there was some weight to Hedman's remark: The Panthers are very much the kings of the NHL following two straight Stanley Cups, and rivals are extremely motivated to squash their three-peat dreams.Jarvis chirps: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is arguably the funniest dude in the league. He's cheerful, childlike, and self-deprecating. He comes off as someone who would excel in the dark arts of in-game chirping. The truth is, he gets tongue-tied at ice level. "I have such an appreciation for (elite chirpers). I'm not quick enough," Jarvis said. "When someone says something to me, I just can't snap back at them right away. I need like four to five business days to come back with something. It's usually a little late." See, this guy is funny!<h3>Updates from deputy commissioner</h3>Deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly fielded questions from reporters Tuesday on a variety of league-related topics. Here are three tidbits worth sharing:<ul><li>The investigation into the Oilers' use of LTIR relating to forward Evander Kane is officially closed. Kane missed the entire regular season due to multiple injuries before returning to the lineup for the second game of the playoffs. The league found no wrongdoing, so neither Edmonton nor Kane will face punishment.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>A decision on the status of the five former Hockey Canada players acquitted at trial in a high-profile sexual assault case is expected "at some point in the relatively near future," Daly said. Former NHLers Michael McLeod, Callan Foote, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Alex Formenton are all currently ineligible to sign an NHL contract.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>The NHL pivoted to a decentralized draft this past June and, at the urging of its teams, will keep the format for the 2026 event despite widespread criticism of 2025's slow, cringeworthy Round 1. The league will make "significant changes" to the TV product. "It's not going to be a four-and-a-half-hour first round," Daly said.</li></ul>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Eichel ready to re-sign, Makar's award idea, and 9 other NHL items

LAS VEGAS - Nick Suzuki, fueled by both the international opportunity and a chance to play meanin...

LAS VEGAS - Nick Suzuki, fueled by both the international opportunity and a chance to play meaningful games at the Bell Centre in Montreal, made his case last September for a spot on Canada's entry in the 4 Nations Face-Off."I want to be on that team. I've thought about it a lot," said Suzuki, the Montreal Canadiens' captain, at the 2024 NHL/NHLPA player media tour. "I'm a player who can be put in any situation. I can play fourth line. I can shut other guys down."Spoiler alert: Suzuki wasn't named to Canada, the eventual 4 Nations champion. He instead spent part of the February break in the NHL schedule looking at houses to purchase in his hometown of London, Ontario. He tried to relax but couldn't look away from the 4 Nations spectacle. Then, when NHL action resumed, Suzuki went on a tear, racking up 37 points in 26 games while leading the Canadiens to the postseason for the first time since 2021.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I definitely came back from that break wanting to prove what I could do," Suzuki said Monday during his return to the annual media tour in Vegas.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800638/cropped_GettyImages-2208172144.jpg?ts=1757394880" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800638/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208172144.jpg?ts=1757394880 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800638/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208172144.jpg?ts=1757394880 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800638/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208172144.jpg?ts=1757394880 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800638/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208172144.jpg?ts=1757394880 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800638/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208172144.jpg?ts=1757394880 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Suzuki, 26, looks refreshed coming out of an offseason in which he traveled to Scotland for ex-teammate Joel Edmundson's wedding, got married himself, hosted his annual charity golf tournament, attended Hockey Canada's Olympic orientation camp, and prepared for his seventh NHL season.Here's what he covered in a sit-down with theScore and other national outlets.<h3>Building off lessons learned</h3>The Canadiens overachieved last season, collecting 91 points despite finishing with a minus-20 goal differential. It's hard to get a firm handle on them heading into 2025-26. On one hand, the underlying numbers suggest regression is likely. On the other, the immense promise in the core, which is being driven by Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and others, cannot be discounted."We're still a young team, we still have a lot to learn, but I think the lessons that we got last year were really important for our group," Suzuki said. Jockeying for playoff positioning then battling the Washington Capitals for five playoff games were group experiences to "build off," he added - a stepping stone.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800639/cropped_GettyImages-2212559850.jpg?ts=1757399688" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800639/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212559850.jpg?ts=1757399688 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800639/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212559850.jpg?ts=1757399688 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800639/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212559850.jpg?ts=1757399688 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800639/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212559850.jpg?ts=1757399688 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800639/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212559850.jpg?ts=1757399688 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Suzuki set career highs in assists (59) and points (89) and potted the second-most goals of his career (30). He ended up 19 points clear of any teammate and posted strong defensive numbers to earn a pair of Hart Trophy votes. In 12 months, he's gone from 4 Nations long shot to serious Olympic contender."Who knows what the Olympic roster is going to look like," he said a week out from NHL camps opening and five months from the Olympic tournament in Italy. "It's definitely on my mind a lot this summer, training, preparing for the season, knowing I need to have a good start to be in consideration."General manager Kent Hughes added Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc in summer trades with the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues, respectively. Dobson, a large and dynamic 25-year-old defenseman, will eat up minutes on the right side of the blue line. Bolduc, the lesser known but arguably more intriguing of the two, will throw his body around while chipping in offensively in a top-nine role."(Bolduc) brings a lot of jam to his game," Suzuki said. "He's talked about how that's not really his personality, but he's still found a way to stick in the NHL by playing that way. I love that from a young guy who's able to adjust."The other notable Hughes move came down Friday: Habs legend Carey Price - the goalie's contract, anyway - was traded with a fifth-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for a minor-league defenseman. "We were content with him going on LTIR, but it definitely helps our cap situation," Suzuki said, sounding like an executive. "I think that'll help us, especially if we are where we want to be at the trade deadline and trying to acquire some (established) guys."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800640/cropped_GettyImages-1923332829.jpg?ts=1757399893" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800640/w220xh124_GettyImages-1923332829.jpg?ts=1757399893 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800640/w320xh180_GettyImages-1923332829.jpg?ts=1757399893 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800640/w640xh360_GettyImages-1923332829.jpg?ts=1757399893 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800640/w768xh432_GettyImages-1923332829.jpg?ts=1757399893 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800640/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1923332829.jpg?ts=1757399893 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ivan Demidov arrived from the KHL in April and suited up for seven NHL games. Months later, Suzuki still can't get over two things: fans tracking Demidov's flight to Canada and the Russian winger's rockstar-level talent.Demidov, a favorite to win the Calder Trophy, doesn't turn 20 until December. Reigning Calder winner Lane Hutson and 2022 No. 1 pick Juraj Slafkovsky - two other top-of-the-lineup talents - are 21. Another high pick, 20-year-old David Reinbacher, could see NHL action this year. Challenged to pinpoint a less obvious breakout player, Suzuki chose Kaiden Guhle, 23."It's tough to pick one guy, but I think a guy who is a little underappreciated is Guhle," he said of the fourth-year blue-liner. "His defensive game, as a young player, is special. We play Edmonton and he's matched up with Connor McDavid, and with the way Guhle skates, he can defend McDavid so well."<h3>Life in the Atlantic Division</h3>Montreal narrowly beat out the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild card in the Eastern Conference last season. What are Suzuki's expectations for 2025-26? Is claiming one of the three Atlantic Division seeds a realistic goal for the Habs?"I'd love to do better in the division," he started. "We have the toughest division. Could be biased but ...""The Atlantic has a lot of teams that have had success for a long time," Suzuki continued, referring to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Boston Bruins. "Now that a lot of other teams have rebuilt, every team is going to be good this year. I'd love to make the playoffs not in the last game of the season - that'd be cool."He delivered the last part dryly. Playoff races can be stressful and draining.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800641/cropped_GettyImages-2147601397.jpg?ts=1757402716" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800641/w220xh124_GettyImages-2147601397.jpg?ts=1757402716 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800641/w320xh180_GettyImages-2147601397.jpg?ts=1757402716 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800641/w640xh360_GettyImages-2147601397.jpg?ts=1757402716 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800641/w768xh432_GettyImages-2147601397.jpg?ts=1757402716 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800641/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2147601397.jpg?ts=1757402716 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Suzuki was also asked for his thoughts on the playoff salary cap, which will come into effect in 2025-26. He quickly noted the Lightning were "$20 million over the cap" (it was actually $18 million) during the Habs' 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final. In the next breath, he made it clear he wasn't complaining."Teams found a way to loophole it. But it wasn't against the rules, so you can't really complain," Suzuki said of clubs regularly jumping past the upper limit in the playoffs, thanks to LTIR rules. "We'll see what even happens, how much different teams are going to look" in the playoffs in future years, he added.Key decision-makers are reluctant to expand the playoff field beyond 16 teams, but there are some within the sport who favor some kind of tweak, perhaps a play-in setup similar to the NBA's. What does No. 14 think?"I think it'd be fun," Suzuki said."We were fighting with Columbus (late last season) for like two months. If we won, they won. If we lost, they lost. And then they missed by (two points). Us versus them, trying to get the eighth seed through a play-in game, would have been a pretty intense game."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Nick Suzuki talks chase for Olympic spot, Canadiens hype

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey-related, and I ...

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey-related, and I try my best to deliver an insightful answer.Note: the questions below were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799319/cropped_GettyImages-2214755188.jpg?ts=1756489675" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799319/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214755188.jpg?ts=1756489675 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799319/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214755188.jpg?ts=1756489675 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799319/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214755188.jpg?ts=1756489675 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799319/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214755188.jpg?ts=1756489675 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799319/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214755188.jpg?ts=1756489675 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Jeff M. asks: Has the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup window closed? They still don't have a proven No. 1 goalie or No. 1 defenseman, and their No. 1 forward is injury-prone. Would it not be better to rebuild on the fly and trade Auston Matthews now? For instance, L.A. needs scoring and a superstar. Could you possibly get Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke for Matthews? Building around Joseph Woll, Clarke, Matthew Knies, and Byfield would give the Leafs a solid base and allow them to contend when Florida's window starts to close.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>My knee-jerk reaction to this question: Uh, is Matthews suddenly underrated?No player has scored more total goals or goals per game than Matthews since his rookie season in 2016-17. The Leafs captain has produced night after night over a massive 629-game sample, recording a whopping 401 goals (Leon Draisaitl is second with 378) for 0.64 per game (Kirill Kaprizov, 0.58).I get the skepticism. Matthews, who turns 28 next week, always seems to be dealing with an injury or ailment. Sometimes the issue keeps him out of the lineup; other times it limits his effectiveness. Not ideal. Also, famously, his resume lacks a deep playoff run. Despite all of this, I don't think the overall concern is anywhere near the "trade a consensus top-five NHLer" threshold.(While I wouldn't trade Matthews, I do like Jeff's creativity in sending the Arizona native to a big market close to home and getting two studs in return.)The Cup window's open as long as Matthews and William Nylander remain ultra productive and the blue line-goalie combo is a strong suit. So, three to four years?Toronto isn't an inner-circle Cup contender, though, and may never be in the Matthews era (two series wins in nine years is ample evidence). At the same time, I'm curious to see how things go early in the post-Mitch Marner era. I think sprinkling Marner's cap dollars throughout the forward group (versus finding one player to replace Marner) was a perfectly reasonable approach. Plus, the Leafs are, for once, entering a season with cap space to play with.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799320/cropped_GettyImages-2153688136.jpg?ts=1756489872" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799320/w220xh124_GettyImages-2153688136.jpg?ts=1756489872 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799320/w320xh180_GettyImages-2153688136.jpg?ts=1756489872 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799320/w640xh360_GettyImages-2153688136.jpg?ts=1756489872 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799320/w768xh432_GettyImages-2153688136.jpg?ts=1756489872 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799320/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2153688136.jpg?ts=1756489872 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Aron Ontiveroz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Rob F. asks: What's the ideal salary pyramid for a contending NHL team? Top pay for a handful of stars and minimum wage for the third and fourth lines? Or a more balanced share? And which teams would you say match the ideal?Fun question.A lot depends on the quality and quantity of high-end talent.If you're a general manager lucky enough to have one or two of the top-10 players in the world (Edmonton, Colorado), you pay market rate or higher to keep the cornerstones happy, then fill out the rest of the roster. Everything flows downstream from superstars in a league that's more star-centric than ever.If you have three or four star-caliber players (Toronto prior to Marner's departure, Tampa Bay), you must be careful not to overcommit to all of them. Four big-money contracts will severely limit flexibility (again, see: Toronto).GMs tend to get themselves in trouble further down the lineup. The good ones are cutthroat with role players, refusing to hand over term to bottom-six forwards and third-pair defensemen. Pierre Engvall (seven years, $21 million) and Tanner Jeannot (five years, $17 million) come to mind as poor bets for the Islanders and Bruins, respectively. Why devote valuable cap space to a flawed veteran when a younger, cheaper option will present itself within months?Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, and Tampa Bay are contenders with clean books.GMs need to identify their long-term core early in the team-building process and then work to quickly sign those core pieces to long-term extensions. New Jersey and Utah are sparkling examples: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Clayton Keller, and Dylan Guenther are all on sweetheart deals because management leaped at the chance to sign burgeoning stars to lengthy second contracts.There will always be whiffs on young players. But the risk associated with signing a promising yet inexperienced talent to a long-term deal is fairly low. Take, for instance, 22-year-old Jackson Blake, who's appeared in just 81 total NHL games. If his eight-year, $45-million contract (starting in 2026-27) doesn't pan out in Carolina, surely another franchise will jump at the chance to "fix" the young forward with a change-of-scenery trade.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800126/cropped_GettyImages-2219398423.jpg?ts=1757091226" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800126/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219398423.jpg?ts=1757091226 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800126/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219398423.jpg?ts=1757091226 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800126/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219398423.jpg?ts=1757091226 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800126/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219398423.jpg?ts=1757091226 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800126/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219398423.jpg?ts=1757091226 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carmen Mandato / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Charles S. asks: I've been watching the NHL for decades but have never been able to find an answer to this question: When both teams are simultaneously called for minor penalties, how do the referees decide if play will resume four-on-four or five-on-five? Is this an arbitrary, in-the-moment decision, or one based on a rule such as whether the penalties were assessed before or after the whistle?According to the official NHL rulebook, there are three scenarios in which play is supposed to resume four-on-four after coincidental penalties.Scenario 1<ul>
<li>Team A: Player assessed minor penalty and misconduct</li>
<li>Team B: Player assessed minor</li>
</ul>Scenario 2 <ul>
<li>Team A: Player assessed minor and misconduct</li>
<li>Team B: Player assessed minor and misconduct</li>
</ul>Scenario 3 <ul>
<li>Team A: Player assessed minor, teammate assessed misconduct</li>
<li>Team B: Player assessed minor, teammate assessed misconduct</li>
</ul>The through line here is the misconduct. Without one, play resumes five-on-five.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799312/cropped_GettyImages-2206468922.jpg?ts=1756485631" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799312/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206468922.jpg?ts=1756485631 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799312/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206468922.jpg?ts=1756485631 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799312/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206468922.jpg?ts=1756485631 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799312/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206468922.jpg?ts=1756485631 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799312/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206468922.jpg?ts=1756485631 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jared Silber / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Joe G. asks: As a (mostly) long-suffering New York Rangers fan, is there any hope this team can bounce back and make the playoffs in 2025-26? The loss of Chris Kreider doesn't bother me as much as the fact that I have no idea what to expect from Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere. Outside of Artemi Panarin, where is all the scoring coming from? Talk me off the ledge. Yes, there's hope. In fact, I <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3327805" href="https://thescore.com/news/3327805">pegged the Rangers</a> as a "probable playoff team" in my annual tiering of all 32 clubs. New York's floor remains pretty high after an aggressive eight-month retooling effort executed by GM Chris Drury.Drama, roster turnover, and malaise filled the Rangers' 2024-25 season, yet they finished with a respectable 85 points. With stability restored, an Adam Fox bounce-back season coming, and Mike Sullivan's arrival providing the classic new-coach bump, the 2025-26 team is primed for 90-100 points.Of course, claiming a playoff spot is never as simple as hitting a specific point total. If we assume Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington grab the Metropolitan Division seeds again, the Rangers are left to battle with Columbus and three to four Atlantic squads for the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots. Put another way, the postseason is within grasp but not guaranteed.You're right, Joe: Scoring will likely be an issue. The forward group is underwhelming, and its key pieces are getting up there in age - Panarin turns 34 in October, and J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and Zibanejad are all 32. As for expectations for Zibanejad, he is what he is at this point: a slow, unreliable five-on-five producer whose heavy shot still scares goalies on the power play.All of that said, star goalie Igor Shesterkin and a revamped blue line (Fox and Braden Schneider plus four relative newcomers, most notably shutdown stud Vladislav Gavrikov) should make up for the average attack. In his introductory press conference, Sullivan emphasized winning through stifling team defense, and the Rangers have the defensive talent to keep pucks out of their net.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800117/cropped_GettyImages-2193190507.jpg?ts=1757086787" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800117/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193190507.jpg?ts=1757086787 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800117/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193190507.jpg?ts=1757086787 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800117/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193190507.jpg?ts=1757086787 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800117/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193190507.jpg?ts=1757086787 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800117/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193190507.jpg?ts=1757086787 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Emilee Chinn / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Blair B. asks: What do you feel is the most important stat (or two) you would review to evaluate a player's ability? We have so many stats now - WAR, saves above replacement, Corsi, Fenwick - but which ones matter the most? Each position is so unique, so let's break this down into three parts.Forward: Corsi (or shot attempt differential) has become less useful over the years as the NHL has moved from obsessing over shots on goal to obsessing over grade A scoring chances. To gauge a forward's underlying contributions, I first check their five-on-five expected goals numbers. xG does a far better job capturing what happens when a player's on the ice than Corsi, plus-minus, or in some cases even points. The object of the game is to score more goals than the other team. Having a high expected goals share should, over time, lead to a positive goal differential, which, in turn, naturally leads to wins.Defenseman: The granular metrics pumped out by Sportlogiq are extremely helpful. You can start to grasp a blue-liner's true impact on the defensive side of the puck by looking at who consistently ranks highly in loose-puck recoveries, puck-battle wins, blocked passes, stick checks, defensive-zone denials, and the like. For instance, the eye test tells us Miro Heiskanen is an elite defensive player, and his per-game rankings in those categories confirm it (first in D-zone denials, fourth in loose-puck recoveries, and ninth in blocked passes last season). We now have nuanced data to draw conclusions from.Goalie: I never reference goals-against average in my coverage (it's a team stat, not a goalie stat!). Save percentage is OK. However, goals saved above expected is a major upgrade on both because it pinpoints the difference between the goalie's performance and the defensive environment. It's important to know the quality of shots and chances he's facing. The result: The SV% leaderboard is filled with goalies on good teams, whereas the GSAE leaderboard is filled with goalies playing well, regardless of team success.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:<ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email senior NHL writer John Matisz at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
</li>
<li>Send John a message on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/MatiszJohn">@matiszjohn</a>)</li>
</ul>

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NHL Inbox: Leafs' contention window? Rangers' playoff case? Best fancy stats?

Some NHL fans awoke from their offseason slumber this week, wondering if the headlines they'd ski...

Some NHL fans awoke from their offseason slumber this week, wondering if the headlines they'd skimmed while sipping a beer by the lake were as juicy as they originally seemed.Is Connor McDavid signing a contract extension with the Oilers or not? What is going on?!The confusion's understandable. Modern NHL stars tend to choose the certainty and security of a long-term deal over the great unknown that is unrestricted free agency. Some, including all-timer Sidney Crosby, ink multiple long-term extensions to all but guarantee they'll retire as a one-team player.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799811/cropped_GettyImages-2232593035.jpg?ts=1756850754" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799811/w220xh124_GettyImages-2232593035.jpg?ts=1756850754 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799811/w320xh180_GettyImages-2232593035.jpg?ts=1756850754 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799811/w640xh360_GettyImages-2232593035.jpg?ts=1756850754 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799811/w768xh432_GettyImages-2232593035.jpg?ts=1756850754 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799811/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2232593035.jpg?ts=1756850754 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leah Hennel / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>McDavid, 28 years old and at the peak of his powers, is entering the final season of an eight-year, $100-million deal. He became eligible to sign a new contract with Edmonton on July 1. However, it's early September and McDavid's future beyond 2025-26 is fuzzy. At Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp in Calgary last week, he <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3332726" href="https://thescore.com/news/3332726">told reporters</a> he has "every intention to win in Edmonton" yet "all options are on the table."I checked in with a few contacts around the NHL, and this is my main takeaway from those conversations: McDavid is being truthful. He didn't misspeak. He truly hasn't made a decision about his future, and all options are indeed in play.Those options include re-signing before the Oct. 8 season opener, re-signing during the season, re-signing after the season, or testing free agency next July. That last option is a whopper, as McDavid - a generational player with a burning desire to win - would be the most sought-after UFA in league history.Let's dig a little deeper by running through some pertinent questions.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799840/cropped_GettyImages-2182340743.jpg?ts=1756905500" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799840/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182340743.jpg?ts=1756905500 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799840/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182340743.jpg?ts=1756905500 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799840/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182340743.jpg?ts=1756905500 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799840/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182340743.jpg?ts=1756905500 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799840/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182340743.jpg?ts=1756905500 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>First of all, why hasn't the Oilers captain re-signed?This isn't a normal situation. There's very little, if any, negotiating to be done by the Oilers. They're prepared to essentially hand McDavid a blank check.But it's clear from both McDavid's public comments and word around the league that he isn't convinced the Oilers are set up to be a top-tier Stanley Cup contender beyond 2025-26. Most of the core supporting McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl is on the wrong side of the aging curve. High-usage players like Mattias Ekholm, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Darnell Nurse are all 30 or older, while the next wave isn't flush with can't-miss talent.Isaac Howard and Matthew Savoie lead a prospect group ranked 30th by <a href="https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/prospect-pool-rankings/elite-prospects-2025-nhl-prospect-pool-rankings-no-30-ranked-edmonton-oilers">Elite Prospects</a> and 31st by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6493185/2025/08/25/edmonton-oilers-nhl-pipeline-rankings-2025/">The Athletic</a>. Both wingers are expected to challenge for top six spots this season, yet neither has a particularly high ceiling.Meanwhile, the future of the goaltending position is completely up in the air. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799846/cropped_GettyImages-2218480052.jpg?ts=1756906523" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799846/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218480052.jpg?ts=1756906523 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799846/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218480052.jpg?ts=1756906523 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799846/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218480052.jpg?ts=1756906523 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799846/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218480052.jpg?ts=1756906523 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799846/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218480052.jpg?ts=1756906523 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>What can management do to sell No. 97 on staying?The Oilers lost to the Panthers in Game 7 of the 2024 Cup Final, then Game 6 of the 2025 final. They've come agonizingly close twice in two years. That would be the pitch to McDavid: We're right there, man. Please trust that we'll improve the supporting cast and get across the finish line one of these years.Signing offensive dynamo Evan Bouchard to a four-year deal in June was a nice win. However, the rest of the summer wasn't overly productive, with Howard and Andrew Mangiapane counting as the Oilers' splashiest acquisitions.General manager Stan Bowman can't sit on his hands. He must get creative, which is much easier said than done. Edmonton is in a cap crunch (it currently has $225,834 in space, according to <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/edmonton-oilers">PuckPedia</a>), and the team doesn't have its 2026 first-round pick or enticing young players it could use to reel in an impact player via trade.McDavid, the 2015 first overall pick, has been an Oiler for a decade. He's been wildly productive. He's been incredibly patient. He's grown into a leader.He doesn't owe the organization anything, and he wants to hoist the Cup.Right, but might this whole situation become a distraction?Theoretically, yes. Then again, this is a special case.McDavid, identified as a phenom at a very young age, has been under intense pressure and scrutiny for most of his life. It's a safe bet that any "noise" that's created by entering the season without an extension - if that’s what he chooses to do - won't affect his play. He's an exceptional talent partly because he performs at an elite level no matter what's going on around him.How McDavid's uncertain future affects the rest of the roster remains to be seen. The hockey world will be following every new development closely.What's the case for McDavid ultimately re-signing?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799856/cropped_GettyImages-2219197399.jpg?ts=1756909200" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799856/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219197399.jpg?ts=1756909200 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799856/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219197399.jpg?ts=1756909200 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799856/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219197399.jpg?ts=1756909200 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799856/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219197399.jpg?ts=1756909200 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799856/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219197399.jpg?ts=1756909200 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Here's a list of things the Oilers can provide that other franchises can't:<ul>
<li>Draisaitl (perfect running mate signed through 2032-33)</li>
<li>Established roots (wife Lauren has launched multiple businesses)</li>
<li>Longer contract (nobody else can offer an eight-year deal)</li>
<li>Unfinished business (third time's a charm in the Cup Final?)</li>
</ul>In short, the grass isn't always greener. There are benefits to staying put.McDavid has tremendous bargaining power in Edmonton.He's the best player in the world, and the salary cap is rising. Maybe he goes NBA star mode and re-signs for one year to keep the Oilers' feet to the fire, maintain flexibility, and maximize his earnings. Perhaps something in the two-to-five-year range works. Or, who knows, eight years might be the right call.McDavid was once represented by Oilers president Jeff Jackson. His current agent is Judd Moldaver, who also reps Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski, and Roman Josi, among others, for Wasserman. Matthews is one of the rare NHL stars who's been unafraid of medium-term deals; he signed for five years at $11.6 million per season in 2019 and four years at $13.3 million per in 2023.What kind of money can McDavid command?No matter when or where he signs, McDavid will raise the salary bar.Draisaitl's the highest earner for 2025-26 thanks to a record average annual value of $14 million, which accounted for 15.2% of the salary cap's upper limit last September. The collective bargaining agreement states a player can sign for a maximum 20%. With the '25-26 cap set at $95.5 million, McDavid's deal would max out at $19.1 million per year if he signs before the end of this season.It's extremely difficult to build a championship hockey team with a single player, even one as magnificent as McDavid, eating up a fifth of the payroll for a 23-man team. So, even though McDavid may be deserving of making nearly $20 million a season, the chances of him signing for the max are slim.McDavid signed for 15.7% of the cap in 2017. That's still the highest mark of all time.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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The fuzziness of Connor McDavid's future, explained

NHL training camps open the week of Sept. 15, with the first preseason game (St. Louis at Dallas)...

NHL training camps open the week of Sept. 15, with the first preseason game (St. Louis at Dallas) going Sept. 20. In other words, hockey's almost back. Here's one question facing each Canadian team two weeks from camps.<h3>Calgary Flames</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799077/cropped_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1756313887" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799077/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1756313887 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799077/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1756313887 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799077/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1756313887 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799077/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1756313887 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799077/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1756313887 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leah Hennel / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>When and how does the Rasmus Andersson saga conclude?An Andersson-Flames breakup feels positively inevitable.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It's a matter of when a trade happens, where the pending unrestricted free agent goes, and what level of distraction the situation causes in the interim.Andersson's a two-way defenseman who can play in all situations and log a ton of minutes. The right-shot Swede is entering the final season of a six-year deal carrying a $4.55-million salary cap hit - an attractive number for a UFA of his caliber. Andersson owns a six-team no-trade list, according to PuckPedia.The Kings were rumored to be a landing spot a few months ago, but GM Ken Holland signed free agent Cody Ceci to round out the right side of his blue line. The Stars and Golden Knights make sense as Stanley Cup contenders who should upgrade their right-handed defense corps soon (and definitely before March's trade deadline).One intriguing wrinkle: If 19-year-old righty Zayne Parekh makes the opening-night roster and impresses to start the season, Flames GM Craig Conroy will be further incentivized to move Andersson ASAP. In that scenario, Andersson and Parekh would battle for top-four minutes with MacKenzie Weegar.<h3>Edmonton Oilers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787069/cropped_GettyImages-2216362229.jpg?ts=1756388058" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787069/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216362229.jpg?ts=1756388058 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787069/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216362229.jpg?ts=1756388058 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787069/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216362229.jpg?ts=1756388058 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787069/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216362229.jpg?ts=1756388058 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787069/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216362229.jpg?ts=1756388058 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sam Hodde / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Who mans Connor McDavid's and Leon Draisaitl's wings? McDavid told reporters last week that he has every intention to win in Edmonton. Yet the world's best player, eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1, hasn't put pen to paper on a new deal with the Oilers. It's not a stretch to suggest No. 97 is underwhelmed by the front office's offseason work.Goaltending went unchanged (another year of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, yikes) and nobody of note was added to the blue line. The forward group, meanwhile, experienced a fair amount of turnover. Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson, Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, and Connor Brown are out; Andrew Mangiapane, Isaac Howard, Trent Frederic, and Curtis Lazar are in.The top six will feature McDavid and Hart Trophy finalist Draisaitl at center and Zach Hyman on the wing. The three remaining spots are ostensibly up for grabs. Howard, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner acquired from the Lightning in July, could potentially fit on the first line alongside McDavid and Hyman. He's a quick, competitive goal-scorer with good vision and handles.Matthew Savoie, picked up in a 2024 trade with the Sabres, is a similar player to Howard. He's also 21 years old, but he's more experienced with 77 NHL/AHL games under his belt.The bigger issue is filling out the second line. Vasily Podkolzin and Arvidsson were Draisaitl's most frequent linemates last season - not good enough. Forechecker Podkolzin probably stays. Mangiapane (career-high 35 goals in 2021-22) or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (versatile skill set but also a strong 3C option) can take Arvidsson's spot to inject reliable finishing chops.<h3>Montreal Canadiens</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799186/cropped_GettyImages-2203529371.jpg?ts=1756397746" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799186/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203529371.jpg?ts=1756397746 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799186/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203529371.jpg?ts=1756397746 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799186/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203529371.jpg?ts=1756397746 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799186/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203529371.jpg?ts=1756397746 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799186/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203529371.jpg?ts=1756397746 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>What's Martin St. Louis' plan for their defensive woes? The upstart Canadiens finished 17th in goals scored in 2024-25. A full season of offensive dynamo Ivan Demidov and organic growth from Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, and other youngsters will surely bring Montreal into the top 15, if not top 10. Put another way, the Habs' offense is on an upward trajectory.The defensive puzzle is trickier. Last year, Montreal finished 22nd in goals against for the lowest rank among all playoff teams. Part of the issue was goaltending - starter Sam Montembeault showed well but wasn't spectacular. The rest of it was what happened (or didn't happen) in front of the goalie.Check out how poorly the Canadiens ranked in six key defensive metrics:<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Sportlogiq metric</th>
<th>2024-25 rank</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Expected goals against</td>
<td> 24th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shot attempts against</td>
<td> 27th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shots on goal against</td>
<td> 19th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Slot shots against</td>
<td> 26th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner-slot shots against</td>
<td> 23rd</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Offensive zone time against</td>
<td> 29th</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Coach St. Louis installed a hybrid defensive-zone system (mix of man-on-man and zone coverages) to start 2024-25 but bailed on it following a rocky October. It's hard to tease out exactly how much of the failure came down to the strategy itself versus the scheme being too much, too soon for a young roster.There's no one-size-fits-all answer to defense. NHL teams can win by playing man-on-man, zone, or hybrid. St. Louis, who's entering his fourth full season as coach, must find the right approach for Montreal's specific collection of players.<h3>Ottawa Senators</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799180/cropped_GettyImages-2178431687.jpg?ts=1756394138" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799180/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178431687.jpg?ts=1756394138 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799180/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178431687.jpg?ts=1756394138 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799180/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178431687.jpg?ts=1756394138 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799180/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178431687.jpg?ts=1756394138 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799180/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178431687.jpg?ts=1756394138 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Gregory Shamus / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Can Carter Yakemchuk crack the opening-night roster?Yakemchuk, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft, was the final cut at Senators training camp last fall after leading the squad in preseason scoring with five points in three games. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound right-handed defenseman was then inexplicably left off Team Canada's world juniors roster.Yakemchuk, who turns 20 in late September, didn't allow those two setbacks to derail his fourth and final season in the WHL. While the offense-first blue-liner's production dipped year over year, he made significant strides on the defensive side of the puck, improving his gap control, stick work, D-zone positioning, and more. He can now pair his bold offensive game with reliability.Yakemchuk is set to begin his pro career, and the native of Fort McMurray, Alberta, will be given every opportunity to earn an NHL job. The organization is very high on him. If he's cut again, plenty of ice time awaits in the AHL.Ottawa has done a terrific job of building out its defense corps. The sky's the limit for stud Jake Sanderson; Thomas Chabot and Tyler Kleven fill out the left side nicely; Artem Zub, Nick Jensen, and Jordan Spence patrol the right in complementary ways; and Nikolas Matinpalo, another RHD, is solid insurance.<h3>Toronto Maple Leafs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798974/cropped_GettyImages-2210942956.jpg?ts=1756238917" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798974/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210942956.jpg?ts=1756238917 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798974/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210942956.jpg?ts=1756238917 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798974/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210942956.jpg?ts=1756238917 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798974/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210942956.jpg?ts=1756238917 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798974/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210942956.jpg?ts=1756238917 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>How do the Leafs line up without Mitch Marner?The top of Toronto's roster was predictable for the better part of a decade: Auston Matthews and Marner on the first line, and John Tavares and William Nylander on the second. Each line's third wheel would change periodically.Marner's off to Vegas, which leaves a gaping hole at right wing and a general sense that ice time will be distributed more evenly. Three other members of the 2024-25 Leafs forward group - Pontus Holmberg, Connor Dewar, and Max Pacioretty - aren't returning, while Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy, and Dakota Joshua arrived through trades.Here's one logical configuration (newcomers in bold):<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Line</th>
<th>Left wing</th>
<th>Center</th>
<th>Right wing</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td> Matthew Knies</td>
<td> Auston Matthews</td>
<td> Max Domi </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td> Matias Maccelli
</td>
<td> John Tavares</td>
<td> William Nylander </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td> Bobby McMann</td>
<td> Nicolas Roy
</td>
<td> Calle Jarnkrok </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td> Steven Lorentz</td>
<td> Scott Laughton</td>
<td> Dakota Joshua 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Line 1 is all about putting Matthews in a position to succeed. Both wingers have chemistry with the captain, who bagged 69 goals in 2023-24; Knies can use his power game and puck-hounding skills to win battles, and Domi can execute high-end passes. The trio outscored the opposition 3-1 (and destroyed them in expected goals 2.3-0.8) in 43 five-on-five minutes last season.Maccelli can assume a similar role to Domi's for Line 2, playing maestro with the puck to feed Nylander off the rush and Tavares in the net-front area. The Finn is by no means a Marner replacement (career high 57 points); however, his craftiness and slipperiness with the puck have a Marner-like quality.<h3>Vancouver Canucks</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799076/cropped_GettyImages-2195778427.jpg?ts=1756313783" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799076/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195778427.jpg?ts=1756313783 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799076/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195778427.jpg?ts=1756313783 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799076/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195778427.jpg?ts=1756313783 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799076/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195778427.jpg?ts=1756313783 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799076/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195778427.jpg?ts=1756313783 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alexis R. Knight / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>What's the dynamic in a competitive goalies room?Everybody knows this coming season is massive for Elias Pettersson. But enough has been written recently about the NHL's biggest underachiever.Vancouver's heavy investment in goaltending is far more interesting. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are signed through 2028-29 and 2029-30, respectively. The duo accounts for $9.5 million against the cap this season before jumping to $13 million in 2026-27 as Demko's extension kicks in. That isn't a burdensome amount of money - the cap's rising - but it isn't nothing either.Demko, a 2024 Vezina Trophy finalist, is the No. 1 guy. However, Lankinen didn't sign a five-year deal in February to be a traditional backup. It's safe to assume Canucks head coach Adam Foote and goalie coach Marko Torenius will aim for a games-played split of around 50/32. (St. Louis, with 1A Jordan Binnington and 1B Joel Hofer, is a good template - 54/28 last season.)Demko was limited to 23 appearances in 2024-25 due to multiple injuries. He's back to full health and worked closely with renowned goalie trainer Adam Francilia this summer. The 29-year-old won't be hurting for motivation after he didn't receive an invite to Team USA's Olympic orientation camp in August.<h3>Winnipeg Jets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799100/cropped_GettyImages-1482250100.jpg?ts=1756328580" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799100/w220xh124_GettyImages-1482250100.jpg?ts=1756328580 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799100/w320xh180_GettyImages-1482250100.jpg?ts=1756328580 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799100/w640xh360_GettyImages-1482250100.jpg?ts=1756328580 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799100/w768xh432_GettyImages-1482250100.jpg?ts=1756328580 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799100/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1482250100.jpg?ts=1756328580 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stacy Revere / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>How does Jonathan Toews look after two full seasons off? Every pundit under the sun noted the Jets' second-line center problem last season. Mark Scheifele at 1C and Adam Lowry at 3C - fantastic. But Vlad Namestnikov at 2C alongside Cole Perfetti and Nik Ehlers was underwhelming for a club with Cup aspirations like the Presidents' Trophy-winning Jets.GM Kevin Cheveldayoff may have found a short-term solution this offseason, inking Toews to a one-year, $2-million deal (which includes $3 million in potential bonuses). On the surface, the signing's a home run: A decorated Manitoban athlete returns home to help Winnipeg win its first Cup and his fourth personally. Hold on a second, though. Toews is 37 and has appeared in only 124 games since the start of the 2020-21 season - zero since April 2023! - due to health issues. He spent five weeks detoxing in India last year in an attempt to recover from long COVID and chronic inflammatory response syndrome.Assuming he doesn't encounter any setbacks, does Toews realistically settle in as an overqualified bottom-six center? Do the Jets roll with Scheifele-Namestnikov-Lowry-Toews down the middle and it works because Toews is well-insulated by the others?John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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1 question facing each Canadian NHL team as training camps near

This is Part 2 of a series ranking all 32 NHL teams by tiers for the 2025-26 season. Part 1 featu...

This is Part 2 of a series ranking all 32 NHL teams by tiers for the 2025-26 season. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3327804" href="https://thescore.com/news/3327804">Part 1</a> features the bottom 16 teams and was published Thursday.Keep in mind: This exercise rolls out a few weeks before training camps open, and tiers are based on personal projections for only the coming season, not each franchise's long-term trajectory. Tier 8 teams are furthest away from winning the 2026 Stanley Cup, while Tier 1 teams are closest. Teams are listed alphabetically within each tier.<h2>Tier 4: Moderately dangerous</h2>Probable playoff team unlikely to go on deep run<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Los Angeles Kings</h3>Ken Holland's first offseason as Kings general manager was uninspiring.The longtime NHL executive brought in Corey Perry and Joel Armia to replace Tanner Jeannot and Trevor Lewis at forward (fine); replaced Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence with Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci on defense (huge net negative); and replaced David Rittich with Anton Forsberg in goal (sure).The Kings' attack is slow and predictable. None of their moves fixed that issue.That said, Los Angeles does have enough quality players to secure a Western Conference playoff spot in what's expected to be Anze Kopitar's final season.<h3>Montreal Canadiens</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798805/cropped_GettyImages-2211418665.jpg?ts=1756121141" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798805/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211418665.jpg?ts=1756121141 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798805/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211418665.jpg?ts=1756121141 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798805/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211418665.jpg?ts=1756121141 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798805/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211418665.jpg?ts=1756121141 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798805/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211418665.jpg?ts=1756121141 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Canadiens' rebuild has been executed to near perfection by president Jeff Gorton and GM Kent Hughes. But even a diehard fan would admit the club's 91 points and playoff berth in 2024-25 exceeded preseason expectations.That's the tricky part about projecting the 2025-26 Canadiens: weighing their immense upside against inevitable regression. Case in point, Nick Suzuki is a legitimate first-line center, but he may never post 89 points again. At the same time, Montreal's floor and ceiling are both higher now thanks to offseason trades for Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc and developmental leaps by Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson, and Kaiden Guhle.I'm super high on the Habs long term, and they're a playoff team this season.<h3>New Jersey Devils</h3>It's easy to doubt the Devils, a squad built around a superstar who's struggled to stay healthy. Jack Hughes missed 40 total regular-season games over the past two seasons and was sidelined for their first-round loss to Carolina.GM Tom Fitzgerald bolstered the bottom six of his forward group this summer; however, the lineup still needs one or two top-six wingers.As for the bull case ... Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt are elite, the defense corps is versatile, and Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen form an above-average netminding duo. If it all clicks on the ice, the relatively young Devils have plenty of prospects, draft capital, and cap space, which would allow them to add a significant piece midseason.<h3>New York Rangers</h3>The 2023-24 Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy and went on a deep playoff run. 2024-25 was a tumultuous, culture-changing year in which they made many transactions and missed the playoffs. The outcome of their 2025-26 season seems destined to end up somewhere between those two extremes.A high-level recap of the aggressive eight-month retool: Chris Kreider, Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, K'Andre Miller, and coach Peter Laviolette are out, while J.T. Miller, Juuso Parssinen, Vladislav Gavrikov, Scott Morrow, Will Borgen, Carson Soucy, and coach Mike Sullivan are in.I wouldn't say New York is dramatically better or worse, just refitted - while still icing difference-makers Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin.<h3>St. Louis Blues</h3>The Blues don't have the sexiest roster and they aren't a serious Cup contender. But St. Louis has a fairly high floor under coach Jim Montgomery.The club went 35-18-7 last year following Montgomery's midseason hiring. The tactically sharp bench boss has an above-average first-line center at his disposal in Robert Thomas, who's very much in his prime. Free-agent signee Pius Suter should excel in the 3C spot behind Thomas and captain Brayden Schenn. Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer are an adequate goalie duo.Hofer, Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, and Philip Broberg all have intriguing upside cases. The Blues are a textbook solid team.<h3>Utah Mammoth</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798806/cropped_GettyImages-2187312278.jpg?ts=1756122702" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798806/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187312278.jpg?ts=1756122702 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798806/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187312278.jpg?ts=1756122702 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798806/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187312278.jpg?ts=1756122702 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798806/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187312278.jpg?ts=1756122702 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798806/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187312278.jpg?ts=1756122702 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>In the 2024 edition of this exercise, I said Utah earning a 2025 playoff berth was a "coin flip." The team improved but finished seven points shy of the cutline.I'm eager to up the ante this time: The Mammoth are highly likely to make the playoffs, as this is the strongest Arizona/Utah roster in at least a decade.The attack features game-breakers in Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and JJ Peterka to go along with a reliable crew of workmanlike forwards. I'm not entirely sure what to expect from the defense corps - Michael Kesselring is gone, John Marino and Sean Durzi are healthy after combining for only 65 games played last season, and youngsters Dmitri Simashev and Maveric Lamoureux will battle for ice time. The Mammoth's goaltending is nothing special, but it's not a concern either. Andre Tourigny is an awesome coach.<h2>Tier 3: Scary at full potential</h2>Cup win within reason, though lots has to go right<h3>Tampa Bay Lightning</h3>The hockey world seems to have Lightning fatigue, which is understandable considering all the attention they've received through two Stanley Cup victories and two Cup Final losses in 11 seasons. But don't sleep on them out of boredom: They're dark-horse Cup contenders.The Jon Cooper-coached squad put up a plus-75 goal differential last season. Brayden Point between Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov was arguably the top trio in hockey while second-liner Brandon Hagel recorded 90 points. Defenseman Victor Hedman and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy turned back the clock.None of Tampa Bay's critical core pieces are especially young (Hagel, 26, is the youngest) or terribly old (Hedman's 34), so it's reasonable to expect similar results in 2025-26. Questionable depth is what holds this team back from Tier 2.<h3>Toronto Maple Leafs</h3>The Mitch Marner era is over. It was time for both parties to move on, and there's conceivably a world in which the Maple Leafs are better off without the dazzling playmaker over the course of a season. (His cap space has been reallocated to the likes of forwards Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua.)The forward group looks equipped to handle the rigors of playoff hockey, while the defense corps has also been reshaped to that end under GM Brad Treliving. Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll provide stability between the pipes. The Leafs own the NHL's longest active playoff streak - nine years, two total series wins - and will undoubtedly earn an Atlantic Division spot in 2025-26.Auston Matthews is a transcendent goal-scoring talent staring down two challenges: staying healthy all season and producing without Marner around.<h3>Washington Capitals</h3>The 2024-25 regular season was magical for the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin broke the all-time goals record, several players enjoyed career years (in part due to inflated shooting percentages), and the team accumulated 111 points. That will be hard, if not impossible, to replicate.Washington's front office turned over a third of the roster in the 2024 offseason but has been fairly quiet this offseason. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Last year's performance had enough substance to justify largely standing pat, plus there's tons of runway to bring in reinforcements before the playoffs, which is why the team lands in Tier 3. A well-run organization with a rising star of a coach in Spencer Carbery, the Caps are primed to make noise once again.<h3>Winnipeg Jets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798839/cropped_GettyImages-2214527023.jpg?ts=1756142225" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798839/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214527023.jpg?ts=1756142225 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798839/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214527023.jpg?ts=1756142225 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798839/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214527023.jpg?ts=1756142225 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798839/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214527023.jpg?ts=1756142225 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798839/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214527023.jpg?ts=1756142225 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The reigning Presidents' Trophy-winning Jets, one of last season's biggest surprises, have become a "wake me up when ..." team. As in, wake me up when Connor Hellebuyck becomes a dependably clutch performer, because the world's finest goalie has underwhelmed in the playoffs for too many years.(For starters, Winnipeg should be reducing Hellebuyck's workload in the regular season. He shouldn't, under any circumstances, appear in 60 games.)Hellebuyck aside, the Jets are hoping someone like Cole Perfetti can take a sizable step forward offensively to compensate for the free-agency loss of fellow winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Winnipegger Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL after two full seasons off - a heartwarming story, but the circumstances make it impossible to pinpoint how impactful the 37-year-old will be in the second-line center spot.<h2>Tier 2: Secondary Cup favorites</h2>Elite, title-contending team with minor concerns<h3>Carolina Hurricanes</h3>Seven seasons of Rod Brind'Amour behind the bench. Seven postseason appearances, including three deep runs. Zero trips to the Cup Final.A lack of timely scoring and saves has continually held the Hurricanes back come playoff time. GM Eric Tulsky acquired dynamic winger Nikolaj Ehlers and rangy defenseman K'Andre Miller to help with the former and is running it back in goal with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. Did Tulsky do enough?It's a question that can't fairly be asked yet since Carolina loves to chase the biggest name available during the season (see: Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen) and has $10.6 million in cap space and the futures to pull off another whopper. The Canes have put themselves in a favorable position to finally win the East.<h3>Colorado Avalanche</h3>Colorado doesn't have to worry about its marquee players. When healthy, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, and Devon Toews reliably perform at star/superstar levels.However, the front office clearly thought the supporting cast was insufficient. The Avalanche traded longtime core piece and pending free agent Mikko Rantanen in January as part of a flurry of moves aimed at deepening the lineup. Mackenzie Blackwood, Martin Necas, Jack Drury, Brock Nelson, and Scott Wedgewood were acquired midseason, while Victor Olofsson and Brent Burns were signed as free agents.It's safe to say the Avalanche narrowed the gap between their elite talents and the rest of the roster. It's too early to tell if they bet on all of the right players.<h3>Dallas Stars</h3>The Stars have been knocking at the door the past three seasons, advancing to the Western Conference Final each time. An optimist looks at Dallas' 2025-26 campaign and envisions them barreling through the door with superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen healthy and superstar forward Mikko Rantanen fully settled in.Seriously, Heiskanen is a top-five defenseman on the planet (points aren’t everything!), and Rantanen is an absolute menace every spring (22 points in 18 playoff games last year following a trade out of Carolina to bring his career total to 123 in 99 games). The rest of the roster is a nice blend of veterans, mid-career guys, and rookies, the vast majority of them valuable contributors.The coaching change from Pete DeBoer to Glen Gulutzan and No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger's mixed playoff results are keeping Dallas a tick below Tier 1.<h2>Tier 1: Primary Cup favorites</h2>Star-studded, deep, battle-tested - a cut above the rest<h3>Edmonton Oilers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798840/cropped_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1756142312" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798840/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1756142312 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798840/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1756142312 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798840/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1756142312 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798840/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1756142312 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798840/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1756142312 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Leon Draisaitl turns 30 in October. Connor McDavid is 29 in January.The Oilers may have a bunch more chances to challenge for the Stanley Cup (assuming McDavid signs a contract extension), but every playoff run adds mileage to a generational duo that's no longer young. No team in the NHL is in title-or-bust mode like back-to-back finals loser Edmonton.GM Stan Bowman acquired Isaac Howard and Andrew Mangiapane - two quality bets - this offseason to help the attack, but he otherwise kept his powder dry. I don't love the idea of the Oilers entering such an important season with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in goal, though they can still upgrade the position (and bring in another defenseman) in the months ahead.<h3>Florida Panthers</h3>Florida is gunning for a fourth straight trip to the Cup Final and third Cup in a row. Does that seem too ambitious? Doubt the Panthers at your own peril.After re-signing Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers are returning roughly the same squad that beat the Oilers in six games in late June. GM Bill Zito has invested heavily in his winning core, with seven forwards and three defensemen now under contract through 2029-30.Star winger Matthew Tkachuk will miss the start of the campaign following offseason surgery, but that's no reason to drop Florida to Tier 2. No matter which playoff spot the Panthers grab, they'll be a force to be reckoned with.<h3>Vegas Golden Knights</h3>The calculus for slotting the Golden Knights in Tier 1 is pretty simple: An ultra-aggressive front office added one of the league's best forwards to a well-coached team that was already rich in talent, led by the excellent Jack Eichel.Yes, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is all but retired (big blow), and role players Nicolas Roy, Nicolas Hague, and Victor Olofsson are gone (minor blow). But Vegas shouldn't miss a step, though there is an elephant in the room: Can Mitch Marner pop off in the playoffs for the first time in a decade?The Golden Knights won the Cup in 2022-23, lost in the first round the next year, and got ousted by the Oilers in five games in the second round last season. If all goes according to plan, Vegas will get back to going on deep runs.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Ranking NHL teams by tiers: The top 16

This is Part 1 of a two-part series ranking all 32 NHL teams by tiers for the 2025-26 season. Par...

This is Part 1 of a two-part series ranking all 32 NHL teams by tiers for the 2025-26 season. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3327805" href="https://thescore.com/news/3327805">Part 2</a>, featuring the top 16 teams, was published Friday.Keep in mind: This exercise rolls out a few weeks before training camps open, and tiers are based on personal projections for only the coming season, not each franchise's long-term trajectory. Tier 8 teams are furthest away from winning the 2026 Stanley Cup, while Tier 1 teams are closest. Teams are listed alphabetically within each tier.<h2>Tier 8: Worst of the worst</h2>In league of their own - and not in good way<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Chicago Blackhawks</h3>When I look at Chicago's roster, I see a forward group with a single top-line forward in Connor Bedard, a promising yet very green back end led by Alex Vlasic, and an unproven goalie brimming with potential in Spencer Knight.In other words, I see a team headed straight for the Central Division's basement for the fourth straight year - and thus favorable draft lottery odds.Blackhawks fans will still be hooked on the on-ice product. Top storylines include Bedard's goal output (only 23 in 82 games last year as a sophomore), center Frank Nazar's development (the recently extended 21-year-old attended the United States' Olympic summer camp), and coach Jeff Blashill's impact.<h3>San Jose Sharks</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798203/cropped_GettyImages-2192216933.jpg?ts=1755708083" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798203/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192216933.jpg?ts=1755708083 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798203/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192216933.jpg?ts=1755708083 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798203/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192216933.jpg?ts=1755708083 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798203/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192216933.jpg?ts=1755708083 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798203/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192216933.jpg?ts=1755708083 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Sharks finished 2023-24 with the worst goal differential in the salary cap era: a putrid minus-150 over a miserable 19-win season. Last year, the rebuilding club improved ever so slightly to a minus-105 differential and 20 wins.Expect much of the same this coming season - a tiny step in the right direction for a young core that's years away from contending for a playoff spot.San Jose drafted Will Smith (fourth overall in 2023), Macklin Celebrini (first in 2024), and Michael Misa (second in 2025) in the past three years. The front office has once again set itself up for a top-five pick. Gavin McKenna, future Shark?<h2>Tier 7: Heavy roster construction</h2>Walkover most nights, potential standings free fall<h3>New York Islanders</h3>The Islanders are in an interesting spot.They selected franchise cornerstone Matthew Schaefer first overall in June after unexpectedly winning the draft lottery. Their top decision-maker, Mathieu Darche, is a first-time GM tasked with performing major surgery on a middling roster. He has runway, and the hefty return for Noah Dobson was a nice start.The challenge is in choosing an appropriate path. Darche could strip the roster down to the studs by trading the likes of Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, or opt for a less drastic rebuild, or retool to remain semi-competitive every year.No matter the choice, New York won't be winning many games in 2025-26.<h3>Pittsburgh Penguins</h3>There's a decent chance the Penguins end up with the NHL's worst record. Yet here they are in Tier 7 instead of Tier 8 for two reasons.One, it's difficult to project the kind of drop-off we'll see from 38-year-old Sidney Crosby, 39-year-old Evgeni Malkin, and 39-year-old Kris Letang. (In Crosby's case, maybe none at all?) Two, it's hard to predict how active GM Kyle Dubas will be on the trade market, with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell headlining a group of veteran contributors attached to digestible contracts.As much as the hockey world would like to see Crosby chase another Cup, he'd have to slip on another jersey first. The Penguins are not a playoff team.<h2>Tier 6: Notch below playoffs</h2>2025-26 won't be a banner season, for various reasons<h3>Boston Bruins</h3>On one hand, Boston has an elite player at three positions - winger David Pastrnak, blue-liner Charlie McAvoy, goalie Jeremy Swayman.On the other hand, the Bruins have arguably the NHL's worst collection of centers (1C Elias Lindholm and 2C Casey Mittelstadt), no wingers of note beyond Morgan Geekie, and a talent cliff on defense after Hampus Lindholm.Squint hard enough and you can see GM Don Sweeney's grand vision of rebuilding around those three late-20s stars. In the short term, this squad is, at best, mediocre. The Bruins will struggle mightily to score goals.<h3>Buffalo Sabres</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798374/cropped_GettyImages-2207044019.jpg?ts=1755803804" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798374/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207044019.jpg?ts=1755803804 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798374/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207044019.jpg?ts=1755803804 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798374/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207044019.jpg?ts=1755803804 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798374/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207044019.jpg?ts=1755803804 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798374/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207044019.jpg?ts=1755803804 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bill Wippert / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>I originally placed the Sabres in Tier 5, moved them back to Tier 6, U-turned to 5 again, and finally settled on 6. The flip-flopping was a product of liking but not loving the roster while debating the strength of the Eastern Conference.It'd be fantastic if Buffalo rewarded its tortured fan base by snapping a league-record drought of 14 seasons. I believe in a lot of their players (Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin are both criminally underrated) and, to some degree, coach Lindy Ruff. However, there are only eight playoff spots in each conference, and on paper, the Sabres are in the 9-12 range in the messy East.Part of that projection is based on the Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka trades aging poorly. Peterka in particular will pop off in his new home, Utah.<h3>Calgary Flames</h3>The Flames are one of the toughest teams to get a firm handle on.Last season, they surprised a lot of people, including me, by collecting 96 points and narrowly missing the playoffs. Dustin Wolf, who finished second in Calder Trophy voting, is a certified stud between the pipes. Core forwards Connor Zary, Matt Coronato, and Joel Farabee are still developing. Coach Ryan Huska's lineup card is filled with competent, high-intensity players.What Calgary's sorely missing is a superstar (or two). Maybe dazzling 19-year-old blue-liner Zayne Parekh blossoms into one. But the club would be better off in the long run if it chased draft lottery odds over a playoff spot in 2025-26.<h3>Nashville Predators</h3>The big question for the Predators: Was last year's 30-win showing a one-off train wreck, or actual proof GM Barry Trotz swung for the fences and struck out?In July 2024, Trotz bet on pedigree and veteran savvy when he handed high-profile free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei a combined $108.5 million. The first season of the multi-year experiment yielded underwhelming stats, eyebrow-raising soundbites, and endless frustration.It wouldn't be a massive shock if the Preds bounce back and enjoy a 40-win season. That said, we can't gloss over the fact that all of the club's difference-makers are 30 or older - from the 2024 signees to Ryan O'Reilly, Juuse Saros, Roman Josi, and Filip Forsberg. Older players typically decline, not level up.Translation: Things could get worse before they get better in Nashville.<h3>Philadelphia Flyers</h3>I liked the Rick Tocchet coaching hire. I liked the Trevor Zegras acquisition a lot. I think Matvei Michkov is going to have a monster sophomore season.But I simply can't take the Flyers seriously until they figure out their goaltending. Samuel Ersson (45 starts), Ivan Fedotov (24), and Aleksei Kolosov (13) combined for a .872 save percentage in 2024-25. That was the lowest SV% of the cap era, and the painful display wasn't a fluke: Philadelphia has finished 32nd out of 32 teams in save percentage in three of the past five seasons.The 2025-26 tandem will be Ersson and free-agent signee Dan Vladar. It's a minor upgrade (Vladar is fairly dependable) but far from a satisfying solution.<h3>Seattle Kraken</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798380/cropped_GettyImages-2207286295.jpg?ts=1755805143" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798380/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207286295.jpg?ts=1755805143 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798380/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207286295.jpg?ts=1755805143 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798380/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207286295.jpg?ts=1755805143 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798380/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207286295.jpg?ts=1755805143 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798380/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207286295.jpg?ts=1755805143 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ryan Sirius Sun / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Seattle lands in Tier 6 because of the many what-ifs circling its playoff case.What if youngsters Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and Kaapo Kakko all make enormous developmental leaps? What if second-line center Chandler Stephenson lives up to his inefficient contract? What if starter Joey Daccord plays at a Vezina Trophy-caliber level? What if new coach Lane Lambert squeezes every bit of value out of a decidedly mid roster?Fat chance all, or even most of, these what-ifs hit for the Kraken.Pending free agents Jaden Schwartz, Mason Marchment, Eeli Tolvanen, Jordan Eberle, and Jamie Oleksiak give GM Jason Botterill trade ammunition.<h2>Tier 5: Standings purgatory</h2>Legitimate shot at playoff spot, if stars align<h3>Anaheim Ducks</h3>Anaheim, last a playoff team when Randy Carlyle was behind the bench in 2018, is starting to turn a corner. The top six up front, top four on the blue line, and No. 1 goalie spots have solidified following years of uncertainty. Plus, Joel Quenneville will be a significant upgrade on Greg Cronin at coach.The Ducks leaped from 59 points in 2023-24 to 80 last season. They should tack on 10 or so points this season thanks mainly to internal growth. (Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Lukas Dostal are all 25 years old or younger.) I don't see a very high ceiling for this club, though - maybe 95 points. Will that be enough?It's a complete toss-up if Anaheim makes the playoffs.<h3>Columbus Blue Jackets</h3>Columbus is basically the Anaheim of the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets have inched closer to becoming legitimately competitive every passing offseason and can now finally ice a lineup capable of ending a lengthy playoff drought.The Blue Jackets' path to the postseason is murkier than the Ducks', however. For starters, if the Rangers return to form, the Metropolitan Division will have four playoff-worthy clubs (Hurricanes, Devils, Capitals, Rangers) battling for three spots. Also, the super-deep Atlantic could gobble up both East wild cards.These dynamics put pressure on Columbus to tack 7-10 points onto last season's 89-point output. The team has enough emergent talent - namely Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Kirill Marchenko - to pull it off.<h3>Detroit Red Wings</h3>This is a massive season for the Red Wings, who haven't competed in a playoff game since 2016. Fans have grown impatient with GM Steve Yzerman.It's true, the so-called Yzerplan has involved a long list of questionable transactions, especially over the past few years. But June's acquisition of John Gibson from Anaheim was a win. A Gibson-Cam Talbot tandem should make goaltending a tangible strength for a club that's banking on sizable jumps from early-20s skaters like Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, Marco Kasper, and Simon Edvinsson in order to snatch one of the East wild cards.Todd McLellan, who's entering his first full season in Detroit, is a solid coach. Bonus: Yzerman has $12 million in cap space to spend on reinforcements.<h3>Minnesota Wild</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798378/cropped_GettyImages-2209405979.jpg?ts=1755804313" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798378/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209405979.jpg?ts=1755804313 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798378/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209405979.jpg?ts=1755804313 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798378/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209405979.jpg?ts=1755804313 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798378/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209405979.jpg?ts=1755804313 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798378/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209405979.jpg?ts=1755804313 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stephen Maturen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Wild have made the postseason in 11 of the past 13 years. After more or less running it back, they'll challenge again for a playoff spot in 2025-26.Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Brock Faber provide the star power and the likes of Ryan Hartman, Marcus Foligno, and Jared Spurgeon check off the reliable-veteran box. What's missing from coach John Hynes' lineup card is a high-impact second tier. The likes of Joel Eriksson Ek, Filip Gustavsson, Mats Zuccarello, Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Jacob Middleton need to level up.If that second tier can't provide surplus value, the Wild are easy first-round fodder - or worse, one Kaprizov injury from missing the playoffs.<h3>Ottawa Senators</h3>Canada's capital city is optimistic about its hockey team - and rightfully so. The Senators took a massive step forward in 2024-25 and, despite not making any big splashes this summer, boast an extremely well-balanced roster.Ottawa has a nice mix of snipers, passers, and worker bees in a forward group that needs to finish its chances more often, having scored the second-fewest five-on-five goals last season. The blue line has a ton of potential with pairings of Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub, Thomas Chabot and Nick Jensen, and Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence. Linus Ullmark is a top-10 NHL goalie.The Sens are slightly ahead of the Wings in the Atlantic Division pecking order.<h3>Vancouver Canucks</h3>Vancouver's best forward, Elias Pettersson, has been a shell of his former self since signing an eight-year, $92.8-million contract extension. A season-plus in, he's closer to you-are-what-you-are territory than bounce-back candidate.The forward group, in general, leaves something to be desired. (Filip Chytil, a perfectly respectable third-line center, will line up behind Pettersson in the 2C slot - not ideal!) Meanwhile, it's difficult to predict starting goalie Thatcher Demko's performance given his poor injury luck in recent years.Vegas, Edmonton, and Los Angeles are the top teams in the Pacific Division. Vancouver, led by superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes, will battle Anaheim and a few Central teams (St. Louis, Utah, Minnesota) for a wild card spot. John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Ranking NHL teams by tiers: The bottom 16

The NHL offseason has slowed to a crawl, and yet it feels like an abnormally high volume of notab...

The NHL offseason has slowed to a crawl, and yet it feels like an abnormally high volume of notable players remains in some version of limbo. We check in on the uncertainty and add key context to all the unfinished business.<h3>Jason Robertson, Stars</h3>Dallas is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Robertson is the club's best left winger. Why, then, is his name popping up in the NHL rumor mill?The Stars are in a sticky salary-cap situation with lots of money and term dedicated to core pieces while Robertson, a 2026 restricted free agent, looks to cash in too. Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, and Jake Oettinger will make a combined $45.6 million annually for the rest of the decade, and rising star Thomas Harley can sign an extension any time.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794704/cropped_GettyImages-2209988370.jpg?ts=1752779907" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794704/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209988370.jpg?ts=1752779907 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794704/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209988370.jpg?ts=1752779907 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794704/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209988370.jpg?ts=1752779907 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794704/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209988370.jpg?ts=1752779907 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794704/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209988370.jpg?ts=1752779907 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sam Hodde / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Having too many high-quality 20-something players is a textbook "champagne problem." It's nonetheless one Stars general manager Jim Nill must solve somehow, whether or not he keeps Robertson.A cerebral playmaker, Robertson followed up a 109-point 2022-23 with back-to-back seasons of 82 games, 80 points, and defensive improvements. He's due for a hefty raise from the $7.8 million he'll make this coming season.The Stars hold all the cards and could choose to hang onto Robertson for two years. But they've also got a proactive front office that's surely debating the trade option. The Maple Leafs, Kings, and Red Wings come to mind as good stylistic fits.<h3>Rasmus Andersson, Flames</h3>Andersson is a physical, minute-munching right-shot defenseman who blocks shots, kills penalties, and can move the puck. His cap hit of $4.6 million is tremendous value and his no-trade list is limited to six teams.Flames GM Craig Conroy should be sifting through a stack of offers. But Andersson, a 2026 unrestricted free agent, has his sights set on landing in Las Vegas, reports <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/insider-trading-mitch-marner-s-move-to-vegas-florida-panthers-masterclass-steals-the-spotlight-1.2329486">TSN's Pierre LeBrun</a>. That information becoming public diminishes Conroy's leverage.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794811/cropped_GettyImages-2208238486.jpg?ts=1752864674" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794811/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208238486.jpg?ts=1752864674 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794811/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208238486.jpg?ts=1752864674 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794811/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208238486.jpg?ts=1752864674 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794811/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208238486.jpg?ts=1752864674 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794811/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208238486.jpg?ts=1752864674 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Sabau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Calgary could trade Andersson to one of the other 30 teams, but the return package would likely be underwhelming because everybody's aware of the Golden Knights connection. Or Conroy could send him to Vegas, where there's an opening on the top pair after Alex Pietrangelo announced he'll be sidelined for the foreseeable future (or perhaps permanently) due to a major injury.Even with Pietrangelo's contract on injured reserve, however, Vegas is in a cap crunch and will be prioritizing an extension for stud center and fellow 2026 UFA Jack Eichel. Complicating matters is the fact that Conroy didn't get a home-run return in the 2024 Noah Hanifin trade with the Golden Knights.It's probably best for Calgary to wait until the season starts to see what Andersson (with some salary retained) can fetch as a rental for a non-Vegas team.<h3>Connor McDavid, Oilers</h3>How's this for strange times: Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid both have uncertain futures. Yes, Crosby most likely sticks it out in Pittsburgh and retires as a Penguin. But there's a nonzero chance the soon-to-be 38-year-old gets fed up with losing and opts to chase a fourth Cup in another uniform.The chances of McDavid leaving Edmonton are higher - although, like Crosby, the smart money's on him staying loyal to his only NHL home.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794705/cropped_GettyImages-2219070656.jpg?ts=1752780181" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794705/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219070656.jpg?ts=1752780181 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794705/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219070656.jpg?ts=1752780181 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794705/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219070656.jpg?ts=1752780181 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794705/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219070656.jpg?ts=1752780181 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794705/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219070656.jpg?ts=1752780181 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>McDavid's been eligible to sign an extension with the Oilers since July 1, and it's July 21. That alone is significant given what's at stake for the franchise and a generational player dying to win his first championship. McDavid, who's about to enter his 11th season, could be digesting a second straight Cup Final loss. Or waiting to see what management has up its sleeve in terms of late roster upgrades. Or considering an exit. Or a combination of all three.Training camp doesn't start for two months, and McDavid isn't a free agent until next summer. Oilers brass would be happy to hand him a blank check, so money isn't the issue. In other words, it's no time to panic in Edmonton. But ... until No. 97 puts pen to paper, the idea of him playing elsewhere remains real.<h3>Mason McTavish, Ducks</h3>McTavish is an RFA who slots in nicely behind Leo Carlsson on Anaheim's center depth chart. He should command around $7 million annually on a long-term deal - a palatable cap hit for a team with $21 million available.But GM Pat Verbeek has made a habit of grinding players down during extension talks. Just ask Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras (traded within two years of signing his second contract), and Jamie Drysdale (gone within 15 months).July is "probably the most that Mason McTavish has been available," insider Jeff Marek said July 11 on the <a href="https://x.com/sekeresandprice/status/1943765386325111109/">"Sekeres &amp; Price"</a> show. "And if he is available? Start the lineup of teams that are looking for a second-line center."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794814/cropped_GettyImages-2178805801.jpg?ts=1752865030" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794814/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178805801.jpg?ts=1752865030 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794814/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178805801.jpg?ts=1752865030 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794814/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178805801.jpg?ts=1752865030 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794814/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178805801.jpg?ts=1752865030 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794814/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178805801.jpg?ts=1752865030 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Available, in this case, means via trade or offer sheet. While the Ducks would likely match any contract McTavish signs with a rival (mainly because they don't need the draft-pick compensation), it's still an interesting situation to monitor. Last year's offer-sheet drama between St. Louis and Edmonton went down in mid-August.McTavish would be a great add for the Canadiens, Flames, or Blackhawks.The 21-year-old is probably best known to casual fans as the guy who made an <a href="https://x.com/RobTheHockeyGuy/status/1561183883164393473">unbelievable defensive effort</a> in the gold-medal game of the 2022 world juniors. The 2021 third overall pick is 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds. He's effective in the faceoff circle and has some power-play utility as a dual-threat option.<h3>Marco Rossi, Wild</h3>The Wild and Rossi shouldn't be having any trouble hammering out an extension.Rossi, an RFA turning 24 in September, recorded the second-most points on the team last season (60 in 82 games). The smart, skilled, highly competitive 5-foot-9 Austrian is a homegrown top-six center. Minnesota has $10 million in cap space and no other significant spots to fill to finalize its 2025-26 roster.Problems lurk below the surface, however. Coach John Hynes demoted Rossi to the fourth line in the playoffs, dropping his nightly usage from 18 minutes in the regular season to 11 in the first-round series loss to Vegas. GM Bill Guerin's top to-do list item at the moment is to lock up Kirill Kaprizov. The superstar winger, who's been eligible for an extension since July 1, is due for Leon Draisaitl-type money (around $14 million average annual value) starting in 2026-27.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794703/cropped_GettyImages-2210019439.jpg?ts=1752779742" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794703/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210019439.jpg?ts=1752779742 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794703/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210019439.jpg?ts=1752779742 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794703/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210019439.jpg?ts=1752779742 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794703/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210019439.jpg?ts=1752779742 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794703/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210019439.jpg?ts=1752779742 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Guerin <a href="https://www.startribune.com/wild-havent-signed-marco-rossi-yet-but-they-hold-the-hammer/601413796">has said</a> there's no rush to sign, trade, or match an offer sheet for Rossi. If he stays, a short-term extension makes sense, since it gives both player and team flexibility. If he leaves, a trade is far more likely than an offer sheet.Half of the league could use a second-line center, and Rossi still has upside.The Hurricanes desperately need to upgrade at 2C (Jesperi Kotkaniemi isn't going to cut it) and have plenty of cap space. Ditto for the Sabres, who picked Jack Quinn one spot before Rossi went to the Wild in the 2020 draft. Mammoth bench boss Andre Tourigny coached Rossi in junior, and they don't have as much wiggle room, but trading top-six winger Nick Schmaltz (plus a pick) could make the math work. Guerin wants to make a so-called "hockey trade" here.<h3>Tristan Jarry and Erik Karlsson, Penguins</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794796/cropped_GettyImages-2209151009.jpg?ts=1752856285" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794796/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209151009.jpg?ts=1752856285 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794796/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209151009.jpg?ts=1752856285 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794796/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209151009.jpg?ts=1752856285 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794796/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209151009.jpg?ts=1752856285 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794796/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209151009.jpg?ts=1752856285 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The rebuilding Penguins are the NHL's designated seller ahead of the season.Forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust will dominate every trade-bait board on the internet until they're moved. Jarry and Karlsson, meanwhile, are Pittsburgh's less obvious but ultimately more interesting trade chips.GM Kyle Dubas recently created a goalie logjam by acquiring AHL playoff MVP Arturs Silovs. The presences of Silovs and the promising Joel Blomqvist make Jarry expendable. The Oilers, for one, might view the 30-year-old former All-Star with a career save percentage of .909 as a worthwhile gamble. A Jarry-Stuart Skinner tandem beats another year of Skinner-Calvin Pickard if Edmonton can add Jarry on a reduced cap hit ($5.4 million).A Karlsson trade could be tricky to finalize, but the market for his services is probably more robust than Jarry's. The Pens would again need to retain salary as Karlsson's cap hit is $10 million for two years. Then Dubas would need to convince the three-time Norris Trophy winner to waive his no-move clause. Both hurdles can be cleared. Karlsson is a desirable asset at $5 million. The Swede looked rejuvenated during 4 Nations Face-Off action, and without a Cup at 35, he should be motivated to assume a smaller role on a contender.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Unfinished business: 7 players to watch in back half of NHL offseason

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey-related, and I try my best to deliver an insightful answer.Note: the questions below were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794555/cropped_GettyImages-2159835493.jpg?ts=1752684415" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794555/w220xh124_GettyImages-2159835493.jpg?ts=1752684415 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794555/w320xh180_GettyImages-2159835493.jpg?ts=1752684415 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794555/w640xh360_GettyImages-2159835493.jpg?ts=1752684415 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794555/w768xh432_GettyImages-2159835493.jpg?ts=1752684415 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794555/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2159835493.jpg?ts=1752684415 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>T.J. asks: Out of the Sharks, Blackhawks, Ducks, Red Wings, and Sabres, which team is on track for the most successful rebuild? Which team or teams have had the least successful rebuilds and have to restart? Is there a specific formula for a successful rebuild? If so, which factors are most important?<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>San Jose is the winner here.General manager Mike Grier has continually turned old core pieces (Tomas Hertl, Brent Burns) and established NHLers who don't factor into the long-term plan (Jake Walman, Mackenzie Blackwood) into futures. The payoff: tons of draft capital, a stacked prospect pool, and a clean cap sheet. Most crucially, Grier has assembled an enviable under-24 core headlined by Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa, Will Smith, Sam Dickinson, and Yaroslav Askarov. Ryan Warsofsky, promoted to head coach last summer, is the right leader.The Sharks have laid such a strong foundation that something would have to go horribly wrong for them not to emerge as a top 10 NHL team in 5-10 years.The Red Wings and Sabres are at the other end of the spectrum. Detroit's timeline stagnated in large part due to GM Steve Yzerman's poor free-agent signings in three consecutive offseasons (2022-24). Buffalo, whose all-time playoff drought has reached 14 seasons, occupies a unique position in the league. The roster looks capable of claiming a wild-card spot, but the stink of the past and empty seats have led to shortcuts in the team-building process.As for a rebuilding formula, there's no magical one-size-fits-all approach.However, a few things stand out: <ul>
<li>You must hit home runs on high first-round picks</li>
<li>You must give young NHLers runway to develop</li>
<li>You must avoid long-term contracts for veterans</li>
</ul>There's one giant caveat to this entire discussion: luck plays a significant role. It's extremely helpful if the bottoming-out portion of your rebuild aligns with a strong draft class and even more fortuitous if lottery balls bounce your way.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794572/cropped_GettyImages-2191985985.jpg?ts=1752691728" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794572/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191985985.jpg?ts=1752691728 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794572/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191985985.jpg?ts=1752691728 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794572/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191985985.jpg?ts=1752691728 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794572/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191985985.jpg?ts=1752691728 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794572/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191985985.jpg?ts=1752691728 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Andrew D. asks: How can the Blackhawks improve next season, as they haven't improved at all since drafting Connor Bedard? Do you think GM Kyle Davidson should be gone? Let's start with the second question: No, Davidson shouldn't be gone.Chicago finished with 61 points in 2024-25, a nine-point improvement on Bedard's rookie season. That's not a huge leap, but it's a step forward. Big picture, Davidson has constructed a promising blue line, acquired a starting goalie in Spencer Knight, and taken swings on high-upside forwards early in the draft.He gets a B-minus grade for his full body of work since March 2022.That said, ownership should be asking Davidson a few tough questions at this point in the rebuild, including: "How are you going to keep Bedard, who's currently eligible for a contract extension, happy in 2025-26 and beyond?"I count only one top-line forward on the Hawks' current roster, and it's Bedard. While GMs should never recklessly chase short-term fixes to long-term problems, Davidson needs to add offensive juice to his forward group. Youngsters Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore look primed to blossom into impact NHLers one day; they don't qualify as proper Bedard running mates right now.Davidson has ammunition to acquire a legitimate top-six forward in the form of two first-round picks and three seconds in the much-hyped 2026 draft. Chicago's own 2026 first should be off-limits (it could be Gavin McKenna!). However, the club's other first, originally Florida's and likely to land late in the first round, is more expendable. Many clubs will also be interested in those seconds.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794651/cropped_GettyImages-144086912.jpg?ts=1752761087" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794651/w220xh124_GettyImages-144086912.jpg?ts=1752761087 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794651/w320xh180_GettyImages-144086912.jpg?ts=1752761087 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794651/w640xh360_GettyImages-144086912.jpg?ts=1752761087 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794651/w768xh432_GettyImages-144086912.jpg?ts=1752761087 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794651/w1080xh607_GettyImages-144086912.jpg?ts=1752761087 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Denis Brodeur / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Bowenable asks: What are the three most unknown rules in hockey? I scanned the NHL's 234-page rulebook and didn't find much that would fall under "most unknown." However, there are some quirky rules worth sharing.Rule 9.2 pertains to jersey numbers. I knew fractions, decimals, and triple digits were banned, but I didn't realize zero and double zero were also on the can't-wear list. Defenseman Neil Sheehy was the last player to wear No. 0, and goalie Martin Biron was the last to rock No. 00. The NHL banned both numbers in 1996-97, which means a player today has the option of wearing Nos. 1 through 98 (Wayne Gretzky's 99 is retired across the league).Rule 10.1 is about sticks, including maximum length. "No stick shall exceed 63 inches in length from the heel to the end of the shaft," it reads, "nor more than 12.5 inches from the heel to the end of the blade." What's interesting here is that players can submit a request for a length exemption, but only if they're 6-foot-6 or taller. This tells me the NHL unofficially considers 6-foot-6 not just tall but the start of the freakishly tall tier. Zdeno Chara, 6-foot-9 in shoes and 7-feet on skates, famously used a 67-inch stick.Rule 10.4 deals with broken goalie sticks. Did you know that, unlike a forward or defenseman, "a goalkeeper may continue to play with a broken stick until a stoppage of play or until he has one legally provided to him" by a teammate?Rule 66.1 covers forfeited games. There hasn't been a forfeit in the NHL in 70 years. But, if a game is indeed declared forfeited before puck drop, the final score will be 1-0, and "no player shall be credited with any personal statistics."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794678/cropped_GettyImages-2213353057.jpg?ts=1752767057" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794678/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213353057.jpg?ts=1752767057 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794678/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213353057.jpg?ts=1752767057 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794678/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213353057.jpg?ts=1752767057 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794678/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213353057.jpg?ts=1752767057 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794678/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213353057.jpg?ts=1752767057 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Tyler Tate / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Gary T. asks: With the speculation about two expansion teams coming soon, thus bringing the number of NHL teams to 34, what do you consider too many teams? Do you think the NHL or other North American leagues would move to a tiered/relegation-type system like in European soccer at some point?I think 32 is ideal because it means 16 teams per conference, with eight of 16 making the playoffs. Plus, the on-ice product is superb in 2025, boasting a near-perfect blend of speed, skill, scoring, defending, and rough stuff.While I understand why the NHL is open to expanding again ($$$), jumping from 32 to 34 teams feels riskier than leaping from 30 to 32, especially when paired with the 84-game schedule coming in 2026-27. The talent pool would be further diluted, and it'd be a chore to keep up with activity across the league. Fans aren't asking for any of this."The game is growing and there's more countries playing and producing high-end players, so maybe overall there's a bigger talent pool to draw from and that balances everything out," former Canucks assistant GM Chris Gear told me for a <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2801816">2024 story</a> about expansion. "But, I do think you want to be careful. If you expand too many times, too quickly - before that pool of players broadens enough - you might just be watering down the league a little bit."The NHL won't move to a tiered/relegation-type system for many reasons. First and foremost, the pro hockey infrastructure is too weak. AHL and ECHL teams don't have big enough fan bases or arenas to support promotions.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794664/cropped_GettyImages-2186526428.jpg?ts=1752764878" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794664/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186526428.jpg?ts=1752764878 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794664/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186526428.jpg?ts=1752764878 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794664/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186526428.jpg?ts=1752764878 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794664/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186526428.jpg?ts=1752764878 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794664/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186526428.jpg?ts=1752764878 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Matt H. asks: With the salary cap finally rising significantly, will the gap be bridged between the teams in the lower-tax states (Florida, Texas, etc.) and the higher-grossing teams (Toronto, New York, etc.)? From a team-building perspective, will it level the playing field in free agency?We're in for a ride: The cap is increasing from $88 million in 2024-25 to $95.5 million in 2025-26 to $104 million in 2026-27 to $113.5 million in 2027-28.That's a $25.5 million jump over four seasons - unprecedented growth.Clubs with owners willing to spend to the upper limit of the cap every season, no matter what, should benefit greatly during this stretch because not every owner can afford to go all out financially all the time. (We already see this with signing bonuses: the teams willing to pay out a large chunk of a player's earnings in bonuses have a distinct advantage.) The contrast will likely be most noticeable among rebuilding teams, where the richest will still spend plenty of money, but the poorest will struggle to hit the cap's floor.Yes, it'll help bridge the gap between teams in low-tax areas and teams in high-tax areas. But I also believe that the entire tax discourse is overblown.Having more of your paycheck end up in your bank account is a major factor, yet by no means the only meaningful one for unrestricted free agents.Do you have a chance to win a Stanley Cup? Do you like the owner, GM, and head coach? Will you have a prominent on-ice role? Are the facilities first class? Are your aging parents somewhat close? How are the nearby schools? Weather?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:<ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email senior NHL writer John Matisz at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
</li>
<li>Send John a message on X (<a href="https://x.com/MatiszJohn">@matiszjohn</a>)</li>
</ul>

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The NHL salary cap will increase to $95.5 million in 2025-26, marking the biggest year-to-year jump ($7.5 million) since the cap arrived two decades ago.This means most clubs have ample cap space to make a splash when free agency officially opens at 12 p.m. ET Tuesday. One issue: a lot of the high-profile pending unrestricted free agents - most notably Sam Bennett, John Tavares, and Matt Duchene - recently re-signed with their current teams."Anybody can go and look at the list of potential (impact) free agents and see there aren't that many," Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman told reporters Saturday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nevertheless, with seemingly every franchise in the league but the Penguins looking to improve and names like Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad still available, there will be drama. Here are three teams to watch:<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792400/cropped_GettyImages-2189000939.jpg?ts=1751222832" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792400/w220xh124_GettyImages-2189000939.jpg?ts=1751222832 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792400/w320xh180_GettyImages-2189000939.jpg?ts=1751222832 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792400/w640xh360_GettyImages-2189000939.jpg?ts=1751222832 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792400/w768xh432_GettyImages-2189000939.jpg?ts=1751222832 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792400/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2189000939.jpg?ts=1751222832 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Golden Knights: Vegas and Toronto are <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3304873" href="https://thescore.com/news/3304873">reportedly</a> discussing a sign-and-trade deal that could send pending UFA and superstar winger Marner to Sin City. The Golden Knights have only $5.6 million in cap space next season, <a href="https://puckpedia.com/">according to PuckPedia</a>, so GM Kelly McCrimmon has to jump through some financial hoops. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo may end up on long-term injured reserve, while defenseman Nic Hague and center Nick Roy are among several players potentially on the move. If Vegas strikes out with Marner, don't be surprised if it pivots to Marchand or fellow winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Coach Bruce Cassidy desperately needs an offensive catalyst (or two) on the wings.Hurricanes: Carolina has made the playoffs in each of Rod Brind'Amour's seven years behind the bench, yet has never advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. The club acquired a game-breaking forward midseason in back-to-back years, but both Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen were gone before the next campaign. GM Eric Tulsky is armed with $26.7 million in cap space - a luxury for a Cup contender. While Marner is the only pending UFA of the superstar variety, Ehlers would be an OK consolation prize. Mikael Granlund could make sense at second-line center. The Canes are the type of team that won't hesitate to offer a restricted free agent an offer sheet (Marco Rossi? Mason McTavish?) or pull off a massive trade. They're a highly motivated group.Ducks: GM Pat Verbeek has <a href="https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-gm-verbeek-discusses-not-retaining-cronin-as-coach-and-other-topics">stated publicly </a>that he wants to be aggressive in an attempt to make the 2026 playoffs. He's reshaped a chunk of the roster over the past seven months, swapping out Trevor Zegras, John Gibson, Cam Fowler, and Brian Dumoulin for Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Poehling. Marner (if still available), Ehlers, and sniping winger Brock Boeser are obvious targets to upgrade what remains a below-average forward group. Ekblad would be an interesting addition to the right side of a blue line that already has Trouba and Radko Gudas. Anaheim has a whopping $36 million in cap space but must be careful with a bunch of key extensions on the horizon.<h3>Goalie trade market heating up?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792379/cropped_GettyImages-2206771502.jpg?ts=1751214022" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792379/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206771502.jpg?ts=1751214022 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792379/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206771502.jpg?ts=1751214022 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792379/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206771502.jpg?ts=1751214022 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792379/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206771502.jpg?ts=1751214022 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792379/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206771502.jpg?ts=1751214022 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Debora Robinson / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Yzerman finally put an end to Gibson's years-long residency in the rumor mill Saturday, acquiring the American goalie from the Ducks in exchange for veteran backup Petr Mrazek and two draft picks."We think John has a lot of good hockey in him," Yzerman said of a 31-year-old who peaked in his 20s and earns $6.4 million a year through 2026-27.Also on Saturday, the Blues avoided a potential offer sheet by inking promising youngster and pending RFA Joel Hofer to a two-year deal.Edmonton, Philadelphia, Carolina, Utah, and San Jose are among the teams that need (or surely could use) an upgrade at either starter or backup. Yet the big UFA prize is ... 34-year-old Jake Allen. Other intriguing but ultimately middling options include Anton Forsberg, Alex Lyon, and Dan Vladar (if he doesn't re-sign with Calgary). The second tier of UFAs - James Reimer, Alexandar Georgiev, Vitek Vanecek, Ilya Samsonov, etc. - offers little hope.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769007/cropped_GettyImages-2197162820.jpg?ts=1751223062" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769007/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197162820.jpg?ts=1751223062 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769007/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197162820.jpg?ts=1751223062 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769007/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197162820.jpg?ts=1751223062 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769007/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197162820.jpg?ts=1751223062 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769007/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197162820.jpg?ts=1751223062 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Perhaps the Gibson deal is a wink toward further trade activity. Vancouver's Thatcher Demko and Arturs Silovs, the Islanders' Semyon Varlamov, Columbus' Elvis Merzlikins, Pittsburgh's Alex Nedeljkovic, and Chicago's Arvid Soderblom all leap off the page as trade candidates this summer.Demko, who's proven himself to be a top-10 NHL goalie when healthy, is the most desirable. The Canucks re-upped Kevin Lankinen through 2029-30 in February and have the developing Silovs under contract for another year. One of Vancouver's three goalies is surely on the move at some point this offseason, and Demko would yield by far the biggest return. The American has a season and $5 million left on a deal that leads him to 2026 free agency.Varlamov is old but reliable, boasting a .916 save percentage in 621 career games. The 37-year-old is stuck behind star Ilya Sorokin on the depth chart of a team in transition on Long Island. His $2.75 million cap hit through 2026-27 is palatable, although he has some power with a 16-team no-trade list.<h3>5 team-related draft trends</h3>Blackhawks: Chicago left Day 1 with Anton Frondell, Vaclav Nestrasil, and Mason West - three large forwards with high upside. The Blackhawks doubled down on size in Rounds 2-7, with all five picks listed at 6-foot-2 or taller. The club asked prospects at the scouting combine to name the toughest draft-eligible player in their respective league. WHLers said defenseman Ashton Cumby, so the Hawks spent the 162nd pick on the soon-to-be 20-year-old fighter."We felt the need to get a little bit harder, tougher, to protect some of our skilled guys," director of amateur scouting Mike Doneghey told reporters.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792361/cropped_GettyImages-2187217826.jpg?ts=1751204954" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792361/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187217826.jpg?ts=1751204954 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792361/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187217826.jpg?ts=1751204954 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792361/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187217826.jpg?ts=1751204954 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792361/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187217826.jpg?ts=1751204954 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792361/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187217826.jpg?ts=1751204954 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dennis Pajot / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Stars: Dallas didn't make a selection until the third-last pick of the third round. The Stars used No. 94 on 5-foot-8, 160-pound goal-scoring winger Cameron Schmidt. It wasn't a reach (some scouts view the fast, highly skilled Schmidt as a first-round talent), but it certainly creates a tidy narrative about Stars GM Jim Nill and his belief in a specific type of player. Nill selected 5-foot-8, 170-pound goal-scoring winger Logan Stankoven 47th overall in 2021. Stankoven is, of course, now a member of the Hurricanes thanks to the Rantanen trade.Kings: Four of Los Angeles' nine picks were in their second year of eligibility - Kristian Epperson (88th overall), Caeden Herrington (120th), Petteri Rimpinen (152nd), and Brendan McMorrow (196th). The Kings have a history of drafting late bloomers, most notably selecting future NHLers Tanner Pearson and Wayne Simmonds as re-entries. Older prospects are often closer to the finished product, which, depending on the player, can be seen as a positive.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792362/cropped_GettyImages-2222636823.jpg?ts=1751205042" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792362/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222636823.jpg?ts=1751205042 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792362/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222636823.jpg?ts=1751205042 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792362/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222636823.jpg?ts=1751205042 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792362/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222636823.jpg?ts=1751205042 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792362/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222636823.jpg?ts=1751205042 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Hurricanes: As I mentioned in my <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3304131">Day 2 cheat sheet</a>, Carolina can be counted on to do three things at the draft: trade down, pick undersized, skilled forwards, and select multiple Russians. The Hurricanes didn't disappoint over the weekend, trading out of the first round Friday and then making two more pick-swap deals Saturday. They selected tiny Swedish forward Viggo Nordlund in the sixth round and used four of their seven picks on Russian players. Third-rounder Kurban Limatov - a 6-foot-4 blue-liner from Moscow - could be one of the steals of the draft. Pundits had him pegged as an early second-round talent."If other teams are afraid to draft a player from a certain country, that's really out of our control," assistant GM Darren Yorke <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2935281" href="https://thescore.com/news/2935281">told theScore</a> after last year's draft, which included six Russian picks. "It's very simple: We're just trying to get the best hockey players as we can, irrespective of where they're born."Penguins: Kyle Dubas' obsession with current and former Soo Greyhounds players continues. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native and ex-GM of the storied OHL franchise picked Soo forwards Travis Hayes and Jordan Charron at Nos. 105 and 154. Michael Bunting, Conor Timmins, Jared McCann, Jack Campbell, Rasmus Sandin, Nick Ritchie, Matt Murray, and Joe Thornton are among the many Greyhounds players who've played for or been drafted to Dubas' teams in Toronto and Pittsburgh. Dubas has also hired plenty of staff with Soo connections, including former Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe.<h3>7 league-related draft notes</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792366/cropped_GettyImages-2222644212.jpg?ts=1751208916" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792366/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222644212.jpg?ts=1751208916 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792366/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222644212.jpg?ts=1751208916 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792366/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222644212.jpg?ts=1751208916 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792366/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222644212.jpg?ts=1751208916 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792366/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222644212.jpg?ts=1751208916 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Juan Ocampo / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Friday's first round was unique, with almost two-thirds of the selections made by just eight teams. Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and the Islanders each made three picks, while Columbus, Calgary, Philadelphia, and San Jose had two apiece.The class featured a disproportionate number of massive humans. Fifteen draftees, including 11 skaters, are listed at 6-foot-6 or taller. There was a run on huge defensemen to start Round 2, with Simon Wang (6-6), Jacob Rombach (6-7), Blake Fiddler (6-5), Carter Amico (6-6), and Peyton Kettles (6-6) all going within the first seven picks.It was a rough year for Finland - only nine Finnish-born draftees, with the lone first-rounder (Sascha Boumedienne) actually playing for Sweden internationally.The WHL showed extremely well, finishing second to the OHL in draftees produced (38-33). Both Canadian junior leagues had nine first-round players.The U.S. National Team Development Program had a down year. No active NTDP players were selected in Round 1 for the first time since 2008. That said, first-rounders James Hagens, Logan Hensler, William Horcoff, and Cullen Potter all spent time at the NTDP before moving on to the NCAA.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792367/cropped_GettyImages-2222548968.jpg?ts=1751208999" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792367/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222548968.jpg?ts=1751208999 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792367/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222548968.jpg?ts=1751208999 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792367/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222548968.jpg?ts=1751208999 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792367/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222548968.jpg?ts=1751208999 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792367/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222548968.jpg?ts=1751208999 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, with the Kings picking Henry Brzustewicz at No. 31, the OHL's London Knights again had a presence in the first round. The perennial NHL talent factory has produced at least one first-rounder in nine of the past 11 drafts.Lastly, a big-picture take on the 2025 class from Mark Dennehy. The Devils' chief amateur scout called it "a bit of a crazy draft" with the high number of pick swaps and so little consensus on late-round players. He pointed out how the draftees were 12 or 13 years old when the pandemic hit in 2020, causing them to lose valuable development time during a crucial age due to league shutdowns."They could skate, they could shoot pucks, they could stickhandle (on their own), but there was a time when nobody was playing (games) because we couldn't," Dennehy said. "How much effect that's had on this group, I don't know. But I'm sure there are (late-round) players who will pop because their development has been somewhat stunted by that lack of competition."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Teams to watch on July 1, draft trends, and other NHL offseason items

Capitals assistant general manager Ross Mahoney dropped some knowledge earlier this week, informi...

Capitals assistant general manager Ross Mahoney dropped some knowledge earlier this week, informing D.C.-based reporters that, on average, about 52 players from every draft enjoy meaningful NHL careers (minimum 250 games).The 2025 class "could be a little bit lighter" on NHLers, Mahoney noted. In the next breath, the longtime scout added that sometimes, a class surprises talent evaluators. A stacked group of prospects can look ordinary five years later while a so-called weak one can look extraordinary in due time.What tends to determine the quality of a draft class' depth? The players chosen in Rounds 2-7.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Below is a cheat sheet for Day 2 of the 2025 draft in Los Angeles, which begins at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday and will be broadcast on NHL Network/ESPN+ in the United States and Sportsnet/Sportsnet One in Canada.<h3>4 intriguing players</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791891/cropped_GettyImages-2191628695.jpg?ts=1750876283" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791891/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191628695.jpg?ts=1750876283 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791891/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191628695.jpg?ts=1750876283 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791891/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191628695.jpg?ts=1750876283 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791891/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191628695.jpg?ts=1750876283 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791891/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191628695.jpg?ts=1750876283 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Jack Ivankovic: The Mississauga, Ontario, native checks off a lot of boxes for a modern goalie - efficient skater, extremely athletic, highly competitive, nice hands. Each trait was on display in May at the Under-18 worlds, where Ivankovic's tournament-best netminding helped lead Canada to a gold medal.Ivankovic didn't hear his name called Friday mostly because he's 5-foot-11. That may seem silly, but the Predators' Juuse Saros was the only sub-6-footer among the 103 goalies who dressed in an NHL game last season. Ivankovic told theScore he's well on his way to pass the 6-foot mark: He's grown half an inch since May, he has big feet and hands, and he's got tall-man genes (a 6-foot-5 father).Ivankovic is headed to the University of Michigan in the fall following two seasons with the OHL's Brampton Steelheads. He's making the jump to face stiffer competition, spend more time in the gym, and learn from goalie coach Kevin Reiter, who's worked with NHLers like Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger. The deal was sealed by a promise of starter's minutes in his freshman year."I couldn't turn it down," said Ivankovic, who looks up to 5-foot-11 Saros and 6-foot-1 Rangers star Igor Shesterkin."Their skating and hockey IQ are really next level. Those are two things I really look at in my game," he said. "They're playing in the NHL and doing really well and are a similar height, so why can't I do the same one day?"<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792253/cropped_GettyImages-2218398702.jpg?ts=1751082599" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792253/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218398702.jpg?ts=1751082599 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792253/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218398702.jpg?ts=1751082599 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792253/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218398702.jpg?ts=1751082599 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792253/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218398702.jpg?ts=1751082599 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792253/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218398702.jpg?ts=1751082599 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bill Wippert / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Simon Wang: There might not be anyone in the 2025 class who fits the description "raw prospect" better than Wang. He's a tremendous skater in general, and that's extra impressive considering he's a gigantic defenseman (6-foot-6 and 220 pounds with the longest wingspan measured at the combine at 82.25 inches). Wang is lauded for his agility and competitive streak. However, his questionable hockey sense throws a wrench into an otherwise lofty projection.Born in Beijing, Wang started playing hockey at 4 years old. He moved to Toronto at 12 to continue his development and has been on an upward trajectory ever since. He went in the fifth round of the 2023 OHL Draft, split 2024-25 between Jr. A and the OHL, and is off to Boston University in the fall.It's very possible Wang makes history Saturday. He's expected to pass Kevin He (109th overall to the Jets in 2024) as the highest Chinese-born draft pick.L.J. Mooney: In a few years, Mooney will either be a feel-good story who's starting to prove his doubters wrong or a forgettable prospect whose flaws have been exposed at the pro level.Mooney is a diminutive winger out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. He boasts elite skating, standout puck skills, and above-average smarts. There's a fearlessness to his game that reminds scouts of Canucks forward Conor Garland. But there are significant concerns over his build (5-foot-7, 157 pounds), recent injuries relating to that build, and bouts of inconsistency.In other words, Mooney's a low-floor, high-ceiling player - boom or bust. He's worth a flier in the back half of the draft but he may ultimately go undrafted.Malcolm Spence: It's easy to envision Spence developing into a middle-six winger for 15 NHL seasons. His attention to detail is excellent, he forechecks and backchecks with a vengeance, and he doesn't hurt for size and strength (6-foot-2, 201 pounds). The knock against him? Limited dynamic skill.Spence was projected to go in the first round by most pundits, and he'll make some team super happy Saturday. He screams "future Carolina Hurricane," so the easy money's on the Canes selecting him with the second pick of Round 2.<h3>4 teams to watch</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791871/cropped_GettyImages-1504491580.jpg?ts=1750869142" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791871/w220xh124_GettyImages-1504491580.jpg?ts=1750869142 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791871/w320xh180_GettyImages-1504491580.jpg?ts=1750869142 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791871/w640xh360_GettyImages-1504491580.jpg?ts=1750869142 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791871/w768xh432_GettyImages-1504491580.jpg?ts=1750869142 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791871/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1504491580.jpg?ts=1750869142 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Montreal Canadiens: Led by president Jeff Gorton and GM Kent Hughes, the Habs entered Friday with a league-high 12 selections. They packaged their two first-rounders (Nos. 16 and 17) to acquire impact blue-liner Noah Dobson from the Islanders in the afternoon. It was a win-now move worth pulling the trigger on. The Canadiens still own No. 41 for helping Pittsburgh facilitate the 2023 Erik Karlsson trade and also hold a second top-50 pick with their own second-rounder (49). Montreal's prospect pipeline is deep and diverse. Expect the Canadiens to select the best player available with each Day 2 pick.Pittsburgh Penguins: GM Kyle Dubas has a mediocre record through seven years of drafting in Toronto and Pittsburgh. His work Friday was a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3304505" href="https://thescore.com/news/3304505">mixed bag</a>. Day 2 offers eight picks, including 73rd, 84th, and 85th, to bring the top-100 total to six. As the Pens transition between eras, they have a middling farm system but a whopping 30 selections spread across 2025, 2026, and 2027.Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes never fall in line. Take last year's draft weekend: They swapped picks three times, flipping a first to Chicago for two seconds, then a second to Columbus for a third and fifth, then a third to Chicago (2024) for another third (2025). Carolina used six of its 10 selections on Russian players despite many teams shying away from Russians due to a lack of live viewings and signability concerns. They also aren't afraid of undersized forwards, with four of their five forward picks listed below 6 feet.Anaheim Ducks: Ducks assistant GM Martin Madden has led or co-led the club's draft since 2008, and boy, does he have an eye for defensemen. Jake Gardiner, Justin Schultz, Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler, Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm, Shea Theodore, Marcus Pettersson, Brandon Montour, and Josh Mahura are all Martin-era picks, and they've all played at least 250 NHL games. Jackson LaCombe, Henry Thrun, Jamie Drysdale, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, Tristan Luneau, and Stian Solberg are all trending to hit 250 as well. The Ducks have nine Day 2 picks; surely one will become an everyday D-man.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman talks before the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at the Peacock Theater on June 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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NHL draft Day 2 cheat sheet: Intriguing players, teams to watch

Senior NHL writer John Matisz offers his insights on the most interesting picks and notable moves...

Senior NHL writer John Matisz offers his insights on the most interesting picks and notable moves Friday night during the opening round of the NHL draft.<h3>Isles make franchise-altering pick</h3>Mathieu Darche's first pick as Islanders GM is a no-brainer that immediately changes the club's trajectory. Matthew Schaefer is a safe bet to blossom into a minute-munching top-pair defenseman. He has the foundation - elite hockey sense, wonderful puck skills, exemplary skating, ample bite and size - to potentially challenge for a Norris Trophy down the road. The Islanders, who traded blue-liner Noah Dobson to Montreal earlier Friday, jumped nine spots during the draft lottery. The club last picked first overall in 2009 (John Tavares).<h3>Sharks don't overthink it at No. 2</h3>After some predraft buzz linking Anton Frondell to the Sharks, general manager Mike Grier makes the logical choice by selecting the consensus top forward in the class. Michael Misa, a projected impact top-six center, has a bulletproof profile. He's a dual offensive threat who's fast, physical, and competitive. The Oakville, Ontario, native put up an OHL-high 134 points in 65 games. San Jose has built an enviable young core - Macklin Celebrini and Misa at center, Will Smith and William Eklund on the wing, Sam Dickinson on defense, and Yaroslav Askarov in net.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Hawks play it safe with Anton Frondell</h3>Chicago selects a two-way center in Frondell over a handful of other viable options, including Porter Martone, James Hagens, and Caleb Desnoyers. Frondell boasts arguably the best shot in the class and earns comparisons stylistically to Panthers center Anton Lundell. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder recorded the highest points-per-game rate ever for an 18-year-old playing in Sweden's second-best pro league. The Blackhawks have grabbed a bunch of high-octane forwards in recent drafts, most notably sniper Connor Bedard, so Frondell adds a different element to their core.<h3>Utah finds second-line center at No. 4</h3>Caleb Desnoyers, an all-around forward out of the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, brings needed depth to Utah's center group. The club will be icing a one-two-three punch of Logan Cooley, Desnoyers, and Barrett Hayton sooner than later. Desnoyers is known for his detail-oriented game, playmaking, bite, and big-game performances. The Mammoth are becoming the main character of the offseason: They acquired and extended star forward JJ Peterka from the Sabres on Wednesday, just made a sizable splash in the top five of the draft, and are expected to be active in free agency.<h3>Preds take chance on late-rising Martin</h3>Predators GM Barry Trotz said in 2023 that he wants to take some "high-end swings" at the draft. Picking Brady Martin at fifth is a swing, but it's not necessarily a high-end one with more talented players still available. Martin is the biggest late-season riser of the class due to phenomenal showings at the U-18 worlds and scouting combine. A proven goal-scorer in the OHL, Martin is competitive and physical to the point of instilling fear in opponents. He projects to be an all-situations top-six forward. Nashville last picked in the top 10 of the draft in 2013. The Predators also have the 23rd and 26th selections. Do they leave Day 1 with a player from each position? It's very possible.<h3>James Hagens' slide ends with Bruins</h3>Hagens was the consensus No. 1 prospect coming into the season. Then he put up 37 points in 37 games for Boston College as a freshman. He slid to seventh mostly due to overscouting. Hagens' game was nitpicked over several years in the spotlight, and within a few seasons, there may be a high-picking club - perhaps the Flyers, who drafted winger Porter Martone sixth - that regrets passing on the dynamic center. Hagens possesses sick skating, puck skills, and vision. He rockets to the top of Boston's prospect pool.<h3>Top 10 rounded out by 3 intriguing kids</h3>At No. 8, the Kraken snag arguably the most creative player in the class in playmaking center Jake O'Brien. (Seattle's now five drafts into its existence and has yet to select a defenseman or goalie in the first round.) At No. 9, the Sabres pick up 6-foot-6 Czech Radim Mrtka two days after acquiring another giant right-handed defenseman, Michael Kesselring. (Totally defensible pick for Buffalo, given the need and talent.) At No. 10, the size-loving Ducks take a tremendously skilled 6-foot-5 center in Roger McQueen. (He could be great value for Anaheim; however, McQueen was still on the board mostly due to concerns related to a back injury that kept him out for all but 20 WHL games this year.)<h3>Penguins, Flyers both go off the board</h3>OK, now we have some jaws dropping around the league. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (thanks to a trade with the Penguins) call upon two players who'd been projected to go much later at Nos. 11 and 12, respectively. The Penguins take Benjamin Kindel, an undersized forward with high hockey IQ and silky hands. He recorded 99 points in 65 WHL games for Calgary but probably could have been picked in the 20s. The Flyers select Jack Nesbitt. While the 6-foot-4 center needs to fill out his frame, he's already a strong net-front presence. However, considering Nesbitt's lackluster skating and the better names that are still available, it's an uninspiring pick.<h3>Teams call on 3 relentless forwards</h3>One theme of the 2025 class is that there's plenty of dogged forwards. The Red Wings had three staring at them with the 13th pick and chose Carter Bear. A high-floor winger who bagged 40 goals in 56 WHL games for Everett, he reminds scouts of Lightning star Brandon Hagel. Then there's Braeden Cootes, whom the Canucks took two picks later at No. 15. Cootes is a Swiss Army knife of a right-shot center. Vancouver is getting energy, physicality, forechecking, and leadership with Cootes. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin, who didn't pick until the 93rd selection last year, needed to add a center to the organization's pipeline. A third dogged forward? Victor Eklund, arguably the best player available for the Islanders at No. 16. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound winger plays a power game. He's speedy, aggressive, dependable in all three zones - a dog with a bone.<h3>Blues select boom-or-bust goal-scorer </h3>St. Louis' farm system is thin at center, with little promise beyond 2023 first-round pick Dalibor Dvorsky, and the club holds just three total picks this weekend (19th, 147th, and 179th). But the Blues can't help themselves with sniping winger Justin Carbonneau still around after Calgary took Cole Reschny off the board at No. 18. Carbonneau is considered a boom-or-bust prospect. He's a strong skater, owns a wicked shot, and is by no means small (6-foot-1, 192 pounds). He scored 46 goals in 62 QMJHL games this past season. His bust potential comes from his inconsistent decision-making. Given the other options at this point of the draft, this is a totally justifiable pick at No. 19.<h3>Senators take another RHD in Hensler </h3>Last year, Sens GM Steve Staios only picked players listed at 6-foot-2 or taller with his six selections in his first draft for the team. Right-handed defenseman Carter Yakemchuk was Ottawa's lone 2024 first-rounder. And now, with the top selection of his second draft, Staios takes another right-handed blue-liner in Logan Hensler. The mobile 6-foot-2 Wisconsin freshman is a savvy pick at 23rd overall; there's top-four potential. (Ottawa traded No. 21 to get Nos. 23 and 67 from Nashville.)<h3>Isles, Preds, and Pens all over draft board </h3>If it feels like every third pick is being made by one of three teams, it's because the Islanders, Predators, and Penguins have combined for nine selections in the first 26. New York's enjoyed a franchise-altering day with Schaefer (No. 1), Eklund (16), and Kashawn Aitcheson (17). That's a franchise blue-liner, top-six winger, and second-pair blue-liner. Nashville's done well too with Martin (No. 5), defenseman Cameron Reid (21), and winger Ryker Lee (26) all reasonable choices. Pittsburgh's work is less encouraging with the Kindel reach at No. 11, though Bill Zonnon (22) and William Horcoff (24) are two personal favorites.<h3>Keep an eye on Capitals and Lakovic</h3>The Capitals are one of the NHL's smartest organizations. They like to bet on upside at the draft - something more teams should do. They're also not afraid to go against the grain on player types, taking large forwards who don't have a defined physical game when other clubs won't. Aliaksei Protas (91st overall in 2019) and Ilya Protas (75th in 2024) are two success stories. Keep an eye on Lynden Lakovic, Washington's first on Friday at No. 27. The sharpshooting 6-foot-4 winger took a huge step this season. Some scouts are worried about his compete level, which is probably why he fell into the Capitals' lap here.<h3>High school QB West is Chicago-bound</h3>The Blackhawks take the flier of the first round at No. 29. Mason West is a 6-foot-6 playmaking center out of the Minnesota high school system. He's extremely skilled and quick. The risk is related to West's unique path: The longtime football quarterback is committed to playing his senior season at Edina High in the fall, with the stated goal of winning a state title. West is off to USHL Fargo for the 2025-26 hockey season, then Michigan State for hockey in 2026-27. Chicago clearly loves the kid; the Hawks acquired the 29th pick from Carolina in exchange for the 34th and 62nd picks in 2025, plus a fifth-rounder in 2027.<h3>Rare multi-goalie Round 1</h3>Two goalies were drafted in Round 1 for only the second time since 2012. This time Columbus and San Jose pounced in the back half, with the Blue Jackets surprising the hockey world with small but super-smart netminder Pyotr Andreyanov at No. 20 and the Sharks ending right-catching goalie Joshua Ravensbergen's slide at 30. Ravensbergen, a 6-foot-5, extremely athletic kid out of North Vancouver, British Columbia, is the consensus top guy in the class.

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2025 NHL Draft: Analysis of Round 1

With the 2025 NHL Draft beginning Friday in Los Angeles, theScore's Kyle Cushman, John Matisz, an...

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NHL mock draft: Final projections for class of 2025

Editor's note: Kashawn Aitcheson was selected 17th overall by the New York Islanders at the 2025 ...

Editor's note: Kashawn Aitcheson was <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3301178" href="https://thescore.com/news/3301178">selected 17th overall</a> by the New York Islanders at the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.Sudbury Wolves forward Nathan Villeneuve chipped the puck out of the defensive zone on a routine play late in an OHL game on Jan. 18, 2024.He was quickly met by a prowling Barrie Colts defenseman, who slammed Villeneuve's 6-foot, 195-pound body to the ice. It was the kind of punishing open-ice hit that 30 years ago would make the latest Don Cherry "Rock'em Sock'em" highlight tape - a thunderous yet legal body check. A teammate immediately came to Villeneuve's defense and engaged in a spirited 30-second fight with the deliverer of pain, Barrie blue-liner Kashawn Aitcheson.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8e4WrP3wklw?si=khZHjP8yF7RAAknx&amp;start=49" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Over the next day or two, the Wolves' team group chat lit up with a proposal straight out of a Hollywood movie script: $500, a Wolves player wrote, to the teammate who seriously injures Aitcheson in the next Sudbury-Barrie game."Put a bounty on a kid's head? In today's environment, you just can't do stuff like that," Colts general manager Marty Williamson, then also the team's head coach, said of a potentially explosive situation he managed to diffuse by sitting Aitcheson for Sudbury games until the OHL concluded an investigation.Villeneuve and forward Evan Konyen received 15- and 10-game suspensions, respectively. A March 2024 <a href="http://chl.ca/ohl/article/ohl-concludes-investigation-into-sudbury-wolves-hockey-club/">press release</a> noted that the players violated the OHL's social media policy "in a manner detrimental to the welfare of the League, one that would greatly compromise player safety and the overall integrity of the game."Aitcheson, a top prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft, which goes Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles, shrugged off the bizarre saga in a recent interview with theScore. At the time, he didn't think any Wolves would go through with the injury attempt. Still, Aitcheson said, it's comforting to know he can get into people's heads. "If that's what other teams are doing - thinking about me after games - I'm doing something right," he laughed.That's Aitcheson: he'll kill you with physicality on the ice and kindness off it.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791589/cropped_30646448__37A9306_jpg_Colts_Content_20250401_010845.jpg?ts=1750692255" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791589/w220xh124_30646448__37A9306_jpg_Colts_Content_20250401_010845.jpg?ts=1750692255 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791589/w320xh180_30646448__37A9306_jpg_Colts_Content_20250401_010845.jpg?ts=1750692255 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791589/w640xh360_30646448__37A9306_jpg_Colts_Content_20250401_010845.jpg?ts=1750692255 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791589/w768xh432_30646448__37A9306_jpg_Colts_Content_20250401_010845.jpg?ts=1750692255 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791589/w1080xh607_30646448__37A9306_jpg_Colts_Content_20250401_010845.jpg?ts=1750692255 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Handout / Barrie Colts</figcaption></figure>Aitcheson, listed at 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds, brings a lot to the table. He tallied the third-most goals among OHL defensemen, scoring 26 in 64 regular-season games this past campaign and four more in the playoffs. He's the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/draft/prospects">ninth-ranked</a> North American skater on NHL Central Scouting's final list and sits <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/with-prodigious-talent-and-boundless-potential-matthew-schaefer-tops-mckenzie-s-nhl-draft-ranking-1.2325555">13th overall </a>on Bob McKenzie's TSN list, which relies on a scout survey.The 18-year-old is projected to be drafted in the first half of Round 1, likely in the 10-16 range. There's a slight chance he sneaks into the top 10 thanks to a few factors: a lack of elite defensemen available, his skill set, and his swagger."I'll block a shot with my teeth to win a game," <a href="https://x.com/penguins/status/1936531509848015107">Aitcheson said</a> in his scouting combine interview with decision-makers from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who own the No. 11 pick. "All I want to do is win. That's all I ever think about.""The biggest strength," a former director of amateur scouting said of Aitcheson's top-10 case, "is the fact that he's a throwback type of player."Aitcheson's brief stint as a football running back shows in his fearless nature. He embraces all contact, wills pucks past the goal line with his wicked one-time shot, and celebrates goals like they're 90-yard touchdowns.In January, Aitcheson recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) against the Owen Sound Attack, the fisticuffs following a devastating <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKKVsV8oxT4">open-ice hit</a>. In February, he sniped in overtime against the Saginaw Spirit before <a href="https://x.com/OHLHockey/status/1895309291747430682">bowing at center ice</a> in celebration. In March, No. 77 for Barrie again answered the bell in a playoff game versus the Niagara IceDogs after yet another <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gkxcSdPiEQ">monster collision</a>.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791577/cropped_GettyImages-2218277608.jpg?ts=1750687164" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791577/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218277608.jpg?ts=1750687164 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791577/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218277608.jpg?ts=1750687164 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791577/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218277608.jpg?ts=1750687164 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791577/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218277608.jpg?ts=1750687164 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791577/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218277608.jpg?ts=1750687164 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Those are just a few examples of the game-shifting abilities of a Toronto teenager who dropped the gloves nine times and bagged eight overtime goals from the preseason to the end of the playoffs. "Kash," as he's known to family and friends, also flashed his physicality and offensive touch at showcase events like the CHL USA Prospects Challenge and OHL Top Prospects Game."I notice guys are careful when Kash is on the ice. You have to keep your head up," Brampton Steelheads goalie and friend Jack Ivankovic said. "He's a player who plays hard every single shift and likes getting under your skin. I've definitely heard a few chirps from him throughout the past couple of years."Tristan Bertucci, Aitcheson's most common defense partner in 2024-25, has learned to steer opposing forwards toward Aitcheson's side of the ice."Kash's physicality almost scares forwards from coming to the middle and making space for themselves," Bertucci said. "He takes away that option, which is really what you're trying to do all the time as a defenseman. You want to force the other team's forwards to be less creative and dump pucks in. If that happens, they lose possession. That's a really valuable skill to have."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Compilation of hits (and a couple fights) of dman Kashawn Aitcheson from the Barrie Colts during his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLDraft</a> year. Kash is a missile and throws bone crushing hits, as seen in the clips. The physical aspect of his game makes him an extremely attractive prospect. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2025NHLDraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2025NHLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/4SUExiuP5a">pic.twitter.com/4SUExiuP5a</a>— Ryan McArthur (@ryanpmcarthur) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryanpmcarthur/status/1925526429074141493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Aitcheson watches opponents' feet, chest, and shoulders for tells."As soon as a forward shows he's going to cut into the middle, the game slows down for me. You feel yourself meeting them for a hit, and you know it's going to be a big one," said Aitcheson, who models his game after Boston's Charlie McAvoy but is a closer stylistic match to Anaheim's Jacob Trouba.Aitcheson will be an instant fan favorite in whichever market he's drafted into. If all goes well, he'll one day land on the second pair during even-strength action and the first pair shorthanded. But there's work to do before turning pro. His skating, for one, lacks explosiveness. Some scouts aren't sold on his hockey sense, or if he'll be able to rack up goals and assists at higher levels."There are some moments where he gets a bit too excited about jumping at the body check," the former director of scouting said of another minor concern.Here's what swings the evaluation back to positivity: Scouts wanted Aitcheson to level up offensively as a draft-eligible player, and he did. His passing chops, movement in the offensive zone, and shooting accuracy have all improved."I just think he's so coachable," Williamson said. "When he walks out of video sessions, I look at my coaches and go, 'Wouldn't you love 20 of those guys?' A lot of kids come in and are like, 'Yeah, coach. Yeah, coach. Yeah, coach.' With Kash, it's always a really good discussion about what he was thinking. He wants to talk it out. Understand. Improve. Get into the details." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791590/cropped_31635419_250429_BCvsOG_GM3-3217_jpg_Colts_Content_20250430_031616.jpg?ts=1750692398" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791590/w220xh124_31635419_250429_BCvsOG_GM3-3217_jpg_Colts_Content_20250430_031616.jpg?ts=1750692398 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791590/w320xh180_31635419_250429_BCvsOG_GM3-3217_jpg_Colts_Content_20250430_031616.jpg?ts=1750692398 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791590/w640xh360_31635419_250429_BCvsOG_GM3-3217_jpg_Colts_Content_20250430_031616.jpg?ts=1750692398 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791590/w768xh432_31635419_250429_BCvsOG_GM3-3217_jpg_Colts_Content_20250430_031616.jpg?ts=1750692398 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/791590/w1080xh607_31635419_250429_BCvsOG_GM3-3217_jpg_Colts_Content_20250430_031616.jpg?ts=1750692398 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Handout / Barrie Colts</figcaption></figure>Aitcheson gets his aggressive playing style from his uncle Chris, a former Division III forward at now-defunct Becker College in Massachusetts. He still remembers cheering Chris on during his many fights in Ontario Junior A.Aitcheson's leadership skills - ranging from sticking up for his teammates on the ice to having a special handshake with each off it - formed at an early age, too. His parents divorced while he was young, which meant a lot of uncertainty, bouncing from house to house, and extra care for his younger brother, King."I'd get my brother up for school while my mom's at work, make him lunch, and be that older brother role model for him," Aitcheson recalled. "I'd make sure King needs to be where he needs to be - on time and everything. It helped me mature quickly and set me up to be a protective teammate."Aitcheson wore an assistant captain's "A" for Barrie this past season. Williamson said he'll be captain or co-captain (with Utah Mammoth first-rounder Cole Beaudoin) in 2025-26. That and his playoff-style game have combined to make him one of the most unique defensive prospects in the past few years."He's going to make life miserable on the other team's best players," the scout said when asked to summarize Aitcheson's ultimate utility in the NHL."NHL teams are dying for a guy like this," Williamson added."You just don't see this type of player all that often anymore."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31626467/related

'Teams are dying for a guy like this': Meet Kashawn Aitcheson, throwback D-man

With 6:49 left in the third period Tuesday, Connor McDavid accepted the puck on the half boards. ...

With 6:49 left in the third period Tuesday, Connor McDavid accepted the puck on the half boards. The Oilers superstar, desperate to generate something, was immediately swarmed by the stick and body positioning of Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling, who forced a McDavid dump-in.Forsling's partner, Aaron Ekblad, won a battle in the corner and sent the puck back up the strong-side wall. Winger Carter Verhaeghe made a breakout pass, and a few seconds later, center Aleksander Barkov found Sam Reinhart across the neutral zone. The Florida Man of the night deposited the puck into an open Edmonton net to make it 4-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.Amerant Bank Arena erupted. Hats and plastic rats rained down for Reinhart's third tally. McDavid slumped on the Oilers' bench. The Panthers knew then that the final six-plus minutes were a formality. The 2025 Cup was theirs - a second consecutive championship, fully and completely earned.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/cropped_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"Just as good as the first one," Reinhart, who finished with four goals on four shots in the 5-1 clincher, said as his teammates hoisted the Cup around him.Like that surgically executed empty-net goal, the Panthers put on a master class in team-first hockey throughout their 23-game playoff run. In defeating Tampa Bay in five games, Toronto in seven, Carolina in five, and Edmonton in six, they became only the 10th team to repeat as champions.It was the club's third straight Cup Final appearance, putting it in dynasty territory. It's notable that both Cups came against a generational player, and that Florida demoralized teams, going 23-2 when leading after one period and 33-1 when leading after two in the playoffs since 2023. Florida also dominated on the road on this third run, winning 10 of 13 games. In the final specifically, the Panthers held the lead for a record 255:49 to the Oilers' 33:51.The 2024-25 Panthers were, in a word, inevitable."This is way harder than I thought it would be. To win twice, we put so much work into this. I'm so proud of this group," Sam Bennett said. The second-line center with ordinary regular-season numbers bagged 15 goals - including a record 13 on the road - in 23 brilliant games. Florida's No. 1 hitter collected 11 of 18 first-place votes to claim the Conn Smythe Trophy.The Panthers dressed 22 skaters in the playoffs, none of them weak links - 19 scored at least once while six reached 20 points. The line-by-line results are outrageous. Barkov, the top-line center, was on the ice for 19 goals for and 15 against at five-on-five despite facing the stiffest possible competition. Bennett finished at 17-11, Anton Lundell 24-8, and Tomas Nosek 5-1.Lundell, Brad Marchand, and Eetu Luostarinen were magical together. The trio will go down as arguably the most effective third line of the salary-cap era.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/cropped_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/cropped_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Christian Petersen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The enviable depth provided cover. Someone like Verhaeghe could go quiet for a stretch and it didn't put a dent into the operation. The clutch shooter would then snap out of it to pot the winning goal in a game in which one of the Panthers' other top nine forwards were having an off night.The depth also showed on defense (2.43 goals against per game, 86.4% penalty kill rate). The lineup featured the Selke Trophy winner in Barkov; a Selke finalist in Reinhart; other ultra-responsible forwards like Matthew Tkachuk, Marchand, Lundell, and Luostarinen; a large, rangy, and mobile defense corps; and a Hall of Fame-bound goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky.Not a single soul cares about Barkov's eight-game goal drought after he and Forsling limited McDavid to two points in the final four games."Their forecheck was great and they tilted the rink," McDavid <a href="https://x.com/JayOnSC/status/1935229953299145134/">told reporters</a>. "They were able to stay on top of us all over the place. We were never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. We kept trying the same thing over and over again, just banging our heads against the wall."Credit to them. They played well."Rival fan bases can pout all they want about the weather and tax advantages enjoyed by Florida-based teams. Those advantages are real (if not overblown) yet also completely irrelevant if the organization's poorly run. The Panthers wandered in the wilderness for two decades.The current juggernaut roster is the product of pro scouting excellence. Only four of the 23 players who saw playoff action were drafted by the Panthers (Barkov, Ekblad, Lundell, and Mackie Samoskevich). The rest were signed through free agency (11), acquired via trade (seven), or picked up on waivers (Forsling).General manager Bill Zito, a finalist or winner of the NHL's executive of the year award four of his five seasons in Florida, has taken a ton of risks - he won't make a first-round pick between 2022 and 2027 due to aggressive trades. But those picks matter little considering the 2025-27 firsts turned into irreplaceable contributors Tkachuk, Seth Jones, and Marchand."That guy is the biggest dawg I think I've ever played with. He's incredible," Bennett said of Marchand, who was acquired with Jones in separate trades ahead of March's deadline."The best leader. He leads by example, he speaks up. He's fearless out there," Bennett added about 37-year-old Marchand, who looked fantastic in a third-line role, posting 20 points. "I have been telling him this whole playoffs, 'We're following you.' And we followed him this whole playoff run."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/cropped_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/cropped_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Zito turned over more than a third of last year's lineup. And he made that many changes and felt confident there wouldn't be too many issues - if any - because of head coach Paul Maurice. While Maurice's system isn't easy for players to adjust to, it can be liberating once a player settles in. Panthers hockey is smothering hockey, and it requires full buy-in from everyone."Can't give the coaching staff enough credit. They did a lot of video with me when I got here. Completely different system than what I'm used to," Jones, a champion at 30, said. "But they said at the end of the day, everyone here has to trust their instincts. Be aggressive in what you do. And that's what we did. Each guy trusts each other and they trust the system."Jones added, "Bill Zito believed in me and gave me a chance. This is (the) best day of my life."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/cropped_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Panthers paced themselves, looking unmotivated at times in the regular season. They finished third in the Atlantic Division, then beat a higher-seeded team every round. They showed resilience in games and series, most notably beating Toronto after falling behind 2-0 in the series and 2-0 midway through the first period of Game 3, and bouncing back following a Game 1 overtime loss to Edmonton.From a purely vibes and culture perspective, the Panthers check off several dynastic boxes. The leadership group - from the loquacious Maurice to heart-and-soul assistant captain Tkachuk to introverted captain Barkov - is diverse and focused on the right things. High standards. Consistency. Respect from everybody and to everybody on the roster, from the stars to the role players.The Cup handoff order spoke volumes. Barkov lifted the Cup first, as is tradition. It then went to first-time winners like Nate Schmidt, Jones, Nosek, Vitek Vanecek, and A.J. Greer. Bennett, the playoff MVP, was the 17th guy to raise it. No big deal. "We really love each other as a group," Bennett said.The Panthers' trajectory changed once Maurice and Tkachuk arrived in the summer of 2022. Neither move was a guaranteed home run at the time but both ultimately led to a legendary celebration at the famous Elbo Room beach bar in Fort Lauderdale last June. How about now, a year later?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m in <a href="https://t.co/p8UK4wsvEB">https://t.co/p8UK4wsvEB</a>— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TKACHUKycheese_/status/1935260007324377175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"We've gotta be a dynasty now," said Tkachuk, who fought through <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3301377" href="https://thescore.com/news/3301377">significant injuries</a> during the run. "Three finals in a row, two championships. This team is so special. 'Stanley Cup champion.' This never gets old."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31580515/related

Champions again: Inevitable Panthers make dynasty case

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey related and I t...

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey related and I try my best to deliver an insightful answer.Note: the questions below were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/cropped_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Tyler Tate / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>T.J. asks: Will the NHL ever return to the 1-8 seeding playoff format? I feel that the divisional playoff format is stale, as watching the same matchups each year gets repetitive. Teams are missing out on rivalries outside of their division.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>I've received a bunch of questions similar to this one. Fans seem ready for a change after 12 years of the NHL trying to manufacture regional rivalries.The current format (three seeds per division, two wild cards per conference) has led to too many <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3257556" href="https://thescore.com/news/3257556">repeat matchups</a> over a short period and too many excellent teams being eliminated in Rounds 1 and 2. Reverting to the 1-versus-8 format, which the NHL used from 1994 through 2013, would give the 82-game regular season extra weight and lessen the likelihood of a division winner facing off against a strong opponent in the opening round. Reseeding after each round is another exciting and equitable feature of the 1-versus-8 setup.Commissioner Gary Bettman has been consistent on this topic, saying he sees no issues with the format and doesn't like the idea of a play-in round. "Best team to win the (Stanley) Cup has got to get through the best teams," Bettman <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3246253/bettman-no-plans-to-change-playoff-format-or-extend-overtime">told reporters</a> in March. "And you know what? Having great matchups in the first round, that's terrific. That's not a problem, that's a great thing."Bettman, 73, hasn't revealed his timeline for retirement, but he won't be running the league forever. If his successor is looking for some early public relations victories, reimagining the playoff format would be a good start.The worst part of the current setup is that Round 3 tends to feature two teams who deserve to be there and two who have technically earned their spots but also probably benefited from the rigid bracket setup. Case in point: 2021 was the last time a conference final series required all seven games.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/cropped_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w220xh124_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w320xh180_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w640xh360_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w768xh432_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Nic Antaya / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>wingsfan13 asks: Do you believe in the Yzerplan/GM Steve Yzerman? Lots of solid draft picks, but most of the free-agent signings have been disastrous. Vladimir Tarasenko, Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Justin Holl, Erik Gustafsson, and Ville Husso are the obvious ones, and I think everyone's still confused about the Jake Walman trade. And now Yzerman's on coach No. 2. What grade would you give Yzerman's tenure?Former general manager Ken Holland left Yzerman with a mess of a roster in April 2019. Yzerman's made progress over the past six years through the so-called "Yzerplan," yet sustained on-ice success still feels like a pipe dream.Let's start with drafting and developing. Cornerstone pieces Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, and Marco Kasper are all first-round success stories. But Detroit's turned only a few players selected beyond the opening round into everyday NHLers despite averaging 9.8 picks per draft.The GM also fumbled the blue-line construction by betting on the wrong veterans - 2022 signees Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta, 2023 signee Holl, 2023 trade acquisition Jeff Petry, and 2024 signee Gustafsson. Oh, and that aforementioned Walman swap? Yzerman traded the top-four defenseman and a second-round pick to San Jose for literally nothing. Massive misread.Yzerman hasn't found an answer between the pipes and <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3271971">disappointed</a> captain Dylan Larkin by not adding talent ahead of the most recent trade deadline. The team regressed from 91 points in 2023-24 to 86 in 2024-25. The flip side to the conservatism: Detroit has mountains of cap space moving forward.My main take is that Yzerman would be on the hot seat if he were somebody else. Ownership trusts him six years into a mediocre rebuild more than it should because he's a franchise icon. The overall grade here is C-minus.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/cropped_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Slinger92 asks: Do you think the NHL will ever start assessing penalties or disallowing goals if a player isn't wearing his mouth guard properly? I haven't seen Matthew Tkachuk score a goal without his mouth guard hanging out.Fun question, especially with Tkachuk scoring twice in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night, but the answer is no. The mouth guard isn't a mandatory piece of equipment, so players like Tkachuk aren't violating a rule.I do find it comical that grown men turn the mouth guard into an adult soother or chew toy, defeating its protective qualities. To each their own, I guess!?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/cropped_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dennis Pajot / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>ahawthorne56812 asks: The days of Patrick Roy and Carey Price are gone, and Jordan Binnington is NOT Olympic-starter quality. What Canadian prospects can bring back the days of those Hall of Fame-caliber goalies?I hate to break it to you, but there isn't a single Canadian goalie in the NHL now or in the pipeline who fits that lofty description. Canada has fallen way behind Russia, the United States, and Sweden in the elite netminder category, and a course correction could take a decade or longer.That said, we're talking about the unpredictable world of goaltending here. A B-level prospect could blossom into a star NHL starter by the 2030 Olympics.Here are three names to watch:Mackenzie Blackwood, Avalanche: Goalie experts love Blackwood, believing the 28-year-old still has upside. A physical freak, the muscular 6-foot-4 netminder is extremely athletic for his size. Projecting him as a future Hall of Famer would be crazy, but there's a decent chance he someday surpasses Binnington's tier of goalie and earns Vezina Trophy consideration.Sebastian Cossa, AHL Grand Rapids: The 2021 first-round pick has shown flashes of brilliance for the Red Wings' top affiliate, posting a .909 save percentage in 84 games over the past three seasons. While the hype train from his draft year has slowed, Cossa remains on an NHL starter's trajectory. He's 22, large (6-foot-6, 209 pounds), technically sound, and agile between the pipes.Joshua Ravensbergen, WHL Prince George: Ravensbergen, 18, is a late bloomer expected to go in the first round of June's draft. The 6-foot-5 right-catching goalie is best known for his elite puck tracking. He's at least a few years away from NHL duty, yet undoubtedly one of the most promising netminding prospects out of Canada since Price (drafted fifth overall in 2005).<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/cropped_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w220xh124_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w320xh180_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w640xh360_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w768xh432_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w1080xh607_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Lance A. asks: I believe in soccer, only the players on the pitch at the end of extra time are allowed to participate in the shootout. Are NHL teams allowed to switch goalies for the shootout? Are there any specific rules? Do you know if any team has done it in the past? What were the reasons for the change?A team is indeed allowed to switch goalies before the shootout.The NHL rule book states, "All players are eligible to participate in the shootout unless they are serving a 10-minute misconduct or have been assessed a game misconduct or match penalty." One wrinkle: A team can't replace a goalie in the middle of a shootout for performance reasons. The netminder must be injured.According to the NHL's stats and research department, a team has called upon a cold goalie just seven times in the 20-season history of the shootout, although four were because of injury:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Coming in cold" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-O70Ri" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O70Ri/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="606" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><div> </div><div> </div>Former Leafs coach Ron Wilson told reporters in 2008 that he was "playing the percentages" by replacing Vesa Toskala with Curtis Joseph after 65 minutes."I'm not going to hesitate to do that until we get Tosk a little more practice - a different way of thinking on stopping the other team in shootouts," <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/oilers-edged-by-stars-in-shootout-1.600213">Wilson said</a> of Toskala's 2-9 shootout record at the time. "I had nothing to lose."<div> </div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/cropped_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Sabau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Chris M. asks: Suggestion: If a team scores while up six-on-five because of a delayed penalty, it should still get a power play. Thoughts? This could possibly increase scoring and be a momentum changer.I don't love it. The six-on-five time created by a delayed penalty is an extension of the upcoming power play and should thus be treated as such.Two related thoughts: The NHL should adopt the <a href="https://www.thescore.com/pwhl/news/2840542">"jailbreak" rule</a> introduced by the PWHL, where a shorthanded goal frees the player from the penalty box. I like the idea of teams being rewarded for shorties, and in theory, more aggressive penalty kills lead to defensive breakdowns and power-play goals. As far as juicing scoring-chance numbers, it's a win-win. Also, the shorthanded team shouldn't be allowed to ice the puck. This rule has never made sense to me, and it confuses new fans. Killers shouldn't get a free pass.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:<ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email senior NHL writer John Matisz at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
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<li>Send John a message on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/MatiszJohn">@matiszjohn</a>)</li>
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NHL Inbox: Yzerplan grade? Next great Canadian goalie?

Edmonton's Game 3 implosion aside, the Stanley Cup Final has been as advertised - tight, exhilara...

Edmonton's Game 3 <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3298197" href="https://thescore.com/news/3298197">implosion</a> aside, the Stanley Cup Final has been as advertised - tight, exhilarating, and full of storylines. The Panthers hold a 2-1 lead over the Oilers with Game 4 set for Thursday night in Sunrise, Florida."I don't think our best has shown up all series long, but it's coming," Oilers captain Connor McDavid told reporters following the 6-1 defeat in Game 3.There's weight to McDavid's words. Down 3-0 in last year's final, Edmonton dominated Florida in Game 4, then won Games 5 and 6 to force a title-decider.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Below we lay out each team's mid-series Cup case.<h3>Panthers' case</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/cropped_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>This Cup Final rematch was well-hyped for a variety of reasons, including the stylistic clash between a forechecking giant (Florida) and a fast-break nightmare (Edmonton). It turns out one team doesn't care for the contrast.The Panthers are capable of trading rush chances if a game becomes a track meet, whereas the Oilers tend to get stuck in the mud if a game hinges on puck retrievals, board battles, and cycles. Put another way, Florida's better at playing Edmonton's preferred style than Edmonton is at playing Florida's.A chief reason for the imbalance: There are no passengers in the Panthers' top nine. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand, Eetu Luostarinen, and Evan Rodrigues are all impact players in their own right and, perhaps most importantly, are highly intelligent players who consistently adapt their game to the style du jour.Reinhart, for instance, is both a master of the little details (getting pucks off the wall and into space, deflecting wide point shots, intercepting opponents' passes) and a lethal sniper off the rush. The winger, declared fully healthy by coach Paul Maurice on Tuesday, has been misfiring a ton lately but did snap a five-game goal drought in Game 3. It came off a hard forecheck, of course.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/cropped_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Bennett and Marchand accounting for eight of Florida's 14 goals must be keeping Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch up at night. It's starting to feel inevitable that the rest of the top nine - three total goals - will pop off. Tkachuk, who's bagged five goals off 90 shot attempts in the playoffs, is due.Meanwhile, the Panthers' sparingly used fourth line is serviceable.Resilience runs through the forward group, and it'll be extra important in the last stretch of the final. From Jonah Gadjovich (team-low 7:40 a night) to Barkov (20:24, each second against stiff competition), there's an understanding that a goal against or a cheap shot against is not cause for panic. Go back out there and score one yourself. Go out and draw a penalty.<h3>Oilers' case</h3>The hill to climb, while not impossibly steep, is still a challenging one.To recap: The Oilers need to win three of four. They're not as healthy as the opposition, with Zach Hyman out for the series and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a game-time decision for Thursday. There are questions about goaltending quality and an inability to stay out of the penalty box. And McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are coming off a game in which they combined for one shot attempt.As for the optimistic view, Edmonton boasts not only the greatest player of his generation and arguably the second-best player on the planet but also irrefutable evidence that Nos. 97 and 29 can rise to the occasion. The Oilers own a confidence-boosting 18-2 record in Games 4-7 in the Knoblauch era.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/cropped_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>They also have the first two games of this series as proof the Panthers are solvable. Both games went to overtime and the aggregate five-on-five score was 5-4 for Florida. One goal is nothing in a hotly contested Cup Final.There's a chance the referees put their whistles away following a penalty-filled Game 3. The Oilers would be fine with that shift because they've killed off only 67% of penalties and tend to thrive in games with fewer stops and starts. In general, Edmonton, a team filled with wily veterans, has surely learned its lesson around the extracurricular stuff.For how surgical the Panthers can be, they play with fire by applying so much pressure in the neutral and offensive zones. Do that enough times against McDavid and you'll eventually pay. Sergei Bobrovsky is a future Hall of Famer, but he's not spoken about in the same terms as countryman Andrei Vasilevskiy or other all-time clutch goalies for a reason - he isn't impenetrable.The Oilers need fewer low-percentage "Bouch bombs" off the stick of Evan Bouchard and more high-danger chaos. McDavid, Draisaitl, and Corey Perry have been tremendous as Knoblauch's so-called nuclear option, controlling 69% of the attempts, 69% of the shots, and 71% of the goals in 25 minutes together. With a maximum of four games remaining in the season, McDavid and Draisaitl can empty the tank and throw everything they have at Bobrovsky.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Strength vs. strength: Making mid-series Cup case for Panthers, Oilers

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John Matisz

Senior NHL Writer

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theScore Staff

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Kyle Cushman

News editor

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