The Florida Panthers clawed their way back into the Stanley Cup Final, earning an overtime victory in Game 3 to give themselves a fighting chance against the Vegas Golden Knights.Can they level the series Saturday, or will the Golden Knights head home with a chance to win the Stanley Cup in Game 5?Let's take a closer look at the contest and a play that stands out.Golden Knights (+105) @ Panthers (-125)Hockey is a funny sport sometimes. Statistically speaking, the Golden Knights had their best game of the series in a lot of ways.They posted their highest expected goals for percentage, generated a significant amount of high-quality scoring opportunities, and mostly neutered the Panthers' attack with stout defense.Florida's expected goal output was the lowest it's been all series, and the team registered only 23 shots in nearly 65 minutes of hockey.As fate would have it, the Golden Knights lost. I don't think it's because they played poorly and are in need of drastic adjustments. It really comes down to goaltending.Sergei Bobrovsky posted a .926 save percentage and looked like the guy we saw over the first three rounds. Adin Hill posted an .870 save percentage. It really is that simple.That the Panthers gave it their best shot and had only 23 shots in a must-win game is concerning.To get a result with that kind of effort, Florida needs Hill to struggle and/or Bobrovsky to produce an all-world showing. If the Panthers lose the goaltending battle, they lose the game more often than not.I think the Golden Knights should feel really good about where they stand. They know they can absorb the best punches the Panthers are capable of, and with one good showing, they'll return home with a chance to win it all.Look for them to make the most of the opportunity at hand and rebound with a win.Bet: Golden Knights (+105)Sam Bennett over 3.5 shots (play to -125)Bennett has done everything but score in this series. He's lived around the net and generated shots in bulk, piling up 25 attempts through just three games. Nobody on either team has matched that total, let alone surpassed it.I expect Bennett to have another productive shooting performance in Game 4. Not only has he shown the ability to get to the dirty areas and create shots against this stingy Vegas team, but he's fared much better on home ice all season long.Playoffs included, Bennett averaged 3.5 shots per game in Florida this season. That number dips to 2.9 on the road, which is a rather significant gap over such a large sample size.Expect Bennett and the Panthers' top players to get all the ice they can handle with the chance to even the series in Sunrise.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils traded pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Damon Severson to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick originally owned by the Calgary Flames, the teams announced.Just prior to the trade, Severson signed an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. The signing had to be completed before the trade in order for Severson to receive the maximum eight-year term.This marks the second splash of the week by Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in an effort to bolster his blue line after acquiring Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers as part of a three-way trade on Tuesday."Damon is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size, and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice," Kekalainen said in a statement. "We are excited to have him join the Blue Jackets, as he will be a very important part of our blue line for many years to come."Severson was considered by many to be the top free agent available in a relatively weak UFA class. He shoots right and brings good mobility considering his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame.The 28-year-old tallied 33 points in 82 games for the Devils this past season. He registered a career-high 46 points in 2021-22. New Jersey selected Severson in the second round of the 2012 draft.Severson played a top-four role for the Devils for four years from 2018-22, but he took on more sheltered third-pairing duties this past season after New Jersey acquired John Marino in the offseason. Still, Severson has posted strong underlying numbers over the past three campaigns: Evolving-HockeySeverson immediately becomes Columbus' top right-shooting defenseman. After him, there's a multitude of options, including 2022 sixth overall pick David Jiricek, 2018 eighth overall pick Adam Boqvist, hard-nosed veterans Andrew Peeke and Erik Gudbranson, and Nick Blankenburg.The left side of the Jackets' blue line is pretty set with Zach Werenski, Provorov, and Jake Bean. It's possible Columbus could deal from its surplus at right defense to improve other areas of the roster. Center is the club's most pressing need.The Blue Jackets had an aggressive 2022 offseason, too, most notably signing the top free agent in Johnny Gaudreau, but a host of key injuries led to a disappointing last-place finish in the Metropolitan Division for the club. They hold the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.Columbus is also reportedly expected to hire decorated bench boss Mike Babcock as its new head coach after June 30.The Devils, meanwhile, are still set up well on the right side of their blue line, with Dougie Hamilton, Marino, and 2022 second overall pick Simon Nemec.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have brought back Andreas Athanasiou on a two-year pact carrying a $4.25-million cap hit, the team confirmed Thursday.Athanasiou was a pending unrestricted free agent. The Blackhawks inked him to a one-year, $3-million contract last July.The forward, who'll turn 29 on August 6, collected 20 goals and 20 assists while playing all but one game for the Blackhawks this season.

Physicality has been part of the reason for the Florida Panthers' miraculous run to the Stanley Cup Final, but head coach Paul Maurice believes his team could benefit by toning it down a notch against the Vegas Golden Knights."I think the Boston series was more physical than this series," Maurice said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I think we've made this series more physical than it needs to be."We had 22 hits in the first period in Game 2. Prorate that out, and you don't need 66 hits in a game. As a matter of fact, there's an energy cost to that. We have hitters ... but I don't necessarily need Carter Verhaeghe to have five."The Panthers were credited with 36 hits in Game 1 and 44 in Game 2. Their aggressive forecheck has been part of their success this postseason, but the Golden Knights have countered with quick breakouts to help take a 2-0 series lead.Florida's undisciplined play has also been a factor so far in the Cup Final. Vegas has gone 4-for-11 with the man advantage while the Panthers' power play has gone ice-cold, failing to convert on seven opportunities."We just need to be a little smarter in certain situations," forward Anthony Duclair said. "Last thing we want to do is keep getting penalties and putting those guys on the power play. Obviously, they've got tons of skill, tons of talent, and can make us pay. We're going to see a little smarter hockey tonight out of us."Maurice, however, dismissed the notion that physicality has gotten the Panthers in penalty trouble."I don't think physicality and discipline have necessarily anything to do with each other," Maurice said. "Discipline is a touchy subject right now for us, and we'll just leave it at that."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights successfully defended home ice in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, winning both while outscoring the Florida Panthers 12-4 on aggregate.Can the Panthers push back in Game 3 or will the Golden Knights put them on the brink of elimination? Let's take a closer look.Golden Knights (+105) @ Panthers (-125)The scorelines we've seen through two games are not very flattering to the Panthers.While there are definitely some red flags - they've taken far too many penalties and Sergei Bobrovsky looks vulnerable - I think the Panthers played a lot better than the scoreboard suggests.At five-on-five, the Panthers won the high-danger chance battle 22-21 while outshooting the Golden Knights. Adin Hill performed at a very high level and Bobrovsky didn't, combining with Alex Lyon to allow nearly 20% of the shots faced at full strength.Goaltending is by and large the difference right now. Bobrovsky hasn't been the unbeatable force we saw through three rounds (quite the contrary), and Hill has.I think the majority of the Panthers' game is in an OK spot. They're more than holding their own at five-on-five. They just need to be more disciplined and, ideally, get even average goaltending from Bobrovsky. They don't need to raise their level that much. They're going to come out firing at home and empty the tank to get a result in Game 3.If they lose this game, the series is as good as over. They know it, you know it, and I know it.I'm expecting the Panthers to match the Golden Knights at even strength, if not outplay them. So long as they can get a save, I like their chances of making this a series - at least temporarily.Bet: Panthers (-125)Aleksander Barkov over 2.5 shots (-130)Injuries don't seem to be hampering the Panthers' star center. He attempted 13 shots over the first couple games, which is as many or more than every other forward in the series.Barkov came up a puck shy in Game 1 - albeit not for a lack of opportunities - and followed that up with a successful eight-attempt performance.I'm expecting another productive effort from Barkov in Game 3. He has been a machine at home all season, going over the number in 27 of 42 games (64%) in Florida.He is routinely playing 22-plus minutes and that will no doubt remain the case with the team's season on the line. It's also worth noting Barkov has a strong history against the Golden Knights, going over in four of six meetings while attempting at least five shots in all but one of them.Win or lose, I'm expecting Barkov to get his fair share of looks on net.Matthew Tkachuk over 3.5 shots (-110)Double dip? Double dip! We're running it back with another Panthers shooter.Tkachuk is a monster on home ice. He's registered at least four shots in 30 of 46 games in Florida, hitting at a healthy 65% clip. He has enjoyed success against the Golden Knights, too, going over the number in three of four meetings this year.Tkachuk himself talked about simplifying things and getting more pucks on Hill in this game. He'll certainly have a plethora of opportunities to do just that, as the puck is always on his stick in the offensive zone and he's going to get as many minutes as he can handle.Look for him to make the most of them.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Panthers better hope that home-ice advantage - which hasn't been all that relevant throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs - is a series-changer Thursday night. Home teams went 19-31 in the first round and have been essentially a 50-50 proposition since. With the Stanley Cup Final heading down to Sunrise for the first time in the finals, the Panthers will hope the sun doesn't set on their championship hopes.Series: Golden Knights (-500) vs. Panthers (+400)Even-strength numbersTEAMxGHDCHDGGolden Knights4.08235Panthers4.57222At even strength, the Golden Knights haven't generated pressure - measured in expected goals - or high-danger chances at a wildly greater level than their opponents. However, a gap in goaltending quality led to disaster for Florida in Game 2.Adin Hill has 3.17 goals saved above expected this series, while the Panthers' netminders combined for minus-3.54 GSAx. That's an almost seven-goal gap. The Golden Knights got back to doing what they do best Monday - converting even-strength high-danger chances at an outlandish rate. Vegas had 10 such chances in Game 2 and scored four goals.Panthers head coach Paul Maurice says he has "complete faith in what (Sergei Bobrovsky) can do in Game 3." What else could he say? We knew before the series that the Panthers would need at least average goaltending, and they haven't gotten that yet. That's the first step to turning this series around. Scoring more on Hill - whose play has been surprisingly awesome - would help too.We're still waiting on Florida's first power-play goal of the series, while Vegas scored the first and last of its seven goals in Game 2 on the man advantage. That's something few could've seen coming given that the Panthers converted 28% of their power plays coming into this series, while the Golden Knights had converted just 18%.Florida is the slight favorite for Thursday's game. The +400 payout on a Panthers series comeback suggests they can win four of the next five games 20% of the time.That means a bet on the Panthers at this point is a bet on whether you think Maurice is onto something - that Bobrovsky will be better (and Hill worse). That'd give Florida a chance to translate the comparable even-strength metrics to a more even result on the scoreboard.Ideally, the Panthers will be more disciplined. But looking at most of the penalties taken, it's hard to know where the line is between playing aggressively and out of control. Vegas is 4/11 on the power play, while Florida is 0/7. Those will need to get closer to level after the next two games. I'm willing to believe that'll happen in the two games in Sunrise - the Panthers could go 3/9 on the power play while the Golden Knights go 1/7.Accomplishing these two hypothetical goals might get this series back to even, at which point having a +400 ticket in pocket would provide some flexibility.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2023 unrestricted free-agent class projects to be one of the weakest in recent memory, so teams may resort to the trade market in order to boost their squads. They already have, too, beginning with the three-way deal that sent Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. But several other intriguing players could be available via trade. Let's take a look.Noah Hanifin, FlamesTrade potential: ★★★☆☆Elias Lindholm, FlamesTrade potential: ★★★☆☆ Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyThe Calgary Flames are entering a new era under general manager Craig Conroy, and during his introductory press conference he made it clear he doesn't intend on losing key pending unrestricted free agents for nothing - as the club did with Johnny Gaudreau a year ago.The Flames have several crucial 2024 UFAs. Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund, and Chris Tanev are among them, but we've decided to highlight Lindholm and Hanifin since they'd likely draw the most interest if they were made available. While they're also likely Calgary's biggest priorities to keep, the Flames would be wise to move them if they can't lock them up to long-term deals.Lindholm had a down year in 2022-23, tallying 64 points in 80 games in what was a disappointing season for the team. But he's just one year removed from a 42-goal, 82-point campaign that saw him finish as the Selke Trophy runner up. Centers of his ilk rarely become available, so there will be no shortage of suitors if he's up for grabs.Hanifin hasn't completely lived up to the potential of being a top-five draft pick, but he's still a solid player. And 6-foot-3 defenseman who skate well are always highly coveted around the league. Plus, he's still only 26 years old with room to grow.Alex DeBrincat, SenatorsTrade potential: ★★★★☆ Minas Panagiotakis / Getty ImagesDeBrincat was Ottawa's prized offseason addition in 2022, but he could be on the move once again in 2023, as the Senators have reportedly already begun dangling him on the open market. He's a pending restricted free agent this summer who could simply accept his $9-million qualifying offer and walk to unrestricted free agency in 2024.The Senators continue to make strides and should once again compete for a playoff spot in 2023-24, but they're not yet at the point in their build where they can afford to lose a key UFA for nothing. If DeBrincat isn't willing to commit long-term this offseason, Ottawa may have to deal him.DeBrincat's first season in Ottawa was a down year by his standards, as he tallied 27 goals and 66 points in 82 games, but the 25-year-old winger still brings 40-goal potential.Erik Karlsson, SharksTrade potential: ★★★☆☆ Kavin Mistry / National Hockey League / GettyThere were rumors of a Karlsson trade during the 2022-23 campaign. Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in November he was open to offers for the star defenseman, and the Edmonton Oilers reportedly showed interest in Karlsson before landing Mattias Ekholm to bolster their blue line. And while Karlsson said he's "fully invested" in San Jose, he's also expressed his desire to win. And it doesn't appear the Sharks will be doing that any time soon.There are complicated factors, of course. Karlsson possesses a full no-movement clause, so he chooses his own adventure. He also carries an $11.5-million cap hit - the fourth-highest in the NHL - for four more seasons through his age-36 campaign. The Sharks are almost certainly going to have to retain a portion of that deal to facilitate a move. But they'd be foolish not to.Karlsson was finally healthy in 2022-23 after years of being plagued by injuries, and he produced a historically great season, becoming the sixth defenseman ever, and first since 1991-92, to rack up 100 points. If there was ever a time for the Sharks to maximize their value for Karlsson, it's now.Colton Parayko, BluesTrade potential: ★☆☆☆☆ Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPerhaps surprisingly, the St. Louis Blues were reportedly open to moving one of their top four defensemen ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. Unsurprisingly, Colton Parayko was the one drawing the most interest.The Blues ultimately never made such a deal, but it remains possible they'd be open to the idea of dealing Parayko now that the offseason is under way. After all, St. Louis finished with the 10th-worst record in the NHL, and the team appears to be making an effort to get younger.At age 30, Parayko isn't old, but he's no spring chicken, either. He's under contract for seven more seasons with a $6.5-million cap hit. A contract of that length carries some risk for a team that could undergo a youth movement in a few years time, but it would be more than worth it for a club looking to win immediately.Parayko is exactly the type of defenseman contending teams covet. He's a physical, 6-foot-6, right-handed shutdown blue-liner. His playoff pedigree is an asset, as he played a key role in St. Louis' 2019 Stanley Cup run, logging 25:07 per contest in 26 playoff games.Blues GM Doug Armstrong doesn't have to move Parayko, but if he's willing to listen to offers, he could fetch quite a haul.Mitch Marner, Maple LeafsTrade potential: ★☆☆☆☆William Nylander, Maple LeafsTrade potential: ★★☆☆☆ Andrew Lahodynskyj / National Hockey League / GettyToronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan reportedly told the team's core forwards that they're unlikely to be traded. But with a new GM in charge in Brad Treliving, anything could be on the table.Barring a proclamation from Auston Matthews that he won't re-sign, the club's top center isn't going anywhere. And with John Tavares' hefty $11-million cap hit and a no-movement clause, he's staying put, too.That leaves Mitch Marner and William Nylander. If the Leafs are actually going to shake up their core, it will likely be by moving one of their star wingers.Marner gains a no-movement clause on July 1, so if they're going to move him, they better act fast. But it wouldn't be easy for the club to win a trade involving a 99-point winger who's a Selke Trophy finalist, so a deal for him doesn't seem likely, especially considering he won't be a UFA until 2025.Nylander, on the other hand, only gains a 10-team no-trade list on July 1, so moving him would be much easier. Plus, his $6.96-million cap hit would be more palatable for teams to take on. Nylander can be a UFA in 2024, so if extension negotiations stall, moving him is a possibility. And as a 27-year-old winger coming off a career-high 40 goals and 47 assists, there would be no shortage of suitors.Pierre-Luc Dubois, JetsTrade potential: ★★★★★Connor Hellebuyck, JetsTrade potential: ★★★★☆Mark Scheifele, JetsTrade potential: ★★★★☆ Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyFollowing another early playoff exit, we already outlined why the Winnipeg Jets could be in line for big changes this offseason. Dubois, Hellebuyck, Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Nino Niederreiter, Brenden Dillon, and Dylan DeMelo can all become UFAs in 2024. It's unlikely the Jets can re-sign them all, so blowing it up is a very possible outcome.Dubois in particular seems like a lock to get traded, as he and agent Pat Brisson are reportedly looking to facilitate a swap about a year after telling the team he planned to test free agency in 2024. As a 24-year-old, 6-foot-2 center coming off a 63-point campaign, teams will be lining up for Dubois - even though the price will be steep.Hellebuyck will draw plenty of interest if made available, too. The 30-year-old remains one of the game's few remaining workhorse netminders, and he's been remarkably consistent throughout his career. In the last six seasons, he's led the league in games played four times while never posting a save percentage below .910.Scheifele has struggled defensively in recent years and even got moved from center to wing down the stretch in 2022-23, but he's still a highly productive offensive player. The Jets could be selling at a great time, though, as he's coming off a career-high 42-goal season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pierre-Luc Dubois' future with the Winnipeg Jets has long been uncertain, but the saga has taken another twist, as the player is now hoping for a move elsewhere."(Dubois is) not eligible to be (an unrestricted free agent) until next summer in 2024, but our understanding is that (agent) Pat Brisson has informed the Winnipeg Jets that his client isn't inclined to sign an extension this summer," TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Wednesday's edition of "Insider Trading."LeBrun added, "Brisson would like to work with the Winnipeg Jets on a trade for Dubois to another team."Dubois, a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, told the Jets a year ago that he planned to test the free-agent market in 2024.He signed a one-year pact for $6 million as an RFA on July 22, 2022. Nine days before that, Brisson said the 24-year-old would be open to playing for the Montreal Canadiens some day. Dubois said Brisson's comment was blown out of proportion.Dubois established career highs with 36 assists and 63 points last season. He's played two full campaigns and three in total with Winnipeg. The Jets acquired him and a third-round pick in a trade that sent Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic to the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2021.The Blue Jackets drafted Dubois third overall in 2016.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings re-signed pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a two-year extension with an average annual value of $5.875 million, the team announced.The contract carries a full no-movement clause, and $10.2 million of the deal will be paid in signing bonuses, TSN's Chris Johnston reports. His base salary will be $775,000 each season, adds Johnston.Gavrikov was acquired by the Kings at the deadline from the Columbus Blue Jackets and thrived during his time in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound defender played a key shutdown role alongside Matt Roy down the stretch and into the playoffs.The 27-year-old has posted strong defensive metrics over the past three seasons: Evolving-HockeyGavrikov isn't known as a point producer, as his career high is only 33. But he flashed some offensive potential with the Kings, tallying three goals and six assists in 20 regular-season contests after the trade.The Kings dealt fellow defenseman Sean Walker and goaltender Cal Petersen on Wednesday to help create the necessary cap space to bring back Gavrikov.Los Angeles' blue line projects as follows for 2023-24:LDRDMikey AndersonDrew DoughtyVladislav GavrikovMatt RoyTobias BjornfotSean DurziBrandt ClarkeGoaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who joined Gavrikov in the trade that sent a first-round pick, a third-rounder, and Jonathan Quick to Columbus, is the Kings' biggest remaining UFA.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is committed to ramping up contract talks with restricted free-agent forward Timo Meier this week."We would love nothing better to tie him up long term," Fitzgerald said, per NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "That's our goal. That's what (agent) Claude (Lemieux) and I will go through.""I want them to understand what New Jersey is, what the organization is, the living - I think New Jersey is a diamond in the rough - the travel, all the positive things. Give him a chance to settle in and go: 'OK, I hope you want to be here.' Those are some of the things we'll go through."The Devils acquired Meier from the San Jose Sharks prior to this season's trade deadline. New Jersey sent a package of three draft picks and four players to San Jose to add the highly sought-after right winger to supplement its first playoff appearance since 2019.Meier collected 14 points in 21 regular-season games with the Devils, then produced an underwhelming playoff run with only four points in 11 appearances before New Jersey was bounced by the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2."It's really hard to come in and understand a new system," Fitzgerald said. "As a player, I've done it twice. It's really hard. Our system's hard, too. The (defensive) zone; it's difficult to understand. And it takes some time. Coaches say it takes at least 20 games to get used to a system, so you evaluate your team after 20 games, right? And for sure, it took some adjustment."The Devils have an estimated $34 million in cap space this offseason, per CapFriendly. However, New Jersey only has a roster size of 12 at the moment, and Jesper Bratt, Michael McLeod, and Yegor Sharangovich are among additional key RFAs in need of new contracts like Meier.If the Devils can't agree on a long-term deal with Meier this summer, the qualifying offer to retain his RFA rights for an additional season is $10 million.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The group that could "swipe before they could wipe" is growing up, and they're poised to change the landscape of pro sports fandom.Gen Zers are now a vital group of consumers. As they enter the workforce, their spending habits and cultural sway are making them game changers in a number of areas, notably sports and media. While the sports fans of yesteryear were once content to wear a jersey, sit in front of a TV, and watch the game, Gen Zers are demanding more, and they're forcing industry executives to come up with a new game plan."Reaching Gen Z - and Gen Alpha - should be a point of concern for every single senior sports executive across teams, leagues, media companies, federations, brands, you name it. If you're a key stakeholder in the industry, this is probably something that you should be focusing on … especially when you see some of the data," said Mark J. Burns, a senior sports reporter at the business intelligence firm Morning Consult, which has surveyed Gen Zers to better understand their sports preferences.Professional sports' revenue and franchise values have exploded in this century, and the industry is not in danger of going extinct - yet. The value of the North American sports market is projected to surpass $83 billion in 2023. But Burns found that one major challenge executives will have to navigate in the coming years is pleasing the whims of Gen Z, who don't pledge their fandom easily.Unlike their elders, Gen Z consumes sports much differently. It's no secret that the rise of cord-cutting has disrupted the sports-viewing landscape - fracturing the TV industry's one-stop shop on cable and satellite. A tangle of licensing agreements, regional restrictions, and exclusive broadcasting rights has limited the variety and accessibility of sports options on streaming platforms. This has resulted in a fragmented viewership and increased frustration for sports fans. Streaming services, which are moving toward sports programming to increase their subscriber bases, are costly, and the sheer number of them can deter some fans."Gen Zers are consuming sports less than U.S. adults, and in a different way," Burns said. What it ultimately comes down to is that everything isn't in one place like it used to be, and people aren't willing to sign up for every streaming service that has sports.Morning Consult's recent survey of 1,000 U.S. Gen Zers, defined as being between 13 and 25, found 33% of them don't watch live sporting events. Only 24% of U.S. adults and 22% of millennials said the same thing. Gen Zers aren't turning on TV news or flipping to the sports pages of a newspaper anymore, rather they're getting their news from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. That is, if they're consuming sports news at all. Two in five Gen Zers said they "don't look for sports news anywhere." When this group spends time online, music, movies, and pop culture trends outrank sports when it comes to grabbing their attention.​​And, unlike the sports fans who came before them, Gen Z isn't particularly keen on attending games in person. Nearly 50% of Gen Zers surveyed said they’d never attended a live professional sporting event. When they do watch sports, it's not enough to just be a good athlete. Burns' survey showed Connor McDavid, who has stunned the NHL with his generationally exquisite play, is not even in the top 15 of Gen Z's favorite athletes."I've Tweeted this once or twice over the last couple years, and I still stand by it: McDavid is one of the best hockey players in the world, if not the absolute best. And the casual and maybe even the avid sports fan in the U.S. will never know him," said Burns.Youth sports participation is also on a steady decline. In 2018, only 38% of children ages 6 to 12 regularly participated in team sports, down from 45% a decade earlier, according the the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, as cited by the New York Times,The pandemic worsened the trend, forcing the temporary closure of many sports leagues. As per the Times, in 2021, 28% of parents with children in youth sports said their kids weren't interested in playing anymore, up 19 percentage points from a year prior, according to a survey conducted by the Aspen Institute's Sports and Society Program.Does this spell the beginning of the end for sports fandom? Not quite. In 2021’s The Belong Effect Report, which surveys millennials and Gen Z globally, only 11% of the 8,000 young adults surveyed were season-ticket holders, but 85% of them engaged with sports on social media.And a 2020 Washington Post article on the relationship between Gen Z and sports found that, according to ESPN’s internal data, 96% of 12- to 17-year-olds still identify as sports fans. It's just that they aren't as passionate as they used to be - the number of kids who claim they're avid sports fans dipped from 42% to 34% over the previous decade.So how are professional leagues adapting to grab and hold the attention of Gen Z?For starters, they're embracing new forms of content.As a 2020 NHL-led focus group found, fans of today are largely interested in seeing athletes in their real lives. Because of that, both leagues and teams are creating content to show the human side of their athletes. Docuseries featuring behind-the-scenes access to athletes have boomed in recent years. When this strategy works, it really works. For example, Formula One's title as the world's fastest-growing sport can partially be attributed to the success of Netflix's "Drive to Survive." Tom Weller / picture alliance / Getty ImagesYounger fans also want more than just a formulaic game broadcast. Google research showed 74% of survey respondents interested in sports visit YouTube several times a week. And the value of that content is poised to significantly increase. A Washington Post story used Two Circles data to show short-form video sports content is predicted to increase in value by more than 100% in the next year. In contrast, live TV viewing rights are only expected to increase in value by 18.7%.Leagues also are leaning more heavily on non-TV metrics to measure engagement success, with online external data sources, like social media, increasingly serving as the north star. The 2020 NBA playoffs - played in a bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic - averaged 3.04 million viewers, according to Sports Media Watch. That's a paltry total compared to the social media views for the year, which the Washington Post reported at 13.2 billion.Gen Z also doesn't merely want to watch, they want to actively participate. For leagues, harnessing this involves finding ways to bring the game directly to fans. "There are a lot of barriers that might keep kids from participating in our game," said Andrew Ference, a former NHL player who now works for the league as the director of social impact, growth and fan development. "Everything from the cost of equipment, to access to ice, scheduling, pressure from coaches, parents, not having a family history of being involved in hockey." Fan development begins young, so Ference has launched an initiative called NHL Street to expose kids to the game in a low-stakes environment through street hockey."We want someone who isn't involved in hockey, doesn't know anything about the culture of ice hockey or know what it's 'supposed to be like,' to have a blank canvas and make the game whatever they want it to be," he said.Andrew Ference facilitates NHL Street events throughout North America. National Hockey LeagueAs fans, they want to connect with their favorite athletes, prioritizing personal connections, interactivity, and the ability to shape the narrative surrounding their teams.That's where social media and video gaming play a significant role. The NBA is ahead of the game in this area. With 40% of the NBA's core fan base under the age of 35, they have a heightened interest in capturing the attention of Gen Z. The league now has over 285 million followers across the major social media platforms. That's more than the other U.S. leagues combined.And the NBA is encouraging active participation in another way: by acknowledging Gen Z's desire to align with brands, athletes, and teams that are representative of their social and environmental beliefs. They've led the charge in empowering athletes to take a stand on important issues and actively contribute to social change. With Gen Z being a highly values-driven cohort, this is essential to connecting with the younger crowd. Andrew D. Bernstein / NBA / Getty ImagesLali Toor, whose network of South Asian hockey players, Apna Hockey, hosts regular hockey camps for young athletes across North America, sees this first hand with the kids he works with."The kids, and even the parents, gravitate toward sports that are accessible, yes, but also those that have outspoken leaders," he said. "When you look at the NBA and you look at leaders like LeBron James, him and his team want to grow the game, they want to make sure that there's no barriers, no racial barriers. The athletes that are garnering the most attention are the ones that embody another aspect of growing the game."And to Toor's point, the available data seems to support what he's noticing on the ground. Fifty-three percent of the Gen Z respondents to Morning Consult's survey said they were either "avid" or "casual" fans of the NFL. The NBA came in second with 47% saying the same thing, next was college football at 41%, then MLB at 35%, college basketball 34%, and esports at 33%. The NHL was only above MLS with 25% of Gen Z respondents saying they were avid or casual fans - MLS earned 16% of the audience.While some athletes might not feel comfortable leaning into their personality to promote the game, Toor says leagues and teams can do some of the heavy lifting here. He's been working with some NHL teams to facilitate cultural nights focused on bringing more fans into the arena. "I see multi-generational families coming out to these nights, which is the key thing," he explained. "You see elders come with their kids, and their grandkids."Morning Consult data confirms these nights are a big win with Gen Z. While only 23% of Baby Boomers surveyed said they had interest in attending a team's cultural night, 69% of Gen Zers said they did. With only one in two Gen Zers having attended a live sporting event, this could be a crucial strategy to get them out to games and build their fandom.And Gen Z is causing one more shift on the horizon - not merely how we consume sports, but what sports we consume.For decades, football has been the seemingly unshakeable fan favorite among North American sports fans. But that could start changing. The same Kantar survey above found that today, while 42% of all sports fans follow the NBA, a majority of Gen Zers - 58% - follow it. And it's not just the NBA they like. They'll watch college hoops, too. While 35% of general sports fans watch NCAA men’s basketball, 41% of Gen Zers do."I firmly believe that NFL football will remain the top sport in the States for years to come. But, with that said, basketball is certainly growing in popularity," Burns said.In Burns' eyes, a lot of that has to do with online presence. "Basketball in general is sort of a perfect sport, when it comes to social and digital and highlights," he explained. The NBA has leaned into what Burns called the "game after the game.""The players in the league are so active on social (media). And there are so many storylines that come through that are not limited to what's going on with the game itself," he said, citing as an example The Draymond Green Show, hosted by the current power forward for the Golden State Warriors. He contrasted that with the NHL. "In hockey, I don't even know if that would occur. I feel like that would be so taboo," he said. Nhat V. Meyer / Bay Area News Group / Getty ImagesBasketball stars also figure highest amongst Gen Z's favorite athletes. Morning Consult data shows LeBron James and Steph Curry are tied for favorite athletes in Gen Z's eyes, both with net favorability ratings of 41. And NBA stars made up six of the athletes on the list's top 10.Gen Z is the first generation to never know a life without the internet and most can barely remember a time before smartphones. They're doing things differently, and the changes they're creating are already disrupting the landscape of pro sports as we know it.Jolene Latimer is a video producer and feature writer at theScoreCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Trades during the Stanley Cup Final are fairly rare, and ones involving notable players are even more infrequent. But that's what the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Los Angeles Kings pulled off Tuesday.The Flyers dealt defenseman Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a swap also involving the Los Angeles Kings. Six players and three draft picks changed places in total, with some salary retention thrown in to balance it out.The Blue Jackets came away with Provorov and no additional assets. The Kings sent goaltender Cal Petersen, blue-liner Sean Walker, AHL rearguard Helge Grans, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Flyers, who also landed a first-rounder (22nd overall) this year and a conditional second-rounder next year from Columbus.Los Angeles is retaining 30% of Provorov's $6.75-million cap hit (leaving the $4.725 million), and the Flyers sent the Kings defenseman Kevin Connauton and farmhand forward Hayden Hodgson.Here's how we believe each of the three teams fared in the trade:Flyers Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere are two ways to look at a trade involving this many pieces: Quantity, and quality. From a quantity perspective, Philadelphia unquestionably fared well. The Flyers hauled in three decently situated draft picks, a pair of defensemen, and Petersen for depth in goal.Gone from the organization are Provorov, Connauton, and Hodgson. They jettisoned Provorov's entire $6.75-million contract through 2024-25 as well as Connauton and Hodgson's pacts ($762,500 and $800,000, respectively) through next season. They took back Petersen ($5 million), Walker ($2.65 million), and Grans ($847,500). But aside from some key pending free agents they need to sign, cap space isn't a major concern for Philadelphia at the moment.So how does it look for the Flyers quality-wise? Provorov's play declined last season, as the 26-year-old played all 82 games but collected only 27 points, his second-lowest total over a full campaign since he entered the league in 2016-17. His 23:01 of average ice time was his lowest since that rookie campaign, and he authored subpar underlying numbers as well.Petersen struggled mightily in 2022-23, but he could benefit from a change of scenery, particularly on a team with lower expectations. Remember, Flyers No. 1 netminder Carter Hart had an atrocious 2021 season, but his last two have been better.The Flyers are rebuilding, as general manager Daniel Briere said following the move Tuesday. Provorov's contract wasn't ideal for a rebuilding club, and they got numerous assets in return. None of the picks are particularly high, but the upcoming draft is a deep one that could still yield talent outside the top 16.So any way you look at it, it's clear Briere and new Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones won the trade and helped the club position itself for improvement in the future.Grade: ABlue Jackets Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Blue Jackets are clearly looking to be competitive next season with the reported hiring of Mike Babcock as head coach, and they reinforced a putrid blue line with the addition of Provorov.Provorov certainly struggled with the Flyers last season - who didn’t? - but he’s only a season removed from a 7.0 expected goals above replacement campaign. He hasn’t been a complete dud over his career, but rather a player who’s played higher in the lineup than he probably should.After playing some of the toughest minutes in the league with Philadelphia, Provorov’s workload should be softened in Columbus. The Blue Jackets shouldn’t feel the need to force Provorov into a top pairing role with a sub-$5-million cap hit. It’s reasonable to expect his results to improve should he split the top assignments with a returning Zach Werenski, something that could be mutually beneficial to both players.GM Jarmo Kekalainen noted Provorov’s durability, an element that shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s missed just three games in his seven-year NHL career. Conversely, Werenski hasn’t played a full campaign since 2018-19, and Columbus only had two blue-liners play 70 or more games this season.Provorov’s been around for a long time, but he’s still only 26 years old. Columbus doesn’t commit significant cap space in the trade, either, with Provorov coming into town at just $4.725 million for two seasons thanks to Los Angeles’ retention.The Blue Jackets have among the best prospect pools in hockey, so giving up the 22nd overall pick and a future second-rounder doesn’t hurt as much as it might for other teams.The trade is a calculated risk that helps the Blue Jackets immediately, even if they’re a ways from contending. Columbus gets a second-pairing guy at a second-pairing cap hit for the acquisition cost of a second-pairing defenseman. As a team in desperate need of positivity on the ice, even if its aspect of the three-way deal is the lowest grade for us, it’s a solid gamble.Grade: BKings MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyThis trade is addition by subtraction for the Kings.Connauton and Hodgson - the two assets acquired by Los Angeles in the deal - are almost certainly bound for the AHL's Ontario Reign. Instead, the Kings get a positive grade here for the relatively minimal price paid to clear a notable amount of cap space.Even while retaining $2.025 million of Provorov’s contract, Los Angeles frees up $5.625 million for 2023-24 by shipping Petersen and Walker to Philadelphia. The Kings already have maneuverability heading into the summer, but this move gives them the room to retain both Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo, in addition to the impending raise required for Gabe Vilardi.To shed that much cap, Los Angeles only had to part with a 2024 second-round pick and Grans, a young, 6-foot-3 defenseman who was drafted fairly high, but who regressed in his second season in the AHL.Walker is an NHL-caliber defenseman, but he was clearly the odd man out on the Kings’ incredibly deep right side. Los Angeles still has Drew Doughty, Matt Roy, Sean Durzi, Jordan Spence, and Brandt Clarke as right-handed options already under contract for 2023-24.Creating that much cap space for such a little cost is quality business by Rob Blake and a promising start to the offseason for the Kings.Grade: B+Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-team deal involving the Los Angeles Kings, the teams announced.The Kings moved goaltender Cal Petersen, defenseman Sean Walker, and prospect Helge Grans to the Flyers and retained a portion of Provorov's $6.75-million salary. Philadelphia will also receive first- and second-round picks from Columbus and a second-rounder from Los Angeles.The first-round pick the Flyers received originally belonged to the Kings, who sent it to the Blue Jackets for defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov at this year's trade deadline.Here's a full breakdown of the deal:Blue Jackets receiveFlyers receiveKings receiveD Ivan ProvorovG Cal Petersen30% of Provorov's contractD Sean WalkerD Kevin ConnautonD Helge GransF Hayden Hodgson2023 1st-round pick (CBJ)Conditional 2024 2nd-round pick (CBJ)2024 2nd-round pick (LA)Flyers general manager Danny Briere decided to trade Provorov because they're rebuilding and the draft picks the Blue Jackets and Kings offered them were "exciting," he said Tuesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Giana Han."It wasn't an easy decision," Briere continued. "Ivan's been a really good soldier for the Flyers in the last few years. A lot of hits, a lot of sweat."Philadelphia goaltender Carter Hart's future with the club remains uncertain, but the GM made it clear he's amenable to making more moves regardless of the player."Still in the same spot I was, (I'm) listening," Briere said, per Center Ice Philly's Anthony Mingioni. "We're open for business."The move is a cap dump from the Kings' perspective. Petersen failed to deliver on the three-year, $15-million contract he signed in 2021. The team waived him this past season amid a difficult campaign in which he posted an .868 save percentage.Walker's ice time plummeted to a career-low 14:50 per game in 2022-23, and trading him clears up an additional $2.65 million from a crowded blue line in Los Angeles.Provorov is under contract through 2025. Philadelphia drafted the 26-year-old seventh overall in 2015, and he's logged at least 21 minutes per contest since his rookie season. He notched six goals and 21 assists in 82 games this past campaign for the rebuilding club.Columbus, which is reportedly set to hire Mike Babcock as head coach in July, now has seven first-round picks aged 25 or younger on its blue line.This marks the first trade under Philadelphia's new front office regime featuring Keith Jones as president of hockey operations and Briere as GM.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice remains confident in Sergei Bobrovsky despite the goaltender giving up four goals on 13 shots during Monday's 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2."I thought Sergei was like our team," Maurice said of Bobrovsky in Game 2, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox."I thought we were just slightly off it. We didn't give him a chance. He didn't maybe quiet the game early for us when we needed it quieted by the goaltender. But I got complete faith in what he'll be able to do in Game 3."Bobrovsky has been pivotal to the Panthers' playoff run. Despite his Cup Final struggles, he still owns a sparkling .925 save percentage in 16 appearances this postseason.Maurice dismissed the notion that Bobrovsky is dealing with fatigue from the grueling playoff run."If we were playing tomorrow, or two days as we are, he'll have a game plan for it," Maurice said. "This isn't a fatigue thing. We've been off the ice for a block. He was very, very good in Game 1."Bobrovksy's teammate Sam Bennett gave him a vote of confidence, too."He's been our best player all playoffs," the forward said after the loss, per ESPN's Ryan Clark. "We have total belief in him. We have to do a better job helping him out and not give up so many grade A chances on him. There's no issue there. We have the utmost confidence in him."Alex Lyon, who began the playoffs as the Panthers' starter, came in to replace Bobrovsky in Game 2 but didn't fare much better, allowing three goals on 15 shots.Bobrovsky, 34, put together a pedestrian 2022-23 regular season with a .901 save percentage in 50 games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights, up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final after a 7-2 beatdown of the Florida Panthers on Monday, are two wins away from their first Stanley Cup. Home-ice advantage shifts to the Panthers, though, with Game 3 set for Thursday night in Sunrise. Here are four pivotal battlegrounds to monitor.Tkachuk line vs. Hague-Whitecloud Jeff Bottari / Getty ImagesIt's never a positive sign when you punch a rival in the face multiple times and get nothing but smirking and a viral TV moment in response.That's exactly what happened in Game 1 as Panthers superstar Matthew Tkachuk and linemate Sam Bennett attempted (and failed) to rattle Golden Knights blue-liner Nicolas Hague in one of the series' many post-whistle scrums.It's also never a positive sign when two games haven't produced much of a highlight reel despite what, on paper, is a winnable head-to-head matchup - Florida's top offensive line of Bennett between Tkachuk and Nick Cousins versus Vegas' least-experienced pairing of Hague and Zach Whitecloud.Tkachuk has been on the ice for one goal for and one goal against - as well as 20 shot attempts for and 17 attempts against - in 15 total five-on-five minutes opposite Hague-Whitecloud. The Hart Trophy finalist's defensive-zone turnover led directly to Vegas' 4-2 goal in Game 1, and while he did score in Game 2, it was a garbage-time tally that he barely celebrated.A Conn Smythe Trophy contender coming into the Cup Final, Tkachuk's been neutralized. The series will be over in four games if he's unable to break through in a meaningful way. The Panthers tend to go as Tkachuk goes.Staying out of the penalty box would be a good starting point. After being relatively disciplined during the first three rounds of the postseason (24 total penalty minutes), Tkachuk's already racked up 36 PIMs against Vegas thanks to three minors - all roughing calls - and three misconducts. Despite playing a physical brand of hockey, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Hague and 6-foot-2, 207-pound Whitecloud have largely avoided the box. Whitecloud's misconduct late in Monday's blowout is the duo's lone infraction. They're dialed in.Panthers' goalies vs. netfront traffic Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesTwo-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 33 shots in Game 1, then four on 13 shots in the first half of Game 2. In relief, journeyman Alex Lyon surrendered three on 13 shots as Florida unraveled.You don't have to dig up advanced statistics to conclude that Florida's goaltending needs to be significantly better. (Though Game 3's starter hasn't been named, expect Bobrovsky to take the net back.)That said, the goalies don't deserve all the blame. In fact, it's the skaters in front of them who should be targeted by Panthers coaches in video sessions. Florida's defensive-zone coverage was subpar in the opener and downright horrendous in the second game - poor gaps off the rush, tentative pressure on the walls, and too much puck-watching, to name just a few concerning trends for a club that previously outlasted the attacks of Boston, Toronto, and Carolina.The netfront area needs to be cleaned up ASAP. Bobrovsky and Lyon were screened on six of 11 non-empty-net goals. Amazingly, on four of those six screened goals, it was a Panther, not a Golden Knight, clogging up the shooting lane. The other two goals featured an even worse save-making environment of one Panther and one Golden Knight in front of the goalie.There's sacrificing the body to block a shot, and then there's making life more difficult for your goalie. Vegas is doing the former (36-22 advantage in blocked shots despite controlling play), while Florida is doing the latter to an extreme.Vegas' stars vs. Florida's agitation Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Golden Knights are a handful at even strength. An elite transition squad that often sustains pressure after the original scoring chance, they currently boast a five-on-five goal differential of plus-30 in the playoffs (56-26).Let that sink in: Vegas, in 19 games against the NHL's best, is up 30 goals!And while Vegas' 21.5% power play ranks fifth out of the nine teams with at least 30 opportunities this postseason, Florida cannot keep giving its opponent so many reps. The Golden Knights are generally uninterested in the extracurricular activities between whistles and the referees are clearly not afraid to penalize troublemakers. So, the Panthers, who've been shorthanded 11 times so far, must find the middle ground between agitation and discipline.The Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Jonathan Marchessault line, which makes up 60% of Vegas' top power-play unit, has been deadly this series - and the rest of the run - regardless of game state. Eichel collected his fourth assist in two games Monday following a clean but thunderous hit by Tkachuk. Barbashev, who's issued three monstrous hits of his own, earned primary helpers on Game 1's winning goal and Game 2's 2-0 marker. Triggerman Marchessault has padded his Conn Smythe case by bagging three goals and adding an assist.Penalty killing was a popular talking point ahead of the Cup Final - rightfully so, considering recent history (71.2% playoff kill rate for Florida, 63.0% for Vegas). The Golden Knights have been perfect through two games.Panthers' depth vs. injury/fatigue Jeff Bottari / Getty ImagesFlorida's in trouble. The obvious reason: The Panthers are down 2-0 in a best-of-seven series and the second game was a gong show. The less obvious reason: The toll of a long, rough-and-tumble postseason seems to be catching up to them.Catalysts Bobrovsky and Tkachuk had their worst showings of the run in Game 2; is this the beginning of the end for two terrific individual performances? Key defensemen Brandon Montour and Gustav Forsling have logged 70 and 50 more playoff minutes, respectively, than any Golden Knights skater; do they have enough gas in the tank to contribute to a four-win comeback?Panthers winger Eetu Luostarinen has missed the first two games and blue-liner Radko Gudas left Game 2. Neither is guaranteed to draw back into the series, which may mean extra ice time for seventh defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and 12th forward Zac Dalpe, who was scratched Monday as head coach Paul Maurice opted for 11 forwards and seven defensemen. To put it mildly, that's not an ideal scenario.The Golden Knights, with a buzzsaw of a fourth line featuring Nicolas Roy between Keegan Kolesar and William Carrier, was the deeper team at full health. With the Panthers seemingly fighting it, that gap is even wider.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel had no qualms with the hit from Florida Panthers pest Matthew Tkachuk that briefly knocked him out of Game 2 on Monday night."I kind of toe-picked a little bit, I saw him at the last minute," he said after Vegas won the contest 7-2 to take a 2-0 series lead, per Sportsnet. "He finishes what I saw was a clean check on me. It's a physical game, you're gonna get hit sometimes. Just kinda move on, you know?Though Eichel was able to return to the bench for the third period, his status was initially in question after Tkachuk leveled him in the dying minutes of the middle frame.He appeared to be falling down in the lead-up to the hit. Eichel went down the tunnel immediately afterward.Eichel appeared to be no worse for wear, though. In his first shift back from the collision, Eichel set up Jonathan Marchessault to restore the Golden Knights' four-goal lead, doing so less than two minutes after Anton Lundell got the Panthers on the board.

Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas wasn't able to return to Monday's 7-2 defeat after he absorbed a reverse hit from Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev in the opening period of Game 2.Gudas went straight down the tunnel on the play. Barbashev wasn't penalized for the incident.

It was all Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, as the Western Conference champs took Monday's contest 7-2 over the Florida Panthers.The Golden Knights took a 2-0 series lead with the victory.Vegas scored four goals on its first 13 shots, chasing Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky from the game midway through the second period. Jonathan Marchessault continued his hot streak with two goals.It was a physical affair in Las Vegas. Radko Gudas exited in the first period after a massive hit from Ivan Barbashev. The Golden Knights then had an injury scare of their own in the second frame, when Jack Eichel was on the wrong end of a huge collision with Matthew Tkachuk.Eichel was seemingly fine, as he set up Marchessault's second tally of the contest in his first shift after the hit.There were 10 misconducts by the game's conclusion, including two that were handed out to Tkachuk. He also received one at the end of Game 1, giving the Panthers superstar 36 penalty minutes in the Stanley Cup final.Game 3 is Thursday at 8 p.m. ET as the series shifts to Florida.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have begun examining the trade market for forward Alex DeBrincat, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.DeBrincat, 25, is a restricted free agent this summer and requires a $9-million qualifying offer. He's one season away from becoming an unrestricted free agent.The Senators are described as considering all options, from salary arbitration to a potential trade, per Friedman. DeBrincat indicated that he wanted to wait until the completion of the team's ownership sale before considering a long-term commitment.Ottawa's general manager Pierre Dorion said there was "no chance" the team would trade DeBrincat in February.DeBrincat was acquired by the Senators on draft day last July. Ottawa sent the seventh overall pick, the 39th overall pick, and a 2024 third-round pick to Chicago in the transaction. The Blackhawks drafted defenseman Kevin Korchinski and forward Paul Ludwinski with the selections.The Michigan native scored 27 goals and registered 66 points in his first season with Ottawa, ranking fourth on the team in both categories. DeBrincat has tallied 41 goals twice in his career, most recently doing so in 2021-22 with the Blackhawks.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed star forward Cole Caufield to an eight-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $7.85 million, the team announced Monday.The 22-year-old sniper was a restricted free agent. His new cap hit makes him the second-highest-paid skater on the Canadiens, behind only captain Nick Suzuki ($7.875 million), who's under contract through 2030."That's our guy; that's our leader. I think everyone around knows that," Caufield said about Suzuki leading Montreal's financial structure."It's still a heck of a lot of money, so I'm not complaining about anything like that."Caufield was drafted 15th overall in 2019. After a prestigious collegiate career at Wisconsin, he joined late in the shortened 2020-21 season and made his mark on the NHL stage by contributing 12 points in 20 playoff games as the Canadiens made an unlikely run to the Stanley Cup Final.His new pact features modified no-trade clauses for the final three seasons. Caufield will submit a 15-team no-trade list for 2028-29, a 10-team list for 2029-30, and a five-team list for 2030-31, according to CapFriendly."I think at the end of the day, both sides kind of got what they wanted, and I couldn't be more proud," Caufield said.Caufield was limited to 46 games this season due to a shoulder injury but still finished tied for Montreal's goal-scoring lead with 26 tallies. He's managed 53 goals and 31 assists in 123 NHL contests to date.With Caufield inked, the Canadiens' most notable RFA left to sign is forward Denis Gurianov. Montreal is currently projected to be right up against next year's $83.5-million cap but will have $10.5 million in additional flexibility with goaltender Carey Price on long-term injured reserve.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks have hired Greg Cronin as head coach, the team announced Monday.Cronin has never been a head coach at the NHL level. He spent the past five seasons as the bench boss of the AHL's Colorado Eagles and has 12 years of experience as an NHL assistant."I'm excited and honored to be named head coach of the Anaheim Ducks," Cronin said in a statement. "This team has a fantastic future ahead, and I'm very grateful to the Samueli family and (general manager) Pat Verbeek for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity."Cronin has been an assistant coach with the New York Islanders for two separate stints as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2011-14. The 60-year-old has also worked at the NCAA level with Colby, Maine, and Northeastern and was a co-founder of the United States National Team Development Program.His penchant for developing young players was a key factor in his hiring in Anaheim."While we did cast a wide net in searching for the next head coach, it became clear to me that Greg would be the ideal fit for the position," Verbeek said. "Being a young team, I felt we needed a teacher of the finer points of the game and someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players."The Ducks have missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons but boast a promising young core in Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Jamie Drysdale. Anaheim also possesses a strong prospect pipeline, with CHL Defenseman of the Year Olen Zellweger, Memorial Cup champion Nathan Gaucher, and the second overall pick in this month's NHL draft.Anaheim parted ways with former head coach Dallas Eakins in April after four seasons at the helm.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Powered by a dominant third period, the Golden Knights took care of business in the opening game of the series.Can they replicate that performance - and grab a 2-0 lead - or will the Panthers fight back and claw away home-ice advantage?Let's take a closer look as we dive into three best bets for the second game of the series.Panthers (+120) @ Golden Knights (-140)The Panthers did a great job of limiting the damage opposing offenses could inflict over the first three rounds of the playoffs. They deserve credit for that. But it's also worth noting they didn't face any teams that were creating anywhere close to the level of the Golden Knights.The Bruins netted 2.31 goals per 60 at five-on-five in the opening series. That would've sandwiched them between the Flyers and Coyotes - two horrendous teams - during the regular season. Yet that's the highest output of any team the Panthers faced en route to the Stanley Cup Final.The Maple Leafs averaged only 2.22 goals per 60 over 11 playoff games, while the Hurricanes scored just 2.26 spanning 15 games. All of those teams seemed happy to try to dull the game down and bank on their side converting at a better rate. It didn't happen.Vegas, on the other hand, is simply overwhelming teams offensively. The Golden Knights have scored a whopping 3.46 goals per 60 at five-on-five, the best mark of any playoff team - and it's not close.They're completely railroading each and every team that stands in their way, generating a good dose of chances in the zone and destroying teams in transition following turnovers forced by their great two-way game (led by Mark Stone).They made Sergei Bobrovsky look human in the series opener, scoring four goals on 33 shots. That marked the first time since Game 7 of the first round that Bobrovsky has allowed more than three goals or posted a sub .900 save percentage.I think the Golden Knights are going to score their fair share of goals in this series. They have all playoffs despite facing Jake Oettinger, Connor Hellebuyck, and an Oilers team that entered the playoffs in as good of form as anybody in the league.If those goaltenders, or teams, couldn't slow the Golden Knights' offense down, I don't see Bobrovsky doing it - especially after such a long layoff that could've taken him out of the zone he was in.That means the Panthers will need to score goals to keep up. I think that'll lead to them taking more chances and to higher event games, one way or the other.Bet: Over 5.5 (-120)Alex Pietrangelo over 2.5 shots (+110)Pietrangelo had a strong shooting performance in the opening game of the series, attempting six shots while hitting the target three times.His shooting success is nothing new on home ice, nor against the Panthers. Pietrangelo has hit in four of the last six playoff games in Vegas and attempted at least five shots in all of them.That has been somewhat of a magic number for Pietrangelo this season. He's attempted five shots or more 44 times, clearing his prop line in 30 of those games. That's good for a 68% success rate.I think Pietrangelo should be able to get to that mark again in this one. He's playing a lot of minutes at even strength, getting a lot of reps on the power play, and has hit in all three games against the Panthers this year.We're getting a more than fair price in backing Pietrangelo to do it again.Aleksander Barkov over 2.5 shots (-110)Barkov let us down in Game 1 of the series, recording two shots on goal over the first two periods but failing to get the third while the Panthers piled up shots pushing to tie the game. It wasn't for a lack of opportunity, though, as Barkov was credited with five scoring chances in the game.He generated the volume necessary to get the job done, and his shots came from good locations. He just didn't get the puck on target. That's generally not an issue for Barkov, who hit the net on 62% of his shot attempts during the regular season.He's playing 21-plus minutes each and every night, so the opportunities should be there. If he can be a little more clinical with hitting the target, he should get back on track in Game 2.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly fielded questions on an array of subjects during the league's annual Stanley Cup Final press conference Saturday. Here's what they said ahead of Game 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers.Salary capBettman said the league is still finalizing figures but estimates $6 billion in hockey-related revenue for the 2022-23 campaign, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. The NHL earned approximately $5.3 billion last season.Despite the jump, next year's salary cap is likely to increase incrementally to $83.5 million as players still have outstanding escrow debt. A much larger bump is expected in 2024-25, per TSN's Chris Johnston.The NHL had a flat cap of $81.5 million from 2020-22 due to the pandemic. That increased to $82.5 million this past season.Coyotes and expansionIn the wake of several relocation questions following a failed arena bid in Tempe, Bettman said the Arizona Coyotes will explore different areas near Phoenix for a new home."It's a good market, and if we can make it work, we'll make it work," Bettman said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "We've had our challenges."Daly confirmed that Ryan Smith, majority owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz, has been in contact with the NHL about his interest in bringing a team to Salt Lake City, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Senators saleBettman stated the impending sale of the Ottawa Senators is likely to take a few more weeks."They are trying to move forward as quickly as possible to conclude the process," Bettman said, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Four bidding groups remain in contention to purchase the club in Canada's capital.2023-24 events Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe NHL will have a busy slate of signature events next season.MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL's New York Giants and Jets, is set to host contests on consecutive days next winter. The Philadelphia Flyers will take on the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 17 before the New York Rangers battle the New York Islanders on Feb. 18.The league had previously announced the Heritage Classic between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames and the Winter Classic between the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights.Ex-Blackhawks request meetingsFormer Chicago Blackhawks staffers Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman requested meetings with Bettman that will take place after the Stanley Cup Final, the commissioner said, according to Johnston.Neither Quenneville nor Bowman are eligible to work in the NHL after a 2021 investigation revealed their roles in mishandling sexual assault allegations from former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach in 2010. In October 2021, Quenneville stepped down as head coach of the Panthers, while Bowman relinquished his role as Chicago's president of hockey operations and general manager.Canadian junior team investigationThe NHL's independent investigator completed its probe into the 2018 Hockey Canada gala. A woman filed a lawsuit last April alleging that eight CHL players, including several from that year's national junior team, sexually assault her during the event.The league expects a report to be ready for review early this summer, according to Whyno.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor Bedard will need to clear more room on his trophy shelf.The projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft took home the CHL's Top Prospect Award, Top Scorer Award, and David Branch Player of the Year Award on Saturday. Bedard is the first player to win all three in the same season. The Top Scorer Award was introduced in 1994.The Regina Pats center is the first player to win three prizes at the CHL Awards since Connor McDavid won Top Prospect, Player of the Year, and Scholastic Player of the Year in 2015.Bedard led all CHL skaters in goals (71), points (143), shots on goal (360), and points per game (2.51) in 57 regular-season contests in the WHL.He also made history earlier this year at the World Junior Championship when he set Canadian records for most points all time and most points in a single tournament. The 17-year-old phenom became the youngest player to take home tournament MVP.The Chicago Blackhawks hold the first overall pick in the 2023 draft.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock will resurface in the NHL next season, as the Columbus Blue Jackets intend to hire him as their new head coach, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Jackets won't finalize the move until after June 30, when Babcock's contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs expires, adds LeBrun. The Leafs still owe him what's left of that deal.Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen declined to confirm the report Saturday."We're still doing our due diligence, and we'll get to it when the time's right," Kekalainen told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. "Unfortunately, I can't say anything more."Toronto fired the now-60-year-old in November 2019 amid a losing streak and allegations of a toxic work environment. The Leafs replaced him by promoting Sheldon Keefe, who remains in the role.Babcock guided the Leafs to three playoff berths but no series wins during his tenure. The club went 173-133-45 in four-plus campaigns with him at the helm. Before that, Babcock led the Detroit Red Wings for 10 seasons, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2008. He spent his first two years as a head coach with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who advanced to the Cup Final in his first season with the team.The Ontario-born bench boss who grew up in Saskatchewan is the only head coach in the "Triple Gold Club," having won the Cup, the World Championship, and first place in an Olympic tournament. He claimed gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2010 and 2014.However, he's also been accused of mistreating players. Not long after Babcock's firing in 2019, Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner confirmed reports that the bench boss forced him to rank his teammates by their work ethic during his rookie season and then shared the list with the team.Shortly after that revelation, former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said Babcock verbally assaulted teammate Johan Franzen during the 2011-12 playoffs, causing the forward to have a nervous breakdown. Franzen called Babcock "the worst person I have ever met."The University of Saskatchewan hired Babcock in February 2021 to coach its men's hockey program for two seasons. However, he resigned in August 2022 and said he was retiring from coaching.The Blue Jackets fired head coach Brad Larsen in April after missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Columbus finished second-last in the NHL in 2022-23 with a 25-48-9 record.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history and the first since their dream debut season in 2017-18.After making tidy work of the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, and Dallas Stars, only the Florida Panthers stand in the way of the Golden Knights completing owner Bill Foley's prophetic prediction of winning a Stanley Cup within six years of entering the league.Vegas has been arguably the league's most aggressive team in the trade market since entering the fold, and its bold strategy is on the precipice of paying the ultimate dividends. We took a look at how the Panthers were built on Thursday, so here's a breakdown of how president George McPhee and general manager Kelly McCrimmon built Sin City's Stanley Cup-caliber roster.MethodPlayersExpansion draft4Homegrown3Trade13Free agency7Waivers1Expansion draft Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyWilliam Carrier (Sabres): Carrier wasn't the flashiest pick in the Golden Knights' expansion draft, but the 2013 second-rounder has been a staple in Vegas' bottom six since arriving. He flourished this past regular season with career highs in goals (16), points (25), and average ice time (12:35).William Karlsson (Blue Jackets): One of the original "Golden Misfits" that helped form Vegas' identity, Karlsson is one of the club's most recognizable names. He's never replicated the magic of his 40-goal debut season with the club but remains a steady two-way presence down the middle for the Golden Knights.Jonathan Marchessault (Panthers): Marchessault was one of the Panthers' cast-offs in their infamous bungling of the 2017 expansion draft, and its safe to assume the winger will have revenge on his mind when he faces his former team with a championship on the line. Marchessault has bagged 20 or more goals in five of six years with the Golden Knights and is in the midst of a stellar playoff run with 17 points in 17 games.Brayden McNabb (Kings): McNabb doesn't grab headlines among a deep Vegas D-corps, but he's a reliable top-four presence that proves his worth with physicality and shot-blocking. He's logged at least 19 minutes per game each season since becoming a Golden Knight.Homegrown Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNicolas Hague (June 23, 2017): The Golden Knights have traded away many of their high-profile draft picks, but Hague has stuck around and blossomed into a dependable contributor on the back end. The 24-year-old appeared in a career-high 81 regular-season games in 2022-23.Paul Cotter (June 22, 2018): Cotter hasn't played in the playoffs but made his mark as a depth option in the regular season with 13 goals in 55 games.Pavel Dorofeyev (June 21, 2019): The 22-year-old Russian has primarily been an AHLer this season but is on the roster as a long-shot option to play in the final. Dorofeyev has only played 20 career NHL games.Trade Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyReilly Smith (June 21, 2017): Smith wasn't an expansion draft pick but joined the Golden Knights the same night via trade from Florida in exchange for a fourth-round selection. The veteran winger has gone on to record 286 points in 399 regular-season games with the Golden Knights, while the Panthers can only look back on their protected list with regret.Shea Theodore (June 21, 2017): The Anaheim Ducks had an overflow of quality defensemen when the Golden Knights entered the league and opted to sacrifice Theodore to their new Pacific Division rivals in order to keep Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen on top of their three officially protected blue-liners. Theodore has grown into the best of the bunch and is an integral piece of Vegas' core. He's finished top-10 in Norris Trophy voting twice and has posted 40-plus points each of the past four seasons.Keegan Kolesar (June 24, 2017): Kolesar was acquired for a second-round pick after a promising junior career, and he established himself as a regular NHLer in 2021-22. He's not one to light up the scoresheet, but he's trusted in his fourth-line role and is a constant physical threat.Mark Stone (Feb. 25, 2019): Prying Stone from the Ottawa Senators five deadlines ago is one of the defining transactions of Vegas' free-wheeling tenure as Western Conference contenders and changed the trajectory of the franchise. He soon signed an eight-year, $76-million extension, was later named captain, and despite injuries in recent seasons, has been one of the Golden Knights' most productive players.Nicolas Roy (June 27, 2019): Roy was added from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Erik Haula and now anchors Vegas' sturdy fourth line. He managed a modest 30 points this past season but was trusted enough by Golden Knights brass to earn a five-year, $15-million extension in 2022.Chandler Stephenson (Dec. 2, 2019): Stephenson was a member of the Washington Capitals club that broke Vegas' heart in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, but the Golden Knights have got their money's worth from the Saskatchewan native since adding him for only a fifth-round pick. He's evolved into the club's second-line center and has posted back-to-back 60-plus point seasons after never eclipsing 26 in D.C.Alec Martinez (Feb. 19, 2020): The two-time Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings is deployed on Vegas' top pairing and is a rock in the defensive zone. Martinez, 35, led the league in blocks with 244 this season and ranks second among all playoff skaters this spring with 44.Brett Howden (July 17, 2021): Howden was a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016 but has had trouble finding consistency at the NHL level. The 25-year-old has been a quality contributor in these playoffs, though, recording six points and a game-winning goal through three rounds.Jack Eichel (Nov. 4, 2021): Of all Vegas' blockbusters over recent years, the Eichel deal takes the cake. After months of speculation regarding the superstar's health and potential suitors, the Golden Knights won the sweepstakes and landed the elite top-line pivot they always craved. The Buffalo Sabres are certainly happy with the package they landed for the formerly disgruntled Eichel, but Vegas is four wins from being slam-dunk winners of one of the biggest trades in recent memory.Adin Hill (Aug. 29, 2022): Who would have thought when the Golden Knights sent a fourth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for a career backup netminder that they'd be landing their starter for the Stanley Cup Final? A slew of injuries between the pipes has thrust Hill into the spotlight, and he's been up to the task so far with a .937 save percentage in 11 playoff appearances.Ivan Barbashev (Feb. 26, 2023): The Golden Knights dipped into the rental market to land Barbashev for AHLer Zach Dean before March's deadline, and what a deal it's turned out to be. Barbashev notched 16 points in the regular season and ranks third on the team in playoff scoring with six goals and nine assists.Teddy Blueger (March 1, 2023): Blueger was brought in from the Pittsburgh Penguins for some added center depth but hasn't made much of an impact in his new environment. The Latvian has only played in six games during the Golden Knights' run to the final.Jonathan Quick (March 2, 2023): With so much uncertainty between the pipes, Vegas added Quick before the deadline for some added security. The two-time Cup winner looked decent in nine regular-season games but hasn't made a playoff appearance yet.Free agency Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyLogan Thompson (July 13, 2020): A collection of lengthy injury stints derailed Thompson's breakout campaign in which it appeared he had a stranglehold on Vegas' starting goaltending gig. The undrafted 26-year-old posted a .915 clip in 37 appearances and even made the All-Star Game, but he hasn't played since March 23.Alex Pietrangelo (Oct. 12, 2020): The Golden Knights landed 2020's biggest free agent on a monster seven-year, $61.6-million contract, and while it made Vegas' perennially tight salary cap situation even tighter, the financial strain looks well worth it nearly three years later. Pietrangelo remains an elite top-pairing defender and matched a personal best with 54 points this season.Laurent Brossoit (July 28, 2021): Brossoit began the playoffs as Vegas' starter, but a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the Oilers series looks to have ended his year. The 30-year-old had a strong regular season, failing to lose in regulation in 11 appearances while recording a .927 save percentage.Brayden Pachal (Sept. 20, 2021): Pachal is on the playoff roster but has only taken the ice once this spring. The undrafted blue-liner has 12 NHL games to his credit.Ben Hutton (Oct. 28, 2021): Another depth blue-liner, Hutton's usage has dropped significantly since signing a two-year deal with the Golden Knights. He played 58 regular-season games last season compared to 31 this year and has only cracked the lineup twice in the playoffs.Phil Kessel (August 24, 2022): The NHL's all-time ironman hasn't played since Game 3 of the first round, meaning the writing is likely on the wall for the one-year deal Kessel signed with the Golden Knights and perhaps even for his career. The 35-year-old produced 36 points this season, the second-lowest total of his accomplished 17-year tenure in the NHL.WaiversMichael Amadio (Oct. 30, 2021): Amadio was claimed from the Toronto Maple Leafs early last season and had a career year with 16 goals for Vegas in 2022-23. The 27-year-old has added three tallies in the playoffs, including an overtime winner in Round 1.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is excited to exchange ideas with new team president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and find a way to bring the club back to contention.The two are in agreement that Pittsburgh is a threat as long as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang make up the core of the franchise. However, they're aware the superstar trio needs help lower in the lineup after the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006."In particular, just the Penguins and looking at our group and the personnel that we have, how we set our group up for success," Sullivan said, per NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "How do we surround our core with what it needs to have success? I'm sure we'll have a lot more discussions moving forward now that Kyle is officially on board and part of our organization. Those are conversations that I really look forward to."Crosby (93) and Malkin (83) were Pittsburgh's top two producers this past season, while Letang paced the club in average ice time (24:51) at 35 years old. However, Sullivan believes the issue is the Penguins' team speed, not them being led by three aging legends."When you look at the identity of the Penguins and how this team has had success, certainly in my time here, but more importantly, with our core group of players, I think speed has always been an important element," Sullivan said. "I think speed is part of the evolution of the game. When you look at the teams that are having success in the league, none of them are slow."Sullivan guided the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, but the club has advanced past the first round only once since. Pittsburgh missed the postseason by a single point in 2022-23, leading to the firings of former president Brian Burke and general manager Ron Hextall.Dubas was brought in to replace Burke after nine years in the Toronto Maple Leafs' front office, but the Penguins haven't yet named a new GM. Dubas will fill the role on an interim basis in the meantime.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Tkachuk acknowledged the Florida Panthers' difficult path to the Stanley Cup Final ahead of Saturday's Game 1 clash against the Vegas Golden Knights."For us to knock off this juggernaut in Vegas, it would probably be the hardest road to the Stanley Cup in history," Tkachuk said, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "So that's our goal, to knock off this team and see if we can make history."The Panthers snuck into the playoffs as the second wild-card team in the Eastern Conference by one point. In the opening round, Florida stunned a Boston Bruins team that broke the NHL record for regular-season points. The Panthers then made quick work of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round before sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final.Boston was the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Carolina was No. 2, and Toronto was No. 4, making the trio of teams the most difficult path possible for the Panthers. Up next: the No. 1 seed out of the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights.Should Florida knock off Vegas in the final, the Panthers would become the third team to beat four 100-point clubs on the road to a Stanley Cup victory, joining the 2007 Anaheim Ducks and 2015 Chicago Blackhawks. Florida would be the first to accomplish the feat without being a 100-point team itself."A lot of talk has been made about us, and our path, and the eight-seed, and limping in and all that, which is completely understandable," Tkachuk added. "It motivates us, I guess, to a certain extent."Tkachuk has taken the postseason by storm. He's tallied three overtime winners - including two in the conference final, as well as the series-clinching goal in the dying seconds of Game 4 - and is second in playoff scoring with 21 points in 16 games.The Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have let it be known they're willing to move on from forward Anthony Mantha, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.Mantha is under contract for one more season at $5.7 million before hitting unrestricted free agency. His hefty price tag may force the Capitals to add a sweetener to a potential deal, Seravalli reports.The Capitals have an estimated $7.3 million in cap space leading into next season with only 17 players signed, per Cap Friendly. Roster changes are expected after the club missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14.Washington acquired Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings in a blockbuster deal prior to the 2021 trade deadline. The Capitals moved Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, and a first- and second-round pick to land Mantha, who hasn't found his stride in D.C.The 28-year-old has only appeared in 118 games across parts of three seasons, notching 24 goals and 34 assists while averaging fewer than 15 minutes per contest.Mantha was a first-round pick of the Red Wings in 2013. His best NHL campaign came in 2018-19 when he bagged 25 goals and 23 assists in 67 appearances.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have stunned the historically dominant Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the hockey world as a whole amid an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final this spring. Given the Cats' unexpected arrival on the doorstep of a championship, it's worth breaking down how they were assembled.Bill Zito took over as the Panthers' general manager in September 2020, and Florida won the Presidents' Trophy last season before bowing out in the second round. While he's certainly put his stamp on the club in his relatively short tenure, the groundwork for the Panthers' foundation began long before he arrived.On the whole, free-agent signings and trades account for the vast majority of the moves that shaped this now formidable squad.Here's how Zito and his predecessors constructed the club that went from sneaking into the playoffs last month all the way to competing in the Cup Final beginning Saturday.MethodPlayersHomegrown4Trade7Free agency10Waivers3Homegrown Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyAleksander Barkov (June 30, 2013): The franchise cornerstone is in his 10th NHL season, all of which he's played with Florida. Former Panthers GM Dale Tallon drafted the dynamic Finnish center second overall, right after the Colorado Avalanche chose Nathan MacKinnon. Barkov, who's blossomed into a superstar and one of the game's best two-way players, is in his fifth campaign as the Cats' captain.Aaron Ekblad (June 27, 2014): Ekblad has been a fixture of the Panthers' defensive corps since Tallon picked him first overall. Much like Barkov, Ekblad has played his entire career for Florida, and next season will be his 10th. The Canadian blue-liner has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, but he's been a workhorse with a knack for contributing on offense when healthy.Spencer Knight (June 21, 2019): Tallon picked Knight 13th overall, and the young goaltender impressed when he first arrived on the NHL scene for four regular season games and a pair of playoff contests in 2021. He was the Panthers' backup for the first half of this season, but he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February.Anton Lundell (Oct. 6, 2020): Lundell is another prime example of the Panthers' success with lottery picks over the years. Just over a month after Zito took the reins, he selected the Finnish forward 12th overall. Lundell has developed nicely at the NHL level, providing favorable underlying numbers as Florida's third-line center - and he's still only 21 years old.Trade Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyEetu Luostarinen (Feb. 23, 2020): Luostarinen was part of the haul Tallon got when he sent Vincent Trocheck to the Carolina Hurricanes before the trade deadline in 2020. Everybody else the Panthers received in the deal (Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, and Chase Priskie) is playing elsewhere now, but the 24-year-old Luostarinen is a key contributor on Florida's third line.Patric Hornqvist (Sept. 24, 2020): Hornqvist hasn't played since sustaining a concussion in early December, but the two-time Stanley Cup champion did suit up for 22 games with Florida during the regular season. The Panthers sent defenseman Mike Matheson and forward Colton Sceviour to the Pittsburgh Penguins in that swap. Hornqvist is in the final year of a contract he signed with the Pens in Feb. 2018.Brandon Montour (April 10, 2021): This move looks like a steal now. Florida snagged Montour from the Buffalo Sabres for a third-round pick. He obliterated his previous career highs with 16 goals and 73 points during this past regular season, and he's kept it up in the playoffs with six goals in 16 games.Sam Bennett (April 12, 2021): Bennett played his first five full NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames but then fell out of favor with the club that selected him three spots after Ekblad in 2014. The then-disgruntled forward demanded a trade, and the Flames eventually accommodated his request, shipping him to the Panthers along with a sixth-round pick for a second-rounder and prospect Emil Heineman.Sam Reinhart (July 24, 2021): Zito also landed Reinhart from the Sabres in exchange for top goaltending prospect Devon Levi, perhaps feeling confident about Knight at the time. Zito could come to regret the move long term in goal, but skilled forward Reinhart has been an excellent addition in the present.Matthew Tkachuk (July 22, 2022): The blockbuster swap that sent Tkachuk from Calgary to Florida has been well-documented, but its immense impact can't be overstated. The versatile Hart Trophy finalist has led and transformed his new squad with a rare blend of elite offensive production and intimidating physical play. Much like Bennett, Tkachuk asked the Flames to trade him, and the Panthers capitalized in both situations.Givani Smith (Dec. 19, 2022): Florida secured Smith in a trade for veteran defenseman Michael Del Zotto. Smith is purely a depth forward, as the 25-year-old winger played only 34 NHL games during the regular season and a single contest so far in these playoffs.Free agency Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / GettySergei Bobrovsky (July 1, 2019): The Panthers signed the ex-Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender to a mammoth seven-year, $70-million pact on the open market. The deal raised eyebrows around the league and was frequently panned in the seasons that followed. But it's harder to question it now, given how integral he's been to Florida's success in these playoffs.Carter Verhaeghe (Oct. 9, 2020): Verhaeghe has been one of the best bargains in the NHL since the Panthers signed him to a two-year contract at $1 million annually. Even the three-year extension he inked in July 2021 still looks good at an average annual value of $4.167 million, considering he racked up a career-high 42 goals this season while equaling the personal-best 31 assists he collected in 2021-22.Radko Gudas (Oct. 9, 2020): Gudas is in his third campaign with the Panthers, who inked him to a three-year deal in free agency a few autumns ago. The soon-to-be 33-year-old Czech defenseman - who has a reputation for initiating questionable hits - played for the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the Cats.Ryan Lomberg (Oct. 9, 2020): The Panthers reeled in the player nicknamed "Lomberghini" on the same day as Verhaeghe and Gudas. Florida signed Lomberg to a two-year contract that day and then extended him for two more in November 2021.Anthony Duclair (Dec. 17, 2020): Duclair is playing for his sixth team in nine years. The Panthers signed the winger to a one-year pact as a free agent, then re-upped him on a three-year agreement in July 2021. The historically streaky Duclair had a career year last season but then tore his Achilles tendon in the summer. That limited him to 20 games in this past regular season, but he's notched three goals and six assists in 15 playoff contests this spring.Nick Cousins (July 13, 2022): Cousins is a journeyman in his own right, having also suited up for six NHL teams in his nine-year career. But the veteran forward is now playing a key role for the Panthers, who signed him to a two-year deal last summer. Cousins has been lining up alongside Bennett and Tkachuk on Florida's second line.Alex Lyon (July 13, 2022): Lyon got promoted when Knight entered the program. The 30-year-old didn't exactly come out of nowhere, but he's having a career year at an age when most players start to decline. Lyon joined the Panthers on a two-way contract last summer, so he's significantly exceeding expectations.Colin White (July 13, 2022): The Ottawa Senators drafted White 21st overall in 2015, and he hasn't lived up to that draft slot. The American forward signed with Florida after parts of six seasons with the Sens, and he now skates on the Panthers' fourth line.Marc Staal (July 13, 2022): There are certainly better and faster defensemen in the NHL than Staal these days, but Florida signed him for his experience. The veteran of over 1,000 games agreed to a one-year pact at $750,000.Eric Staal (Oct. 22, 2022): A second Staal brother joined the Panthers about three months later when they signed the elder Eric to a matching one-year, $750,000 contract. The veteran forward hasn't made a major impact statistically, but at 38 years old, it was clearly a matter of adding even more experience for a playoff run.Waivers Josh Lavallee / National Hockey League / GettyGustav Forsling (Jan. 9, 2021): Landing an eventual top-pairing defenseman off the wire was some tidy work by Zito. Forsling never played a game for the Canes before he was placed on waivers, spending his entire 2019-20 campaign with their AHL affiliate.Josh Mahura (Oct. 10, 2022): The Panthers nabbed Mahura away from the Anaheim Ducks at the start of this season. He's more of a stay-at-home defenseman who primarily occupies a spot in the third pairing.Casey Fitzgerald (Jan. 11, 2023): Florida claimed Fitzgerald off the wire from the Sabres, who made him a third-round draft pick in 2016. The American rearguard isn't in the Panthers' top six on the back end, but he has played one game in these playoffs, namely Florida's Game 4 loss to the Boston Bruins in Round 1. Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Filip Gustavsson's agent doesn't believe there's any doubt about whether he and his client will reach an agreement with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin on a new contract for the goaltender."The good news is we've started a dialogue and everything is really positive," Kurt Overhardt told The Athletic's Joe Smith on Thursday. "I'm confident, working with Billy and his group, that over time something will get done. I don't think it's a matter of getting something done. It's just a matter of when it's done. It's only June 2. So there's still a lot of time."Guerin echoed Overhardt's sentiment that there's no sense of urgency given the timetable."We'll see what the timing is for Gus. There's no rush," the GM said. "We're going to get it done like this (an extension) or through arbitration. I'm fine with whatever."Gustavsson is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The Swede, who'll turn 25 on Wednesday, ranked second in the NHL in save percentage (.931) among goalies who played at least eight games during the regular season. But he made only 39 appearances in that span, starting 37 of them.The ex-Ottawa Senators netminder just played the second season of the two-year contract he signed with his former club at an average annual value of $787,500. The Sens traded him to the Wild for veteran puck-stopper Cam Talbot last July.Gustavsson is taking a hands-off approach to his negotiations."I pretty much told my agent to call me when the contract is done," he said. "And I'll see what it is."Gustavsson doesn't have much NHL experience, having played only 27 games over two campaigns with Ottawa before the trade.The Wild also have top goaltending prospect Jesper Wallstedt waiting in the wings while developing in the AHL. They hold approximately $9 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. However, they also have numerous pending unrestricted free agents, including Matt Dumba, John Klingberg, and Ryan Reaves, as well as pending RFAs like Calen Addison, Brandon Duhaime, and Mason Shaw.The Wild's most experienced goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, is signed through next season at a $3.5-million cap hit.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup Final begins this weekend, with the Golden Knights playing host to the Panthers in a battle of Sunbelt teams.Let's take a look at the best ways to approach the series opener.Panthers (+110) @ Golden Knights (-130)I am expecting a close and competitive series here - one that starts with a Golden Knights win.The Golden Knights have been impressive through three rounds. They haven't just beaten their opponents; they've dismantled them.At five-on-five, the Golden Knights have scored 3.42 goals per 60 minutes. No other playoff team has cleared three. The Panthers aren't even close to that number, scoring 2.15 per 60.Scoring goals isn't as much of a priority if you never allow them. To Florida's credit, it's done a great job in that regard. Solid defensive play coupled with lights-out performances from Sergei Bobrovsky has resulted in opponents scoring only 1.71 goals per 60. That equates to a net of 0.44 per 60.The problem for Florida is Vegas has done an even better job of keeping the puck out, allowing only 1.64 goals per 60. Vegas' net is 1.78 per 60 minutes, a significantly better margin than Florida's.What I love about the Golden Knights is they've won more decisively and sustainably. Their expected goal share is better than 4% higher, and they've done a better job of preventing chances.Adin Hill has been great, for sure, but they haven't asked as much of him as the Panthers have of Bobrovsky. Sooner or later, one would think the latter will slow down under such a difficult workload.The Golden Knights are 6-3 at home these playoffs and have outscored opponents by 10 at full strength.Look for them to flex their muscles in that area - and use home ice to their advantage - in a series-opening win.Bet: Golden Knights (-130)Jonathan Marchessault over 3.5 shots (+120)Marchessault is the Golden Knights' top shooting weapon. He leads the team in shots on target, scoring chances, and expected goals through three rounds.In some categories - such as chances, where Marchessault leads by 15 - the gap between Marchessault and the next closest teammate is rather significant.I expect Marchessault to pick up where he left off in the opening game of this series. His line should get more advantageous matchups on home ice, with Mark Stone's unit taking on the toughest minutes.It's also worth noting Marchessault skates on the top power play, and the Panthers are one of the more undisciplined teams in the league. He should get plenty of opportunities on the man advantage.As a cherry on top, there's the revenge factor. The Panthers didn't protect Marchessault in the 2017 expansion draft, electing to send him and Reilly Smith to Vegas to protect others.Now he can stick it to his old team and make them pay for that decision on the biggest stage.Aleksander Barkov over 2.5 shots (-105)Barkov is generally someone I prefer backing on home ice. However, he's worthy of an exception here.If you remove Game 3 of the Hurricanes series - Barkov only played three minutes due to injury - he has gone over his total in six of the past nine playoff games. That's despite facing strong shot-suppression teams in the Bruins, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes.Believe it or not, the Golden Knights are the worst opponent he has faced in terms of preventing shots - at least during the regular season. They give up a healthy chunk of them to the center position, too.Much like the Hurricanes, the Golden Knights are a team that can be exposed by powerful, talented opposing forwards who fight their way to the dirty areas of the ice. Barkov fits the bill, which is probably why he's mustered five shots on goal in three of the past four against Vegas.Expect his shot-generating success to continue in Game 1.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here. We. Go. At some point over the next two weeks, either the Vegas Golden Knights or Florida Panthers will raise the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. Expect these seven questions to shape the Cup Final, which begins Saturday night. (Note: Tracking data is courtesy of Sportlogiq.)Which star will shine brightest? Josh Lavallee / NHL / Getty ImagesSeismic trades turned the Golden Knights and Panthers into genuine Cup contenders. When superstar forwards demanded to leave their previous teams, each conference champion engineered an NBA-style blockbuster to level up offensively.Fed up with the Buffalo Sabres, Jack Eichel joined Vegas in the fall of 2021. Matthew Tkachuk said he wouldn't extend with the Calgary Flames last summer at the perfect time for Florida. These dynamos lead their squads in scoring - Tkachuk has 21 points in 16 games, Eichel has 18 in 17 - and will command Conn Smythe Trophy consideration.The Golden Knights became perennially competitive by taking big swings. They traded for captain Mark Stone. They signed Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez, partners on the top defense pair, to rich free-agent deals. Parting with Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, and high draft picks to land Eichel fit this strategy and is paying off handsomely. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesEichel has assisted six of linemate Jonathan Marchessault's nine tallies. He's caved in opponents alongside Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev (12-4 in goals in the playoffs, 56.3% expected goals rate, per Natural Stat Trick). The puck has been on Eichel's stick in the offensive zone for 1:03 per game, a top-five possession figure in the NHL.Tkachuk's postseason has been epic. His three overtime goals included back-to-back literal walk-offs against the Carolina Hurricanes. He scored with five seconds left in Florida's latest contest to clinch the berth in the final.Since Game 5 of the first round, the Panthers are 11-1 overall, 9-1 in one-goal matchups, and 6-0 in sudden death. They've barely wavered since staving off elimination against the mighty Boston Bruins, who succeeded Florida this season as the Presidents' Trophy winner. Tkachuk's clutch production has made a massive difference.Who benefits from stylistic clash? Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyStylistically, there are a few similarities between Florida and Vegas, namely the way both teams can make the opposition pay off the rush for committing a turnover. Both teams also cycle the puck well in the offensive zone, block a ton of shots in the defensive zone, and generally love to throw their weight around.The biggest stylistic difference: The Golden Knights run a rush-based attack and the Panthers run a forecheck-based attack. While both defenses are more than capable of stymieing the other's greatest strength, it won't be easy.Vegas excels at insulating its goalie by keeping shots to the perimeter - but can Florida's relentless pressure low in the zone allow the Panthers to infiltrate the defensive shell? Florida's decent at defending in transition thanks to some high-end skaters and stick-checkers - but can Vegas' speedy centers and crafty wingers combine to open up space in order to enter the zone cleanly?It's too simplistic to frame this series as "awesome defensive team (Vegas)" versus "awesome offensive team (Florida)." However, the Golden Knights win the Cup if they're able to neutralize Florida's top forechecking threats (Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, etc.), and the Panthers win the Cup if they're able to overwhelm Vegas' top defensemen (Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, etc.).Will Bobrovsky remain unbeatable? Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIf shelling out $70 million to ink Sergei Bobrovsky nets Florida the Cup, no critic will mock his contract again.Bobrovsky consistently has ranked near the bottom of the NHL in cost per save since signing his lavish seven-year deal in 2019, per CapFriendly. His .905 save percentage over four regular seasons with the Panthers falls below the league average. So it was astounding to see the 34-year-old Russian stonewall the Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs after taking over from Alex Lyon in the first round.Bobrovsky posted a .954 denial rate across Rounds 2 and 3. He limited Carolina to one goal in a 230-minute span as the Panthers won a four-overtime classic and went on to sweep the series. Bobrovsky leads the playoffs with four so-called steals, meaning his total goals saved above expected in a game exceeded the margin of victory. No other goalie has recorded more than one steal.For the whole postseason, Bobrovsky is saving 0.62 goals above expected per 60 minutes. Adin Hill's 0.44 mark is also strong. The Vegas goalie boasts a .937 save percentage over his 11 appearances. We'll witness a heck of a duel if both hot streaks continue.Which 4th line contributes more? Sam Hodde / Getty ImagesTeams typically don't earn a spot in the Cup Final without enviable depth scoring. This year's no different: 15 of Vegas' regular skaters have scored a goal, and eight of them have three or more tallies. And 13 of Florida's regulars have a goal - seven of them with three or more.Vegas' fourth line of Nicolas Roy between William Carrier and Keegan Kolesar is coming in hot. The quick, puck-hungry trio was especially impressive in the sixth and final game of the West final, where it bagged two goals - one off the rush, the other off the forecheck - in just seven five-on-five minutes.On paper, the Golden Knights hold the edge in the battle of fourth lines. Carrier-Roy-Kolesar have controlled the run of play throughout Vegas' playoff run, while Ryan Lomberg-Eric Staal-Colin White have been solid if unspectacular for Florida.In 42 total minutes together, Carrier-Roy-Kolesar has scored more goals than the opposition (3-1), accumulated more expected goals per 60 minutes (2.1-1.9), and generated more scoring chances per 60 (15.8-12.9). In 30 minutes, Lomberg-Staal-White has tied in goals (1-1), trailed in expected goals per 60 (1.9-1.4), and gotten absolutely destroyed in scoring chances per 60 (14.1-6.1).Can Montour be the X-factor? Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / GettyBoth blue lines are filled with giant humans. The average height and weight of Vegas' six regulars is 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, while Florida's regulars clock in at 6-foot-1, 201 pounds. Among these 12 defensemen are stay-at-home types, two-way forces, mobile puck-movers … and brilliant Brandon Montour.Montour's followed up a breakout regular season with an amazing postseason. He ranks first among all defensemen in goals (six), shots on goal (59), scoring chances (23), and individual expected goals (3.13). He also sits second in offense-generating plays (89), zone exits (84), and zone entries (29). In other words, Montour's been an offensive juggernaut from the back end.The Golden Knights don't have a Montour equivalent. At times in his career, Theodore has been that guy, but right now, the 27-year-old's game-to-game impact simply isn't on the same level as Montour's. His elite skating, anticipation skills, and competitive streak allow him to act as a fourth forward.The dude's a workhorse, too, skating for 27:35 per night, which is tops among players in the Cup Final. The next-level stamina is palpable. If he's stuck on the ice for a minutes-long shift - finishing off a lengthy run as power-play quarterback, or working his way toward a 58-minute game like he did as Game 1 of the East Final neared five overtime periods - he doesn't seem overly tired.If Florida prevails, Montour's dynamism will be a major reason why.Will Vegas kill enough penalties? David Becker / NHL / Getty ImagesNeither finalist excels in this phase. Florida's postseason kill rate is 71.2%, which would have ranked last in the NHL in the regular season. Vegas' dreadful 63.0% rate is the worst in history for a playoff team that advanced past the first round.Vegas' success rate by matchup breaks down as follows: 58.3% against the Winnipeg Jets; 60.9% against the Edmonton Oilers, whose power play admittedly was unstoppable all year; and 72.7% against the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, Florida's PK unit is on the upswing. The Panthers killed 21 of 25 penalties (84.0%) across Rounds 2 and 3 after Boston shelled them in the opening series.Florida's 27.9% power-play conversion rate trumps Vegas' 18.5% mark. The Golden Knights' go-to faceoff takers, Karlsson and Roy, have combined to win a mere 40.6% of draws on the PK, per Natural Stat Trick. These numbers could dent Vegas' championship hopes if they don't improve.Can 8th-place underdog prevail? Josh Lavallee / NHL / Getty ImagesThe NHL hasn't employed a 1-through-8 playoff format in a decade, but a striking trend from that period endures: The last team to sneak into the postseason, like Florida in the Eastern Conference, occasionally catches fire and wins three or more rounds.These low seeds have surged to the Cup Final in the salary-cap era:

Six weeks ago, we looked at the math in the Conn Smythe betting market before the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We listed 23 players who had shorter odds than 50-1, and now just two remain from those atop the oddsboard - Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.Everyone else on the Golden Knights and each member of the Panthers has seen an increase in their chances to win playoff MVP. Of course, because the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded for a players' body of work during the entirety of a postseason, previous contributions should be a factor in voting, and therefore, the odds.Conn Smythe Trophy oddsPLAYERODDSSergei Bobrovsky+190Matthew Tkachuk+375Jack Eichel+375Jonathan Marchessault+800William Karlsson+900Adin Hill+1600Mark Stone+1800Chandler Stephenson+3300Aleksander Barkov+6600Carter Verhaeghe+6600Ivan Barbashev+6600Brandon Montour+8000Reilly Smith+8000Alex Pietrangelo+10000Sam Bennett+10000Sam Reinhart+10000Shea Theodore+10000The most notable thing from the players listed above is the dichotomy between the players of each team. The Panthers have two main candidates - one in net and one top contributor amongst Florida skaters. The gap from Matthew Tkachuk at +375 to the next most likely Panther (Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe) is a chasm that's filled with Golden Knights, as six different Vegas players are still legitimate options.The favorite among the Golden Knights - Eichel - leads the team in scoring with 18 points but didn't score a goal in their previous series. It will be a challenge to get to 27 points - the total Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin scored in 2017 and 2018. However, five other forwards since 2011 have won the award with 25 points or less.This is important if you like the Golden Knights, because it means that anyone from the following list could catch fire and sway the voters with a big series:

Vegas Golden Knights forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith aren't harboring any bad blood toward the Florida Panthers as the pair gear up to battle their former team in the Stanley Cup Final.Marchessault was the Golden Knights' expansion draft pick from Florida in 2017, and the Panthers also sent Smith to Sin City in a separate trade that day to protect blue-liners Aaron Ekblad, Alexander Petrovic, Mark Pysyk, and Keith Yandle. Ekblad is the only player of the bunch still with the team."It's water under the bridge," Marchessault said, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika. "Yeah, I was disappointed at the time, but it's six years ago now, so it doesn't bother me anymore."He added, "I was surprised at the decision, but that's the way she goes sometimes. Keeps you honest."Marchessault was fresh off a breakout 30-goal campaign when the Panthers left him exposed for the league's 31st franchise to take for free. He's now the Golden Knights' all-time leader in games played (432), goals (150), and points (348).Smith signed a five-year extension with the Panthers in 2016 but was moved before the deal kicked in. He's proceeded to rack up 286 points in 399 games with the Golden Knights and signed a three-year deal to stay in Vegas last summer."Obviously, it turned out great," Smith said. "And I wouldn't have changed it for anything in the world.""My life has changed a lot over the last six years," he added. "It's been a great change for me. Hopefully, I can play the rest of my career here in Las Vegas."Marchessault and Smith played key roles during the Golden Knights' first run to the Stanley Cup Final - a loss to the Washington Capitals - in their inaugural season and are two of six players who remain from the original roster.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.P. Barry, representative of Vancouver Canucks superstar Elias Pettersson, expects preliminary talks for a long-term extension to get underway this offseason."I think we're going to watch that market for (restricted free-agent) players who are already out there a little bit this summer," Barry told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "But I think in the talks that we’ve had (with the Canucks), they do want to get together sometime this summer or early fall at least - in the next few months - to try and talk about the future.He added: "We've stayed in contact. Elias is thinking about it. I think it's going to happen, we're going to sit down this summer. We're going to talk about staying there long term. That is the plan right now."Pettersson is entering the final season of the three-year, $22.05-million bridge contract he inked with Vancouver in 2021. The 24-year-old is eligible to sign a new deal as of July 1. He built a case for a significant raise this past season after finishing 10th in the league scoring with 102 points.Pettersson set career highs in goals (39), assists (63), shots (257), and average ice time (20:33) during a tumultuous season for the Canucks in which the club missed the playoffs, changed head coaches, and traded former captain Bo Horvat.Pettersson currently carries Vancouver's third-highest cap hit among skaters, trailing J.T. Miller ($8 million), and Quinn Hughes ($7.85 million). The Canucks project to have ample cap space come 2024-25 - the first season of Pettersson's potential new deal - with only nine players currently signed through the upcoming campaign.Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Winnipeg Jets, as well as Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier of the New Jersey Devils, are among the most prominent unsigned RFAs this offseason that could influence the market on Pettersson's next contract.The Canucks drafted Pettersson fifth overall in 2017. He's collected 323 points in 325 games with the franchise, and he won the Calder Trophy in 2019.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs introduced new general manager Brad Treliving on Thursday, and the executive got right down to business after inheriting a relatively intricate state of affairs from Kyle Dubas."It's the Leafs. It means something," Treliving said. "To me, I sit in front of you today excited, humbled, looking at this as a great opportunity, but also know this is a great, great responsibility."Here's what Treliving said about some of the Maple Leafs' most pressing issues.On prioritizing an extension for Matthews Steve Russell / Toronto Star / GettyOne of the more pressing things on Treliving's plate is getting star Auston Matthews signed to an extension.The 2022 Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner has one season left on his current deal and is eligible to ink a new pact on July 1."We're not going to get into any public discourse about contracts," he said. "Obviously, we know where these contracts are at. Auston is one of the elite players in the world. ... Getting to Auston is a priority."But outside of the contract stuff, No. 1 is just getting to build that relationship. It's not walking down and trying to arm wrestle about contracts. It's me getting a chance to meet him but, more importantly, having Auston get a chance to meet me, know what we're about, and just talk a little bit. That's priority No. 1. ... We're prepared to get after it."Matthews currently carries an $11.64-million cap hit and is in line for a raise. He hit the 40-goal mark for the fifth time this campaign.On Keefe's future as head coach Steve Russell / Toronto Star / GettyLike Matthews, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe also has one year remaining on his deal.Keefe's future with the franchise was called into question after the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the second round, but his outlook got even murkier with Dubas' departure.Dubas and Keefe have a long history of working together, dating back to the OHL in the early 2010s. The pair were reunited at the NHL level when Dubas fired veteran bench boss Mike Babcock in November 2019 and replaced him with Keefe.Treliving said Keefe is in a "unique situation, but that's the business.""I think he's a really good coach," Treliving said. "My view is, determining whether a guy's good, bad, or indifferent, you have to work with him. You have to get to know him. ... I'm coming in with no preconceived notions."He added, "I think Sheldon has done a lot of really, really good team things. I look at how a group of really skilled players has gotten better at checking and defending and doing those things that you need to win. So we're gonna sit down, and we're gonna have a thorough process and try to do it as quickly as possible and come to a conclusion."The Maple Leafs own a regular-season record of 166-71-30 across four seasons under Keefe.On deciding what to do with the 'Core 4' Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyThe Maple Leafs' Core Four forwards - Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares - have long faced criticism for Toronto's struggles in the playoffs.Despite only having one playoff series win under their belts since Matthews' rookie season, Shanahan reportedly told the group that they're unlikely to be moved after the foursome failed to make an impact in the second round against the Panthers.Treliving addressed the situation and his thoughts on a potential trade."Having those players excites me. ... We're gonna review everything," he said. "I want to stress strongly: I'm not about coming in and making a statement. You can throw a body onto the tarmac, and it might look good for a headline, but are you getting any better? At the end of the day, it's about getting better, and just being different doesn't necessarily make you better."He added, "I'm coming in from an outside lens. This idea of the Core Four and all those types of things, my job is to protect them," he said. "I'm fiercely protective of my players. But this can't be about the Core Four. This is about the Toronto Maple Leafs. ... It's about the 23 guys that we're gonna have in this organization."I understand that the spotlight's bigger here. ... But it's about the Leafs. The success of this team or whatever challenges we have isn't because of four guys or two guys or one guy. It's about the group. For a manager coming in, I'm pretty lucky to have the talent that those four represent, as well as everybody else on this team."When asked if he was opposed to making a big move, Treliving said, "We will look at all things."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery on Thursday and is expected to take four-to-six months to recover, his agent Pat Brisson announced, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Brisson added that Kane "wants to play for a long time."Under this recovery timeline, Kane could return to action between October and December.Kane is a pending unrestricted free agent after wrapping up the final season of an eight-year, $84-million pact. After spending 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, Chicago sent him to the New York Rangers prior to this year's trade deadline.The 34-year-old put up 21 goals and 36 assists in 73 regular-season games and added six points in seven playoff contests before the Rangers were bounced out of the first round by the New Jersey Devils.Though the Rangers ended up acquiring Kane in February, they initially had concerns about a nagging hip injury, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Washington Capitals veteran Nicklas Backstrom underwent hip resurfacing surgery last June and wasn't able to make his season debut until January.During his end-of-season media availability, Kane said a return to the rebuilding Blackhawks hadn't crossed his mind, per SNY Rangers.Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in April that he didn't offer Kane or Jonathan Toews an extension, adding that he wasn't sure if "resting on the past or on sentimentality" would benefit Chicago in the long run.A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Kane has 451 goals and 786 assists in 1,180 career NHL games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like everyone else in the hockey world, new Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery will be keeping a close eye on Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky on the NHL's all-time goals list."It's a huge responsibility for me as a head coach. ... It's my job as a head coach to put him in situations where he can be successful," Carbery said during his introductory press conference Thursday. "That's what my challenge is, and I don't take that lightly at all."That'll work into how we play as a group. That'll be one of my focuses - how do we put him in situations to succeed?"Ovechkin scored 42 goals in 73 games this season and is 73 tallies away from surpassing Gretzky in the No. 1 spot. He passed Gordie Howe for sole possession of second place on the list in December.RankPlayerGPG1Wayne Gretzky14878942Alex Ovechkin13478223Gordie Howe1767801Ovechkin overtook Gretzky in 2022-23 for most career 40-goal seasons (13).The power play will likely be key to Ovechkin's chase of the Great One. The Russian is already the league's all-time leader in goals on the man advantage (299), but the Capitals' power play has ranked firmly in the middle of the pack in recent years.Washington's unit ranked 16th in the league this season after converting on 21.2% of its chances, a slight improvement from 2021-22's abysmal 18.8%.Carbery helmed the Maple Leafs' power play for the past two campaigns as an assistant coach. Toronto's unit ranked second in the league with a success rate of 26.6% over that span, trailing only the high-flying Edmonton Oilers.The first-time NHL bench boss said the Capitals' power play will be a "main focus" as he works on rounding out his coaching staff."I've followed their power play very, very closely over the last two years, watched them all," he said. "I think there's some things that we can do there."Washington missed the playoffs this campaign for the first time since 2013-14, finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a 35-37-10 record.Carbery was named the 20th head coach in Capitals history on Tuesday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins named Kyle Dubas their new president of hockey operations on Thursday.The 37-year-old executive replaces Brian Burke, who was fired in April after the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06, Sidney Crosby's rookie season.Dubas is tasked with establishing a strategic vision and philosophy for the Penguins."Throughout his career, Kyle has proven himself as a forward-thinking hockey mind and embodies all of the qualities - integrity, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to building a winning culture - that we value in a leader at the Penguins," Fenway Sports Group principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner said in a statement."We have done exhaustive work narrowing down candidates throughout this process, but it did not take long to be impressed by Kyle, the reputation he's cultivated for himself in and around the National Hockey League, and his vision for the organization on and off the ice."Pittsburgh is still in need of a general manager after firing Ron Hextall. The Maple Leafs replaced Dubas with Brad Treliving on Wednesday.Dubas said Thursday during his introductory press conference that he'll serve as interim general manager and that the search for a new candidate may have to wait until July.The Maple Leafs made the playoffs in each of Dubas' five campaigns as general manager, but they only advanced past the opening round once. He and the team parted ways after the Florida Panthers bounced the Leafs from the second round.Dubas was aggressive leading up to the 2023 trade deadline, acquiring the likes of Ryan O'Reilly, Noel Acciari, and Luke Schenn to help the Leafs win their first playoff series since 2004.During an end-of-season press conference in May, Dubas became emotional as he addressed the toll the Maple Leafs' campaign took on his family."I definitely don't have it in me to go anywhere else," he said at the time. "It'll either be here or it'll be taking time to recalibrate and reflect on the seasons here. You won't see me next week pop up elsewhere; I can't put (my family) through that after this year."Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said watching Dubas' press conference created a "dramatic shift" in his thinking and ultimately derailed extension talks.Dubas conceded Thursday that he might have been "too honest that day," per Sportsnet's Luke Fox.Toronto amassed a record of 221-109-42 and a .651 points percentage during Dubas' time at the helm.Dubas is joining a Pittsburgh squad that has won three Stanley Cup championships with its current core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang."I heard a lot of people skeptical of the team's ability to contend," Dubas said, according to team beat reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "The way I view it is, if people want to bet against (head coach) Mike Sullivan, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and others, they can go ahead and do so."But I'm going to bet on them, and go with them."One of the biggest questions facing the Penguins is goaltender Tristan Jarry, who's a pending unrestricted free agent.Jarry battled injuries in 2022-23, posting a 24-13-7 record to go along with a .909 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average."I will try to meet him and get to know him myself," Dubas said. "Then we will be doing a very thorough evaluation of Tristan and review where he stands in the marketplace. That's a big priority because goaltending is vitally important."Dubas said in a press release that he was drawn to the Penguins because of their "rich history of winning" and the coaching staff's "competitiveness.""The opportunity to work with such passionate and committed people, as well as the established character and leadership of the long-standing core group of talented players, gives me great enthusiasm for the challenge at hand," he said."Our family has been made to feel extremely comfortable throughout this process and we are excited to now call Pittsburgh our home."The Penguins haven't made it out of the first round since 2017-18.Pittsburgh currently has $20.2 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hilary Knight has once again made history by winning the inaugural IIHF Female Player of the Year Award, the organization announced Thursday.The award is voted on by members of the media representing 16 countries. Knight won in a landslide with 40.9% of the total votes, beating out U.S. teammate Caroline Harvey (18.2%), talented Slovakian teen Nela Lopusanova (13.6%), Finland's Emma Soderberg (4.5%), and a pair of Canadian rivals in Sarah Fillier (9.1%) and Marie-Philip Poulin (2.3%)."I am honored to be the first recipient of such a prestigious award," Knight said in a statement. "There are many talented women at this level, and it is a privilege to be recognized as the IIHF Female Player of the Year."She added, "Reflecting on this year, it's hard to pinpoint one highlight, rather a collection of memories shared with my teammates. I am grateful to be a part of such an incredible group and share these special moments with my friends."Knight potted a tournament-leading eight goals and four assists in seven games while serving as Team USA's captain at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship in April. She netted a hat trick in the final against Canada to propel the United States to its first gold medal at the event since 2019.She's stood at the top of the podium at Worlds nine times, tying her with Canada's Danielle Goyette for the most career gold medals at the event.The 33-year-old also became the first player to surpass 100 career points at the Women's World Championship in 2023.Knight has played in 13 women's Worlds dating back to 2007 and has medaled in all of them. She's been named tournament MVP twice (2015, 2016).The IIHF Female Player of the Year Award seeks to recognize the player who "best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an arduous battle, the Stanley Cup Final is officially set: The Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights are primed for a head-on clash, with each team vying to lift Lord Stanley's Mug for the first time.We'll admit it: The first three guys on this list are here to make up the numbers. By this point, the battle for the Conn Smythe Trophy is between two teammates. But this wouldn't be much of a ranking if it only had two players on it, would it?So, here are the top five candidates battling for the coveted honor with the Stanley Cup Final coming down the pike.5. Roope Hintz David Becker / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%19101418:0166.1Not even Hintz could save the Dallas Stars against the Golden Knights, and even though he's virtually out of the running for the Conn Smythe, we figured we'd give him a shoutout.Hintz topped the previous two editions of these rankings for a reason. The 26-year-old leads the field with 24 points this spring (six clear of Jason Robertson, his next closest teammate) and was the Stars' offensive engine, factoring in on approximately 41% of their goals.However, Hintz was held pointless in four out of six games in the Western Conference Final. With the talented Finn virtually neutralized, it isn't the biggest surprise that the Stars stopped short of the Stanley Cup Final: Out of the nine games Dallas lost this spring, Hintz failed to register a point in seven of them.4. Jonathan Marchessault Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%179817:3357.8Yes, this spot could've easily gone to Jack Eichel, who still leads the Golden Knights in points this spring (albeit by one). But Eichel faded a bit in the Western Conference Final, putting up four assists in six games.Marchessault set the tone for Sin City against the Stars and was a straight-up problem in the series, putting up four goals and three assists. Dallas only managed to hold him off the scoresheet in Game 1, and he enjoyed two multi-point outings. One round prior, Marchessault's Game 6 hat trick effectively eliminated the Edmonton Oilers. That's the kind of production the Golden Knights needed from their all-time goals and points leader.William Karlsson, an original Golden Knight like Marchessault, has also had a huge postseason and tops the team with 10 goals. As interesting as it'll be to see if they can outgun the Panthers, we've got the man between the pipes labeled as Vegas' most important player in the Stanley Cup Final.3. Adin Hill Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyGPSV%GAAGSAXGSAA11 (7-3).9372.0710.019.8With the Golden Knights collecting goalies like they're infinity stones (remember when they got Jonathan Quick?!), Hill has been playing second fiddle all season long.That changed when Laurent Brossoit was injured in Game 3 of the second round. Hill has started every contest since, and the Golden Knights couldn't have possibly asked for a better performance from their new No. 1 guy. Hill was outstanding in the Western Conference Final, stymieing the Stars with a .939 save percentage, 1.99 goals against average, and a pair of shutouts - including a 23-save outing in Vegas' dominant series-clinching Game 6. Not bad for a netminder who just got his first taste of the postseason this spring.Next up, the 27-year-old will have to outduel the near-invincible Sergei Bobrovsky in the Stanley Cup Final. No one's done it yet, but if he pulls it off and Vegas lifts the Cup, don't be surprised if Hill takes home the Conn Smythe.2. Matthew Tkachuk Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%1691222:4356.9So the Florida Panthers handily won Year 1 of last summer's blockbuster Tkachuk trade, yeah? The aptly deemed unicorn of a hockey player has demonstrated that he has the clutch gene with a dazzling four game-winning goals so far this spring.To recap:

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell will be calling his fellow GMs rather than testing the free-agent market to find improvements this offseason."I still think the trade route is something we're going to explore very heavily before free agency," Waddell said Wednesday at his end-of-season availability.He added that the first day of free agency "is probably the most dangerous day in hockey, besides the trade deadline."Waddell swung a pair of blockbuster trades last July, acquiring Brent Burns from the San Jose Sharks and Max Pacioretty from the Vegas Golden Knights.Burns was an instant fit, playing a pivotal role in helping Carolina win the Metropolitan Division and reach the Eastern Conference Final. Pacioretty only played five games before re-injuring his Achilles. He's a pending unrestricted free agent.Waddell said he'd like to add goals to the roster but isn't just focusing on a pure sniper."We'd like to get a little heavier, if possible," Waddell said. "We also need guys like Teuvo (Teravainen) to have a bounce-back year. He had a tough year this year. And guys like (Seth) Jarvis are only going to get better. So we might have a lot of that goal-scoring internally, and there are other things that we might be able to address then."Carolina scored 3.07 goals per game in the playoffs, the lowest mark of any team in the final four. The club ranked 15th in goals for during the regular season (262).The Hurricanes have an estimated $24.1 million in cap space this offseason, per Cap Friendly. They have a host of key players headed for unrestricted free agency, including captain Jordan Staal and goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another year, another surprise finalist for the Stanley Cup. But get past the talk of being an 8-seed and the Panthers have a loaded resume.Going 11-1 in its last 12 games against the vaunted Bruins, the momentarily relieved Maple Leafs, and the analytics-darling Hurricanes, Florida comes into the ultimate series - a battle for hockey's Holy Grail - as the underdog for the fourth straight time. The Vegas Golden Knights get a slight nod because of home-ice advantage.Series oddsTEAMGAME 1SERIESSERIES HANDICAPPanthers+115+110+1.5 (-190)Golden Knights-135-130-1.5 (+160)The Golden Knights get the honor of being short favorites for the Stanley Cup Final. A +115 price indicates 46.5% implied win probability, compared to the Golden Knights' 57.4% at -135. Shaving 2% off each side to remove the sportsbooks' 4% hold, the assumption is a 55.5/45.5 split in favor of Vegas. Adjust for a 4% flip due to home-ice advantage, if these games were played on neutral ice, it would be as close to a true coin-flip as we could expect out of a championship matchup.RatingsUsing primarily even-strength metrics to evaluate a team's quality, we've established how a team rates relative to an average NHL team. We use these ratings to create an implied win probability split in each game, which we then translate to a fair moneyline price for each before home-ice advantage is applied and the sportsbook takes its vig on a bet. Here's how these teams rated over the season, when isolating play after the All-Star break, and in their previous playoff matchups (relative to their opponent).TEAMSEASONPOST-ASBROUND 1ROUND 2ROUND 3Panthers+17%+16%+27.8%+7.2%+8.7%Golden Knights+11%+2%+8%+10%+8.8%The Panthers played out of their expected range while coming back to beat Boston in the first round, but they were mostly above average in edging Toronto and Carolina, thanks in part to four overtime wins (plus Matthew Tkachuk's buzzer-beating Stanley Cup Final berth clincher).The Golden Knights consistently played 8-10% above an average team in dispatching the Jets, Oilers, and Stars.Advanced metrics at even strength (Playoffs)xG%= Expected goals share

The Toronto Maple Leafs tabbed Brad Treliving, formerly of the Calgary Flames, as their new general manager, the club announced Wednesday.Treliving and the Flames agreed to part ways in mid-April. Calgary missed the playoffs one season after winning the Pacific Division title.The Maple Leafs fired GM Kyle Dubas earlier in May. The 37-year-old became visibly emotional during his end-of-season availability, and team president Brendan Shanahan admitted he changed his plans after watching Dubas speak, prompting the club to sever ties.Treliving spent nine seasons as Flames GM, rarely shying away from significant trades and signings. Calgary enjoyed moderate success during his tenure but never advanced past the second round and only made the playoffs in five of those nine years.The Maple Leafs have made the playoffs in seven straight seasons, and they won their first series since 2004 this spring. However, the Florida Panthers needed only five games to vanquish Toronto in Round 2.Treliving was an assistant GM with the Arizona Coyotes before becoming Flames general manager.Calgary reportedly denied the Pittsburgh Penguins permission to speak to Treliving about their vacancy at GM, but the Flames later allowed him to talk to the Pens and Leafs on the condition that he didn't discuss the upcoming draft.Treliving is the 18th GM in Maple Leafs history.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers aren't wasting any time reaching out to former Nashville Predators head coach John Hynes about their own vacancy in the role.The Predators gave the Rangers permission to contact Hynes, reports the New York Post's Mollie Walker. Nashville general manager Barry Trotz fired Hynes on Tuesday and replaced him with Andrew Brunette.Gerard Gallant and the Rangers parted ways earlier in May following the Blueshirts' first-round playoff exit.Hynes and New York president and general manager Chris Drury were college teammates at Boston University in the '90s. Hynes spent the last three-plus seasons behind the Predators' bench and coached the New Jersey Devils for four-plus campaigns until they fired him in December 2019.The 48-year-old has an all-time coaching record of 284-254-63.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators named Andrew Brunette as their new head coach Wednesday, replacing John Hynes.Brunette was nominated for the Jack Adams Award last season after piloting the Florida Panthers through their Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign in his first year as an NHL head coach.He served as an associate coach for the New Jersey Devils in 2022-23.Incoming Nashville general manager Barry Trotz announced the firings of Hynes and assistant coach Dan Lambert on Tuesday.Brunette has some experience within the Predators organization. He played for Nashville in 1998-99 and is credited with scoring the franchise's first-ever goal.The 49-year-old netted 11 goals and 20 assists in 77 contests as a Predator and amassed 733 points in 1,110 career NHL games.Brunette stepped in as Panthers head coach on an interim basis after Joel Quenneville resigned in October 2021. Brunette had been an assistant coach on Quenneville's staff since 2019.Florida dominated the regular season but was ultimately swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. After falling short in the postseason, the Panthers moved on from Brunette and hired Paul Maurice.The Panthers went 51-18-6 under Brunette's direction.Hynes had one year remaining on his contract with the Predators. They finished the 2022-23 campaign fifth in the Central Division with a 42-32-8 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14.In four seasons as head coach in Nashville, Hynes put together a record of 134-96-18. Hynes' Predators never advanced past the opening round of the playoffs."John Hynes is a good man and a good hockey coach," Trotz said in a press release. "He did an outstanding job after the trade deadline with our team, especially with our young players, and he is a well-prepared, hard-working coach who will continue to grow in the NHL."After our year-end meetings and some additional evaluation, it was time to change the voice and time to go in a different direction."Brunette will be the first head coach of Trotz's tenure as general manager. The Predators announced in February that former executive David Poile was stepping down from the position after a 26-year run at the helm.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' search for a new general manager appears to be coming to a close."All signs now point" to the Maple Leafs naming former Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving as their new GM, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday.Treliving has reportedly been "very high" on Toronto's list of candidates to replace Kyle Dubas as general manager.The Maple Leafs announced on May 19 that Dubas would not return after five seasons at the helm, and team president Brendan Shanahan subsequently noted his interest in hiring an experienced candidate.Former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin met virtually with Shanahan on Friday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported earlier Tuesday on "Insider Trading." LeBrun added that despite this meeting, Treliving remained the "front-runner" for the position.Treliving spent nine years as Calgary's general manager before parting with the team in April. The Flames reportedly denied the Pittsburgh Penguins permission to speak with Treliving earlier in May, but they have since allowed him to speak with both Pittsburgh and Toronto provided he does not participate in discussions around the upcoming NHL draft, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.The Flames made the playoffs in five of nine seasons during Treliving's tenure as general manager. Calgary reached the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice in that span, losing in five games each time.Toronto has qualified for the postseason in seven consecutive seasons but has just one series win in that period. The Maple Leafs knocked off the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round in April before losing to the Florida Panthers in five games in Round 2.The Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins are the two NHL teams currently without a general manager.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After his team staved off elimination twice against the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer didn't believe there was much left to give during Monday's blowout, season-ending loss."Every time you go to an elimination game, it takes a toll physically, mentally," he said after the 6-0 defeat. "It's hard to refill that tank over and over again. I just didn't think there was a lot left tonight."Including Game 7 against the Seattle Kraken, the Stars played in four elimination contests in these playoffs. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, have yet to play in a contest with their season on the brink.Vegas dominated Game 6, controlling 68.4% of the scoring chances, 60% of the shots, and 69.6% of the expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.The Stars never had a chance to get into the contest after the Golden Knights erupted for a three-goal lead in the first period.Veteran forward Joe Pavelski didn't have an answer as to why the Stars came out flat on home ice."There's a lot of give and take throughout the playoffs, there's a lot of highs and lows," he told reporters postgame. "You just expect more out of yourself in situations like this. ... Definitely wanted more tonight out of this game."He added, "I've been a part of different runs like this. I had a lot of belief in this group, so to come up a little short, it's always tough because you thought there was more out there for us."Tyler Seguin thought the Stars earned themselves a better fate."I didn't think we deserved to go out the way we did tonight," Seguin said. "Hockey's hard, man. Game 1, we didn't play great, but we probably could have snuck it out."Game 2, you play great and they sneak it out. ... I'm still proud of this group and how many responses we've had throughout the whole year."The Stars (47-21-14) finished one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the No. 1 spot in the Central Division.Though Dallas fell short of making the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2020, DeBoer is pleased that his team managed to exceed expectations during his first season behind the Stars' bench."There's a lot to be proud of. There's only four teams left standing out of 32," he said. "I don't think at the beginning of the year a lot of people had us pencilled as one of them. There was a lot of work put in by our group."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals hired Spencer Carbery as their new head coach, the club announced Tuesday.It's a four-year deal, a source told ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Carbery spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helmed their power play, which ranked second in the NHL with a success rate of 26.6% over that span.The 41-year-old guided the Capitals' AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, to the league's best regular-season record in 2021.He played the final two years of his career with the Capitals' ECHL team, the South Carolina Stingrays, and joined their coaching staff as an assistant after retiring as a player in August 2010. Carbery took over as the Stingrays' head coach in July 2011 and was the youngest in the league at the time at 29 years old.Carbery later coached the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and the AHL's Providence Bruins before rejoining the Capitals' system as Bears head coach in June 2018.The Victoria, British Columbia-born ex-forward was named the AHL's coach of the year in 2021.The Capitals and former head coach Peter Laviolette parted ways in April. He served behind Washington's bench for the last three campaigns. The Capitals lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of his first two seasons leading the club and then missed the postseason entirely in 2022-23.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.