Two of the first big items on new Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka's checklist are figuring out what to do with head coach Craig Berube, and getting a feel from captain Auston Matthews on what he has in mind for his future. Insider Pierre LeBrun told the gang on TSN Overdrive on Thursday that meetings are now in motion with both of those key figures. First up, a tete-a-tete with Berube. Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive on John Chayka and Craig Berube meeting this week pic.twitter.com/xRz6hYV...
about 8 hours ago
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Matthews Knies was selected 57th overall in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs . He made his debut on Apr. 10th, 2023, against the Florida Panthers . The Maple Leafs still had a competitive roster built by general manager Kyle Dubas, then, and defeated the Panthers 2-1. Knies wouldn't contribute to the scoresheet, but played 18 shifts and 13:09 time on ice. Three years later, and he's developed into a two-way, top-six forward who scored 66 poin...
about 8 hours ago
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With the NHL Draft Lottery bringing some shocking results this week, it sure sounds like we are in store for some major trades next month in Buffalo. The Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks shot up the draft board, with the Leafs winning the first overall pick, and the Sharks, once again, sitting in the second hole. Both teams are looking to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season, and there's certainly already been a ton of potential trades discussed throughout the hockey world. On Thur...
about 9 hours ago
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The Edmonton Oilers have some work to do this summer. They officially have two years on the clock to convince Connor McDavid to stay. But by all accounts, it's effectively one year: If they're still struggling at this time next year, with no discernible path to the Stanley Cup, there will probably be an agreement by the two sides to move McDavid elsewhere so the Oilers can get a big haul in return. Two of the biggest areas to improve on this offseason would be in goal, and bringing...
about 9 hours ago
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have had themselves quite the week. From a cringe-worthy press conference, to Auston Matthews wanting out, to then winning the NHL Draft Lottery, Leafs Nation has been through the ringer this week. While TSN's Chris Johnston has been the only one to report the fact Matthews is 'unsure' if he'll return to the Maple Leafs next season, it turns out some other reporters have been able to track down a completely different narrative. According to David Pagnotta, who was co-ho...
about 10 hours ago
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It was a shock around the hockey world when the Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season last month. Make no mistake, Cassidy will be able to pick and choose his next job behind a bench in the NHL, as there will be no shortage of teams interested in bringing him in. One of those teams, a club where there are serious questions being asked about their current bench boss, is the Edmonton Oilers. After a first-round flameout t...
about 11 hours ago
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The San Jose Sharks are open for business. After some wonderful luck at Tuesday's NHL Draft Lottery, the Sharks skyrocketed up the draft board and found themselves in the two hole. A very familiar spot for them, and with all of their young talent already on their roster, this is going to be very interesting to watch how general manager Mike Grier handles the draft pick. Mike Grier says he was "shocked" at the draft lottery results. Says he remains open to dealing the No. 2 pick. Obviously, the...
about 19 hours ago
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When the Nashville Predators signed Juuse Saros to an eight-year, $61.92 million contract on July 1, 2024, the deal was widely viewed as a reasonable commitment to one of the better goaltenders in the sport.
Two seasons later, it looks considerably more complicated.
Saros posted a .894 save percentage and a 3.16 goals-against average in 59 appearances this past season, going 28-22-8 while facing the most shots of any goaltender in the NHL for the second straight year.
His goals saved abo...
about 20 hours ago
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The Brady Tkachuk trade speculation that erupted after Ottawa's first-round exit has now reached Boston.
Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic raised the question in a piece laying out the Bruins ' offseason priorities, asking whether Boston should check in on Tkachuk's availability this summer.
"The Ottawa Senators ' left wing is signed for two more seasons," Shinzawa wrote. "But given Ottawa's first-round exit and Tkachuk's zero-point postseason output, the Senators may be concerned about wheth...
about 20 hours ago
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The San Jose Sharks' top objective of the offseason should be to improve their defensive group. They need to make multiple upgrades to it, and they are also entering the summer with many pending unrestricted free agent defensemen. One player who the Sharks certainly could kick tires on this offseason is New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider. The Sharks were among the teams connected to Schneider leading up to the deadline, and it would make sense if they targeted him again. It is ...
about 20 hours ago
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Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos was a trade candidate leading up to this year's deadline, and it would not be surprising if this carried over to the summer. If the Predators do listen to offers on Stamkos, he would generate plenty of interest. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could target Stamkos this offseason. Tampa Bay Lightning Could the Lightning look to reunite with Stamkos this summer? After another short playoff run, the possibility should not be r...
about 20 hours ago
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The Tampa Bay Lightning had another short playoff run this year, as they fell to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round in seven games. With this, the Lightning should be aggressively looking to boost their roster during the summer. One area that the Lightning could look to improve is their middle six. Because of this, it would not be surprising if they tried to reunite with one of their former players: Blake Coleman. With the Calgary Flames in a rebuild, Coleman has been a popular name in ...
about 21 hours ago
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The Dallas Stars are in a tough spot with star forward Jason Robertson. They know they have to re-sign the pending restricted free agent, but with a ton of money on the books, there seems to be a line they won't cross. Many pundits have speculated that Robertson—who just posted his third 40-goal season—is looking for a contract on par with his teammate, Mikko Rantanen. That would come with a $12 million AAV. But insider Jeff Marek said on the DFO Rundown this week that the Stars ar...
Sounds like the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs were discussing some big trade proposals ahead of March's trade deadline. Multiple reports have surfaced that the Oilers and Maple Leafs were engaged in advanced trade talks leading up to the trade deadline, centered around Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, and Scott Laughton and Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs. It didn't get to the point of Rielly and Nurse being asked to waive their no-movement clauses, but sources have indicated the Oi...
With free agency on the horizon, teams are building their postseason plans. News of Auston Matthews' noncommittal statement to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization has caused an uproar in the media. Statements like his yesterday should give pause to general manager John Chayka, as he will have to contend with a potentially disgruntled superstar in Matthews and figure out where to go next. With not even so much as their yearly first-round exit, the Maple Leafs will have...
Based on their woeful finish at the bottom of the standings this season, the Vancouver Canucks were the heavy favorites to land the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery. But it wasn't to be, as the Canucks dropped to No.3 while the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Lottery Tuesday night and the right to select No. 1. That selection is expected to be the long-favored top pick, Gavin McKenna. But on The Fan Hockey Show on Sportsnet today, analyst Mike Futa proposed a wild offer that new Leafs GM John C...
After the Philadelphia Flyers ' 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of their second-round series, forward Noah Cates was seen sitting on an equipment box and being wheeled to the locker room, per reports . "He didn’t seem to be writhing in pain," said Jordan Hall, "but the Flyers clearly didn’t want him putting pressure on one of his legs." On Wednesday, the word has come down on the severity of his injury, and it's not good: Cates has been ruled out for the rest of the series....
Everyone watched as the Columbus Blue Jackets collapsed down the stretch to fall out of a potential playoff berth. And certainly, everyone saw what head coach Rick Bowness thought of it, in one of the most epic coaching rants in recent memory . The head coach (who has since been re-signed to return next year) later explained that he wanted his troops to " spend the summer being uncomfortable." This latest suggestion from Columbus beat writer Aaron Portzline in The Athletic should a...
The Toronto Maple Leafs have started the John Chayka and Mats Sundin era off with a fortunate bounce. The ping pong ball combination came out in the Leafs favor, and they'll select first overall at the NHL Draft next month in Buffalo. It's the third time the Leafs will select first, and the first time since Auston Matthews was brought into the organization. There's going to be lots of debates about Gavin McKenna vs Ivar Stenberg, and with Sundin in the mix now with Leafs' management, the...
The San Jose Sharks had luck on their side Tuesday night, as they've won the second overall pick at next months' NHL Draft in Buffalo. General manager Mike Grier was very excited with the news, as the Sharks and the Maple Leafs were the big winners of the night, moving up the draft board in a major way. The Sharks are familiar drafting among the top three in recent years, however, with their roster currently constructed the way it is, and expectations climbing, expect to see Grier listen to an...
The Vancouver Canucks have a big offseason ahead as they continue their rebuild. They are entering the summer with several trade candidates, and Elias Pettersson is one of them. The 27-year-old center needs a change of scenery in a major way. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could look to acquire Pettersson during the offseason. Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers have taken a big step in the right direction this year and are in the second round of the playoffs because of...
The Dallas Stars' playoff run is over, and they have some decisions to make when it comes to their roster. They are entering the summer with multiple pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), and Michael Bunting is among them. If Bunting ends up hitting the free-agent market instead of re-signing with the Stars, he should generate a good amount of interest. Due to this, let's look at three teams that could look to sign Bunting this summer. New York Islanders The Islanders could be a...
The Vancouver Canucks ' thought they found their GM.
David Pagnotta reported recently that the Canucks had internal interest in speaking with Brad Treliving, who was fired as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs in late March with seven games remaining in the regular season.
The conversation never happened.
"I believe the Canucks had internally some interest in talking to former Leafs GM Brad Treliving," Pagnotta said, "but I don't believe that's a spot that he's interested in going."
Trelivi...
After a short playoff run, the Edmonton Oilers should be in for a busy offseason. The Oilers' roster is simply not strong enough right now, and they have multiple needs to address during the summer because of it. One specific area that the Oilers must improve this offseason is their goaltending. Tristan Jarry has not lived up to expectations since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Connor Ingram is a better fit as a backup. Thus, it would be shocking if the Oilers don't try to ...
The Edmonton Oilers went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025.
This year they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in six games.
The fallout from that result has been significant, and the question of whether Kris Knoblauch will coach the Oilers next season is now very much open.
GM Stan Bowman addressed the media Saturday morning at Rogers Place for a 30-plus-minute exit interview and declined to guarantee his coach's future in any meaningful way.
"When you don't have success, I th...