All posts by Josh Wegman

Letang awarded Bill Masterton Trophy

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."

Letang suffered the second stroke of his career in November but miraculously returned to the Pens' lineup less than two weeks later. The 36-year-old led all Penguins skaters in average ice time (24:51) and led the club's defensemen with 41 points in 64 games.

Letang spoke further about the meaning of winning the award.

Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock were the other two finalists.

Keller suffered a gruesome leg fracture at the end of the 2021-22 campaign but returned on time to start the 2022-23 season. He tallied a team-leading 86 points while playing all 82 games.

Stalock was limited to just one NHL game over the previous two seasons due to a myocarditis diagnosis but was stellar in 2022-23. He posted a .908 save percentage in 27 games for the rebuilding Blackhawks.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montgomery wins Jack Adams Award after Bruins’ historic campaign

Boston Bruins bench boss Jim Montgomery won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year after guiding his club to a historic regular season in 2022-23.

The Bruins established new NHL benchmarks for points (135) and wins (65) in a single season in what was Montgomery's first year in Boston. A two-way powerhouse, Boston scored the second-most goals and allowed the fewest. The team boasted the No. 1 ranked penalty kill and the 12th-best power play.

The Bruins were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Florida Panthers, but the award is determined at the end of the regular season by a poll among the NHL Broadcasters' Association.

Montgomery was previously the head coach of the Dallas Stars before he was fired in 2019 for unprofessional conduct. He checked himself into rehab for alcohol abuse less than a month after his dismissal.

"For those who struggle out there, you can change, you can affect change within yourself, and it doesn't happen alone," Montgomery said during his acceptance speech. "You need a team. You need a community."

Lindy Ruff of the New Jersey Devils and Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken were the two other finalists. The Devils snapped a four-year postseason drought and set a new franchise record for points (112). The Kraken, meanwhile, made the playoffs for the first time ever in their second season.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa to host 2025 World Junior Championship

Can you believe it? The World Junior Championship is heading back to Ottawa, Ontario in 2025.

"We are thrilled that the IIHF World Junior Championship will return to Canada and our nationā€™s capital in 2025," said Pat McLaughlin, COO of Hockey Canada. "The bid that was submitted to host the World Juniors in Ottawa was exceptional, and we cannot wait for fans throughout Canada and the world to experience the celebration of hockey for themselves."

The Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, will be the primary venue and host 17 games, including both semifinals and medal games. The 9,000-seat TD Place, home of the OHL's Ottawa 67's, will serve as the secondary venue, hosting 14 games.

Ottawa last hosted the world juniors in 2009, when Canadian fans were blessed with one of the most thrilling games the event has ever seen. Trailing Russia 5-4 in the semis, Jordan Eberle scored one of the most iconic goals in tournament history, tying the game with 5.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Eberle also scored the shootout winner, giving Canada a berth in the final. The Canadians then dispatched Sweden 5-1 in the gold-medal game. John Tavares was named tournament MVP.

Halifax and Moncton played host to the 2023 tournament, which Canada won for the 20th time. The 2024 edition is taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ranking the NHL’s top pending unrestricted free agents

The 2023 unrestricted free-agent class lacks the sexy headliners from past years. Still, the group features several middle-of-the-lineup type players who can be valuable commodities if placed in the right role.

Age - listed as of July 1, when free agency opens - factored into the order. We're not ranking them on the players they used to be; we're ranking them on the players they project to be moving forward.

Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci were excluded from this list since they would both likely retire before playing for any NHL team outside of the Boston Bruins.

1. Dmitry Orlov

Position: LD
Age: 31
Last team: Bruins
2022-23 cap hit: $5.1M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
66 7 29 22:33 53.24

Orlov played some of the best hockey of his career during his brief stint with the Bruins after the trade deadline. Whether he returns to Boston or not, he showed he still has lots left in the tank as a top-pairing defenseman.

2. Tyler Bertuzzi

Position: LW
Age: 28
Last team: Bruins
2022-23 cap hit: $4.75M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
50 8 22 16:29 52.59

Bertuzzi is just one year removed from producing 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games, so he has plenty more to offer than he displayed in 2022-23. He thrived in the postseason despite Boston's early exit, tallying five goals and five assists in seven contests.

3. J.T. Compher

Position: C
Age: 28
Last team: Avalanche
2022-23 cap hit: $3.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 17 35 20:32 52.47

Compher made the most of his big workload last season, registering a career-high 52 points while driving play at both ends of the ice. He's set to cash in as one of the few established centers in this class in a perennial center-needy league.

4. Tristan Jarry

Position: G
Age: 28
Last team: Penguins
2022-23 cap hit: $3.5M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
47 2.90 .909 2 1.12

Jarry has been extremely consistent since establishing himself in the NHL over the last four seasons, making the ninth-most starts among goalies while posting a .915 save percentage.

5. Ryan O'Reilly

Claus Andersen / Getty Images

Position: C
Age: 32
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $7.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
53 16 14 17:56 52.02

O'Reilly may not be the Conn Smythe and Selke Trophy winner from 2019, but he can still play an extremely valuable role as a two-way middle-six center on a contender.

6. Ivan Barbashev

Position: LW
Age: 27
Last team: Golden Knights
2022-23 cap hit: $2.25M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 16 29 16:45 45.59

Barbashev earned himself a lot of money with his exceptional postseason, recording 18 points in 22 games while being a physically-imposing beast.

7. Alex Killorn

Position: LW
Age: 33
Last team: Lightning
2022-23 cap hit: $4.45M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 27 37 17:13 49.13

Killorn is aging like a fine wine, as he just set new personal bests for goals, assists, and points. He's also a strong two-way forward with a knack for getting under his opponent's skin.

8. Evan Rodrigues

Position: RW
Age: 29
Last team: Avalanche
2022-23 cap hit: $2M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
69 16 23 17:51 54.1

Rodrigues has long been an analytics darling. But his strong underlying numbers finally translated to offensive production over the last couple of seasons, leading to a career-high 0.57 points-per-game mark in 2022-23. He's a quality second-line winger.

9. Ryan Graves

Position: LD
Age: 28
Last team: Devils
2022-23 cap hit: $3.167M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
78 8 18 19:57 53.56

Graves moves pretty well for a player of his stature of 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. His underrated two-way game makes him a perfectly capable No. 4 defenseman.

10. Vladimir Tarasenko

Josh Lavallee / National Hockey League / Getty

Position: RW
Age: 31
Last team: Rangers
2022-23 cap hit: $7.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
69 18 32 16:48 43.74

Tarasenko still has some game-breaking offensive ability in him, but he's become a defensive liability in recent years. Being on the wrong side of 30 with a lengthy injury history will raise red flags, too.

11. Michael Bunting

Position: LW
Age: 27
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $950K

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 23 26 15:48 55.66

Bunting has the necessary hockey IQ, hands, and edge to his game to be a complementary top-six forward alongside two legitimate play drivers. But his lack of discipline can get him into trouble at times.

12. Jason Zucker

Position: LW
Age: 31
Last team: Penguins
2022-23 cap hit: $5.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
78 27 21 15:39 57.06

Zucker's previous two campaigns were rough, but he picked the right time for a bounce-back season. He scored the second-most goals of his career in 2022-23 while bringing a new element of physicality to his game by racking up a personal-best 197 hits.

13. Adin Hill

Position: G
Age: 27
Last team: Golden Knights
2022-23 cap hit: $2.175M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
27 2.45 .915 0 7.54

Hill has never played more than 27 games in a campaign. However, his spectacular performance during the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup run (.932 save percentage in 16 games) has certainly earned him a sizeable payday.

14. Joonas Korpisalo

Position: G
Age: 29
Last team: Kings
2022-23 cap hit: $1.3M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
39 2.87 .914 1 16.72

Korpisalo has produced far more bad seasons than good ones in his eight-year NHL career, but he was downright superb in 2022-23.

15. Frederik Andersen

Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Position: G
Age: 33
Last team: Hurricanes
2022-23 cap hit: $4.5M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
34 2.48 .903 1 2.59

Anderson likely would've cashed in had he entered free agency after the 2021-22 campaign when he won the Jennings and finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting. However, an inconsistent and injury-riddled campaign - a theme for him in recent years - will likely lead to a short-term commitment as a 1A or 1B option in a platoon.

16. Jordan Staal

Position: C
Age: 34
Last team: Hurricanes
2022-23 cap hit: $6M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
81 17 17 16:16 58.63

Staal's 10-year contract has finally ended, but it's difficult to envision the Hurricanes captain leaving Carolina at this point in his career. He remains an excellent shutdown center, so there will be a market for his services.

17. Max Pacioretty

Position: LW
Age: 34
Last team: Hurricanes
2022-23 cap hit: $7M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
39 19 18 17:23 54.03

*2021-22 stats

Pacioretty scored at a 40-goal pace the last time he was healthy. However, he was limited to five games in 2022-23 after tearing his Achilles twice in five months. It's hard to envision him being the same player after those two major injuries.

18. Patrick Kane

Position: RW
Age: 34
Last team: Rangers
2022-23 cap hit: $10.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
73 21 36 19:19 39.52

Kane was given a four-to-six-month recovery timeline after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in early June. Nicklas Backstrom underwent the same surgery last summer, and he looked like a shell of his former self this past season. Kane also has a lot of mileage on his tires, but the name value could still be tantalizing for some teams.

19. Scott Mayfield

Position: RD
Age: 30
Last team: Islanders
2022-23 cap hit: $1.45M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 6 18 21:02 50.24

If the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Mayfield is paired with a strong skater and puck-mover, he can survive in a top-four role thanks to his size and defensive prowess.

20. Erik Haula

Rich Graessle / National Hockey League / Getty

Position: C
Age: 32
Last team: Devils
2022-23 cap hit: $2.375M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
80 14 27 16:38 57.4

Haula is a perfectly capable third-line center who's trustworthy in his own end and can chip in offensively.

21. Tomas Tatar

Position: LW
Age: 32
Last team: Devils
2022-23 cap hit: $4.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 20 28 15:07 62.79

Tatar can still thrive as a middle-six winger in an offensive role. His underlying numbers have remained excellent over the years.

22. Brian Dumoulin

Position: LD
Age: 31
Last team: Penguins
2022-23 cap hit: $4.1M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 1 24 20:38 51.41

Dumoulin is still solid defensively, although he may benefit from a less demanding role at this point in his career.

23. Shayne Gostisbehere

Position: LD
Age: 30
Last team: Hurricanes
2022-23 cap hit: $4.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
75 13 28 20:49 48.87

Gostisbehere moves the puck well and can quarterback a top power-play unit. If he's used properly in a sheltered, offensive role, he can shine.

24. Matt Dumba

Position: RD
Age: 28
Last team: Wild
2022-23 cap hit: $6M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
79 4 10 21:17 48.52

Injuries have taken their toll on Dumba, and he's not the player he used to be. However, he still has a lot of heart and plays bigger than his 6-foot, 181-pound frame.

25. Max Domi

Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Position: LW
Age: 28
Last team: Stars
2022-23 cap hit: $3M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
80 20 36 17:46 43.22

Domi has been a defensive liability in recent years, but he's got an edge to his game and can create offense in a middle-six role.

26. John Klingberg

Position: RD
Age: 30
Last team: Wild
2022-23 cap hit: $7M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
67 10 23 20:37 39.50

Klingberg is still gifted offensively and can run a power play. But he's a major defensive liability who needs to play sheltered minutes.

27. Connor Brown

Position: RW
Age: 29
Last team: Capitals
2022-23 cap hit: $3.6M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
64 10 29 20:03 48.58

*2021-22 stats

A torn ACL in October limited Brown to just four games in 2022-23. When healthy, he's a hardworking two-way winger.

28. Radko Gudas

Position: RD
Age: 33
Last team: Panthers
2022-23 cap hit: $2.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
72 2 15 17:22 56.91

Gudas is as mean and nasty as they come, making him a perfect third-pairing defenseman for a team looking to make a deep playoff run. He's underrated analytically, too.

29. Luke Schenn

Position: RD
Age: 33
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $850K

GP G A ATOI xGF%
70 4 18 16:21 45.28

Schenn was a solid safety valve for Quinn Hughes in Vancouver, and he performed even better in that role with Morgan Rielly in Toronto during the playoffs. He can thrive if he's paired with a premier puck-mover, though his minutes must be limited.

30. Jonathan Drouin

Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Position: LW
Age: 28
Last team: Canadiens
2022-23 cap hit: $5.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
58 2 27 14:54 43.93

Drouin is in dire need of a fresh start after a turbulent ending to his tenure in Montreal. A deft playmaker, he could be motivated to produce on a one-year, prove-it deal.

31. Semyon Varlamov

Position: G
Age: 35
Last team: Islanders
2022-23 cap hit: $5M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
23 2.70 .913 2 7.75

Varlamov can still be the 1B in a platoon goalie setup or an overqualified veteran backup.

32. Antti Raanta

Position: G
Age: 34
Last team: Hurricanes
2022-23 cap hit: $2M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
27 2.23 .910 4 5.48

When healthy, Raanta is an excellent veteran backup netminder.

33. Carson Soucy

Position: LD
Age: 28
Last team: Kraken
2022-23 cap hit: $2.75M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
78 3 13 16:18 51.36

A solid third-pairing defender who brings size (6-foot-5, 208 pounds), grit (143 hits), and the ability to play both sides.

34. Alexander Kerfoot

Position: LW
Age: 28
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $3.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 10 22 14:37 52.92

Kerfoot is a good defensive forward who can play center in a pinch but is best suited on the wing. His biggest flaw is his lack of finishing ability.

35. Pierre Engvall

Jaylynn Nash / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Position: LW
Age: 27
Last team: Islanders
2022-23 cap hit: $2.25M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
76 17 13 13:38 55.57

Engvall is 6-foot-5 and skates like the wind. However, his lack of intensity and physicality can frustrate coaches and fans alike.

36. Jesper Fast

Position: RW
Age: 31
Last team: Hurricanes
2022-23 cap hit: $2M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
80 10 19 14:44 58.69

Fast lives up to his name, using his speed to serve as an effective, checking-line winger.

37. Evgenii Dadonov

Position: RW
Age: 34
Last team: Stars
2022-23 cap hit: $5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
73 7 26 14:43 49.36

Dadonov salvaged a poor regular season with a strong playoff run, racking up four goals and six assists in 16 postseason games.

38. Conor Sheary

Position: LW
Age: 31
Last team: Capitals
2022-23 cap hit: $1.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 15 22 15:46 49.87

Sheary consistently bags 15-20 goals per season and is reliable enough defensively to play up and down the lineup.

39. Gustav Nyquist

Position: RW
Age: 33
Last team: Wild
2022-23 cap hit: $5.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
51 11 16 17:37 46.54

Nyquist had a strong postseason, recording five assists in six games. He showed he can still produce if deployed in a sheltered, middle-six role.

40. Noel Acciari

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Position: RW
Age: 31
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $1.25M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
77 14 9 14:19 49.34

Acciari knows his role and plays it to perfection. He's a heart-and-soul player who hits everything in sight and will block any shot.

41. Garnet Hathaway

Position: RW
Age: 31
Last team: Bruins
2022-23 cap hit: $1.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
84 13 9 11:48 50.01

Hathaway is extremely physical, excellent defensively, and can occasionally chip in with a goal, making him an ideal bottom-six winger.

42. David Kampf

Position: C
Age: 28
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $1.5M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
82 7 20 15:18 48.77

Kampf is best suited in a fourth-line center role, although he can be a 3C if necessary. He won't generate much offense, but he can soak up tough defensive minutes.

43. Erik Gustafsson

Position: LD
Age: 31
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $800K

GP G A ATOI xGF%
70 7 35 19:46 52.99

Gustafsson's playing time was drastically reduced after a deadline trade to the Maple Leafs, with Toronto making him a healthy scratch in nine of 11 playoff games. But he still excels at moving the puck and quarterbacking a power play.

44. Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Position: LD
Age: 31
Last team: Canucks
2022-23 cap hit: $8.25M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
54 2 20 20:11 45.24

Ekman-Larsson was a serviceable top-four blue-liner during his first season in Vancouver, but he fell off a cliff this past year. There's no question that injuries contributed to his decline. If Ekman-Larsson's fully healthy, he's an interesting buy-low option considering he'll be playing without the pressure of a mammoth contract.

45. Pius Suter

Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty

Position: LW
Age: 27
Last team: Red Wings
2022-23 cap hit: $3.25M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
79 14 10 14:04 47.31

Suter posted great defensive metrics last season - both at even strength and the penalty kill - and has shown he can pot around 15 goals per year.

46. Miles Wood

Position: LW
Age: 27
Last team: Devils
2022-23 cap hit: $3.2M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
76 13 14 12:06 49.85

A physical, north-south winger with some goal-scoring upside, Wood is an intriguing flier - even if his underlying numbers are suspect.

47. James van Riemsdyk

Position: LW
Age: 34
Last team: Flyers
2022-23 cap hit: $7M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
61 12 17 15:21 53.3

Van Riemsdyk has slowed down with age. However, he can still find ways to score with his good hands around the net.

48. Cam Talbot

Position: G
Age: 35
Last team: Senators
2022-23 cap hit: $3.67M

GP GAA SV% SO GSAx
36 2.93 .898 1 0.3

Talbot didn't play well in 2022-23. But his save percentage never dipped below .911 in the three seasons prior, suggesting he still has value as a backup.

49. Justin Holl

Position: RD
Age: 31
Last team: Maple Leafs
2022-23 cap hit: $2M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
80 2 16 20:14 52.95

Holl took a lot of heat in Toronto, though he's a serviceable third-pairing defenseman who excels on the penalty kill.

50. Connor Clifton

Position: RD
Age: 28
Last team: Bruins
2022-23 cap hit: $1M

GP G A ATOI xGF%
78 5 18 17:51 49.6

Clifton is hitting free agency at the right time, as he's coming off a season in which he set career highs in games, points, hits (208), and blocks (120).

(Salary information: CapFriendly)
(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lundqvist, Turgeon, Vernon headline 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame class

Henrik Lundqvist, Pierre Turgeon, Mike Vernon, Tom Barrasso, and Caroline Ouellette were announced as the Hockey Hall of Fame five-player 2023 class Wednesday.

The HOF is also inducting Ken Hitchcock and Pierre Lacroix as builders.

This was Lundqvist's first year of eligibility. One of the greatest goalies of his generation, only Marc-Andre Fleury has started and won more games than "King Henrik" during the salary-cap era. His 459 career victories are the sixth-most in NHL history. Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy in 2012 when he posted a personal-best .930 save percentage and was a finalist four other times throughout his 15-year career, which he spent entirely with the New York Rangers.

Lundqvist never won a Stanley Cup, but he took the Rangers to the final with a memorable postseason run in 2014. However, he won an Olympic gold medal as the starting goalie with Sweden in 2006, an Olympic silver medal in 2014, and a World Championship gold medal in 2017.

Turgeon's wait ends after being passed over 12 times by the HOF committee. His 1,327 points are the 34th most in NHL history - and were previously the most among eligible players not currently in the Hall.

The knock on Turgeon was that he never won anything outside of a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1993, but the counting stats were enough to push him through. He played in 1,294 games across 19 NHL seasons between the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, and Colorado Avalanche. Turgeon hit the 80-point mark eight times, including a career-high 132 in 1992-93.

All of Calgary can celebrate for Vernon - a native of the Alberta city who played 13 of his 19 NHL seasons with the Flames, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 1989.

Vernon won another ring as the starting goalie for the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy that year with a 16-4 record and a .927 save percentage during that run. Vernon also enjoyed brief stints with the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers. His 385 career victories are the 16th most ever.

Barrasso makes it three goalies in the class. The 1983 fifth overall pick by the Sabres took the hockey world by storm in his rookie year when he won the Calder and Vezina Trophies as an 18-year-old. The Boston native was a Vezina finalist four more times in his 19-year career.

Despite his success in Buffalo, the peak of Barrasso's playing days came during his next stop with the Pittsburgh Penguins when he was in net for back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Barrasso also briefly played with the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Blues to finish his career. His 369 career wins are tied for the 20th most ever.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Kings among teams to join Canadiens in pursuit of Dubois

The Los Angeles Kings are one of multiple teams to join the Montreal Canadiens in the hunt for Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Dubois' agent Pat Brisson and the Jets believe there will be a "robust market" for the restricted free agent's services, LeBrun added.

The Canadiens would be the least surprising landing spot for Dubois. His agent said last summer that "Montreal is a place, a city he'd like to play in." Dubois later said those comments were blown out of proportion. However, he was born about an hour outside Montreal in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, and grew up in Rimouski. The Habs also reached out to the Jets about Dubois as soon as Winnipeg was eliminated from the 2023 playoffs.

The Habs are still rebuilding, but they have the necessary cap space to offer Dubois a mammoth extension. Montreal also has ample prospects and draft picks to dangle in trade talks.

The Kings, however, have not been at the forefront of the Dubois sweepstakes until now. They also have only $7.3 million in cap space, need to sign four RFAs, including Gabe Vilardi, and need a starting goalie. So any Dubois trade to the Kings would likely require money going the other way.

Dubois is only an RFA but he can become a UFA in 2024. He told the Jets earlier in June that he won't sign an extension, so his agent and the club have been working together to find a trade.

The power forward, who turns 25 on Saturday, registered a career-high 63 points in 73 games this past season.

Dubois was drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 and was traded to the Jets in 2021 in a deal that sent Patrik Laine the other way.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bedard wins inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year award

Connor Bedard is going to need a bigger trophy case.

The projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft took home another award Monday, being named the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year.

"This is such a huge honor," Bedard said. "I'm not sure how to compare it to others I've received, but it's pretty incredible to receive this award with all the unbelievable players that have competed in the IIHF this season and the amazing players that were nominated for this award."

The 17-year-old phenom captured 31.8% of the votes, beating out Latvian goalie Arturs Silovs (19.6%), Swiss forward Andres Ambuhl (19.2%), German defenseman Moritz Seider (14.3%), and Canadian forward Adam Fantilli (11.9%).

Bedard made the most of the only IIHF event he played in this year, racking up nine goals and 14 assists in seven games at the World Junior Championship. He won a gold medal for Canada and was named tournament MVP.

He became Canada's all-time leader in goals and points at the world juniors and set Canadian records for most assists and points in a single tournament. Bedard also broke the record for most points in a single tournament by a player under 18 years old, surpassing Jaromir Jagr.

Bedard claimed the CHL's Top Prospect Award, Top Scorer Award, and David Branch Player of the Year Award in early June, becoming the first player to ever win all three in the same season. He tallied 143 points in 57 games with the WHL's Regina Pats this past campaign.

American forward Hilary Knight was named IIHF Female Player of the Year on June 1.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Briere wants to shake up Flyers: ‘We’re gonna try to make things happen’

New Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere is eager to put his fingerprints on the team.

The Flyers have already made the biggest trade of the offseason so far, completing a three-way deal with the Kings and Blue Jackets that sent Ivan Provorov to Columbus. Philadelphia acquired defenseman Sean Walker, goalie Cal Petersen, prospect Helge Grans, and three draft picks, including the 22nd overall selection, in the deal.

"Adding another first-round pick this year in the Provorov trade gets our amateur scouts really excited to have two cracks at it," Briere said on the "Ray and Dregs Podcast" on Friday.

The Flyers, who also hold the No. 7 pick in the draft, don't appear to be done making moves.

"I don't know how active I'm gonna be," Briere said. "It's easy to say that, 'Yeah, I want to be active.' But you need a dancing partner - sometimes two, like in the last trade - to make things happen. We're gonna try to make things happen, but sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

Briere hasn't been shy about sending Philadelphia into a rebuild since he was named full-time GM in May. Forwards Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton, defenseman Tony DeAngelo, and goaltender Carter Hart are among the several Flyers players rumored to be on the trade market.

Philadelphia has missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons - the longest postseason drought in franchise history since it missed it five years in a row from 1990-94.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Hanifin not expected to extend with Flames, trade likely

Add Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin to the growing list of players that could get dealt this summer.

All signs point to the blue-liner not wanting to sign an extension with the club, meaning a trade is likely, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Hanifin is in the final season of his contract with a $4.95-million cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

The fifth overall pick in 2015, Hanifin is 6-3, skates well, and is only 26 years old, which could make him an appealing addition for several teams. He tallied 38 points this past season and a career-high 48 the campaign prior. His underlying numbers over the last three seasons have been stellar, buoyed by his excellent 2021-22 campaign.

Evolving-Hockey

The Flames have several other players who can become UFAs in 2024, including Elias Lindholm, Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov.

New Calgary general manager Craig Conroy said during his introductory press conference that he doesn't want to lose pending UFAs for nothing, as the club did with Johnny Gaudreau a year ago.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Connor Hellebuyck, Alex DeBrincat, and Erik Karlsson are among other players around the league that are expected to be available for trade this offseason.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Leafs expected to discuss extension with Keefe this offseason

It's normal for a general manager entering a new organization to hire his own coach, but that doesn't appear to be the case in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs are expected to discuss a contract extension with head coach Sheldon Keefe this summer, TSN's Darren Dreger reports. New GM Brad Treliving and Keefe have already begun interviewing candidates together to replace departed assistant coach Spencer Carberry, Dreger adds.

Keefe is entering the final year of his contract. He was hired by Toronto's former GM, Kyle Dubas, who was fired in May. The two had a lengthy history together, as Dubas hired Keefe to be his coach on three different occasions - with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds in 2012, the AHL's Toronto Marlies in 2015, and the Leafs in 2019.

Toronto made it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004, but that brief moment of celebration was followed by a disappointing five-game exit at the hands of the Florida Panthers in Round 2.

Keefe has guided the Leafs to a 166-71-30 record over four regular seasons. His .678 points percentage is the best in franchise history, and the third best all time among people with 100 NHL games coached. However, his playoff record is just 13-17.

"I think he's a really good coach," Treliving said during his introductory press conference June 1. "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."

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.