Pending unrestricted free-agent forward Tyler Toffoli hopes he can stick with the up-and-coming Vancouver Canucks on a new contract.
"I want to talk to (general manager) Jim (Benning) and see where he's at and where the team's at because that's priority No. 1 right now. ... I want to stay in Vancouver," Toffoli said Friday, according to Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor.
The Canucks acquired Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings prior to February's trade deadline. The 28-year-old winger was an immediate fit in Vancouver's top six, notching 10 points in 10 games prior to the pause and adding four points in seven postseason contests.
Toffoli has carried a $4.6-million cap hit for each of the past three seasons. The Canucks are projected to have about $14.3 million in available money this offseason, according to CapFriendly, but the team has plenty of key free agents in addition to Toffoli; goaltender Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Chris Tanev are both set to become UFAs, and forward Jake Virtanen will be a restricted free agent.
Vancouver knocked off the Minnesota Wild in the qualifying round of the postseason to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Canucks then ousted the defending champion St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference quarterfinals before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in seven games in Round 2.
"They both had good years. Unfortunately, they both got injured at the wrong time," Sakic said. "But neither of those injuries you have to worry about. Train hard in the summer and make sure it doesn't happen again. You can't predict injuries, but no, they both had good stretches and we expect that next year."
Both Grubauer and Francouz suffered injuries during Colorado's playoff run this summer, and their ailments played large roles in derailing the club's Stanley Cup aspirations. The Avalanche were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of their second-round series with third-string netminder Michael Hutchinson carrying the load in goal.
Grubauer was also injured for part of the regular season, giving Francouz a more prominent role than anticipated. Here's a look at their 2019-20 regular-season stats:
Goalie
Record
SV%
GSAA
Grubauer
18-12-4
.916
6.48
Francouz
21-7-4
.923
13.06
Grubauer, 28, is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $3.33 million, while the 30-year-old Francouz is set to earn $2 million annually until 2022.
Though the Avalanche have a reliable and cost-efficient tandem between the pipes, this offseason will feature one of the deepest free-agent goaltender pools in recent memory, and Colorado has a whopping $22 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly. Sakic and Co. could theoretically go shopping for a new goalie to strengthen the club's roster even further, but the front office currently seems satisfied with the status quo.
The NHL has moved the 2020 Draft ahead a couple of days, with the first round now scheduled for Oct. 6 and the remainder of the event taking place Oct. 7, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
In the NHL's return-to-play plan, they had targeted Oct. 9 and 10 for the draft. The festivities were supposed to take place in Montreal in June, but the pandemic pushed it back.
Early October is jam-packed for the NHL - in addition to the draft, the Stanley Cup Final's conclusion and the opening of free agency are also at beginning of the month.
The New York Rangers won the draft lottery in August, securing the right to select first overall with the expectation to take No. 1 prospect Alexis Lafreniere. The phenom dominated the QMJHL and world juniors this past season.
The NHL's bubble plan continues to work, as the league maintained zero positive COVID-19 tests among staff and players for the seventh consecutive week, it announced Monday.
The streak of zero positive tests includes the week leading up to the restart and all six weeks of playoff action thus far.
A total of 2,543 tests have been administered since the start of Phase 4.
All four remaining teams are now based in the Edmonton hub after the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders traveled from Toronto to participate in the Eastern Conference Final.
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer believes his club didn't play nearly well enough to earn a win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday.
"Bottom line is we got what we deserved," DeBoer said following the 1-0 defeat to the Dallas Stars, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "We didn't play hard enough for long enough tonight."
After a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks to reach their second conference finals in three years of existence, the top-seeded Golden Knights put together one of their worst performances of the playoffs.
Vegas managed only 46.91% of the shot attempts, 34.29% of scoring chances, and 41.39% of expected goals for the contest at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
DeBoer added that the Stars present a different challenge than Vegas' previous playoff opponents did.
"This is going to be a different series," he said. "We haven't played the best defensive team or one of the top two defensive teams in the league yet. So this is going to be a different series, and we're going to have to get our head around that and find a way to create offense. It's not going to look or feel like the last series or the (Chicago Blackhawks) series."
Dallas ranked second in goals against during the regular season, allowing only 2.52 per contest.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders are set to do battle for Eastern Conference supremacy in what promises to be a highly entertaining series.
The Lightning and Islanders finished the regular season with the second- and seventh-best records in the East, respectively. The two clubs deploy different styles but each has utilized its unique methods to find postseason success.
New York won two of the teams' three regular-season meetings. They've faced off twice in the playoffs before, with the Lightning winning their most recent matchup - a 2016 second-round series - in five games.
Schedule
Game
Date
Time (ET)
Networks
1
Monday Sept. 7
8:00 p.m.
NBCSN/CBC/SN/TVAS
2
Wednesday Sept. 9
8:00 p.m.
NBCSN/CBC/TVAS
3
Friday Sept. 11
8:00p.m.
USA/CBC/SN/TVAS
4
Sunday Sept. 13
3:00 p.m.
NBC/CBC/SN/TVAS
5*
Tuesday Sept. 15
8:00 p.m.
NBCSN/CBC/SN/TVAS
6*
Thursday Sept. 17
8:00 p.m.
NBCSN/CBC/SN/TVAS
7*
Saturday Sept. 19
7:30 p.m.
NBC/CBC/SN/TVAS
* - If necessary
Tale of the tape
Lightning
Stat
Islanders
3.00
Goals per game
3.38
2.31
Goals against
1.94
17.1
Power-play percentage
17
81.3
Penalty-kill percentage
82.2
57.48
5-on-5 xGF percentage
55.36
8.01
5-on-5 SH percentage
9.3
.943
5-on-5 SV percentage
9.39
How they got here
Lightning: Tampa Bay went 2-1 in the round-robin stage before dispatching the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games in Round 1. That series featured a five-overtime marathon in Game 1, but the Lightning eventually overcame the pesky Blue Jackets in both the historically long contest and the series, exorcising their demons from last season's stunning first-round sweep.
That set up a high-octane clash with the Boston Bruins - Tampa Bay's fiercest competitor in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins won Game 1 but the Lightning stormed back with four consecutive victories, capped off by Victor Hedman's double-overtime winner.
The Lightning own a 10-3 record since the hiatus and have been firing on all cylinders.
Islanders: New York tidily handled the Florida Panthers with a four-game qualifying-round win. That set up a clash with the favored Washington Capitals, where the Islanders showed they're a legitimate threat in the East by outscoring the high-flying Capitals 17-8 and advancing in five games.
New York took on the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in Round 2. The Islanders jumped out to a 3-1 series lead but dropped the following two contests to pave the way for a decisive Game 7. However, the Islanders put on a vintage Barry Trotz-led performance in the winner-take-all contest, holding the Flyers to only 16 shots on goal and claiming a 4-0 victory to reach their first conference finals since 1993.
Key players to watch
Brayden Point
Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Point is cementing his status as one of the league's best young players by playing at a Conn Smythe level. The 23-year-old has been a force at both ends of the ice this postseason, leading his club with 18 points - 16 at even strength - in 13 games while also boasting a dominant expected goal rate of 65.22%.
Point's also logged over 21 minutes per contest in the absence of captain Steven Stamkos, who won't make a return during this series.
Mathew Barzal
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty
We might as well highlight each club's top center because Point going toe-to-toe with Barzal is easily this series' most exciting storyline.
Barzal, one of the NHL's most dynamic players, is having an outstanding postseason with 13 points in 16 games. He elevates his linemates with his terrific speed and playmaking abilities, and he almost always keeps the Islanders in control of the flow of the game. Barzal has 62.62% of expected goals this postseason, and New York is outscoring opponents 12-5 when he's on the ice at even strength.
If Barzal, an impending restricted free agent, can lead the Islanders to a Stanley Cup Final, you can bet he and his agent will bring that to the negotiating table with the team's brass.
Tampa Bay can win if ...
The depth steps up. While Point and linemate Nikita Kucherov have done much of the heavy lifting for Tampa Bay's offense, the bottom six hasn't gotten results. Players like Tyler Johnson (six points), Barclay Goodrow (three points), and Pat Maroon (two points), need to find ways to contribute against New York's stout defensive schemes. It'll be imperative for someone on the Lightning to pick up the slack if Tampa Bay's big guns get shut down.
Tampa Bay's lengthy layoff is another factor to monitor early in the series. The Lightning will have waited a week between games by the time the puck drops in Game 1, and any rust could go a long way in determining which team captures the early momentum.
New York can win if ...
It remains the aggressor. The Islanders play a simple yet effective system: establish a heavy forecheck, then shut their opponent's attempts to do the same. Three potent offenses in the Panthers, Capitals, and Flyers were unable to crack Trotz's methods, and it could also work against the Lightning if the system continues to run smoothly.
The Islanders are perhaps the NHL's most structurally sound unit, and it's become clear this postseason that everyone's bought into their team identity. Not veering from the game plan that brought them to this point will be crucial if they're to reach their first final since 1984.
X-factors
Victor Hedman
Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty
It's not a secret at this point, but no player in this series is capable of having a bigger impact on a nightly basis than Hedman. The Lightning blue-liner is the definition of a workhorse, having averaged 26 minutes per contest this postseason while also ranking second on the team in points (nine) and shots on goal (44).
Hedman takes on top competition every night, yet Tampa Bay is outscoring opponents 13-3 at five-on-five in the playoffs when he's on the ice.
Josh Bailey
Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Bailey has flown under the radar as the Islanders' top postseason producer, racking up two goals and 15 assists in 16 games. He's been the catalyst in providing New York with an additional scoring punch while playing on the second line with Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.
Bailey's also been a factor on the power play, with six of his helpers coming with the man advantage. Special teams go a long way in determining a playoff series, and Bailey has played a big role on the Islanders' top unit.
Stamkos has been nursing an unspecified lower-body injury since Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan and hasn't suited up this postseason.
The 30-year-old sniper also missed time during the regular season as he underwent core-muscle surgery in February. He notched 29 goals and 37 assists in 66 games.
The Lightning have managed a 10-3 record despite Stamkos' absence following the league's hiatus.
Every year superstars deliver in the postseason to cement their status as clutch performers, while fourth-line grinders and backup goalies alike emerge from obscurity and make an impact when it matters most. And although the 2020 playoffs have been much different than year's past, unsung heroes are as relevant as ever.
With that in mind, here are some of the most surprising playoff performances thus far.
Joel Kiviranta, Stars
Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty
Raise your hand if you had heard of Kiviranta before he single-handedly punched Dallas' ticket to the Western Conference Final on Friday. Don't feel bad if he was off your radar, as it's hard to keep tabs on a 24-year-old with only 11 games of NHL experience before he produced the performance of a lifetime.
Kiviranta recorded a hat trick versus the Avalanche in Game 7, with his third tally coming in overtime. He became the first rookie in NHL history to bag three goals in a Game 7, and Kiviranta was the first player to do notch a hatty in a winner-take-all game since Wayne Gretzky in 1992-93. Not bad for a player logging his third career playoff game.
Perhaps most impressively, Kiviranta accomplished his feat in just under 15 minutes of ice time, with all his goals coming at even strength. Talk about making the most out of an opportunity.
Thatcher Demko, Canucks
The Canucks were shut out three times in seven games while consistently being outplayed and outshot, but they were able to take the top-seeded Golden Knights to a Game 7 thanks to Demko's surprise breakout.
Vancouver's backup was thrust into action to start Game 5 after an injury to Jacob Markstrom, and he was nearly invincible for three contests. Demko earned two wins with his club trailing 3-1 in the series, which included making a whopping 48 saves during a Game 6 shutout.
His play in Game 7 alone was nearly enough to carry his team to the Western Conference Final, as Vegas scored a single goal - on the power play late in the third period - on 34 shots.
Mark Stone's message to Demko in the handshake line says it all:
Mark Stone’s reaction to Thatcher Demko is my reaction to everything in 2020. pic.twitter.com/zKdNWsCb3R
Kubalik set the tone in one of the biggest upsets of the playoffs with a breakout showing in Game 1 of the qualifying round versus the Edmonton Oilers. The Blackhawks' rookie sniper exploded for two goals and three assists in only 13 minutes, making his presence known in front of a national audience during his first postseason appearance.
Kubalik's production isn't a surprise, as he's a Calder Trophy finalist and 30-goal scorer. But bursting onto the playoff scene with five points against the heavily favored Oilers certainly wasn't anticipated.
Joonas Korpisalo, Blue Jackets
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty
After Korpisalo posted a .956 save percentage versus the Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifiers, his success carrying over into the first round wasn't shocking. Still, an 85-save effort against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 is one of the most jaw-dropping performances in NHL history.
The Blue Jackets' puck-stopper set an NHL saves record during the five-overtime marathon, turning aside a remarkable 7.03 expected goals from Tampa Bay in all situations, according to Natural Stat Trick.
It ended in a loss, but the Herculean night from Korpisalo was the most impressive outing of the postseason to date, and easily the signature game of his career. It'll forever be difficult to fathom a goalie making 85 saves in a single contest, and Korpisalo's record could be untouchable for a long time.
Denis Gurianov, Stars
The Stars appear to have a knack for finding depth players who can step up in key moments.
Gurianov was the hero with a chance to eliminate the Calgary Flames in Game 6 of the first round, registering four goals and one assist in 13:27 of ice time. He did enjoy a 20-goal regular season in 2019-20, but for him to break out on a Dallas roster full of elite offensive talents was stunning, especially after the 23-year-old had only posted four multi-point NHL games previously.
Motte exited the game but eventually returned to action in the third period.
Reaves has racked up four assists in 15 games for the Golden Knights this postseason, and leads all skaters with 74 hits. He has one prior suspension, receiving a three-game ban for boarding in 2016.
The Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final on Friday, and will take on the Dallas Stars starting on Sunday night.
