The Grand Rapids Griffins weren't the only big winners Saturday at Van Andel Arena.
During the second intermission of the Griffins' 4-2 win over the San Jose Barracuda, which secured their ticket to the Calder Cup Finals, the Zamboni driver took a few laps around with his girlfriend by his side before stopping at center ice and proposing.
Bonino is day to day with a lower-body injury that came in Game 2 which is believed to have been the result of blocking a P.K. Subban one-timer.
This man Nick Bonino took a slapshot to the foot. Could barely stand up. Was still willing to go down and block another shot. 'Cause Hockey. pic.twitter.com/KYypSDGZjt
Despite going pointless in Game 2, Bonino has been an important cog for the Penguins in the final as he tallied two of his four postseason goals in Game 1.
The Penguins can take a 3-0 series lead over the Nashville Predators with a win.
Carl Hagelin isn't a fan of being sidelined during the Stanley Cup Final.
The Pittsburgh Penguins forward, who's been scratched from the first two games of the championship series against the Nashville Predators, admitted to being upset about the situation, but doesn't want to make an issue out of it.
Hagelin on being scratched: "When you find out … you’re pissed off. But it’s the Stanley Cup final. It’s not about me, it’s about the team.
Hagelin suffered a lower-body injury late in the season that kept him out of the opening round, but is now healthy enough to play. The bigger problem appears to be the fact he's registered just a single goal on 15 shots in 11 postseason games for the Penguins this year.
This time last year, he was playing on the much-talked about "HBK" line with Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino, contributing six goals and 10 assists during the run to a Cup win.
Bonino, it should be noted, is day to day with a lower-body injury of his own, and everyone is a game-time decision for Game 3 in Nashville, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall expects his club to be on the podium when the second overall selection is made at this year's draft.
Speaking at the NHL Combine on Friday, Hextall admitted that the team is listening to calls regarding the No. 2 pick, but that he expects to keep it.
"I've said this a couple times, but we'll listen," Hextall said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "I'm not doing my job if I don't listen. You never know what's going to come along. As I said initially, I don't anticipate trading the pick but you never know what comes along. You gotta be open to making your franchise better. If something comes along that makes us better we'll consider it. But I do anticipate making the pick."
The Flyers finished the season with the 12th-worst record in the NHL, but were gifted the second overall selection at the draft lottery.
With Nolan Patrick as the consensus No. 1 pick in this year's draft, it's looking more and more likely that the Flyers will end up plucking Halifax Mooseheads forward Nico Hischier.
That is unless someone is able to sweep Hextall off his feet.
In this week's roundtable, we're looking ahead to the Vegas Golden Knights - the 31st NHL franchise, which will officially have a team in three weeks. And if it were up to us, Jaromir Jagr, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Marc-Andre Fleury would be on it.
Jaromir Jagr
Sean O'Leary: This one is likely up to No. 68 himself, but what better place for one of the most popular players in the NHL than the entertainment capital of the world?
Jagr is an unrestricted free agent, and probably doesn't fit in Florida's protection plans. Should he choose to sign a new contract - as he's indicated several times he'd like to - Vegas would be a terrific destination for the ageless wonder.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The 45-year-old is coming off a 46-point season with the Florida Panthers that moved him into second on the all-time scoring list.
A player of his stature would provide entertainment value at the very least. Jagr has never shied away from the bright lights that come with stardom, and his fun-loving attitude could be a perfect match for Sin City.
Kevin Shattenkirk
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Josh Gold-Smith: The Golden Knights are surely looking to make a splash, and what better way to do that than by signing one of the biggest fish on the free-agent market?
Shattenkirk will come with a hefty price tag, and he's likely to be more interested in playing for a contender - probably on the East Coast - than an expansion franchise, but Vegas should make a run at him nonetheless.
The consistently productive 28-year-old would give Vegas both a proven power-play quarterback and a player with plenty of playoff experience.
Shattenkirk could anchor the blue line for years, and given the parity we've seen in the NHL recently, it's not inconceivable that he could be a key cog on a team that quickly becomes competitive.
The opportunity to play for an established Cup hopeful is one thing, but the Golden Knights should sell him on having a chance to lead a young club while helping it become a contender in one of America's most exciting cities.
Marc-Andre Fleury
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Flip Livingstone: Marc-Andre Fleury's career as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins will likely come to an end with 375 career regular-season wins, 44 shutouts, and, most importantly, two - maybe three - Stanley Cup rings.
Sure, he plays on the same squad as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but regardless, Fleury's a proven goaltender with a winning pedigree - two characteristics the Golden Knights need in their man between the pipes.
Ryan Miller and Mike Condon have also been mentioned as potential options in goal for Vegas, but neither is as playoff-tested or decorated as the Flower.
Stats and track record aside, Fleury can still play at an elite level - he proved that in the playoffs. He'll turn 33 in late November and would offer the Golden Knights the kind of stability in the crease that most expansion teams can only long for.
Fleury's a perfect fit on the strip, and would immediately put Vegas on the hockey map.
On Wednesday, Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said naming a captain "isn't something in the forefront" and that he "would not be surprised if we did not have a captain next year."
No Maple Leaf has donned the "C" since Dion Phaneuf's departure midway through the 2015-16 season.
Nothing has been said by the team about who will be the 19th captain in Maple Leafs history, but all signs point toward phenom Auston Matthews. Head coach Mike Babcock has hinted that it would be Matthews, and recently gushed over the type of person he is off the ice in a sit-down interview with TSN's Darren Dreger.
Aside from the fact that Babcock has alluded to Matthews being fit to wear the "C," it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that he's the obvious choice.
Matthews has already shown that he can lead on the ice, displaying an impressive two-way game in his rookie campaign, scoring 40 goals and leading all Leafs forwards in ice time. He also displayed a calm demeanor when handling the unforgiving Toronto media, carrying himself as someone mature beyond his years.
Knowing Matthews is Toronto's eventual captain, some fans and media members alike may wonder, "why delay the inevitable?"
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Lamoriello has very strict guidelines when it comes to protecting his rookies. Ever wonder why James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, or Nazem Kadri seemingly did every single in-game interview last season, even though Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander were far more interesting subjects? That's because Lamoriello preferred to shelter the first-year players.
In his sophomore season, Matthews will be on the same level playing field as everyone else when it comes to how often he can be interviewed. Given how polarizing of a figure he is as the Leafs' first No. 1 overall pick since Wendel Clark, and how successful he was in his rookie year, he is going to have microphones and recorders in his face as much as possible.
Matthews should experience a full year of answering questions before, during, and after games before he is given the captaincy.
People will argue, "Connor McDavid was named captain his second year." Yes, but you can't even begin to compare the Toronto media market with Edmonton. Being the captain of the Maple Leafs is equivalent to being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, or the face of the New York Yankees.
Imagine he were given the "C" this coming season - his first with full exposure to the media - and he went without a goal through the first 10 games, while the Leafs stumbled to a 3-7 start? The press would eat the young American alive.
Expectations are high for the Maple Leafs this season, and while there's no question Matthews is the right man for the job, there's simply no harm, no foul in delaying his captaincy for another season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are well on their way to a back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
By prevailing in the opening two games of the final against the Nashville Predators, the odds of finishing the job for the second year in a row are ever in their favor.
Here's a look at a few numbers to back that up:
50: Since the final went to the best-of-seven format in 1939, 50 teams have taken a 2-0 series lead.
5: Number of teams in that time to win the Cup after dropping the opening two games. That gives the Predators only a 10 percent chance of making a comeback.
But wait, there's more.
37: Of those 50 teams, 37 Cup finalists built a 2-0 series lead at home.
34: Teams that have gone on to win the Cup after taking a 2-0 series lead at home. This increases Pittsburgh's chances of winning to 92 percent.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
3: Of the 45 teams that have won the Cup after taking a 2-0 series lead, the list includes the last three: the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014) and last year's Penguins.
However, a few other numbers suggest there's some hope for the Predators.
2: On two occasions in the past eight years, a team has lost the first two games of the final on the road and went on to win the Cup. The Penguins pulled off the feat against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009, and the Boston Bruins did it against the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.
7-1: Nashville's record on home ice this postseason.
64-39: The difference in shots for and against in favor of the Predators over the first two games of the series.
One number in particular must change in order for the Predators to have any chance.
.778: Pekka Rinne's save percentage in the Cup Final. If neither he nor Juuse Saros (if called upon) can drastically improve that stat, this series could be over in the fewest number of games necessary.
Following a Game 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that put his team in an 0-2 series hole in the Stanley Cup Final, Subban came right out and said, "we're going to win the next game, and then we'll see what happens from there."
He slept on it, and still feels the same way.
"I feel even more confident now that I've had a night of rest," Subban declared Thursday, per Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com. "There's no question. We're going to win the next game, and then we'll move forward."
The Predators have gone 7-1 at home in the playoffs, and the Bridgestone Arena crowd should give the team a boost.
"You would think ... leaving Pittsburgh without a win, that might shake the confidence," coach Peter Laviolette said. "I can tell you that it doesn't. I just met with the guys. I can see it in their eyes."
With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: B+
The Wild set a franchise record with 106 points during the regular season. A milestone like this would usually lead to an A grade, but being upset by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs brings it down a notch. Even though they largely outplayed the Blues, wrapping up such a great season with only one playoff win leaves a bitter taste.
Free Agents
Unfortunately for the Wild, they have some key names that will need new contracts this summer, specifically on the RFA side:
Player (Position)
2017-18 Status
Age
2016-17 Cap Hit
'16-17 Points/SV%
Jordan Schroeder (RW)
RFA
26
$600K
13
Martin Hanzal (C)
UFA
30
$3.1M
39
Ryan White (C)
UFA
29
$1M
16
Mikael Granlund (RW)
RFA
25
$3M
69
Erik Haula (C)
RFA
26
$1M
26
Nino Niederreiter (RW)
RFA
24
$2.67M
57
Nate Prosser (D)
UFA
31
$625K
7
Christian Folin (D)
RFA
26
$725K
8
Victor Bartley (D)
UFA
29
$650K
0
Darcy Kuemper (G)
UFA
27
$1.55M
.902
2017 Draft Picks
The Wild have six picks in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, though none in the first two rounds.
Round
Picks
1
0
2
0
3
1
4
2 (Own+Coyotes)
5
1
6
1
7
1
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Summer Priorities
1. Lock up Mikael Granlund
A full-time move to the wing paid huge dividends for Granlund, and will likely result in a nice contract this offseason. He set career highs with 26 goals, 43 assists, a plus-23 rating, and 177 shots on goal. It took some time for the former ninth overall pick to develop, but he has finally arrived.
The 25-year-old is highly skilled and should only continue to get better. The Wild need to ensure that he is a part of their future moving forward. The only problem is, it will cost a pretty penny.
2. Re-sign Nino Niederreiter
While locking up Granlund should remain priority No. 1, extending Niederreiter shouldn't be too far behind. Niederreiter's breakout season wasn't as extreme, but he too set career highs in goals (25), assists (32), plus/minus (+17), and shots on goal (186).
Niederreiter can not only produce offensively, but he plays a rugged style of game. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound winger has recorded at least 120 hits in each of the past five seasons.
Niederreiter is only 24 years old and should continue to progress at a steady rate. He's a versatile player who can skate in the top six, but can also be used as a checker on the third line if needed. Locking him up to a four- or five-year deal shouldn't cost an absurd amount, either.
3. Get rid of Jason Pominville somehow
Pominville has averaged 14 goals and 45.6 points per season over the last three years. The 34-year-old has a cap hit of $5.6 million for the next two seasons.
It's hard to imagine any team wanting Pominville given his waning production and his expensive contract. The only team that might be willing to take a chance on the veteran would be the Vegas Golden Knights, but it's unlikely Pominville would waive his no-movement clause to go to a team not ready to compete.
Even if Pominville were to allow the move Vegas, Minnesota would need to sweeten to the deal by giving up a prospect or a draft pick.
If the Wild can't find a suitor for Pominville (even if they retain some salary), buying him out is the most logical solution. Here is how Pominville's buyout would be spread out, according to Cap Friendly.
Season
Buyout Cap Hit
2017-18
$4.35M
2018-19
$1.85M
2019-20
$1.25M
2020-21
$1.25M
As you can see, the first year is a bit of a tough pill to swallow, but it's smooth sailing afterwards. Buying him out as soon as possible is ideal. Teams have to submit their protection lists for the expansion draft by June 17. If the Wild doesn't buy him out before then, they could risk losing a player such as Jason Zucker to Vegas.
2017-18 Outlook
Minnesota's 2016-17 season was no fluke. The Wild are a team with insurmountable depth both up front and on the back end. Plus, they have a great goaltender in Devan Dubnyk.
The Wild can't even be totally blamed for getting ousted in the first round by the Blues. Their expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 in the series was 2.47, while their expected goals against per 60 minutes was just 1.58. They simply ran into a red-hot goalie in Jake Allen. The Wild averaged 36.4 shots per game in the playoffs, but Allen's save percentage was an absurd .956.
If they stay healthy, the Wild could very well contend for first in the Western Conference once again.
