The old saying "NHL coaches are hired to get fired" is definitely ringing true at the moment, with 15 of 32 teams having made a coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 regular season. (Mike Babcock getting hired and fired by the Blue Jackets in the same offseason brings the total count to 16.)

There are currently five vacancies across the league. The Kings, led by interim head coach Jim Hiller, are the lone team of the bunch still in action. If they go on any kind of playoff run, Hiller will probably become the full-time guy in L.A.

The other four vacancies are more interesting. Let's play matchmaker.

Sharks: David Quinn was fired this week after just two seasons. The move was unexpected since the club's 47 points matched its talentless lineup. What did general manager Mike Grier expect? At any rate, the Sharks are at least 3-4 years away from icing a respectable squad. Winning the upcoming draft lottery would jumpstart the rebuild in a meaningful way.

The hottest name on the coaching market is David Carle of the University of Denver. Carle would be an ideal fit. However, the young father said for now he loves the job security in college. A nice Plan B: Don Granato. The recently fired Sabres coach excelled in a player-development atmosphere in Buffalo. He's optimistic, communicates well with young players, and his system is fun. Granato and Grier both worked for the 2017-18 Blackhawks.

Devils: The 2023-24 season was a frustrating campaign of injuries and underachievement for New Jersey. Lindy Ruff took the fall in March, but he's already been hired by the Sabres. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has said he wants his next coach to be a strong communicator and collaborator who will also hold players accountable.

The Devils have superstar talent and a relatively clean cap sheet, so Fitzgerald will have no shortage of qualified candidates lining up for a shot at the job. Travis Green - who went from associate coach to interim head coach after Ruff's firing - is in contention and might be the best fit. Green's proven to be a sharp defensive mind, which is another trait Fitzgerald should be looking for. Familiarity rules in the NHL, and Fitzgerald and Green were teammates three different times as players.

Senators: D.J. Smith was fired in December and the Jacques Martin experiment was only a short-term fix. What now for a franchise that finally has stability at the ownership and manager levels? The answer could be a veteran coach who can whip a not-so-young-anymore core into shape defensively while simultaneously ridding the locker room of a losing culture.

Craig Berube, Dean Evason, and Todd McLellan are all in the running for the gig in Ottawa, according to reports. Berube's name jumps off the page. The 2019 Stanley Cup champion appears to strike a healthy balance between being a no-nonsense coach and an open-minded one. He helped develop Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou into more well-rounded players. Most importantly, Berube cares deeply about "playing the right way" as a full unit. Sold.

Blues: St. Louis narrowly missed the playoffs and is in retooling mode. This next coaching hire could be the front office's last. Coming up on his 14th anniversary, Doug Armstrong is the league's longest-tenured GM.

That last part is critical. While removing the interim tag from coach Drew Bannister would be justifiable and may very well happen, it feels like Armstrong will go big-game hunting. He likely doesn't want to leave his future in the hands of a rookie like Bannister. With that in mind, Jay Woodcroft, Evason, and McLellan are probably on Armstrong's radar. McLellan's extensive experience (he's 24th all-time in NHL games coached) and attention to detail give him the upper hand.

Canes bend but don't break

The Hurricanes and Panthers have practically moved on to the second round already. A team up 3-0 in an NHL playoff series advances 98% of the time.

One difference between the Eastern Conference rivals: while the Panthers have looked sharp through three games, the Hurricanes have looked just OK.

Five-on-five shot attempts, shots on goal, and expected goals in the Canes-Islanders series read 205-125, 73-63, and 7.2-5.6 in favor of Carolina. Goalie Frederik Andersen has been excellent, making 71 saves on 77 shots, including a few for the highlight reel. However, we have yet to see the Canes at full bore.

The rest of the NHL should be frightened by this idea.

Here's why: The two things that have haunted Carolina in past playoff runs - a lack of timely scoring and a lack of timely saves - haven't been the problem so far. The mediocre execution of coach Rod Brind'Amour's game plan has been the issue. Yet, if any group can flip a switch and immediately return to playing the smothering hockey its coach demands, it's veteran-driven Carolina.

The Canes' man-on-man defensive coverage and forecheck-heavy attack can be very effective when executed at a high level. A quick glance at Carolina's immense regular-season success during Brind'Amour's six-year tenure is proof, not to mention trips to the conference final in 2019 and 2023. The missing component in the playoffs has been an outlier performance, which can save the team during a relative lull (like Andersen is doing right now) or elevate it during a relative high (like they hope Jake Guentzel does later on).

The Canes have added layers to the roster over the past year, bringing in blue-liner Dmitry Orlov and forwards Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The emergence of sophomore forward Seth Jarvis has been massive, too. It's not ideal that top-four defenseman Brett Pesce is currently sidelined and worker bee Jesper Fast is out for the playoffs, but Carolina has enough depth to patch holes.

As the Islanders series has shown, the Canes have it in them to bend but not break. That elusive trip to the Cup Final has never looked likelier.

Predators not just cute story

No matter how the postseason unfolds in Nashville, the start of the Barry Trotz-Andrew Brunette era should be viewed as nothing but an epic success.

Many outside of Tennessee probably consider the Predators a cute, fun story, or a team that has simply exceeded low pre-season expectations. I had a similar reaction when Nashville began piling up the wins in early December.

I changed my mind after monitoring them closely in the second half of the regular season. It turns out the Predators' year-over-year improvement goes beyond a seven-point uptick in the standings. Nashville has gotten itself fully together under new general manager Trotz and new head coach Brunette.

To sum up the table above, the 2023-24 Preds leveled up significantly in the goals-scored category while maintaining a strong goals-against rate. They generated far more high-quality scoring chances compared to last season and dramatically decreased quality chances against. Relative to the rest of the NHL, they spent way more time in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.

In other words, Nashville's process improved dramatically.

And the attack is built for playoff hockey. The Preds finished tied for third in scoring chances generated off rebounds and tied for fifth in chances off the cycle during the regular season. The only other clubs in the top five of both categories? The Panthers and Oilers, two very popular Cup picks.

All of this hints at a team on the rise - even though the roster's clearly under construction (remember, Trotz bought out Matt Duchene and retained half of Ryan Johansen's salary in a trade last offseason). Star goalie Juuse Saros had only a decent regular season by his lofty standards. Imagine what the future could look like if Nashville's eighth-ranked prospect pool develops well.

This coming offseason should be fascinating.

Saros, an elite goalie over the past handful of seasons, is an unrestricted free agent in 2025, and goalie-of-the-future Yaroslav Askarov (11th overall in 2020) is ready for NHL duty. Trotz has a long-term decision to make on goaltending.

Nashville owns one first-round draft pick and three seconds this year, as well as two firsts and a second in 2025. Trotz has ammo to pull off a draft-weekend trade or two or he can continue to stockpile promising youngsters.

Parting shots

Oh, baby!: Bob Cole's voice was the soundtrack for several generations of hockey fans. He's the sport's GOAT play-by-play announcer in Canada, a fiery man with what seems like a 100% approval rating. No one will ever replicate his iconic cadence and grandfatherly tone. ("Everything! Is! Happening!" is a personal favorite.) He had an uncanny feel for historic moments, often letting the crowd's roar play a starring role in the narration. It's truly amazing that Cole - who died Wednesday at age 90 - worked for Hockey Night in Canada for 50 years. Doing anything at a passable level for five decades is hugely impressive, and he did it on his industry's biggest stage. Rest in peace, Bob.

Twilight Crosby: 2024-25 will be the final year of Sidney Crosby's 12-year, $104.4-million deal, which means he's eligible to sign an extension with the Penguins on July 1. There's no reason to believe Crosby's leaving Pittsburgh, according to The Athletic's Rob Rossi. Given how excellent he was this season, we can reasonably assume Crosby, if healthy, will remain productive for at least two more seasons. The tricky part for the Pens is surrounding the soon-to-be 37-year-old with enough talent for a deep playoff run. It's a nearly impossible task for general manager Kyle Dubas. The roster is old and flawed, salary-cap space is scarce, and the prospect pool is shallow. That said, Dubas must keep his foot on the gas. He has to find creative ways to improve his team right now. Rebuilding shouldn't even be a thought until No. 87 retires.

Utah TBDs: The Arizona Coyotes have officially moved to Utah, and if Wednesday's welcome party is any indication, the Salt Lake City-based club will have no issue filling the Delta Center. Owner Ryan Smith has said the franchise will be called "Utah" (not "Salt Lake"), with the nickname to be determined through a fan vote. The ownership group reportedly submitted a bunch of trademark applications. Among them: Utah Hockey Club, Utah Blizzard, Utah Venom, Utah Fury, Utah Yetis, Utah Outlaws, Utah Mammoth, and Utah Ice. I'm partial to Utah Yetis for its strong branding and mascot possibilities. Seattle's recent success with another mythical creature - the Kraken - offers an easy-to-follow template. Seriously, look at the potential:

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The old saying "NHL coaches are hired to get fired" is definitely ringing true at the moment, with 15 of 32 teams having made a coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 regular season. (Mike Babcock getting hired and fired by the Blue Jackets in the same offseason brings the total count to 16.)

There are currently five vacancies across the league. The Kings, led by interim head coach Jim Hiller, are the lone team of the bunch still in action. If they go on any kind of playoff run, Hiller will probably become the full-time guy in L.A.

The other four vacancies are more interesting. Let's play matchmaker.

Sharks: David Quinn was fired this week after just two seasons. The move was unexpected since the club's 47 points matched its talentless lineup. What did general manager Mike Grier expect? At any rate, the Sharks are at least 3-4 years away from icing a respectable squad. Winning the upcoming draft lottery would jumpstart the rebuild in a meaningful way.

The hottest name on the coaching market is David Carle of the University of Denver. Carle would be an ideal fit. However, the young father said for now he loves the job security in college. A nice Plan B: Don Granato. The recently fired Sabres coach excelled in a player-development atmosphere in Buffalo. He's optimistic, communicates well with young players, and his system is fun. Granato and Grier both worked for the 2017-18 Blackhawks.

Devils: The 2023-24 season was a frustrating campaign of injuries and underachievement for New Jersey. Lindy Ruff took the fall in March, but he's already been hired by the Sabres. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has said he wants his next coach to be a strong communicator and collaborator who will also hold players accountable.

The Devils have superstar talent and a relatively clean cap sheet, so Fitzgerald will have no shortage of qualified candidates lining up for a shot at the job. Travis Green - who went from associate coach to interim head coach after Ruff's firing - is in contention and might be the best fit. Green's proven to be a sharp defensive mind, which is another trait Fitzgerald should be looking for. Familiarity rules in the NHL, and Fitzgerald and Green were teammates three different times as players.

Senators: D.J. Smith was fired in December and the Jacques Martin experiment was only a short-term fix. What now for a franchise that finally has stability at the ownership and manager levels? The answer could be a veteran coach who can whip a not-so-young-anymore core into shape defensively while simultaneously ridding the locker room of a losing culture.

Craig Berube, Dean Evason, and Todd McLellan are all in the running for the gig in Ottawa, according to reports. Berube's name jumps off the page. The 2019 Stanley Cup champion appears to strike a healthy balance between being a no-nonsense coach and an open-minded one. He helped develop Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou into more well-rounded players. Most importantly, Berube cares deeply about "playing the right way" as a full unit. Sold.

Blues: St. Louis narrowly missed the playoffs and is in retooling mode. This next coaching hire could be the front office's last. Coming up on his 14th anniversary, Doug Armstrong is the league's longest-tenured GM.

That last part is critical. While removing the interim tag from coach Drew Bannister would be justifiable and may very well happen, it feels like Armstrong will go big-game hunting. He likely doesn't want to leave his future in the hands of a rookie like Bannister. With that in mind, Jay Woodcroft, Evason, and McLellan are probably on Armstrong's radar. McLellan's extensive experience (he's 24th all-time in NHL games coached) and attention to detail give him the upper hand.

Canes bend but don't break

The Hurricanes and Panthers have practically moved on to the second round already. A team up 3-0 in an NHL playoff series advances 98% of the time.

One difference between the Eastern Conference rivals: while the Panthers have looked sharp through three games, the Hurricanes have looked just OK.

Five-on-five shot attempts, shots on goal, and expected goals in the Canes-Islanders series read 205-125, 73-63, and 7.2-5.6 in favor of Carolina. Goalie Frederik Andersen has been excellent, making 71 saves on 77 shots, including a few for the highlight reel. However, we have yet to see the Canes at full bore.

The rest of the NHL should be frightened by this idea.

Here's why: The two things that have haunted Carolina in past playoff runs - a lack of timely scoring and a lack of timely saves - haven't been the problem so far. The mediocre execution of coach Rod Brind'Amour's game plan has been the issue. Yet, if any group can flip a switch and immediately return to playing the smothering hockey its coach demands, it's veteran-driven Carolina.

The Canes' man-on-man defensive coverage and forecheck-heavy attack can be very effective when executed at a high level. A quick glance at Carolina's immense regular-season success during Brind'Amour's six-year tenure is proof, not to mention trips to the conference final in 2019 and 2023. The missing component in the playoffs has been an outlier performance, which can save the team during a relative lull (like Andersen is doing right now) or elevate it during a relative high (like they hope Jake Guentzel does later on).

The Canes have added layers to the roster over the past year, bringing in blue-liner Dmitry Orlov and forwards Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The emergence of sophomore forward Seth Jarvis has been massive, too. It's not ideal that top-four defenseman Brett Pesce is currently sidelined and worker bee Jesper Fast is out for the playoffs, but Carolina has enough depth to patch holes.

As the Islanders series has shown, the Canes have it in them to bend but not break. That elusive trip to the Cup Final has never looked likelier.

Predators not just cute story

No matter how the postseason unfolds in Nashville, the start of the Barry Trotz-Andrew Brunette era should be viewed as nothing but an epic success.

Many outside of Tennessee probably consider the Predators a cute, fun story, or a team that has simply exceeded low pre-season expectations. I had a similar reaction when Nashville began piling up the wins in early December.

I changed my mind after monitoring them closely in the second half of the regular season. It turns out the Predators' year-over-year improvement goes beyond a seven-point uptick in the standings. Nashville has gotten itself fully together under new general manager Trotz and new head coach Brunette.

To sum up the table above, the 2023-24 Preds leveled up significantly in the goals-scored category while maintaining a strong goals-against rate. They generated far more high-quality scoring chances compared to last season and dramatically decreased quality chances against. Relative to the rest of the NHL, they spent way more time in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.

In other words, Nashville's process improved dramatically.

And the attack is built for playoff hockey. The Preds finished tied for third in scoring chances generated off rebounds and tied for fifth in chances off the cycle during the regular season. The only other clubs in the top five of both categories? The Panthers and Oilers, two very popular Cup picks.

All of this hints at a team on the rise - even though the roster's clearly under construction (remember, Trotz bought out Matt Duchene and retained half of Ryan Johansen's salary in a trade last offseason). Star goalie Juuse Saros had only a decent regular season by his lofty standards. Imagine what the future could look like if Nashville's eighth-ranked prospect pool develops well.

This coming offseason should be fascinating.

Saros, an elite goalie over the past handful of seasons, is an unrestricted free agent in 2025, and goalie-of-the-future Yaroslav Askarov (11th overall in 2020) is ready for NHL duty. Trotz has a long-term decision to make on goaltending.

Nashville owns one first-round draft pick and three seconds this year, as well as two firsts and a second in 2025. Trotz has ammo to pull off a draft-weekend trade or two or he can continue to stockpile promising youngsters.

Parting shots

Oh, baby!: Bob Cole's voice was the soundtrack for several generations of hockey fans. He's the sport's GOAT play-by-play announcer in Canada, a fiery man with what seems like a 100% approval rating. No one will ever replicate his iconic cadence and grandfatherly tone. ("Everything! Is! Happening!" is a personal favorite.) He had an uncanny feel for historic moments, often letting the crowd's roar play a starring role in the narration. It's truly amazing that Cole - who died Wednesday at age 90 - worked for Hockey Night in Canada for 50 years. Doing anything at a passable level for five decades is hugely impressive, and he did it on his industry's biggest stage. Rest in peace, Bob.

Twilight Crosby: 2024-25 will be the final year of Sidney Crosby's 12-year, $104.4-million deal, which means he's eligible to sign an extension with the Penguins on July 1. There's no reason to believe Crosby's leaving Pittsburgh, according to The Athletic's Rob Rossi. Given how excellent he was this season, we can reasonably assume Crosby, if healthy, will remain productive for at least two more seasons. The tricky part for the Pens is surrounding the soon-to-be 37-year-old with enough talent for a deep playoff run. It's a nearly impossible task for general manager Kyle Dubas. The roster is old and flawed, salary-cap space is scarce, and the prospect pool is shallow. That said, Dubas must keep his foot on the gas. He has to find creative ways to improve his team right now. Rebuilding shouldn't even be a thought until No. 87 retires.

Utah TBDs: The Arizona Coyotes have officially moved to Utah, and if Wednesday's welcome party is any indication, the Salt Lake City-based club will have no issue filling the Delta Center. Owner Ryan Smith has said the franchise will be called "Utah" (not "Salt Lake"), with the nickname to be determined through a fan vote. The ownership group reportedly submitted a bunch of trademark applications. Among them: Utah Hockey Club, Utah Blizzard, Utah Venom, Utah Fury, Utah Yetis, Utah Outlaws, Utah Mammoth, and Utah Ice. I'm partial to Utah Yetis for its strong branding and mascot possibilities. Seattle's recent success with another mythical creature - the Kraken - offers an easy-to-follow template. Seriously, look at the potential:

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The old saying "NHL coaches are hired to get fired" is definitely ringing true at the moment, with 15 of 32 teams having made a coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 regular season. (Mike Babcock getting hired and fired by the Blue Jackets in the same offseason brings the total count to 16.)

There are currently five vacancies across the league. The Kings, led by interim head coach Jim Hiller, are the lone team of the bunch still in action. If they go on any kind of playoff run, Hiller will probably become the full-time guy in L.A.

The other four vacancies are more interesting. Let's play matchmaker.

Sharks: David Quinn was fired this week after just two seasons. The move was unexpected since the club's 47 points matched its talentless lineup. What did general manager Mike Grier expect? At any rate, the Sharks are at least 3-4 years away from icing a respectable squad. Winning the upcoming draft lottery would jumpstart the rebuild in a meaningful way.

The hottest name on the coaching market is David Carle of the University of Denver. Carle would be an ideal fit. However, the young father said for now he loves the job security in college. A nice Plan B: Don Granato. The recently fired Sabres coach excelled in a player-development atmosphere in Buffalo. He's optimistic, communicates well with young players, and his system is fun. Granato and Grier both worked for the 2017-18 Blackhawks.

Devils: The 2023-24 season was a frustrating campaign of injuries and underachievement for New Jersey. Lindy Ruff took the fall in March, but he's already been hired by the Sabres. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has said he wants his next coach to be a strong communicator and collaborator who will also hold players accountable.

The Devils have superstar talent and a relatively clean cap sheet, so Fitzgerald will have no shortage of qualified candidates lining up for a shot at the job. Travis Green - who went from associate coach to interim head coach after Ruff's firing - is in contention and might be the best fit. Green's proven to be a sharp defensive mind, which is another trait Fitzgerald should be looking for. Familiarity rules in the NHL, and Fitzgerald and Green were teammates three different times as players.

Senators: D.J. Smith was fired in December and the Jacques Martin experiment was only a short-term fix. What now for a franchise that finally has stability at the ownership and manager levels? The answer could be a veteran coach who can whip a not-so-young-anymore core into shape defensively while simultaneously ridding the locker room of a losing culture.

Craig Berube, Dean Evason, and Todd McLellan are all in the running for the gig in Ottawa, according to reports. Berube's name jumps off the page. The 2019 Stanley Cup champion appears to strike a healthy balance between being a no-nonsense coach and an open-minded one. He helped develop Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou into more well-rounded players. Most importantly, Berube cares deeply about "playing the right way" as a full unit. Sold.

Blues: St. Louis narrowly missed the playoffs and is in retooling mode. This next coaching hire could be the front office's last. Coming up on his 14th anniversary, Doug Armstrong is the league's longest-tenured GM.

That last part is critical. While removing the interim tag from coach Drew Bannister would be justifiable and may very well happen, it feels like Armstrong will go big-game hunting. He likely doesn't want to leave his future in the hands of a rookie like Bannister. With that in mind, Jay Woodcroft, Evason, and McLellan are probably on Armstrong's radar. McLellan's extensive experience (he's 24th all-time in NHL games coached) and attention to detail give him the upper hand.

Canes bend but don't break

The Hurricanes and Panthers have practically moved on to the second round already. A team up 3-0 in an NHL playoff series advances 98% of the time.

One difference between the Eastern Conference rivals: while the Panthers have looked sharp through three games, the Hurricanes have looked just OK.

Five-on-five shot attempts, shots on goal, and expected goals in the Canes-Islanders series read 205-125, 73-63, and 7.2-5.6 in favor of Carolina. Goalie Frederik Andersen has been excellent, making 71 saves on 77 shots, including a few for the highlight reel. However, we have yet to see the Canes at full bore.

The rest of the NHL should be frightened by this idea.

Here's why: The two things that have haunted Carolina in past playoff runs - a lack of timely scoring and a lack of timely saves - haven't been the problem so far. The mediocre execution of coach Rod Brind'Amour's game plan has been the issue. Yet, if any group can flip a switch and immediately return to playing the smothering hockey its coach demands, it's veteran-driven Carolina.

The Canes' man-on-man defensive coverage and forecheck-heavy attack can be very effective when executed at a high level. A quick glance at Carolina's immense regular-season success during Brind'Amour's six-year tenure is proof, not to mention trips to the conference final in 2019 and 2023. The missing component in the playoffs has been an outlier performance, which can save the team during a relative lull (like Andersen is doing right now) or elevate it during a relative high (like they hope Jake Guentzel does later on).

The Canes have added layers to the roster over the past year, bringing in blue-liner Dmitry Orlov and forwards Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The emergence of sophomore forward Seth Jarvis has been massive, too. It's not ideal that top-four defenseman Brett Pesce is currently sidelined and worker bee Jesper Fast is out for the playoffs, but Carolina has enough depth to patch holes.

As the Islanders series has shown, the Canes have it in them to bend but not break. That elusive trip to the Cup Final has never looked likelier.

Predators not just cute story

No matter how the postseason unfolds in Nashville, the start of the Barry Trotz-Andrew Brunette era should be viewed as nothing but an epic success.

Many outside of Tennessee probably consider the Predators a cute, fun story, or a team that has simply exceeded low pre-season expectations. I had a similar reaction when Nashville began piling up the wins in early December.

I changed my mind after monitoring them closely in the second half of the regular season. It turns out the Predators' year-over-year improvement goes beyond a seven-point uptick in the standings. Nashville has gotten itself fully together under new general manager Trotz and new head coach Brunette.

To sum up the table above, the 2023-24 Preds leveled up significantly in the goals-scored category while maintaining a strong goals-against rate. They generated far more high-quality scoring chances compared to last season and dramatically decreased quality chances against. Relative to the rest of the NHL, they spent way more time in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.

In other words, Nashville's process improved dramatically.

And the attack is built for playoff hockey. The Preds finished tied for third in scoring chances generated off rebounds and tied for fifth in chances off the cycle during the regular season. The only other clubs in the top five of both categories? The Panthers and Oilers, two very popular Cup picks.

All of this hints at a team on the rise - even though the roster's clearly under construction (remember, Trotz bought out Matt Duchene and retained half of Ryan Johansen's salary in a trade last offseason). Star goalie Juuse Saros had only a decent regular season by his lofty standards. Imagine what the future could look like if Nashville's eighth-ranked prospect pool develops well.

This coming offseason should be fascinating.

Saros, an elite goalie over the past handful of seasons, is an unrestricted free agent in 2025, and goalie-of-the-future Yaroslav Askarov (11th overall in 2020) is ready for NHL duty. Trotz has a long-term decision to make on goaltending.

Nashville owns one first-round draft pick and three seconds this year, as well as two firsts and a second in 2025. Trotz has ammo to pull off a draft-weekend trade or two or he can continue to stockpile promising youngsters.

Parting shots

Oh, baby!: Bob Cole's voice was the soundtrack for several generations of hockey fans. He's the sport's GOAT play-by-play announcer in Canada, a fiery man with what seems like a 100% approval rating. No one will ever replicate his iconic cadence and grandfatherly tone. ("Everything! Is! Happening!" is a personal favorite.) He had an uncanny feel for historic moments, often letting the crowd's roar play a starring role in the narration. It's truly amazing that Cole - who died Wednesday at age 90 - worked for Hockey Night in Canada for 50 years. Doing anything at a passable level for five decades is hugely impressive, and he did it on his industry's biggest stage. Rest in peace, Bob.

Twilight Crosby: 2024-25 will be the final year of Sidney Crosby's 12-year, $104.4-million deal, which means he's eligible to sign an extension with the Penguins on July 1. There's no reason to believe Crosby's leaving Pittsburgh, according to The Athletic's Rob Rossi. Given how excellent he was this season, we can reasonably assume Crosby, if healthy, will remain productive for at least two more seasons. The tricky part for the Pens is surrounding the soon-to-be 37-year-old with enough talent for a deep playoff run. It's a nearly impossible task for general manager Kyle Dubas. The roster is old and flawed, salary-cap space is scarce, and the prospect pool is shallow. That said, Dubas must keep his foot on the gas. He has to find creative ways to improve his team right now. Rebuilding shouldn't even be a thought until No. 87 retires.

Utah TBDs: The Arizona Coyotes have officially moved to Utah, and if Wednesday's welcome party is any indication, the Salt Lake City-based club will have no issue filling the Delta Center. Owner Ryan Smith has said the franchise will be called "Utah" (not "Salt Lake"), with the nickname to be determined through a fan vote. The ownership group reportedly submitted a bunch of trademark applications. Among them: Utah Hockey Club, Utah Blizzard, Utah Venom, Utah Fury, Utah Yetis, Utah Outlaws, Utah Mammoth, and Utah Ice. I'm partial to Utah Yetis for its strong branding and mascot possibilities. Seattle's recent success with another mythical creature - the Kraken - offers an easy-to-follow template. Seriously, look at the potential:

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders are turning to Semyon Varlamov once again, and this time with their backs against the wall.

Varlamov is starting Game 4 on Saturday, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said Friday, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross.

New York trails the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 in the series. Varlamov started the first two games and allowed six goals on 63 shots for a .905 save percentage in the losses. Sorokin got the nod in Game 3 but was pulled after giving up three goals on 14 shots.

Varlamov stopped all eight shots he faced after relieving Sorokin on Thursday.

The veteran goaltender, who'll turn 36 on the day of Game 4, was excellent down the stretch of the regular season. He helped the Islanders make the playoffs by going 8-1-1 with a .930 save percentage in his final 10 appearances and concluded the campaign with a 5-0-0 run, during which time he registered a mark of .946.

New York signed Sorokin to an eight-year, $66-million contract extension last July after he was voted the Vezina Trophy runner-up. The 28-year-old led the NHL in goals saved above expected at five-on-five (34.26) in 2022-23, according to Evolving Hockey. That figure dipped to 10.14 this season.

Game 4 is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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If you've been burning the midnight oil this week, it may feel like we're far more than six days into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but some teams have only played two games. With a loaded schedule this weekend - a dozen games - we're looking at what individual game and in-series bets may be worth making.

Western Conference

Games 3, 4: Canucks (-105) @ Predators (-115)
(Friday, Sunday)

It took NHL insiders almost 48 hours to uncover Thatcher Demko's injury, and many bets for Game 2 were already placed. While Rick Tocchet gave the Predators credit for "wanting it more," the Canucks dominated play with a ridiculous 72.8% expected goals share at even strength, which included several missed wide-open nets. Casey DeSmith was serviceable but goals two and three likely wouldn't have been scored on Demko, as his size would have made a difference.

Rather than backing the Canucks in Game 3 - their first action in a hostile environment - we're taking a wider purview, eyeing Vancouver to win the series at -105. A split over the weekend in Music City would make the Canucks a big favorite with three games to go and buys time for a chance that Demko returns.

Games 3, 4: Jets (+145) @ Avalanche (-170)
(Friday, Sunday)

We hypothesized before Game 2 that it was more likely the Jets would get better play from Connor Hellebuyck and tighten the big even-strength advantage the Avalanche had in Game 1 instead of Alexandar Georgiev having a good game.

The unpredictability of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is perfectly exemplified by Hellebuyck posting a Vezina-caliber season in between a 1-5 playoff record and 4.34 GAA the last two postseasons. Meanwhile, Georgiev bounced back strong. Go figure.

If you're holding a ticket on the Jets to win the series, there's no reason to take a chance with the underdog until Hellebuyck shows he's capable, since the expected goals differential has been 8.04-3.73 in favor of Colorado. Instead, standing pat and hoping for a split is the prudent move.

Games 3, 4: Oilers (-140) @ Kings (+120)
(Friday, Sunday)

We found one of the rare first-round underdogs in Game 2. The Kings' overtime win was proof they could put up a fight against the Oilers (in part because neither goaltender can be reasonably relied upon to be a positive difference-maker). With the series back in L.A., and the Kings getting the benefit of the last change - the option to match their best defenders with Connor McDavid - I expect the home underdogs to win one of two. Bet the Kings' moneyline in Game 3, and if they lose, try it again in Game 4 (barring a key injury).

Game 3: Stars (-105) @ Golden Knights (-115)
(Saturday)

The Stars were priced at -140 (58.3%) to win Game 1, and their even-strength metrics suggested they should have won 60% of the time. In Game 2, Dallas' -160 closing line suggested it was 61.5% likely to win, and its even-strength metrics suggested it would win 61% of the time. Dallas won neither.

If you hold a Dallas position, you're probably looking at a sunk cost, since the Golden Knights have shown the same prowess in close games that helped them win the Cup last year. Otherwise, how can you not simply back inevitable Vegas as the short home favorite?

Eastern Conference

Games 3, 4: Rangers (-175) @ Capitals (+150)
(Friday, Sunday)

A bet on the Capitals (+240) deserved better in Game 2 as Washington had nine even-strength high-danger chances to New York's three. A Rangers' shorthanded goal was the difference.

Unlike the Kings, we're taking only one shot backing the Capitals to make this series interesting, by taking them on the Game 3 moneyline. If they go down 3-0 in the series, I won't be pressing my luck a second time.

Game 4: Hurricanes (-180) @ Islanders (+155)
(Saturday)

The Islanders topped the Hurricanes 2.38-1.3 in even-strength expected goals and nearly doubled their high-danger chances in Game 3 (10-6). However, none of Carolina's three goals came on a high-danger chance. Starting Ilya Sorokin backfired for New York; he was pulled after the final Canes marker in what ended up a 3-2 Carolina win, and what's now a 3-0 series.

Historically, teams down 3-0 with Game 4 at home win it roughly 38% of the time. That might seem low, but translating those chances to a moneyline equates to +163. It also includes a subset of teams in an era of less parity that were swept with little resistance.

Since the salary cap was instituted in 2005 - a move partially designed to increase parity - teams down 3-0 are 31-34 in Game 4 regardless of location. That 47.7% winning percentage translates to +110 on the moneyline.

The Isles' run-of-play advantage in Game 3 and their return to Semyon Varlamov makes them interesting at +155, given they played well. Still, the market is drifting away, based on the often false assumption that a team down 3-0 has lost the will to compete.

Game 4: Panthers (-125) @ Lightning (+105)
(Saturday)

Blame an offside that negated a goal for Tampa Bay, or the coin-flip nature of a playoff game with a 1.46-1.44 expected goals differential, but the Lightning find themselves in the same position as the Isles. Like that series, Game 4 history applies here too, but Andrei Vasilevskiy regressed badly in a 5-3 loss, so Tampa doesn't have the same card to play between the pipes, and you're not getting a valuable price to back the underdog Lightning.

Game 4: Bruins (-105) @ Maple Leafs (-115)
(Saturday)

We'll see how the possible return of William Nylander affects the line. However, like Game 2, the Bruins will either do something they're unaccustomed to by starting Jeremy Swayman back-to-back, or return Linus Ullmark between the pipes. Let's back the Maple Leafs before the line moves toward them with any good roster news.

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 social media @mrussauthentic.

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