Like the other 30 NHL general managers watching the playoffs, Sens GM Steve Staios is likely studying the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers to better understand what sets them apart from the team he runs.

How did these two teams make it back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row?

How have the Panthers made the finals three years in a row?

What is it about their rosters that the Senators lack?

This will ultimately guide Staios’ decision-making over the summer and dictate how he chooses to spend the projected $16.6 million in cap space available to him.

The Oilers and Panthers are not the same kind of teams. They aren’t built the same way, and they don’t play the same way. Yet both found their way to the finals in back-to-back years.

The Oilers are top-heavy with talent such as Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard. They have grit with the likes of Corey Perry, Trent Frederic, Viktor Arvidsson and Zach Hyman, who will be sorely missed in the finals. They have competent goaltending with Stuart Skinner (when he's on his game), but make no mistake, they are built from the top down.

If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, it will be one of McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins or Bouchard who accepts the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The Panthers are built from the crease outward, with two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky leading the charge. They don’t have a defenceman with the offensive prowess of Bouchard, but they have depth, size, and scoring-by-committee, led by Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones, and an ensemble that makes it very difficult for anyone to establish an offensive presence in their zone.

They have no one with more than 20 points in this post-season, but they have size, scoring depth, and grit with Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Carter Verhaeghe.

If the Panthers win the Cup, the Conn Smythe likely won’t go to McDavid again, but rather to someone like Bennett, Barkov or Bobrovsky.

Now, which of these two moulds most resemble the Ottawa Senators: the Panthers or the Oilers?

Up until this past season, the Senators’ goaltending was in turmoil, and Staios took steps to rectify that by acquiring Linus Ullmark. He also severed ties with undersized Erik Brännström to pave the way for Tyler Kleven to ascend to the NHL.

The benefits were immediate and continuous.

The Senators have elite skill and speed in Tim Stützle, but their identity is being forged through their defensive game and their captain, Brady Tkachuk, and they try to play a more defensively conscious and puck possession game.

Players like Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Mike Amadio — and their 200-foot game — are more likely to propel the Senators forward than getting into track meets every night.

In his first draft as an NHL GM, Staios even used his inaugural first-round pick to choose a huge defenceman with offensive potential and grit in Carter Yakemchuk. His second-round pick was a 6’7” stay-at-home defenceman with a mean streak in Gabriel Eliasson. 

NHL Draft Watch: Ottawa Senators Hope To Deal Themselves Another Winner At 21So far, here in the roaring 20s, the Ottawa Senators' first-round picks at the NHL Draft have been all or nothing. They’ve either landed in the top 10 or haven’t had a first-round pick at all.

On the surface, it would seem that Staios has bought more into the Florida Panthers' model and believes the way out of the Eastern Conference is a war of attrition. Though they aren’t there yet, this is the way forward that Staios appears to have chosen — and given the Panthers’ recent success, it’s hard to blame him.

Before he spends any money on free agency, Staios needs to figure out what to do with players whose contracts are expiring July 1.

Nicklas Matinpalo was inked to what could easily be one of the most team-friendly two-year deals in the league at $875K per. A 6’3”/210 lb right-shot mainstay defenceman seems to fit right in with what Staios is building.

Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Adam Gaudette, and Matthew Highmore are the UFAs up front. Travis Hamonic is the lone UFA on defence, and Anton Forsberg in goal rounds out the list. The lone RFA is Fabian Zetterlund, who's arbitration-eligible.

The Ottawa Senators’ Quiet Logjam Up Front: What Are They Planning?If the Ottawa Senators are planning a new contract extension for impending unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux, it is hard not to wonder whether an accompanying trade is on the horizon.

The Senators became harder to play against this season, enough so to make the playoffs and give a good account of themselves.

The question facing Staios about all of his potentially outgoing players and whether to retain them is:

“Do any of these guys fit with what we are trying to do here?”

That is a debate for another day. If the dealing of the popular Josh Norris to Buffalo is any indication, Staios is willing to do whatever it takes to move the Senators to the next level.

If the GM isn’t overly attached to any of the existing players, then fans should take a similar approach and expect more than a few fresh faces come training camp.

Recent Senators News at The Hockey News Ottawa:

Will The Senators Select Another Calgary Hitmen Star In Round One?

The Sens' Short History Of Offer Sheets Isn't Likely To Grow This Summer

Senators Open To Re-Signing Adam Gaudette – But At What Cost?

Ex-Sens Head Coach Enters Ottawa Sport Hall Of Fame

Former Sens Defenceman Officially Signs On To Play In Switzerland

After 14 years of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres have to change up their lineup. However, this organization cannot afford to play fast-and-loose with most of their assets -- and that includes up-and-coming left winger J.J. Peterka.

The 23-year-old is an RFA this summer, and he's going to get a major raise on the $855,834 he earned this season. But that's not nearly reason enough for Buffalo to part ways with him. To the contrary -- Peterka should absolutely be a building block for the present and the future, and finding a way to make him happy financially and competitively needs to be a priority for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and his newly-rejigged management team.

Not only was Peterka second in scoring for Buffalo this season -- with 27 goals and 68 points in 77 games -- he hasn't come close to his prime yet. You don't dump a player like that. You do what you need to do to assure him that he's a key member of the franchise. 

Whether Adams gives Peterka a bridge contract or a long-term deal ultimately hinges on where team brass believes he's going to be in the near-future. It's highly unlikely Peterka will have the same type of surge in point production next season -- going from 50 points in 2023-24 to an 18-point improvement this year is going to be very difficult to replicate -- but Peterka now has 55 goals and 118 points in the past two seasons. And getting to the 30-goal plateau isn't a herculean task.

Will Peterka get offer-sheeted as an RFA? It's possible in theory, we suppose. But there's a reason why the NHL doesn't have many players who get an offer sheet; far more often than not, teams will match any offer their player gets. An offer-sheet situation like the St. Louis Blues/Edmonton Oilers saga last summer was all about a team in the Oilers that was strapped for salary cap space, and a Blues team that was extremely calculating in targeting specific mid-tier players.

You can't say the same about the Sabres and Peterka, who now has consecutive seasons of stellar play. Sure, it's not the biggest sample size to judge him by, and there's always a possibility Peterka will regress. But if you're Adams, why take that risk? You're under incredible pressure to produce a playoff team next season, so playing with fire with Peterka is tantamount to cutting off your nose to spite your face. And if a team offer-sheets Peterka, you match the offer and move on. Straightforward stuff, really.

Why Marner To Buffalo Is A Non-Starter The Buffalo Sabres have reached the highest level of hockey ignominity with their playoff drought extending to 14 seasons, but after strong statements regarding potential organizational changes last month at their season-ending press conferences, there have been only rumors of possible managerial and coaching shakeups. 

Buffalo has more than enough cap space to use this summer -- $23.2-million, to be precise -- and most of their players are locked up for next season. Even if Adams gives top-four defenseman Bowen Byram a healthy bump in pay, there's plenty of money left over for the Sabres to spend on Peterka. It's not about completely catering to all of your players if you're Adams, but it is about keeping most of them in a good place with their financial bottom line.

If Peterka does take a step back in 2025-26, the Sabres can look at trading him at this time next year. So long as his annual cap hit and contract term aren't outrageously high, there will be many teams lining up to bid on Peterka's services. And Adams (or whoever is running the team by then) should be able to drum up a robust trade market for him if things get to that point. There's always teams out there who believe a change of employer will unlock a particular player's talents, so even if Peterka only pots, say, 20 goals this coming year, Buffalo will be able to find a new home for him.

But for now, the best approach with Peterka is to stay the course, and see exactly how high his goal-scoring prowess can go. And if the Sabres have him locked up for the next two or three years while he gets to that 30-goal mark, Buffalo will have driven a solid bargain for him.

Minnesota Wild Youngster Is Going To Be Well-Paid This Summer -- But It Shouldn't Be By The SabresThe Buffalo Sabres have their own collection of restricted free agent players to deal with this summer -- most notably, defenseman Bowen Byram and left winger J.J. Peterka -- and although the Sabres have more than enough salary cap space to make a splash ($23.2 million, as per Puck Pedia), one looming RFA who is getting a lot of attention of late is one they should absolutely steer clear of.

Offense was a strong suit for the Sabres this season, as they were eighth in the NHL in goals-for. You don't want to hamstring the offense by dealing Peterka when there's no good reason to do so. It would be different if the player actively wanted out of Buffalo, but no one is suggesting that's the case with Peterka right now. Better, then, to ensure he's a key component of the team, at least, for the short-term. And you can worry about his future down the road.

Peterka has shown himself to be a capable and worthy NHLer. Now it's on the Sabres to show they're a worthy and capable employer for him. Because if they can't -- or because they choose not to spend the money to retain him -- there will be legitimate cause for abject rage among Buffalo's fans. Peterka needs to be a core component for the Sabres moving forward, and arguing otherwise is lowering the bar for this beleagured franchise. 

The Vegas Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap heading into the offseason and will likely need to make moves to remain under and improve their team. According to a report by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Golden Knights could do so by trading Nicolas Hague and are entertaining calls and engaging in trade discussions. 

No drafted Golden Knights player has played more games with the franchise than Hague. Selected in the second round (34th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, Hague has played 364 games, scoring 20 goals and 83 points. His 6'6", 245 lbs frame makes him a physical force, breaking up cycle opportunities and clearing the front of his net.

He's garnered a lot of trust from HC Bruce Cassidy, and there will be plenty of teams looking to make a move for the 26-year-old left-handed defenseman. 

"Speaking of Vegas, the Golden Knights have just over $9.6 million in salary cap space and a few decent holes to fill. Word on the street is they are entertaining calls on defenceman Nic Hague, who is set to become a restricted free agent July 1 and is due for a solid paycheck," said Pagnotta in his recent "Start of Silly Season" article.

"Multiple sources indicated this week that Vegas has already started to engage in trade discussions involving Hague, who brings size, accountability and a championship pedigree to any club looking to strengthen their defensive corps. Several teams will be poking around, and this should be something to keep an eye on leading up to Draft weekend."

The Golden Knights have been expected to move a defenseman for quite some time now. With eight NHL-calibre defensemen on their roster, freeing up some money to add offence could be a beneficial move. 

Kaedan Korczak has shown that he is ready for the next step in his development, and Ben Hutton has been a more than capable replacement when his services are needed. Hague offers many great assets due to his size, but unfortunately, this also makes him a highly sought-after player who can command a substantial salary in this contract extension. 

Trading Hague would also allow the Golden Knights to regain some draft capital, which they are currently lacking. Whether they use the draft picks to make selections or acquire other players is unknown, but it gives Kelly McCrimmon more options. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Could Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague Be On The Move This Offseason?Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague finished the final year of a three-year, $2,294,150 contract he signed with the franchise, making him a restricted free agent this offseason and a player who could garner a lot of interest from other teams.  Golden Knights Reportedly In Two-Team Race For KHL Star ForwardWith the team pressed to the salary cap, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon continues to find unique ways to add skilled forwards to his lineup and could be doing so again with KHL star Maxim Shabanov.

For the second year in a row, the Philadelphia Flyers will have two of their former goalies representing them in the Stanley Cup Final, with one making a surprisingly large contribution in the NHL playoffs relative to his role with the team.

This year's Stanley Cup Final matchup is, of course, a rematch of last year's final, which featured the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.

Former Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, whose career post-Philadelphia has been discussed and reflected on ad nauseam, will appear in his third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, starting to quietly cement himself as one of the best goalies in the NHL playoffs of his era.

With four wins and a back-to-back championship, Bobrovsky will move into 15th all-time in wins in the NHL playoffs amongst goalies.

But, today, we're talking about a different kind of impressive feat from one of the journeymen goalies playing across from him. That's none other than former Flyers goalie Calvin Pickard, who's certainly played his part in bringing the Oilers back to the Final for the second year in a row.

Pickard, 33, didn't start the playoffs as the Oilers' starting goalie, and after some tidy work, he's not going to end them as that either. And that's okay.

Maple Leafs Coach Heaps Big Praise Upon Rising Flyers ProspectToronto Maple Leafs head coach and former Philadelphia Flyers bench boss Craig Berube likes what he's seen from Nikita Grebenkin, one of his old players. And he knows there's room for plenty more as Grebenkin embarks on the next chapter of his NHL career with the Flyers.

Pickard and his goalie partner, Stuart Skinner, combined to allow no fewer than six goals in each of the first two games in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings, but Pickard then took over and ripped off four straight wins for the Oilers, playing at a borderline dominant level in two of them.

Pickard's win streak extended into Round 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, starting that series with two decisive victories in as many games. An injury to Pickard forced Skinner back into the crease, who, after a tight 4-3 loss in his first game, posted back-to-back shutouts to send the Golden Knights packing.

It's been Skinner's crease ever since, but we can't so quickly ignore Pickard's flawless 6-0 record this postseason at a time when the Oilers needed him the most.

And should the Flyers be missing Pickard, who was 4-2-2 with a .863 save percentage and one shutout in his brief 11-game stint in Philadelphia back in 2018?

At this point, yes, probably.

Pickard has gone 34-17-2 over the last two seasons for the Oilers, posting a save percentage no lower than .900 in either season and going 7-1-0 in his 10 postseason appearances.

No Flyers goalie finished with a save percentage above .890 this season, and last season, Sam Ersson finished with a .890 exactly in 51 games with no capable backup goalies behind him.

Pickard, even with his unimpressive Flyers stint, has a career save percentage of .903 in 175 games at the NHL level. It's not great, but it's a lot better than what is in Philadelphia right now.

If nothing else, Pickard would have been a solid backup or rotational piece, at least in the current context of the Flyers, but his career has now advanced and playoff success has followed in lockstep.

The shiny new object is not always the best one.

Free agency often gives NHL GMs a major case of FOMO – the fear of missing out on older veteran players who don’t move the needle as much as they need them to.

Enter Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings.

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The Red Wings made some questionable signings last summer and should not repeat those mistakes this summer. This offseason should not be used to hand out favors to aging veterans, but rather to add key players who can help the team win.

With that in mind, here are four unrestricted free agent defenders that Yzerman needs to steer clear of.

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Aaron Ekblad

Yes, Aaron Ekblad is a Stanley Cup Champion. And yes, he has good two-way ability. The main concern with the Florida Panthers defender is his durability and injury history. 

He hasn’t played a full season over the past six seasons because of injuries. The best way a player can improve a team is by actually playing. That’s not a guarantee with Ekblad.

Brent Burns

Brent Burns is a 40-year-old right-handed defender who has significant offensive ability. However, because of his age (and the high likelihood he stays with the Carolina Hurricanes), you can cross off Burns' name on the Yzerman free agent targets list.

"We’ll see what happens, but we love it here and would love for it to work out.”

Brent Burns speaks at Hurricanes locker clean out on his future as the 40-year-old enters Free Agency this summer pic.twitter.com/PjXCJJgXRc

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 31, 2025

Cody Ceci

Cody Ceci is not a bad defender. In recent years, he has been overutilized in situations for which he's not suitable. He had a busy season, first being traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the San Jose Sharks and then traded again to the Dallas Stars.

He’s similar to Justin Holl in some respects (and the Red Wings don’t need another Holl), so it would be best to avoid him entirely.

Tony DeAngelo

Tony DeAngelo is an offensive-minded defenseman who has no clear idea on how to play defense. If the Red Wings want to deploy a defender as an offensive weapon, they have a prospect who can fill the role better than DeAngelo can.

These available defenders are either too old or don’t move the needle in a meaningful capacity to warrant an NHL contract. They might be helpful for other teams, but they aren’t the right fit for the Red Wings.

Yzerman, grab your shades, these shiny objects aren’t worth it.

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1. The Oilers are gaining much more respect the second time around. One reason is the pride that Edmonton has taken in the defensive side of the game.

2. If it's possible McDavid & Co. are even faster than during last year's playoffs.

3. This from Vic Morren on NHL Wraparound with Neil Smith: "These are the two best NHL teams and it's not even close. Carolina and Dallas proved – in their way – how far away they are."

Rangers Blunder That Could Win The Cup For Edmonton 1. When Chris Drury canned Gerard Gallant, the Rangers had GG's successor all lined up in Hartford. His name was – and still is – Kris Knoblauch.

4. More Morren: "The Canes DNA is good but in the end they don't have championship personnel. And something always happens to Dallas where it appears that they have the personnel and then their game craps out."

5. Finally Morren: "I'm going with the rematch trends from 1984 and 2009. The motivation to win for the first time outweighs the motivation to defend the title. Finally, Kris Knoblauch is proving to be a brilliant bench boss!"

6. Dallas was picked by The Hockey News Yearbook to win The Stanley Cup. Now the Stars GM Jim Nill will have to decide whether to retain coach Pete Deboer the hockey version of "Close, But No Cigar."

7. Those of us who watched Lane Lambert coach the Islanders are happy to see this good guy get another shot; this time with  Seattle. It's a good gig but not an easy one.

8. This from Jess Rubenstein: "Mike Sullivan may turn out to be a good Rangers coach but his problem is that he's working for a GM who repeatedly gives bad contracts after bad contracts!"

9. Isles new high command got off to an encouraging start by retaining Patrick Roy as well as reliable Kyle Palmieri.

10. Jonathan Toews' decision to make a comeback should gain Chris Drury's attention. He'd make a responsible third-line center.

11. Jake Oettinger got a raw deal and I'll leave it at that.

12. The fact that Oilers GM Stan Bowman chose to retain Corey Perry will go down as one of the quietest smart moves of the entire playoffs.

13. NHL.com's Tom Gulitti sums up the Panthers: "They have championship pedigree."

14. Blue Collar Blue Shirts columnist-extraordinaire Sean McCaffrey stunned The Maven with this one: "Watch for the Panthers to make an Offer Sheet for Matt Rempe!"

15. This Stanley Cup Final will tell us whether age is catching up to Sergei Bobrovsky or that he'll just keep rolling along.