Canucks forward J.T. Miller took responsibility for the goal.
"I'm pretty upset with myself at the moment," Miller said postgame. "That was a pretty big play at the end of the game there. The pass should have never got to Bouchard and certainly shouldn't get past me."
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice didn't hesitate to justify his Game 5 tirade Tuesday, saying after the contest that his team were short on profanity.
"I don't know the exact words of the message. I wasn't mad at them. I understood what they were going through. I just thought they needed some profanity in their life, and I brought some," Maurice explained postgame. "I don't excel at a lot of things in life, but fuck me, am I good at that."
Although the Boston Bruins ultimately won 2-1, Maurice's blow-up produced immediate results, as the Panthers scored on the next shift to even the contest 1-1.
The Panthers had a chance to close out the series with a victory, but the defeat sends the series back to Boston for Game 6, where Maurice is anticipating quite the scene.
"It's gonna be an absolute barnburner in there. There'll be 18,000 cameras on the morning skate just to see how many sips of the water bottle Brad Marchand takes," Maurice said. "There's going to be some high-end investigative journalism. Guys, go home and get a nap because you've got some shit to do in a couple days."
Marchand, the Bruins' captain, missed Games 4 and 5 with an upper-body injury, and his status moving forward is unclear.
New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba is the 2024 winner of the Mark Messier Leadership Award, the league announced Tuesday.
The award is given "to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey."
Messier, a Hockey Hall of Famer and former Rangers captain, picks the winner with suggestions from team and league personnel. Messier led the Rangers to their last Stanley Cup win 30 years ago.
Trouba is in his second season as New York's captain and is the first Rangers player to win the award in its 18-year existence.
The hard-hitting defenseman helped the Rangers win the Presidents' Trophy this season. He recorded 22 points in 69 games while averaging 21:15 of ice time per contest.
Off the ice, Trouba is involved with the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which helps bring life-changing opportunities to young people facing illness, financial challenges, or the death or injury of a family member in uniform. He also supports the Epilepsy Foundation in New York and runs a youth hockey camp.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin will be unavailable for the remainder of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs after entering stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, the league announced Monday.
"Under the terms of the joint program, Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months and then will be eligible to apply for reinstatement," the NHL's statement reads.
The 29-year-old missed 22 games during the 2023-24 regular season while in the player assistance program.
If he violates the stage 3 treatment plan, Nichushkin will enter stage 4 and be suspended without pay for at least one year, and reinstatement will not be guaranteed.
Nichushkin missed Games 3-7 of the Avalanche's Round 1 series against the Seattle Kraken in 2023 for what was deemed "personal reasons" after an incident at a Seattle hotel. A team doctor found an intoxicated woman in his hotel room the day of Game 3 and called an ambulance to transport her to a hospital, per a Seattle police report. Nichushkin didn't face any criminal charges and apparently would've been cleared to play in Round 2 had the Avs advanced.
The power forward will be sorely missed by the Avalanche. He recorded 53 points in 54 games during the regular season and is tied for the league lead with nine goals in eight games so far this postseason.
"Val, obviously, is struggling with something," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said following Colorado's 5-1 loss in Game 4 without Nichushkin. "I have two thoughts. Yeah, it sucks for our team. We've gotta turn the page. We gotta go play way better than we did today. ...
"The second one is I've gotten to know Val as a person and I've gotten to know him as one of our teammates and a player and I want what's best for him."
Nichushkin's nameplate was already replaced in the Avs' locker room.
The Avalanche signed Nichushkin to an eight-year, $49-million extension in July 2022.
The Russian winger has played nine NHL seasons, recording 274 points in 512 games. He was drafted 10th overall by Dallas in 2013 and spent four seasons with the Stars before signing with Colorado as a free agent in 2019.
Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique has been ruled out for Game 3 against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday due to a lower-body injury, head coach Kris Knoblauch announced.
Henrique missed Game 1 and logged only 11:38 in Game 2. He averaged 15:52 per contest in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Connor Brown will draw into the lineup in Henrique's place.
Henrique has been a staple in Edmonton's top-six forward group since he was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2024 trade deadline. He collected six goals and three assists in 22 games with the Oilers during the regular season and has added two points in six playoff contests.
Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique was ruled out for Game 3 against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday due to a lower-body injury.
Henrique missed Game 1 and logged only 11:38 in Game 2. He averaged 15:52 per contest in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Connor Brown will draw into the lineup in Henrique's place.
Henrique has been a staple in Edmonton's top-six forward group since he was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2024 trade deadline. He collected six goals and three assists in 22 games with the Oilers during the regular season and has added two points in six playoff contests.
The Canucks prevailed 4-3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 series lead.
Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique has been ruled out for Game 3 against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday due to a lower-body injury, head coach Kris Knoblauch announced.
Henrique missed Game 1 and logged only 11:38 in Game 2. He averaged 15:52 per contest in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Connor Brown will draw into the lineup in Henrique's place.
Henrique has been a staple in Edmonton's top-six forward group since he was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2024 trade deadline. He collected six goals and three assists in 22 games with the Oilers during the regular season and has added two points in six playoff contests.
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 11, 2024
Bennett didn't receive any supplemental discipline for the incident.
Montgomery said Saturday that he believed there was intent on Bennett's end. He doubled down on that sentiment Sunday, stating that Bennett "knew what he was doing" and his actions were "outside the lines."
The Bruins didn't retaliate immediately after the hit, which winger Trent Frederic said was because they were initially unaware of how exactly Marchand got hurt. However, he added that he wasn't pleased with Bennett's play after getting a second look.
"I think it pisses off everyone," Frederic said. "I think this whole (Panthers) team ticks everyone off, to be honest. There's some individuals that maybe make guys more frustrated and more mad. But you can't use it as frustration, you still have to go out and do the job."
Center Pavel Zacha added the Bruins need to be more physical with the Panthers' best players.
"We have to go after their top guys and let them know that's not OK," Zacha said. "That's something to go after our captain - that's not OK with us. We're ready to be physical again today and be a little bit harder on them."
Bennett has been suspended twice in his 10-year NHL career: one game in 2021 for charging and three games in 2022 for a hit to the head. The Panthers center also notably avoided a suspension during Round 2 of the 2023 playoffs despite cross-checking Michael Bunting in the neck.
Marchand entered Sunday leading the Bruins with 10 points in as many games this postseason.
Bruins forward Danton Heinen returned to the lineup Sunday after missing the last five games.
With 24 of the NHL's 32 teams in offseason mode, the coaching carousel is starting to spin. On Tuesday alone the St. Louis Blues removed the interim tag from Drew Bannister and the Ottawa Senators tabbed Travis Green as their next head coach. The Buffalo Sabres brought back Lindy Ruff in April.
But there are still six openings - five if you exclude one team that has yet to make a decision on its interim bench boss. There are plenty of experienced coaches available, too, including Craig Berube, Todd McLellan, Gerard Gallant, Sheldon Keefe,Jay Woodcroft, Dean Evason, and Dave Hakstol.
Below, we'll rank the six coaching jobs by appeal. This is not based solely on how good the team is right now but also the stability of the organization's ownership and front office, the club's future outlook, and the off-ice living environment.
6. San Jose Sharks
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Pros
First overall pick
$38M in cap space
Nice weather
Cons
NHL's worst roster
Rebuild in early stages
$7.3M in dead cap
Inexperienced GM
Absent owner
Coaching the projected No. 1 pick, Macklin Celebrini,will be appealing and living in the Bay Area would be nice, but the reality is this is likely a dead-end job. It's hard to imagine the next coach making it out of the rebuild stage.
The Sharks are at least four or five years away from competing - potentially longer considering general manager Mike Grier's minimal front-office experience. That's not to say Grier can't turn the Sharks around, but three years ago he was the assistant coach on a prep school team. The leadership above him isn't the most inspiring, either, as owner Hasso Plattner is rarely seen around the team.
It will be difficult for the Sharks to lure the most distinguished coaches. Their best bet is to hire someone without NHL head coaching experience who wants to bring in fresh ideas. Most importantly, San Jose's next coach must excel at player development.
5. Winnipeg Jets
Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty
Pros
Playoff-caliber roster
All-world goaltender
Good amateur scouting staff
Passionate fan base
Cons
Extremely difficult to attract free agents
Small market
Miserable weather
Unstable long-term viability
The Jets posted the NHL's fourth-best record in 2023-24 and project to be a strong team once again next season. Deadline acquisitions Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli are pending UFAs, as are defensemen Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo, but the rest of the roster is expected to remain intact.
Winnipeg was overmatched by the Colorado Avalanche in Round 1, but it's still easy to see the intrigue of coaching a team led by perennial Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck. With the right defensive infrastructure in front of him, a deep playoff run isn't out of the question.
However, the frigid winters could scare off some candidates. And while Winnipeg isn't a big market, there's still the added pressure and media attention of coaching a Canadian team that's expected to contend.
For a head coach hoping to stick around for the long haul, the club's declining attendance numbers in a small rink don't bode well for the future.
4. Seattle Kraken
Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Pros
Roster depth
Good farm system
No state income tax
Newly renovated arena
Cons
Roster lacks high-end talent
Unclear direction
Grubauer's contract
The Kraken are in NHL purgatory. They're not quite good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup but not quite bad enough to bottom out and secure an elite talent high in the draft. They should still get a solid player at No. 8, though.
The job certainly has its perks. Ron Francis is a patient, calculated GM who has built a solid farm system despite only having three draft classes to work with. The ownership group, led by David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke, is wealthy and committed to winning.
Living in a widely acclaimed city like Seattle will also appeal to candidates. And without any state income tax in Washington, the Kraken should be able to sign players for slightly below market value.
But despite the off-ice perks, the Kraken aren't higher on this list due to the middling roster, which is bogged down by Philipp Grubauer's contract. The German netminder still has three years on his deal at a $5.9-million cap hit but has posted a sub-.900 save percentage in each of his three seasons in Seattle.
3. Los Angeles Kings
Vitor Munhoz / National Hockey League / Getty
Pros
Talented roster
Veteran core still performing
Byfield leading next wave
Nice weather
Wealthy ownership
Cons
Dubois' contract
Goaltending questions
The Kings have yet to make a decision on interim head coach Jim Hiller. He posted a solid 21-12-1 regular-season record after Todd McLellan was fired but couldn't push them past the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1, so the club could look in a different direction.
It's an intriguing job, though, considering future Hall of Famers Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are still performing at a high level. Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala are in their primes, and 21-year-old Quinton Byfield is loaded with potential.
The forward depth is impressive and the blue line is strong, but there are major question marks between the pipes. The duo of Cam Talbot and David Rittich played well this year, but the two pending UFAs aren't legitimate starting goalies anymore.
Pierre-Luc Dubois' contract could also prove to be a major issue. The club's marquee investment last offseason managed just 40 points in 82 games despite carrying an $8.5-million cap hit for the next seven years. The next coach must get the most out of Dubois.
While it's not a perfect situation on the ice, the opportunity to live in sunny Los Angeles definitely gives this opening a boost.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Steve Russell / Toronto Star / Getty
Pros
Talented roster with prime Matthews
Cap space opening up
NHL's wealthiest organization
Large, passionate fan base
Can achieve legend status if you win
Cons
Among the most stressful jobs in sports
High-pressure market, constant attention
Defense needs overhaul
Goaltending questions
Poor prospect pipeline
Coaching the Maple Leafs is one of the most high-risk, high-reward jobs in professional sports. It will be mentally taxing. There will be constant scrutiny if the team underperforms. It will be nearly impossible to walk the city's streets without being recognized. There's even a good chance the team is just cursed. Yet, the coach who can deliver the franchise its first Stanley Cup since 1967 will be treated like royalty and remembered forever.
The coach of the Leafs will also have every resource at his disposal. Spending to the cap every year? No problem. State-of-the-art facilities? Check. Enormous budget for assistant coaches and other staff members? Done.
It also presents the chance to coach a roster that has made the playoffs eight straight years - tied for the NHL's longest active streak - led by a perennial Hart Trophy candidate in Auston Matthews at the height of his powers.
There's a perceived cap crunch in Toronto, with four players scheduled to take up $46.7 million on the cap in 2024-25. However, John Tavares' $11 million comes off the books after next season. It's also possible Mitch Marner, who has one year left at $10.9 million, is traded.
There are major needs, however. Three defensemen are required, with at least two who can play the right side and two who can handle top-four duties. The club could also use another middle-six center or two, plus a tandem-mate for goalie Joseph Woll. GM Brad Treliving has a lot on his plate, but it all starts with finding the right person to lead the charge behind the bench.
1. New Jersey Devils
Andrew Lahodynskyj / National Hockey League / Getty
Pros
Highly talented, ascending roster
Good cap structure
$20M in cap space
Savvy front office
Wealthy ownership
Cons
Poor goaltending
Palat's contract
The Devils job contains very little downside and a whole lot of upside. In fact, many had the club pegged as a Stanley Cup contender entering 2023-24 before goaltending and injury woes torpedoed its season.
Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and several other cornerstone pieces are locked up with team-friendly, long-term deals. Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, a pair of 20-year-old defensemen, have star potential.
The Devils' blue line is set. The forward nucleus is strong, though some depth pieces are needed.
The three years remaining at $6 million per season for 33-year-old Ondrej Palat is less than ideal, but one bad contract is tolerable considering all the other bargains on the roster. Palat is still a solid third-line checker, too.
But the biggest question mark is in goal, as New Jersey ranked 30th in the league in save percentage this past season. However, Jake Allen was acquired at the deadline and is under contract for another season as a veteran backup. A starter is needed, but GM Tom Fitzgerald has already vowed to go big-game hunting for a goalie. If he could land Jacob Markstrom, as he tried to at the deadline, New Jersey could be a Cup contender next year if everything goes right.
There are also no off-ice concerns with the organization. The team's arena, the Prudential Center, is relatively new, and the ownership group, led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, is both wealthy and passionate about sports. (They also own the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, and Harris recently purchased the NFL's Washington Commanders.)
If Fitzgerald can adequately address the goaltending, there will be very little downside to this job.
Ellis played 16 seasons in the NHL - all with the Maple Leafs - recording 640 points in 1,034 games. He scored 30 goals twice and reached the 20-goal mark 11 times. Ellis ranks fifth on Toronto's all-time list in games played and goals.
The 5-foot-9 winger helped the Maple Leafs win their last Stanley Cup in 1967, recording a pair of goals and an assist in 12 postseason contests that year.
The Lindsay, Ontario, native will also be remembered for representing Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, which Canada won 4-3-1.
