The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they signed Dartmouth College center Luke Haymes to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26.

Before that contract starts, the 21-year-old Haymes will sign a professional tryout contract with the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Details | https://t.co/tj5Ym0NQn2

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 25, 2025

The Ottawa, Ontario native was reportedly linked to the Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and hometown Senators as potential destinations to begin his professional career. He posted 12 goals and six assists in 22 games in a season hampered by a broken hand sustained early in the campaign. 

Haymes is consistently described as a tenacious and gritty two-way forward, known for his effectiveness on both sides of the ice . He plays with a high level of energy and determination and strong hockey IQ. His style allows him to generate quality scoring opportunities through a combination of intelligent play and physicality.

Haymes attended Toronto's summer development camp in 2023.

Scouting reports suggest that he projects as a potential bottom-six player with the possibility of developing into a middle-six role with further refinement. Perhaps he could help the center prospect depth for the Leafs that was vacated when the club traded Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins along with a conditional first-round pick for defenseman Brandon Carlo.

'I Haven't Told Them Yet': Maple Leafs React To Fraser Minten Being Traded To Bruins For Brandon CarloToronto sent Minten, plus a first and fourth-round pick, to Boston in exchange for Brandon Carlo.

At 6-1, 203 pounds, Haymes is considered pro-hockey ready and his recent growth spurt (previously listed at 185 pounds), explains why the player wasn't drafted and has recently garnered a lot of interest. 

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On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks took on the Philadelphia Flyers at United Center. It was a barn-burner as the Blackhawks defeated the Flyers 7-4 to end a seven game losing streak. 

One of the most impressive players during the game was Joe Veleno. This makes it two straight games that he has played well but this one saw him collect a couple of points for the first time in a Blackhawks sweater. 

It started with Veleno’s first goal since being acquired by the Blackhawks. He came down the wing and placed a perfect shot into the net to give Chicago a 2-1 lead at the time. 

Later on, Veleno added an assist, also his first with the Hawks, on a goal scored by Tyler Bertuzzi. This one gave the Blackhawks a 4-3 lead which eventually led to the aforementioned victory. 

Interim head coach Anders Sorensen spoke about Veleno after the game. After talking about how difficult it is to switch systems, and mentioning how different Chicago is from Detroit in terms of style, he made it clear that he likes what he sees from Veleno. 

"His last two games [were] really good.” Sorensen said in his media availability. “It started in St. Louis there. We got him on the PK again and he was really aggressive and created some turnovers, made some plays. Him and [Bertuzzi] have found something. They've been playing well together."

This is great praise for Veleno from Sorensen. This isn’t a player coming in to be an offensive star but he has the talent as a former first round pick to contribute every now and again. He’s there to play the right way and help the team in other areas. 

This game against the Flyers is a great example of how offense can come if the other areas of your game are strong. His chemistry with Bertuzzi, as coach Sorensen alluded to, has helped him get going in Chicago. 

If Veleno can play as he has over the last two games, the Blackhawks will certainly consider him in a bottom-six role going forward. A guy who can kill penalties, play the right way at even strength, and contribute some offense here and there, will be valuable to a team learning to win. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For anyone who has been following the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, it's been a pretty remarkable campaign for their top-line trio of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust.

The trouble is that - in comparison to the rest of their teammates - it's been a bit too remarkable.

Individually, each player has been playing some of his best hockey. Several milestones and career-highs are in play for each player:

• Crosby (25 goals, 53 assists, 78 points): Crosby is just two points shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record, which he figures to clinch at 20. He also has a chance to register his 13th season at 30 or more goals, as he has six goals in his past seven games.
• Rakell (32-30-62): Rakell's 32 goals is just two below his career-high mark of 34, which he set in 2017-18. He is also just seven points shy of his career-high of 69 points set that same season.
• Rust (25-29-54): With two goals in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, Rust is just three goals shy of 200 for his career. The six-time 20-goal scorer - all in succession over the last six seasons - would be just the ninth player in franchise history to reach the 200-goal plateau with the organization.

But the success of the first line has really exposed the Penguins as a true one-line team this season. Of the 212 total goals the Penguins have scored this season, at least one of Crosby, Rust, and Rakell has factored in on 56.6 percent of them, and they have scored 38.7 percent of the team's goals this season.

In addition, Crosby (20:21), Rust (19:43), and Rakell (19:22) are, on average, playing two minutes more per game than the next-closest forward, Evgeni Malkin (17:54).

For a frame of reference, there are very good NHL teams that get very top-heavy production, such as the Edmonton Oilers. The difference is that Edmonton - in addition to scoring more goals than the Penguins - have arguably the best player in the NHL this season in Leon Draisaitl.

His 49 goals lead the NHL - he is also the only player in hockey this season with more than 40 goals - and his 101 points are second to only Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon's 105. Connor McDavid, the consensus best player in the world, also has 26 goals and 90 points for the Oilers this season.

Teams with a one-two punch like that can afford to have most of their production come from those players because they're simply producing more than guys like Crosby - the Penguins' best player - at this juncture. Their respective teams typically have a higher goal output, too, and McDavid and Draisaitl - both in their primes - mostly play on separate lines.

The best NHL teams need at least two high-end lines in terms of production, and Pittsburgh simply doesn't have that luxury anymore. Penguins second-line center Malkin, 38, has just 15 goals and 46 points in 62 games, which can be partially explained by injuries and lack of talent on his wings. 

He is also aging, as is Crosby. The Penguins' captain has showed less age than Malkin the last few seasons, and the Penguins have discovered throughout the course of this season that it's better to load up their top line and hope for the best with the rest rather than try to weaken the top line for the benefit of more balance in the lineup.

The fact of the matter is that the Penguins cannot simply rely on those two to completely carry their production anymore. And if they're going to compete, they can't entirely rely on an entire first line of players age 31 or older carrying their production, either.

If the Penguins are to return to contention as quickly as possible, they need to acquire or develop at least two young, top-six talents who can take some of the burden off of Crosby's line - as well as Malkin - to produce. 

They have a ton of draft capital, they have a lot of cap space for free agency, they have some near-NHL-ready prospects, and they have some leverage for trade opportunities. A priority for POHO and GM Kyle Dubas this offseason should be landing a player who can make the Penguins at least a two-line team again.  

You can track Crosby's pursuit of Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record here.

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After an embarrassing loss in Salt Lake City and a listless effort against Minnesota on Saturday, the Buffalo Sabres responded with an excellent effort in a 5-3 victory over the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets to split their four-game road swing. The Sabres got top performances from a pair of Manitobans, as Souris native Tyson Kozak scored his second goal of the season and Morweena’s James Reimer made 33 saves for his third win of the campaign.

“(Reimer) gave us a heck of a game.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “(Kozak) had a lot of people here, and he gets to play in front of a lot of family. I couldn't be happier for him. I thought he played hard, he played well. At that time, it was a big goal for us."

Reimer 😂 #Sabrehood#GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/oXNnbzaWhC

— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) March 23, 2025

Buffalo got a season-best four-point outing from Ryan McLeod (1 goal, 3 assists) and goals from the usual suspects (Rasmus Dahlin, JJ Peterka, and Alex Tuch), but also got contributions from the unexpected in Jacob Bernard-Docker, who assisted on the first two Sabres goals.

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It was not all good news for Buffalo, as Jordan Greenway suffered a lower-body injury late in the first period and did not return. Ruff could not provide any update on the big winger after the game, other than to say that he would be looked at by team doctors. The Sabres did not practice on Monday after back-to-back weekend matinees, so Greenway’s status will be updated after the morning skate in preparation for the club’s first meeting with former teammate Dylan Cozens and the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

As the NHL approaches the post-season, one team is progressively asserting itself as a dark horse in the Western Conference: the Los Angeles Kings. Though heavyweights such as the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars tend to draw attention, the Kings have quietly become one of the most formidable teams in the league. 

With a recent surge marked by victories over Stanley Cup contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and the Vegas Golden Knights, the Kings have a roster built on depth, experience, and defensive stoutness. Los Angeles possesses all the pieces of an outfit with the potential to make a deep postseason push.

A Dominant Second Half

The Kings' strong second half of the season has been the best proof that the team is prepared to play with the NHL elite. Their recent offensive outburst only strengthens their case. LA scored 14 goals in back-to-back games against Carolina and Boson, earning matching 7-2 wins. 

The Kings' repeatedly rising to the challenge against Western Conference rivals has been awe-inspiring. They've demonstrated a remarkable ability to stand their ground against some of the NHL's most talented clubs.

Also, the Kings' offense reached all-time highs. For the first time since 1995, the Los Angeles team scored seven goals in back-to-back games, demonstrating their new scoring depth and ability to overwhelm teams.

This is the first time the Kings have scored at least seven goals in two straight games since April 1995.

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) March 24, 2025

But there have been times when the Kings’ have played down to their competition, losing to teams that are sub .500 or barely above .500. Compared to their success over the contenders in the Western Conference, the Kings have struggled against Eastern Conference foes, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. 

These head-to-head performances in the West are especially noteworthy given the physicality and playoff-like intensity. But it is all about matchups because specific teams would struggle against the teams that the Kings have had success over, but with their offensive and defensive depth, they can go toe-toe with any team in the league. 

Balanced Scoring Depth

The Kings' most significant asset has been their ability to produce from all four lines. In Saturday's 7-2 romp of Carolina, all 12 forwards earned a point—a rare accomplishment indicating the team's superior depth.

This scoring balance is a central focus for those teams hoping to make a profound playoff run. Most Stanley Cup teams employ all-stars to do a large chunk of the scoring, but the Kings have assembled a group of forwards that evenly distributes offense across the lineup.

The @LAKings are winning games and making franchise history along the way! #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/FVjdXw6z9A

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 23, 2025

Veterans such as Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar provide leadership and scoring punch, while young stars such as Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke step up to take the pressure off those veteran players. 

Goaltending Stability

During an injury-plagued and uneven season across the NHL's goalie pool, the Kings have found reliability in goal at the best possible time. Darcy Kuemper's experience as a proven postseason goaltender provides some confidence if the Kings are compelled to rotate their goaltenders through a series of playoff games. 

David Rittich has emerged as a calming presence, making strong efforts as part of the team's current winning streak. Rittich's sound positional play and level-headed demeanor have allowed the Kings to stay competitive in low-scoring, close games—an essential aspect of playoff hockey.

Goalies are primarily the most significant pieces during a playoff run because their ability to defend the opponent's offense at an elite level gives your team a chance to win every game. 

With their rugged goalie tandem between the pipes, the Kings feel secure shutting down potent, attack-minded offenses, and they do so most effectively when paired with their steady defense.

Defensive Toughness

The Kings' blue line has silently emerged as one of the most underrated collections of players in the NHL. Drew Doughty's experience still calms down the blue line, and Joel Edmundson’s scoring and toughness should help the Kings be formidable with his two-way play. The Kings' defense is especially good at shutting down high-danger scoring opportunities, excelling at neutralizing some of the Western Conference's top scorers.

The Kings have four different defensive pairings ranked in Money Puck’s top ten for expected goal share (minimum 150 minutes).

Notice a pattern?#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/HfsuPt4xNj

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) March 24, 2025

Their penalty kill has also been a key factor in their recent run, shutting down power plays with an aggressive but disciplined style. Improved special teams play might be a game-changer in close playoff contests, where the special teams have a way of shifting momentum.

Veteran Leadership and Experience

Having veteran stars on the frontline is a massive boost for the Kings. Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Trevor Lewis possess multiple years of postseason experience and have won Stanley Cup titles, having won the championship in 2012 and 2014. 

The foundation knows about playing with a playoff intensity level, strategy, and mental toughness to perform in the postseason. Leadership provides stability when games are on the line, as younger skaters like Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev learn alongside them.

This blend of old-school smarts and youthful energy gives the Kings a unique balance few Western Conference clubs can equal.

Key Matchups Favor the Kings

One of the most promising signs of the Kings' playoff chances is their strong record against the Western Conference Titans. Los Angeles has regularly gained points against top teams like the Golden Knights, Oilers, Jets, and Stars. These contests have provided a preview of how the Kings' defensive accountability, goaltending depth, and balanced scoring can frustrate elite teams.

For instance, the Kings' ability to quiet the Oilers' potent offense and capitalize on defensive blunders has been critical in their head-to-head games. Similarly, their stout defense has neutralized the Golden Knights' heavy forecheck and physicality. This trend of success against conference opponents suggests that the Kings are built to thrive in the Western Conference playoff series and will be much better because they will have time to adjust and figure out their opponents in a seven-game series. 

The Road Ahead

With their blend of veteran leadership, depth scoring, defensive solidity, and recent play, the Los Angeles Kings want to become the Western Conference's most potent dark horse. If they keep winning against playoff teams as they have recently and stay with their balanced style, they might be a threat to win their first championship in over a decade.

Kings move back into second place in the Pacific Division. 👑 pic.twitter.com/N3BGJGtnvy

— Locked On LA Kings (@LockedOnLAKings) March 24, 2025

In a division where momentum all too often defines postseason success, the Kings have quietly built a foundation that could carry them into June. While not receiving the same hype as Edmonton or Winnipeg, their current stretch shows they can dash the NHL's best hopes and make a deep playoff run again.

For as long as anyone can remember, the Philadelphia Flyers have been trying to solve their goaltending puzzle. 

It’s a tale as old as time: the Flyers are looking for stability in net, and somehow, despite their best efforts, it always seems just out of reach.

This season, the plan—at least to start the season—was to have a No. 1 and No. 2 system. Sam Ersson was expected to start the majority of the games, while Ivan Fedotov was slated to be the reliable backup that Ersson didn’t have least season. 

But in reality? The system has been, at best, a mixed bag, and at worst, an ongoing source of frustration.

Ersson, in his first full season as the presumed starter, has held onto that role for much of the year, even through injuries and rough patches. 

Fedotov, after an impossible-to-judge three-game stint last season, has looked stronger—but not strong enough to erase all doubts. And now, with just a handful of games left, and trying to embrace a more equal tandem approach, the Flyers still don’t have a clear answer.

A Tandem in Name, but Not in Practice

Head coach John Tortorella is about as forthright as they come, especially when it comes to what his team needs to improve on if they want to be a competitive team. The goaltending struggles have been no exception.

When asked about if Fedotov was still having to prove himself as an NHL goaltender, Tortorella simply told reporters, “S— yeah.” 

Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) on XAsked John Tortorella after the game if Ivan Fedotov still has to prove he belongs on the NHL roster next season. "Oh, shit yeah. Shit yeah." Earlier, called it a "sloppy game. Sloppy goalies." Admits he thought about putting in Ersson to start the second period.

It was a blunt assessment, one that cuts to the core of the Flyers’ current predicament. They want to run a tandem, but they don’t have two goalies they fully trust.

The idea behind a tandem is balance. The modern NHL leans away from the 65-game workhorses of the past and instead relies on two goalies splitting the load. It makes sense on paper, especially for a team like the Flyers, who aren’t built around an elite No. 1 netminder.

But a true tandem means confidence in both guys. It means alternating starts without hesitation, knowing that either goalie can give you a solid game. It means allowing both to play enough to stay sharp without running one into the ground.

That’s not really what’s happening here. Ersson has shouldered the bulk of the responsibility, and for good reason. He’s had stretches of truly excellent play, and even when he’s struggled, he’s never lost his status as the de facto starter. 

Fedotov, meanwhile, has been given opportunities, but there’s an underlying sense that every start is still an audition. If the team truly trusted him, Tortorella wouldn’t have made a point to say he still had something to prove.

Sam Ersson: The Starter

There’s a lot to like about Sam Ersson. He’s poised, technically sound, and has shown he can handle the mental grind of being an NHL goalie. Given that this is his first full season in a starting role—and how much he had to handle when he unexpectedly took over starting duties last season—his performance has been impressive overall.

But the reality is, he hasn’t run away with the job.

His highs have been high, but his lows have been noticeable. He’s had moments where he’s singlehandedly kept the Flyers in games and others where the puck has seemed to find the back of the net a little too easily. His numbers, while respectable, aren’t elite.

"Sam has been thrusted into a spot that I just think it has been unfair for him," Tortorella said earlier in March. “This organization was set back when things changed with our goaltending situation, especially Sam, not allowing him to develop. So he has been force-fed a little bit here."

Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) on X"He knows that he has to take it and carry the position. I just think he's so strong mentally. He'll have some dips as we play the rest of these games, but I'm just so confident how he approaches the game." —John Tortorella on Sam Ersson's growth across the season #LetsGoFlyers

It’s also worth noting that Ersson has dealt with injuries this season. That’s not a knock against him—it’s just a reminder that when you’re relying on a goalie who hasn’t had a full NHL workload before, durability is always a question. 

And with the Flyers still in the midst of a rebuild, this year was meant to be about finding out what they had in him. 

The answer? 

He’s good. Considering what he’s had to deal with since last season, he’s been very good. But it’s just too soon to accurately evaluate whether or not he’s truly the franchise starting goalie the organization believes he can be.

"I think with Sam, as we move forward, we're hoping it's going to be a tandem," Tortorella continued. "We're not going to ask Sam to play 55, 60 games if he's the guy. I think it's going to be a tandem. We're still evaluating. He has been inconsistent. Sometimes you watch him play and you think he has got it but then he falls off. It happens to a lot of goalies.”

Ivan Fedotov: The Wild Card

It’s hard to know exactly what the Flyers have in Ivan Fedotov.

His first real NHL season has been a mixed bag. There have been flashes of potential, moments where he’s looked calm, structured, and reliable. There have also been games where the cracks have shown—moments where his positioning looks off, or where the pace of play seems just a little too much.

The organization has acknowledged the unimaginable journey Fedotov has taken to get to North America, and they’ve never shied away from being transparent about his needing to adjust to the NHL, especially in the more limited backup role.

"I think it's a hell of a story for [Fedotov],” Tortorella said back in January. “On a personal note, in my heart, I'm happy for the guy. He went through some stuff just to get here, and he's battled. You guys don't even know what happened last year in a couple of situations that I came down on a certain time...He's been a really good pro."

Fedotov’s situation got even more complicated when 22-year-old netminder Aleksei Kolosov had an extended stay with the Flyers before being loaned back out to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms—demoting Fedotov to the No. 3 spot.

"He got kicked to the curb at number three, shut his mouth—I remember I had one conversation with him; I said, 'I don't know where it goes,'" Tortorella said. "And he spent I don't know how many weeks just skating up and down the boards, hoping to get in the net if one of the other goalies needed a spell during practice...He ate it and continued to work at his game."

Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) on X“It’s unorthodox, but the damn guy has stopped the puck. That’s why he’s number two. It’s a hell of a story. On a personal note, in my heart, I’m happy for the guy. He’s been a really good pro.” —John Tortorella on Ivan Fedotov’s resurgence in net #LetsGoFlyers

But a goalie can’t prove himself sitting on the bench. And while that’s an unavoidable downside of a tandem setup, it’s particularly frustrating in Fedotov’s case because he needs games. He needs to show that he can be more than just an occasional backup.

But in a season where he once went an entire month without a game because of a bad performance against the Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, one has to wonder just how long the leash is for the 28-year-old if he’s not standing on his head in every start he gets.

It’s not a great way to build confidence—for him or for the team.

So… What Now?

If the Flyers don’t fully trust either guy to carry the load, and they don’t want to run a three-goalie system (for good reason), the natural question is: What’s next?

The problem is, there’s no clear answer waiting in the wings.

Aleksei Kolosov? Not ready. He needs time in the AHL. 

Yegor Zavragin? Don’t even think about it—he’s not coming over from the KHL any time soon.

Carson Bjarnason? Maybe the most intriguing long-term option, but he’s still developing in the WHL and will need AHL seasoning before he’s thrown into the fire.

There’s no magic solution. No clear-cut top prospect waiting to come in and save the day.

That means the Flyers have a decision to make.

Do they give this tandem another go next season, hoping for growth from both goalies? Do they bring in a veteran to stabilize things, even if it means taking starts away from Ersson? Or do they just accept that this is how things are for now—far from perfect, but not catastrophic?

The Big Picture: A Problem That’s Nothing New

The Flyers have been here before.

Goaltending has been the franchise’s Achilles’ heel for decades, cycling through a revolving door of “the next guy” only to find out, time and time again, that he wasn’t the answer.

And it’s not that Ersson or Fedotov are failures—far from it. But when you’re starting your NHL careers as the last line of defense on a team still in the early stages of a rebuild, people can conveniently forget to contextualize the growing pains that come with that.

And that’s frustrating, because the rest of the Flyers’ rebuild is starting to take shape. The young core is promising. The team plays with structure. There’s a clear identity forming. But if they can’t solidify their goaltending situation, none of that will matter as much as it should.

This tandem was supposed to work. And maybe, in a different world, with different circumstances, it could have. But right now, it’s a system that exists more out of necessity than out of choice.

The Flyers need to figure out where they go from here. Because as they push forward in their rebuild, the one thing they can’t afford is to be stuck in the same goaltending limbo they’ve been trapped in for years.

Seattle Kraken forward Chandler Stephenson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, head coach Dan Bylsma announced on Monday.

The 30-year-old exited the Kraken's 4-0 defeat against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday with an injury and did not return. He played just 15 shifts and 11:33 of ice time before leaving. He also did not participate in their 5-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. 

Stephenson signed a long-term contract with the Kraken in the offseason in hopes of helping the team push for a playoff spot. Although it seems very likely the Kraken won't make it to the postseason, Stephenson has still been able to produce a fairly positive output.

In 69 games, the playmaking center has scored 11 goals and 48 points in 69 games, three fewer points than he recorded last season with the Vegas Golden Knights.

With Stephenson out, Tye Kartye jumped back into the lineup, shifting John Hayden into a center role. Hayden has spent most of the season with the Firebirds in the AHL and when he has been up with the Kraken, he's played on the fourth line. 

Stephenson practiced on a separate rink in a non-contact jersey today, but the Kraken have not revealed if he'll travel with the team to Calgary. The Kraken return to Seattle on Thursday when they take on the Oilers.

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