Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer, but don't expect to hear much buzz about it.
"The key for us is, because of the importance of it and how much Sid means to the organization and the city, we want to keep that as quiet as possible and go through it," general manager Kyle Dubas told NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "And then, hopefully, as we get through this summer, get a sense where everybody's at and then let everybody know at the right time."
Crosby is set to enter the final season of a 12-year, $104.4-million contract, which pays him $8.7 million annually. The soon-to-be 37-year-old was Pittsburgh's best player by a landslide in 2023-24, leading the club with 94 points while averaging 20 minutes per night over 82 games.
Despite Crosby's excellence - and Dubas pulling off a blockbuster trade to bring in Erik Karlsson - the Penguins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season and the third time in Crosby's 19-year career.
Following the disappointing campaign, Dubas made it clear he hopes Crosby finishes his career in Pittsburgh. After dealing Crosby's longtime linemate Jake Guentzel before the trade deadline, Dubas stated he intends to make the Penguins contenders again for Crosby's final years rather than embark on a full rebuild with the three-time Stanley Cup champion still in the fold.
The Penguins will enter the offseason with approximately $13.2 million in financial wiggle room, according to CapFriendly. Dubas said the mission for the club over the summer is to find young talent.
"The major focus for us is on right now acquiring as many young players, as many prospects, and as many draft picks as we can to try to infuse the team with really good young talent ... and then have that stocked up for the future as well and attempt to get us back into contention as quickly as we can," Dubas said.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer, but don't expect to hear much buzz about it.
"The key for us is, because of the importance of it and how much Sid means to the organization and the city, we want to keep that as quiet as possible and go through it," general manager Kyle Dubas told NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "And then, hopefully, as we get through this summer, get a sense where everybody's at and then let everybody know at the right time."
Crosby is set to enter the final season of a 12-year, $104.4-million contract, which pays him $8.7 million annually. The soon-to-be 37-year-old was Pittsburgh's best player by a landslide in 2023-24, leading the club with 94 points while averaging 20 minutes per night over 82 games.
Despite Crosby's excellence - and Dubas pulling off a blockbuster trade to bring in Erik Karlsson - the Penguins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season and the third time in Crosby's 19-year career.
Following the disappointing campaign, Dubas made it clear he hopes Crosby finishes his career in Pittsburgh. After dealing Crosby's longtime linemate Jake Guentzel before the trade deadline, Dubas stated he intends to make the Penguins contenders again for Crosby's final years rather than embark on a full rebuild with the three-time Stanley Cup champion still in the fold.
The Penguins will enter the offseason with approximately $13.2 million in financial wiggle room, according to CapFriendly. Dubas said the mission for the club over the summer is to find young talent.
"The major focus for us is on right now acquiring as many young players, as many prospects, and as many draft picks as we can to try to infuse the team with really good young talent ... and then have that stocked up for the future as well and attempt to get us back into contention as quickly as we can," Dubas said.
The Florida Panthers are set to play for the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, and there's no more arguing whether they deserve their spot among the NHL's elite.
The Cats faced some criticism in 2023 for an improbable Cinderella run to the final but followed that up with an Atlantic Division crown and a dominant first three rounds of the playoffs. Not to mention, they won the Presidents' Trophy in 2022, further cementing their status as the class of the Eastern Conference.
Florida had been a basement-dwelling team for much of its existence, but hiring Bill Zito as general manager in 2020 changed the trajectory of the franchise. The executive has proven he possesses a remarkable knack for winning trades and has hit on his free-agent signings as well.
Zito inherited very little homegrown talent but has managed to create a powerhouse primarily through bold acquisitions. Below, we break down how the Panthers were built as they face another chance at their first championship in franchise history.
Method
Players
Homegrown
5
Trade
8
Free agency/waivers
16
Note: All players played at least one game for Panthers during the regular season
Homegrown
China Wong / National Hockey League / Getty
Aleksander Barkov (June 30, 2013): Barkov was a surprise pick at No. 2 overall 11 years ago, and he's seen the Panthers transform from laughing stock to powerhouse since entering the league at 18 years old. He's blossomed into the league's top two-way player, and a Stanley Cup would bolster an already strong Hall of Fame case.
Aaron Ekblad (June 27, 2014): One year after selecting Barkov, Florida drafted Ekblad first overall for a cornerstone on defense. He may not go No. 1 if we were to redraft that prospect pool now, but he's still a top-pairing blue-liner and an important leader for the Panthers.
Anton Lundell (Oct. 6, 2020): The Panthers struck gold when selecting Lundell 12th overall in 2020. He occupies an important role as the third-line center and sits sixth among his draft class in both games played and points.
Justin Sourdif (Oct. 7, 2020): Sourdif's been a minor part of Florida's campaign, appearing in only three regular-season games. He chipped in 38 points in 58 AHL contests and could be a bigger part of the Panthers' future as they face lots of potential roster turnover this summer with seven unrestricted free-agent forwards.
Mackie Samoskevich (July 23, 2021): He made his NHL debut this season, and the former first-round pick went pointless in seven games. The 21-year-old has been promising in the minors, though, and still has plenty of time to grow.
Trade
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Eetu Luostarinen (Feb. 24, 2020): Luostarinen was part of a four-player return in the trade that sent Vincent Trocheck to the Carolina Hurricanes, and he's the only one still with the organization. He's appeared in all of Florida's playoff games this spring, chipping in six points.
Brandon Montour (April 10, 2021): Zito pried Montour from the Buffalo Sabres for only a third-round pick three years ago and has watched the defenseman grow into a monumental role for the club. The rearguard quarterbacks Florida's first power-play unit and is logging nearly 24 minutes per contest in the playoffs.
Sam Bennett (April 12, 2021): Many believed Bennett needed a change of scenery when he was dealt from the Flames, and that couldn't have turned out to be more accurate. His points per game have jumped from 0.35 to 0.68 since moving south, and he's one of the most physically imposing forwards in the league.
Sam Reinhart (July 24, 2021): Reinhart eclipsed the 30-goal mark in each of his first two seasons with the Panthers, then exploded for 57 this year. He has defensive prowess to match his offensive skill and is one of the league's most dangerous finishers.
Matthew Tkachuk (July 22, 2022): The Panthers landing Tkachuk was one of the biggest trades in recent history, and he's quickly become the heartbeat of the organization. He's a pain to play against on account of his antics and his All-Star-level production.
Steven Lorentz (July 1, 2023): Lorentz is a depth piece but offers decent versatility in the Panthers' bottom six. He's chipped in a pair of goals so far in the playoffs.
Vladimir Tarasenko (March 6, 2024): Tarasenko isn't the star producer he used to be, but he serves as a quality depth-scoring threat. He only has three goals in the postseason, but his experience as a past Stanley Cup champion has shown for a Panthers squad looking to erase last year's heartbreak.
Kyle Okposo (March 8, 2024): Okposo has been in and out of the Panthers' playoff lineup and hasn't produced a goal in 11 games. However, it would be a tremendous feel-good story if he captured a Cup in his 17th season after serious injury concerns derailed his career a few years back.
Free agency and waivers
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Sergei Bobrovsky (July 1, 2019): Bobrovsky's seven-year, $70-million deal with the Panthers was met with immediate scrutiny, which was quickly justified after his poor play early in the contract. However, the two-time Vezina winner has regained his form since last playoffs, re-emerging as one of the league's top netminders.
Gustav Forsling (Jan. 9, 2021): The Panthers snagged Forsling on waivers from the Hurricanes three years ago, and what a find it turned out to be. He's grown into Florida's top left-side blue-liner and a rock defensively. He signed an eight-year extension this season, and after eliminating the Boston Bruins in Round 2, head coach Paul Maurice said Forsling is the best in the world at his steady style of defense.
Carter Verhaeghe (July 28, 2021): Something about the Panthers lately seems to bring out the best in new players. After modest numbers in his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Verhaeghe has since developed into one of Florida's best producers. His 76 goals over the past two seasons rank 14th among all NHL skaters. He also has 24 playoff tallies - nine game-winners - in 54 games since joining the Cats in 2021.
Ryan Lomberg (Nov. 25, 2021): Lomberg has played sparingly in these playoffs and is a fourth-liner when in the lineup. He brings energy and physicality when dressed and ranked first among Panthers forwards with 179 hits this season.
Nick Cousins (July 13, 2022): The Panthers are Cousins' sixth team since entering the league 10 years ago, and his role has diminished in the playoffs after suiting up in 69 games this season. Cousins is known to be an agitator for opponents and was involved in numerous controversial plays in 2023-24.
Josh Mahura (Oct. 10, 2022): A depth defense option claimed from the Anaheim Ducks two seasons ago, Mahura was limited to 30 games this season and hasn't played in the playoffs. He's up for a new contract this summer as an RFA.
Uvis Balinskis (April 18, 2023): Balinskis joined the Panthers last year after time in the KHL and Czech league. He hasn't been used in the playoffs this spring but showed enough promise in the minors to earn a two-year extension in January.
Kevin Stenlund (July 1, 2023): Stenlund signed a one-year deal with Florida last summer and has carved out a fourth-line role. He hasn't registered a point in the playoffs but has featured in all 17 games while averaging over 11 minutes per night.
Anthony Stolarz (July 1, 2023): "Stolie the Goalie" had a terrific season as Bobrovsky's backup, posting a .925 save percentage in 27 appearances. He'll be a hot commodity as a reliable No. 2 netminder this offseason if he doesn't re-up with the Cats.
Niko Mikkola (July 1, 2023): Mikkola's finishing the first season of a three-year contract with the Panthers and has proven to be a reliable option on the second defensive pairing. The 28-year-old set career highs in games played, points, plus-minus, and average ice time in his debut year in Sunrise.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (July 1, 2023): The veteran blue-liner was unfairly mocked for being bought out of a lucrative eight-year contract, but he's landed on his feet with the Panthers and provided good value at a modest $2.25-million cap hit.
Dmitry Kulikov (July 1, 2023): Kulikov returned to the Panthers last summer after starting his career with the organization as a first-round pick in 2009. He plays limited minutes at this stage in his career but was an impressive plus-15 in the regular season.
Evan Rodrigues (July 2, 2023): Rodrigues has bounced around in his nine-year career, but he landed some security in the form of a four-year pact with the Panthers. He's a versatile forward with strong underlying numbers, and he's chipped in eight points this postseason.
William Lockwood (July 2, 2023): Lockwood regularly bounced between the AHL and NHL this season and didn't make enough of an impact during his time with the Panthers to earn a shot in the playoffs.
Jonah Gadjovich (Oct. 16, 2023): Gadjovich is a physical winger who logged 104 penalty minutes in only 39 NHL games this season. His lack of offensive impact has kept him out of the lineup during the Cats' Cup chase.
Tobias Bjornfot (March 8, 2024): The Panthers claimed Bjornfot, a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2019, before the trade deadline. He only made one appearance with the club in the regular season but could still have untapped potential as a former highly-touted defensive prospect.
The Carolina Hurricanes are open to trading the negotiating rights to pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the "32 Thoughts" podcast.
The asking price is a mid-round pick, Friedman notes.
Any team that acquires Guentzel's rights before free agency opens July 1 has the exclusive ability to sign him for eight years. If the star winger hits the open market without being moved, he can only ink a maximum seven-year deal.
The Hurricanes made a huge splash in acquiring Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to March's trade deadline. He was an instant fit, notching 25 points in 17 regular-season games. Guentzel added five goals and four assists in the playoffs as Carolina was eliminated in the second round.
Guentzel's price tag will likely be too high for the Hurricanes. The club has approximately $26.5 million in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly, but only has 18 players signed for next season. It has eight UFAs and five restricted free agents unaccounted for.
Guentzel is arguably this summer's top free agent. The Stanley Cup champion is a two-time 40-goal scorer and has racked up 491 points in 520 games over eight seasons.
New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe wants to be more than a viral fighting sensation next season, vowing to reinvent his game to make a more well-rounded impact at the NHL level.
"I want to bring more to the table," Rempe told USA Today's Vince Z. Mercogliano. "I want to be a guy that can play 8-12 minutes every single night in a role. I grew up as a centerman. I want to play center or wing. I think I can play both positions. I want to be really good defensively. I want to eventually be a penalty killer, but I've just got to earn all these things."
Rempe debuted in the Rangers' lineup in February's Stadium Series. He instantly made a name for himself by fighting New York Islanders veteran Matt Martin before dropping the gloves three more times over his next six games.
The 6-foot-7 21-year-old also courted controversy in his first NHL season for numerous hits, including a four-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey Devils blue-liner Jonas Siegenthaler's head.
Rempe averaged 5:38 of ice time in 17 regular-season games and made 11 playoff appearances as the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final. He last suited up for New York in Game 5 of the conference championship versus the Florida Panthers, playing only four shifts.
"I want to work on my skating, work my skill set, work on making plays with the puck, passing - every part of my game," Rempe said. "I also want to work on the fighting. I want to be a guy. I really enjoy that side of the game, and I want to continue to work on that. And then it's getting stronger, filling into my body more, my mobility - everything. I've got a lot of work to do, and I've always done that. I think as a sixth-round pick, I've kind of always exceeded expectations. Outwork, outwork, outwork."
The Rangers drafted Rempe in the sixth round in 2020.
Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is excited to renew hostilities with the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final but conceded he doesn't hate the club like he used to as a member of the Calgary Flames.
"I don't know. I wouldn't say that," Tkachuk told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti in response to whether he sustained the same level of disdain for the Oilers. "But anytime you're playing any opponent in the Stanley Cup Final, you don't even have to have a team rivalry or any rivalry with them. Right when the puck drops, it's going to be very intense like you've had that rivalry a few years."
"It's the Stanley Cup Final, so much on the line, so I'm sure the teams will go after it pretty good early, and I'm sure both teams really, really want this."
Tkachuk was front and center in the Battle of Alberta during his six years in Calgary, and the two clubs engaged in a memorable second-round playoff series months before he was dealt to the Panthers.
As former public enemy No. 1 in Edmonton, Tkachuk recognizes how big the stage will be north of the border as the Oilers return to the Cup Final for the first time since 2006.
"It's a great environment to play in up there. They're all into it," he said. "It's really probably the biggest thing to happen in Canada in 30 years or whatever. ... They've been waiting for it for 20 years, so I'm sure it's going to be a great atmosphere."
Tkachuk has been a vital part of Florida's success this postseason, leading the club with 19 points in 17 games.
Verbeek reportedly brought up Zegras in trade talks this season, and discussions have resurfaced with the offseason around the corner, LeBrun notes.
Zegras notched 15 points in just 31 games this campaign. The supremely skilled 23-year-old is under contract for two more seasons at a cap hit of $5.75 million before hitting restricted free agency for a second time.
Although he wasn't specifically talking about a potential return for Zegras, Verbeek recently revealed he's looking to add experience to a young Ducks team next campaign.
"I'd like to add a couple more veteran pieces to the group," Verbeek said. "I'd like to find a top-six winger, and I'd like to find a top-four defenseman. You know, 31 other teams could say the same thing, right?"
Verbeek added: "I'm trying to make our lineup deeper while having the younger kids gain more experience, learn from veteran players, and not have to bear the burden of producing offensively."
The Ducks finished 30th in the league standings this season with 59 points and missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year.
Zegras has been considered a cornerstone of Anaheim's rebuild since being drafted ninth overall in 2019. The New York native has 154 points in 211 games with the Ducks and placed runner-up for the Calder Trophy in his rookie season before notching a career-high 65 points in 2022-23.
Verbeek reportedly brought up Zegras in trade talks this season, and discussions have resurfaced with the offseason around the corner, LeBrun notes.
Zegras notched 15 points in just 31 games this campaign. The supremely skilled 23-year-old is under contract for two more seasons at a cap hit of $5.75 million before hitting restricted free agency for a second time.
Although he wasn't specifically talking about a potential return for Zegras, Verbeek recently revealed he's looking to add experience to a young Ducks team next campaign.
"I'd like to add a couple more veteran pieces to the group," Verbeek said. "I'd like to find a top-six winger, and I'd like to find a top-four defenseman. You know, 31 other teams could say the same thing, right?"
Verbeek added: "I'm trying to make our lineup deeper while having the younger kids gain more experience, learn from veteran players, and not have to bear the burden of producing offensively."
The Ducks finished 30th in the league standings this season with 59 points and missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year.
Zegras has been considered a cornerstone of Anaheim's rebuild since being drafted ninth overall in 2019. The New York native has 154 points in 211 games with the Ducks and placed runner-up for the Calder Trophy in his rookie season before notching a career-high 65 points in 2022-23.
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch fired a stray at the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday when asked if the Florida Panthers had an advantage due to reaching the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive seasons.
"Yeah, experience is good," Knoblauch said, per Sportsnet. "I don't know how much experience is beneficial. You can ask the Buffalo Bills how important Super Bowl experience is. But I think the biggest thing is just having confidence in playing. When our guys are playing their best, they should have a lot of confidence."
The Bills went to four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s but lost each time. The Panthers fell short of hockey's ultimate prize last spring, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Oilers are back in the final for the first time since 2006. Their roster is short on championship pedigree, with veteran Corey Perry the only player to have a Stanley Cup ring. Mattias Ekholm and Adam Henrique have each reached the final but came away empty-handed.
Florida is the first runner-up to reach the Stanley Cup Final the following year since the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins. After eliminating the New York Rangers to close out Round 3 last week, the Panthers made it clear a shot at redemption was their primary goal from the start of training camp.
"We wanted to get back to this moment, and we're here," said winger Matthew Tkachuk after the series-clinching win. "Hopefully, we can keep this thing going."
The Florida Panthers defeated the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 on Saturday to close out their third-round series and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season.
Florida will play the winner of the Edmonton Oilers-Dallas Stars series with a chance to win its first championship in franchise history. The Oilers are currently ahead 3-2.
"It's amazing, it's tough to describe right now," captain Aleksander Barkov told Sportsnet. "So proud of the guys, but we all know the job is not finished. We still want to get that big prize and work really hard for it."
The Panthers' Sam Bennett opened the scoring Saturday in the final minute of the first period. Vladimir Tarasenko added an insurance marker midway through the final frame before Artemi Panarin notched his first goal of the series to bring the Rangers within a goal.
Game 6 was the fifth consecutive one-goal contest between the teams, but Florida was the superior team over the series by most metrics. The Panthers controlled 57.23% of shot attempts, 60.85% of scoring chances, and 62.21% of expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Igor Shesterkin was the primary reason New York put up a fight, as the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner posted a .930 save percentage in the series. The Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy with 114 points, but the league's top regular-season team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013.
The Panthers are the first team to return to the Stanley Cup Final the year after losing since the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins, who won in their second attempt.
"It's so special. It's just so much buy-in, so much hard work. So much commitment to playing the right way," winger Matthew Tkachuk told Sportsnet.
"Everybody who's new this year has been awesome, and the returning guys really, really came back with this on their mind. We wanted to get back to this moment, and we're here. Hopefully, we can keep this thing going."
Florida will now have a week off, with Game 1 of the final scheduled for June 8. The Panthers will have home-ice advantage if Edmonton advances but will start on the road if Dallas prevails.
