When the Vancouver Canucks acquired Linus Karlsson on February 25, 2019, fans had mixed feelings. The piece going back to the San Jose Sharks in exchange was Jonathan Dahlén, a player who had previously shown flashes of success alongside franchise cornerstone at the time Elias Pettersson. Some had even referred to the two as the second-coming of the Sedin twins. Still, the 19-year-old Karlsson had the belief of Canucks general manager at the time, Jim Benning, behind him. 

“Karlsson is a player our scouts like, he’s strong on the puck, he’s a good two-way player, he’s a good playmaker. He was a guy even last year at the draft that we looked at drafting, so he’s a player that we’ve followed, that we’ve liked,” Benning said after the 2019 Trade Deadline in which the Canucks flipped Dahlén for Karlsson. 

Vancouver fans didn’t see Karlsson in Canuck colours until the 2022–23 season, as he signed his two-year entry-level contract on May 26 of 2022. A few months later, he skated in his first game as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, grabbing two assists in his AHL debut against the Ontario Reign. He finished second in scoring for the AHL Canucks in his rookie season with 24 goals and 25 assists in 72 games played. 

The following season was a big one for Karlsson, who was entering the final year of his first NHL deal as well as his sophomore season in the AHL. Not only did he average a point-per game pace throughout the 2023–24 season with 23 goals and 37 assists in 60 games, he also received his first NHL call-up and skated in his first NHL game on November 16, 2023. As well as joining Abbotsford for their 2023–24 playoff run, Karlsson also skated in two of Vancouver’s postseason games against the Edmonton Oilers. 

Karlsson made some big steps in his game in 2023–24, but 2024–25 saw him hit another level. He joined Abbotsford for 32 of their regular season games this year, scoring 23 goals and 16 assists in 39 games played. During his time with Abbotsford, he set a new franchise record in career goals scored as an AHL Canuck, beating Sheldon Dries’ 65. 

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On the NHL side, Karlsson skated in 23 games for Vancouver. He scored his first career NHL goal on January 29 against the Nashville Predators and added two more as well as three assists before the end of the Canucks’ regular season. 

“If you want to score in this league, you have to have some natural presence. And I love to be that guy,” Karlsson had said during the Canucks’ regular season in terms of sticking in Vancouver’s lineup. “I just try to find a role that helps the team. And if I can help, it’s getting me a better chance to play up here.” 

Canucks Linus Karlsson Is Finding His NHL Role As A Netfront PresenceThe Vancouver Canucks acquired 2018 third-round draft pick, Linus Karlsson, back in 2019. He made his NHL debut on November 16, 2023, and scored his first NHL goal on January 29, 2025 against the Nashville Predators. Now, the forward has 26 total NHL games under his belt as well as two postseason NHL games. Despite finding a goal-scoring home with the Abbotsford Canucks as the franchise’s leading scorer, Karlsson looks to find his role with Vancouver. 

Upon the conclusion of Vancouver’s season, Karlsson was sent back down to Abbotsford to help the AHL Canucks’ playoff push. With the team having put together a 13-game win streak towards the end of their regular season, fans were excited about what Abbotsford could do during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Now, nearly two months later, the team has a 2–1 series lead in the 2025 Calder Cup Finals. A big reason for this has been how much Karlsson has stepped up during the postseason. 

“The thing that stands out for me with Karly is consistency, and we’ve talked a lot about how all players have their ups and downs, and with him, there’s no real peaks or valleys. He has his good and his bad days, but his ability to stay really consistent and focus on his game is what’s led him to the success this year,” Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra said of how big Karlsson has been for the team throughout the season. 

“I play with good players, for sure. That’s helped me,” Karlsson said of his successes this season, particularly in the goal-scoring department. “I try to find the soft areas around the net, and that’s where the goals end up. So I probably score all my goals in the same spots. So yeah, I’m just trying to be there, try to get around the net.” 

Karlsson has consistently stayed near the top of the charts in points throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs this season. With 11 goals and 11 assists in 21 games played, he broke an AHL record in Game 3 on Tuesday night for goals scored by a Swedish player in a single postseason. While he notes that this is a “fun” record to break, at the end of the day, his focus is on the same thing as his teammates’ — winning. 

“It’s fun for sure, but that’s not why I’m happy now, I’m just happy for the win.” 

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The St. Louis Blues are officially the Stanley Cup Playoffs' worst team.

At one point, the Blues were just 1.6 seconds away from eliminating the Winnipeg Jets and moving on to face the Dallas Stars in the second round, but thanks to the latest game-tying goal in postseason history from Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg bounced back to force overtime.

In that extra period, it was Jets captain Adam Lowry who redirected a Neal Pionk point shot, propelling Winnipeg to the Game 7 victory and onward to the second round, eliminating Jordan Binnington and the Blues just like that.

Thanks to Winnipeg's loss to Dallas, which then lost to Edmonton, which lost to Florida in the Stanley Cup, it can be officially be determined that St. Louis is the ultimate loser of the postseason.

Usually the bite of playoff elimination stings a bit less when you lose to the team that won the championship or lost in the final. 

This time around for both the Blues and Jets, the storyline couldn't get any bleaker. They lost to the team that lost to the team that lost to the team... and so on, and so forth.

On the other side of the coin is Edmonton and Florida. One team has lost the Cup final in back-to-back years, while the other has now been to the Stanley Cup for three-straight seasons, winning the last two. 

Will Winnipeg and St. Louis find a way to retool their teams to fit the blueprints laid out by Paul Maurice and Kris Knoblauch in Florida and Edmonton? 

Ivan Provorov and Don Waddell have both said publicly that they want a deal done to keep Provorov in Columbus, but will it get done? 

According to RG.org, the New York Rangers are very interested in him, with a source citing, “He’s one of their options for strengthening the defensive line."

The Rangers want to make a few moves, which could include moving K’Andre Miller, who is an RFA. Losing Provorov to division rival New York would be a bit of a blow.  

Provorov is coming off of one of his best seasons, scoring 33 points and averaging 23 minutes a game. He also played 82 games for the third season in a row, and for the 6th time in his 9 year career. Having a player who can stay healthy and be available is worth about half the salary he could get if we're being honest. 

The Blue Jackets need to find a way to keep Ivan Provorov. I'm sure Provorov wants a long-term deal, but does Don Waddell want that? My guess is that Waddell would probably want a three to four year deal. While Provorov definitely wants a 7 or 8 year contract. Not really rocket science on that guess. 

Columbus needs to find a way to keep Provorov. Even Provorov's wife has said publicly that they would love to stay in Columbus. 

 Let us know what you think below.

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Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Justin CarbonneauThe NHL Draft is almost upon us and for most of us, the lead-up is like Christmas morning. There is so much hype around these prospects and where they will land, it is an exciting time. It's even more exciting when you hear all the trade rumours that are being talked about and what your favourite NHL team could be cooking up behind the scenes. The NHL Buyout Window Is About To Open; Will The Blue Jackets Use it?Now that the Florida Panthers have won the 2025 Stanley Cup, the offseason will get into full swing, and the first piece of business will the NHL's buyout window.  Blue Jackets Reveal 25th Anniversary LogoThe Columbus Blue Jackets are entering their 25th year in the NHL, and to celebrate, they have released a 25th anniversary logo.

Source: Flyers adding Reirden to Tocchet's coaching staff originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There’s nothing official yet, but it looks like the Flyers have found their third assistant coach.

The club is in the process of adding Todd Reirden to its staff, a source confirmed Thursday.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli first reported the news.

Reirden was last on the Penguins’ staff in 2023-24 as an associate coach. He’s a former defenseman who has a Stanley Cup ring from his time as an associate coach with the 2017-18 Capitals.

Rick Tocchet’s coaching staff is set to feature Reirden, Yogi Svejkovsky and Jay Varady.

Reirden, who turns 54 years old next Wednesday, appears to be the Flyers’ Brad Shaw replacement. Reirden oversaw Washington’s defense before he was hired as the team’s head coach the offseason after it won the Stanley Cup. In two seasons as the Capitals’ bench boss, Reirden went 89-46-16, but had a pair of first-round playoff exits.

In addition to overseeing the Flyers’ defensemen, Shaw also coached the penalty kill. It’s uncertain who will now be in charge of the Flyers’ PK.

Svejkovsky coached the Canucks’ power play in 2024-25 under Tocchet, so running the man advantage could be his role with the Flyers. As for the Flyers’ penalty kill, we’ll see if that’s the job for Varady or Reirden.

At his last stop, Reirden coached Pittsburgh’s power play, which struggled in his final season. The Penguins had the NHL’s third-worst man advantage in 2023-24 at 15.3 percent. In May 2024, Seth Rorabaugh of the Tribune-Review detailed Reirden’s four seasons (and second stint) with Pittsburgh.

In his four seasons working with Washington’s defensemen, the Capitals surrendered the league’s second-fewest goals per game at 2.45. Defenseman John Carlson was an All-Star in both of Reirden’s seasons as a head coach.

Flyers add Reirden, assistant video coach to Tocchet's coaching staff originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers have found their third assistant coach.

The club added Todd Reirden to its staff Friday, along with assistant video coach Dylan Crawford.

Reirden was last on the Penguins’ staff in 2023-24 as an associate coach. He’s a former defenseman who has a Stanley Cup ring from his time as an associate coach with the 2017-18 Capitals.

Rick Tocchet’s bench will feature Reirden, Yogi Svejkovsky and Jay Varady.

“I’m happy to have rounded out my coaching staff by bringing Todd and Dylan on board,” Tocchet said in a statement released by the team. “Todd’s extensive experience across all levels of coaching, as well as his success throughout his career, will play a pivotal role in all facets of our game.

“Dylan adds another level to our video team in an area that is rapidly expanding and becoming more critical in the outcome of games and the way teams prepare.”

Reirden, who turns 54 years old next Wednesday, appears to be the Flyers’ Brad Shaw replacement. Reirden oversaw Washington’s defense before he was hired as the team’s head coach the offseason after it won the Stanley Cup. In two seasons as the Capitals’ bench boss, Reirden went 89-46-16, but had a pair of first-round playoff exits.

In addition to overseeing the Flyers’ defensemen, Shaw also coached the penalty kill. It’s uncertain who will now be in charge of the Flyers’ PK.

Svejkovsky coached the Canucks’ power play in 2024-25 under Tocchet, so running the man advantage could be his role with the Flyers. As for the Flyers’ penalty kill, we’ll see if that’s the job for Varady or Reirden.

At his last stop, Reirden coached Pittsburgh’s power play, which struggled in his final season. The Penguins had the NHL’s third-worst man advantage in 2023-24 at 15.3 percent. In May 2024, Seth Rorabaugh of the Tribune-Review detailed Reirden’s four seasons (and second stint) with Pittsburgh.

In his four seasons working with Washington’s defensemen, the Capitals surrendered the league’s second-fewest goals per game at 2.45. Defenseman John Carlson was an All-Star in both of Reirden’s seasons as a head coach.

Crawford, 35, was a video coach on Tocchet’s staff in Vancouver.