This was a difficult season for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. They improved marginally over their 2023-24 campaign amid concerns of growing frustration from franchise star Connor Bedard.

Bedard denied rumors that he was unhappy playing for Chicago, acknowledging the club was in the process of growth and learning. Nevertheless, there's no question he needs some help, especially offensively. The Blackhawks rose from a league-worst 2.17 last season to 2.73, but they still finished 26th overall in that category. 

The Blackhawks have plenty of salary cap space if management wants to add scoring punch. PuckPedia indicates they have a projected cap space of $30.9 million with 20 active roster players under contract next season.

Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic believe the Blackhawks could be first in line if Mitch Marner goes to free agency on July 1. They acknowledged the 27-year-old two-way right winger prefers staying in Toronto but wondered if the Maple Leafs can make the money work.

Marner reached the 100-point plateau for the first time this season. He'd become the best player potentially available in this summer's UFA market. 

Lazerus and Powers believe the Blackhawks' favorable cap situation gives them more money to throw toward Marner than any other club. They speculated it could cost between $12 million and $14 million annually, but felt it would be worth it. 

That's assuming Marner would join a rebuilding club instead of a playoff contender.

Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Shows Up In Game 1 – The 4 Nations Experience Played A PartDespite the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs came into the playoffs as the Atlantic Division champions, there were questions (ohh the questions) about how their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators would kick off.

Turning to the San Jose Sharks, their last-place finish in the overall standings gives them the best odds of winning the upcoming NHL draft lottery for the second straight year. They selected promising center Macklin Celebrini in last year's draft, who's gone on to become a favorite to win the Calder Trophy.

Sheng Peng of NBC Sports Bay Area reported Sharks GM Mike Grier could be open to trading that pick if the lottery balls bounce their way again this year. He said he wouldn't say no if he received a really good offer of young, established players. 

Grier believes defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters is the prospect currently considered the consensus first-overall pick. After him, this year's draft is mostly forward-heavy. 

It's possible Grier trades that pick for the right price. So could any other GM who wins the draft lottery. However, it's unlikely to happen. 

The last time the first-overall pick was traded was in the 2003 NHL draft, when the Florida Panthers sent it to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Mikael Samuelsson, the third-overall pick and a second-rounder. The Penguins used that pick to select future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury.

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Despite the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs came into the playoffs as the Atlantic Division champions, there were questions (ohh the questions) about how their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators would kick off.

The Senators are a scrappy bunch who had tons of success against the Leafs in the regular season, and of course, there is the narrative that Toronto's stars don't play up to expectations in the post-season.

One of the players often mentioned is Mitch Marner, but if Game 1's 6-2 victory was any indication, Marner is gonna be just fine.

Each member of the "Core Four" – Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Nylander – got on the scoresheet in Game 1. One of the most emphatic moments in Toronto's offensive onslaught was Marner's first-period breakaway goal.

It was a big-moment tally that, while not as important as the talented right winger's OT-winner for Canada over Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, at least brought back the memory of Marner's performance at that international tournament.

Marner does believe it helped playing in that previous pressure-packed showdown this season.

"Maybe with calmness and confidence," he said. "That tournament was pretty quick, obviously very, very intense, and that's what the playoffs are. It happens quickly, games go by fast, and you look forward to the next one and realize it will be even harder."

But the goal wasn't the only good thing Marner did in Game 1.

For a player who had been criticized in some circles for not being a playoff performer, Marner showed off a variety of positive traits against Ottawa, from outmuscling defenseman Jake Sanderson to a puck in the first period to nearly getting a breakaway on the penalty kill in the second. As it was, Marner did enough on that breakout to get the puck to Matthews, wasting valuable Senators power-play time in the process.

Overall, Marner played Game 1 with the poise, patience and skill you would expect from a 102-point player who will also likely get a number of Selke votes this year. With three points in Game 1, the Leafs superstar is nearing point-per-game status in his NHL playoff career. In total, the "Core Four" totalled nine points on the night, though it wasn't top of mind for the players themselves.

"I don't think we think about it that way – we think about wins," Marner said. "To start off with a win is great. Now, we have to look forward to the next one, and that will be even harder to win. But we'll try to figure out how to be even better on Tuesday."

It's a great team sentiment, but the fact Toronto's top guns have been unleashed early is great news for the Leafs.

"Yeah, they were dialled in," said goalie Anthony Stolarz. "I liked how all four of our lines played."

It's also a troubling harbinger for the Senators. Few teams could slow down Marner this season, and in Game 1 of the playoffs, that trend certainly continued.

NHL Playoffs Are Here: Most To Prove, Cinderella Runs, Early Exits, Traditions And MoreThe NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are full of storylines and tradition.

The 4 Nations was a fascinating NHL experiment that went very right, but the ramifications on the players who took part won't truly be known until the Stanley Cup is awarded again this summer. When Canada won gold over Team USA, it was Marner setting up Connor McDavid for the winner. Could Marner earn similar glory with a different color of maple leaf on his chest in June?

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Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan and Michael Traikos react to the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Playoff Frenzy Live - April 19, 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

The Battle of Ontario had a one-sided score despite the Senators sweeping the regular season, so has it affected the outlook on the series? Is the Leafs' Core Four stepping up a sign of more to come? Which player needs a big bounce back in Game 2?

They discuss all that and take a look around the NHL, with the Carolina Hurricanes' Game 1 win over the New Jersey Devils, an update on the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild game and more.

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.  

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to kick off their 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run, there’s no question that they have the most to prove – and the most to lose.

The Maple Leafs aren’t just playing to get to the second round of the post-seson – they’re playing to keep the team together beyond this season. And they’re playing to keep Buds management intact. 

If they fail and lose in Round 1 to the Ottawa Senators, the Leafs’ core of talent will likely be broken apart and sold to the highest bidder. That’s the potential bad news. But the good news for Maple Leafs fans is that they’re not the same team that has disappointed so often in recent years.

This year’s Leafs are a far better team, and they’re very likely to follow the evolutionary competitive path that other elite teams have followed en route to a long playoff run.

You don’t have to go back far in the annals of NHL history to see teams that have struggled for years in the post-season, only to finally figure out how to thrive. For instance, the Colorado Avalanche began their Nathan MacKinnon era back in 2013-14, but it took them nine seasons to win a Cup. And in the two seasons that followed their 2021-22 Cup win, the Avs once again have failed to get out of the second round.

Colorado didn't make it out of the second round through 10 post-seasons between 2002-03 and 2020-21 before they won the franchise's second Cup. The Leafs, meanwhile, are at 11 straight post-seasons without a Conference final appearance. The Leafs are right around that threshold.

Similarly, the current defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers also had a long and bumpy road that preceded last season’s championship run. The Panthers failed to get out of the first round from 1997-2021. Mind you, they only made it to the playoffs five times during those years. And even when Florida did get into and beyond the first round, they needed another two seasons, including getting to the Cup final and losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, before finally winning it all last season.

It’s clear, then, that the Leafs are aiming to follow the same pattern we’ve seen from the Avalanche and Panthers. Toronto has systematically remade much of their roster – from their goalie tandem to their defense corps to their depth on the wing and their bottom-six group of forwards – and they now have the talent, grit and determination to knock off the Senators and get at least to the second round of this year’s playoffs.

The Buds are tough, patient and resilient in a way Toronto wasn’t in previous years, and they’re going to give the Senators all they can handle and then some.

This isn’t to say that Ottawa is guaranteed to lose to the Leafs in Round 1. The Sens have an up-and-coming core of talent, and they may shock people and upset the Leafs in this looming series.

The Senators were projected to make the playoffs the past few seasons, and failed in the years leading up to this playoff series. Thus, if the Senators do lose to the Maple Leafs, Sens fans are not going to be happy. That said, the Senators are like every other team – Toronto included – in that they probably have to learn how to lose in the playoffs before they learn how to win. And that’s why we’re picking Ottawa to lose to the Leafs this year.

The Maple Leafs may have only one playoff series win since 2005, but that doesn’t mean they can’t and won’t go on a long playoff run this spring. Toronto management has built a Leafs roster that is resilient, speedy and super-skilled, and the Sens are likely to learn the hard way how different this Buds team really is.

A team’s recent history isn’t always likely to repeat itself. Sometimes, a team can evolve for the better and shake off the shackles of the past as it finally gets to experience the glory of a long playoff run. And for that reason, we’re of the opinion that the Maple Leafs are finally going to give their fans a memorable and lengthy playoff experience. And that process will begin with Toronto sending the Senators home in the first round.

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The NHL playoffs are where legends are made. A big goal, a statement game or a key moment can help build the hype and legacy of players around the league. Players have earned longer leashes, bigger contracts, and undying love from fans because of the moments they helped bring to their teams in the post-season. 

The 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoffs will feature several marquee matchups in Round 1. We are getting the ‘Battle of Ontario’, the ‘Battle of Florida’ and the ‘Battle of Mikko Rantanen’, to name a few. The Montreal Canadiens are back in the playoffs, the St. Louis Blues are channelling their inner 2019, and we get to see the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings go head-to-head for a fourth-straight year. 

With so many intriguing matchups, let’s take a look at some of the young players on teams across the playoff bracket that could help shape how things go in the first round and beyond.

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have developed a reputation around the league. In all honesty, they have a couple. They are looked at as first-round choke artists. They are often called soft. They get the label of a team that can’t get it done when it matters.

While the style of play and the makeup of the team have changed dramatically this season under new head coach Craig Berube, the biggest difference for the Leafs up front is the development of Matthew Knies, who has spent almost the entirety of the year on the top line. 

His physicality and powerful game have flashed at points in the last couple of years, but this season, we’ve seen him become what the Leafs had always hoped he could.

The massive winger has the bullish strength to win pucks in the corner or around the net, but also the skill to play with players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. If the Leafs are going to handle the Sens with the physicality and grit that they play with, Knies is going to have to be a key piece of that. 

Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators

The feisty Sens are finally in the playoffs and there are a number of young players that could play a pivotal role. Brady Tkachuk is sure to be a monster in the playoff environment. Tim Stutzle should be the high-powered difference maker that the Sens will need to score in the postseason. Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Dylan Cozens are all set to play pivotal roles on this young squad. Although all of that is true, no single player may be more important than Jake Sanderson. 

The team’s 22-year-old No. 1 defenseman has been a force at both ends of the ice. Not only did he put up 57 points on the year, but Sanderson’s defense was heavily relied upon.

Easily their most trusted defender, Sanderson should see big minutes against Toronto’s top players. His mobility and size will allow him to deal with both the skill and heaviness that Toronto has brought this season, but he’s going to have to be at his best if the Sens plan on sending the Leafs home in the first round once again. 

Ivan Demidov, W, Montreal Canadiens

What a debut this kid had. After scoring his first goal and grabbing two points in his debut, his second game was a bit quieter but the reality of the situation is that having Demidov playing minutes for this team in the playoffs is likely the key to seeing them upset the Washington Capitals in Round 1. The Habs have been good for stretches this season, but Demidov’s dynamism and offensive potential are the kind of edge that the Habs need. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the league and he’s only played in two games. He will surely be the front runner for the Calder Trophy next season which could give them back-to-back winners if defenseman Lane Hutson is to capture the award this season. Demidov is the Canadiens' secret weapon heading into the post-season, and he could very well be their most dangerous offensive player. 

Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles Kings

A little cross-check from Darnell Nurse isn’t going to deter Byfield from being an impact player for the Kings. Although his season started slow, Byfield was able to hit his stride in the second half of the season, helping solidify the Kings' second line alongside Kevin Fiala. The speed at which the duo played made every shift dangerous. 

The Oilers have beaten the Kings in each of the previous three postseasons with the series progressively getting shorter each year. Byfield was a minimal part of the first series, and in the last two years, he’s been held to four points each, with one goal between the two years.

This year, Byfield is going to be looked to as a key scoring threat for the Kings. They finally seem like they have the firepower to keep up with Edmonton, and Byfield is going to be pivotal in ensuring that they don’t falter. 

Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are in the unlucky position of being matched up with the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, a matchup that feels worthy of a Conference Final. That means that they are going to need to combat the new and improved depth of the Avs lineup that features newcomers Brock Nelson, Martin Necas and Charlie Coyle.

Although the Stars are going to be relying on former Av Mikko Rantanen for the added offensive punch, Wyatt Johnston could be the key to the Stars winning the heavyweight tilt in Round 1. 

Johnston has been a revelation over the last couple of years with a true coming-out party in last year’s playoffs, putting him on the scene as one of the best young players in the NHL. Johnston brings the ability to elevate anyone he plays with while being highly productive on a lower line. Whether he’s playing with Rantanen or not, Johnston will need to find the level that he was playing at last post-season to help the Stars take down the Avs. 

Jake Neighbours, LW, St. Louis Blues

The Blues are in tough against the Jets, the NHL’s top team this regular season, and they are going to need someone to step up and bring an intensity from both a skill and physicality sense. There are very few players on the roster for St. Louis who can bring that to the game, and Neighbours is one of the best at it. 

He has brought the playmaking that we saw in his junior days, as well as the instigatory nature that makes him a presence on the ice even when his offense isn’t working. Neighbours has found himself playing big minutes for the Blues, playing alongside their top offensive players and bringing the traits that help fill in the gaps with his skilled linemates. Neighbours is exactly the type of player that excels in the playoffs, so it should be fun to see his first foray into the post-season. 

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

The newly signed Buium will be making his NHL debut in the first game of the Wild’s series against the Vegas Golden Knights, playing on the third pair alongside Zach Bogosian. He looks to be playing on the Wild’s power play as well, which is where we could see him make his biggest impact.

Buium is a supremely smooth skater and puck carrier, and his passing is crisp. If he is able to provide added offense with the man advantage, he could help give the Wild an edge. 

The Wild didn’t exactly finish the regular season out firing on all cylinders, but they need to find a way to get things back on track. Kirill Kaprizov is back, and he’s had some runway to get back to his early-season MVP level, which is a welcome sight, but the Wild are still going to need an added edge. Buium’s puck moving and skill could be the edge that they need. 

Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils

Luke Hughes' second full season has been loaded with ups and downs. There have been stretches of play that featured the highest end of Hughes' skillset from a mobility and puck handling standpoint, but his season also saw runs of play where he struggled to assert himself as the go-to blueliner.

Hughes has all of the tools to be an elite puck-moving defender. He is an aggressive, attacking skater who wants to push the pace of the game. Hughes’ passing ability is fantastic at times, threading the needle through traffic to hit teammates on the tape. 

The Devils’ are going to be shorthanded heading into the playoffs against Carolina with older brother Jack Hughes out for the year, top defenseman Dougie Hamilton just returning from injury and Jonas Siegenthaler out for the year on the back end as well. The Devils need to generate offense and Hughes elevating his game to another level in the post-season would go a long way.

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When playoff season rolls around in the NHL, it also signals award season for the league's best players and staff.

We had 40 writers and editors provide their picks for seven of the NHL's most prestigious awards, with some polls being extremely tight, and others not so much.

Here's who they think will win the Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy, Vezina Trophy and more.

1. Who will be the Hart Trophy winner as the NHL’s regular-season MVP?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Four NHL stars got a considerable amount of votes here, but in the end, Oilers superstar center Leon Draisaitl emerged as the winner, with two more votes than Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Draisaitl won the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy as the top goal-scorer in the league this season, and he’s done more than enough to earn his first career Hart.

2. Who will win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Avalanche star Cale Makar has a Norris Trophy to his credit, and after posting career-bests in goals (30) and points (92) this year, he’s the runaway pick to win another. Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski had career-bests in assists (59) and points (82). And Canucks captain Quinn Hughes won last year’s Norris, but missing 14 games due to injury hurt his chances of repeating as Norris champ. 

3. Who will win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Only one category in this year’s poll had every voter in agreement, and it was this one, with 40 voters picking Hellebuyck to repeat as Vezina-winner. You can see why, as the 31-year-old set new personal-bests in goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.925). This will be Hellebuyck’s third career Vezina, as he’s earned every Vezina vote that’s come his way. 

4. Who will win the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Aleksander Barkov is the reigning Selke-winner with two Selkes under his belt, and this year, the Panthers captain finished just two votes ahead of  Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner, who is looking for his first career Selke, for first in this poll. Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel finished third in voting in this category, while one vote behind him were Florida’s Sam Reinhart and New Jersey’s Nico Hischier.

5. Who will win the Lady Byng Award as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Eichel has only eight penalty minutes and 94 points in 77 games this year, and voters responded by giving him the most votes in this category. In second is veteran Kings center Anze Kopitar, who has won two Lady Byngs in his Hall-of-Fame-worthy career, and who has just four PIM this season. And in third place is Canadiens center Nick Suzuki, who has only eight PIM this year.

6. Who will win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson was the clear pick for this year’s Calder, as the 21-year-old posted 60 assists and 66 points in 82 games. The 24-year-old goalie Dustin Wolf had a .910 SP and 2.64 GAA for the Flames this season. San Jose center Celebrini generated 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games.

7. Who will win the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The credit for the Capitals’ stunning success this season – finishing with the Eastern Conference’s top regular-season record – goes to Spencer Carbery, who is in his second year behind Washington’s bench. No other coach got more than one vote in this category, as Carbery cruised to a landslide victory in our poll.

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By Alex Scott, The Hockey News Intern

The NHL trade deadline is a time for teams to load up on talent, restock the prospect cupboard or free up cap space for future moves. When players get traded, some find themselves on an exciting new team, preparing for a playoff push, while others find themselves suddenly out of contention.

Here are a few players who saw their fortunes change significantly this year.

Unlucky at the deadline

Poor Josh Norris moved to the Ottawa Senators just as franchise legend Erik Karlsson departed – Norris was part of the package that the San Jose Sharks sent to acquire the star defenseman – and as Ottawa firmly entered a rebuild. 

In Norris’ first full season with the Sens in 2020-21, he played very well, finishing tied for second on the team in points and placing fourth in Calder Trophy voting. He followed that up with a sophomore effort that saw him score 35 goals in just 66 games, which was good enough to earn him an eight-year, $63.6-million contract extension, per puckpedia.com. 

Norris’ next two seasons were abbreviated due to separate shoulder injuries, which limited him to eight games in 2022-23 and 50 in 2023-24. The Sens missed the playoffs both years, extending their playoff drought to seven straight seasons.

This season, things finally started to click for the Sens, and they found themselves firmly in playoff contention at the deadline, thanks in part to great seasons by Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle.

The Sens then dealt Norris and teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker to Buffalo in exchange for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in the 2026 draft. Ottawa has since clinched a post-season spot, ending their playoff drought, while Buffalo’s drought has reached 14 seasons and counting. To make matters worse, Norris found himself injured again and has only played three games for the Sabres since being traded.

Lucky at the deadline

When Seth Jones got to Chicago in 2021, he immediately signed an eight-year, $76-million extension, one which was supposed to have him anchoring the Blackhawks’ defense as they emerged from a rebuild. 

Things didn’t exactly go according to plan, as the Blackhawks’ rebuild stalled and the team missed the playoffs in each of Jones’ first three seasons. This year, the team found itself well outside of contention once again, and Jones requested a trade to a more competitive team.

Chicago obliged, trading Jones to the Florida Panthers along with a fourth-round pick in 2026 in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-rounder. For Jones, this has meant playing almost 25 minutes a night for the reigning champs, while Chicago has found itself once again near the bottom of the league. 

Unchanged at the deadline

Mikko Rantanen has done a lap of the NHL this season and found himself almost right back where he started.

The star winger won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and scored over 100 points in each of the previous two seasons. This season, Rantanen and the Avs were unable to negotiate a long-term extension to keep him in town, and he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal with Chicago. 

Then, history repeated itself, as the Canes also found themselves unable to re-sign their new star. Having given up several assets to acquire Rantanen, including fan-favorite Martin Necas, Carolina decided to recoup some of its investment by trading Rantanen to the Dallas Stars, after he’d played just 13 games in red and black. 

Now, Rantanen is back in the Central Division and is once again playing for a playoff contender. In fact, he is currently facing his former Avs teammates in the first round of the playoffs. And Rantanen can probably unpack his suitcase for good, as the Stars have given him the eight-year, $96-million contract he was looking for. 

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By Jack Sponagle, The Hockey News Intern

We’ve seen many memorable NHL debuts over the years. Derek Stepan scored a hat trick in his debut with the New York Rangers, Auston Matthews found the net four times in an overtime loss in his first game and Al Hill had five points (two goals and three assists) in his debut with the Philadelphia Flyers back in 1977, which is still an NHL record.

However, what those three players all have in common is that their NHL debut happened early in the regular season. In Stepan and Matthews’ case, it was the first game of the year. Hill had his record-setting game in February.

Many NHL players did not lace up their skates for the first time on opening night. Some had to wait until the last few games of the season or even the playoffs to showcase their big-league talents. 

Lane Hutson

Hutson set a franchise record this season for most points by a rookie defenseman in Montreal Canadiens history, and he looks like a lock to win this year’s Calder Trophy as the league’s most impressive rookie.

This time last year, the 62nd pick in the 2022 draft was making his NHL debut. Following Boston University’s defeat in the Frozen Four, Hutson played his first NHL game in an overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Hutson played two games at the end of last season, registering two assists. 

Matty Beniers

Beniers won the Calder Trophy in 2022-23 after scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 80 games. But Beniers made his NHL debut when he played in the final 10 games of the 2021-22 season, putting up three goals and nine points.

Beniers was the first draft pick in Kraken franchise history when he was chosen second overall in the 2021 draft. He made his NHL debut on April 12, 2022, against Calgary, and managed a primary assist on a Ryan Donato goal in a 5-3 loss. He scored his first career goal against New Jersey on April 16, 2022. 

Ryan Poehling

Before Ivan Demidov, Poehling’s debut had Habs fans talking. The Canadiens played the Toronto Maple Leafs in their final game of the 2018-19 season.

Poehling scored his first career goal in the first period. He would go on to score in the second and third periods to complete his hat trick before adding the shootout winner. This made him the first Habs player to score three goals in his NHL debut since 1943.

Cale Makar

Before Makar won the Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022, he was a standout collegiate defenseman for UMass Amherst. Following his last game with the Minutemen, he signed a three-year deal with the Avalanche on April 14, 2019.

The next day, he made his debut for Colorado in Game 3 of their playoff series against Calgary. Makar connected on a drop pass from Nathan MacKinnon and scored his first career goal. He became the seventh player and first defenseman to do so in the playoffs. 

Johnny Gaudreau

Another NCAA standout to get his first shot in the NHL in the springtime was the late, great Johnny Gaudreau. His cut-short 10-year NHL career began when he suited up for the Flames' final game of the 2013-14 season.

He signed his entry-level deal on the same day he was awarded the Hobey Baker Award. He debuted against the Vancouver Canucks and scored the Flames’ only goal on his first shot. 

Esa Tikkanen

Tikkanen made his NHL debut during the 1985 playoffs, getting into three games and failing to register a point with three shots on net and two penalty minutes. He was included by Oilers coach Glen Sather in Games 2, 3 and 4 in a 4-1 series victory against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tikkanen's brief playoff appearance was enough to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup before his regular-season debut the following year. Tikkanen ended his career with five Stanley Cups.

Jarome Iginla

Iginla became the first 18-year-old to play a game for Calgary since 1983 when he took to the ice against Chicago during the 1996 playoffs.

The morning after Iginla’s Kamloops Blazers were ousted from the WHL playoffs, Iginla flew to Calgary to make his debut. He put up a goal and an assist in his first two games. Iginla made his debut wearing the No. 24, not the iconic No. 12 that hangs from the Saddledome rafters.

Brett Hull

The NHL’s fifth-highest all-time goal-scorer made his debut in the playoffs with Calgary during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final against Montreal in 1986. Hull had just posted a 52-goal, 84-point season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The Canadian-born American citizen played two playoff games in 1986 and went pointless. 

Mark Stone

Long before Stone roused debates about the long-term injured reserve being used as a way to subvert the salary cap, he was lighting the WHL on fire with a 41-goal, 123-point season with the Brandon Wheat Kings during in the 2011-12 season.

On April 21, 2012, Stone was added to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup for Game 5 against the New York Rangers in the first round. Stone assisted on Jason Spezza’s game-winning goal. 

Mike Richter

The final inclusion is the only goalie to be featured on this list. Richter played 666 games with the Rangers from 1989-90 to 2002-03. But his maiden voyage in the NHL came in the 1989 playoffs, when New York faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Patrick Division semifinal. Richter allowed four goals on 30 shots in the game, which saw the Penguins come out on top.

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Welcome to the first show of The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

Playoff Frenzy Live - April 19, 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan and Michael Augello look at the Winnipeg Jets' comeback victory against the St. Louis Blues in the first game of the playoffs.

Will the shaky start for both goaltenders cause any issues later in the series? How did the battle of the Schenn brothers go down? What's something to follow in the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche series?

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.

By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News Intern

Winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal for every NHL player, a symbol of perseverance, skill and, yes, a bit of luck. Yet, despite incredible careers filled with jaw-dropping plays, record-breaking stats and Hall of Fame inductions, some of the greatest players in hockey history never had the chance to lift Lord Stanley’s coveted prize.

Whether due to bad timing, unlucky playoff runs, or simply playing for teams that fell short, these legends have left an undeniable mark on the game without ever experiencing championship glory.

Here’s a look at 10 of the best players to never win a Stanley Cup.

Jarome Iginla

Iginla can lay claim to being the best player to ever wear a Calgary Flames sweater. In 1,554 NHL games, the vast majority with Calgary, he put up an impressive 625 goals and 1,300 points.

Iginla also won several individual awards, including a Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy, King Clancy Memorial Trophy, Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award and two Rocket Richard Trophies. The closest he ever came to winning it all was in 2004, when the Flames fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the Cup final. 

Marcel Dionne

Dionne remains one of the NHL’s most prolific scorers of all time. In 1,348 games, he produced 731 goals and 1,771 points.

Dionne did most of his damage with the Los Angeles Kings, where he blossomed as a star in the 1970s, winning two Pearson (now Lindsay) Awards, a Lester Patrick Trophy, two Lady Byng Trophies and an Art Ross Trophy. Despite not winning a Stanley Cup, Dionne ranks sixth all-time in NHL points.

Peter Stastny

Scoring 109 points in your rookie year is almost unthinkable, but not for Stastny, who won the Calder Trophy in the 1980-81 season. Over his career, Stastny put up 450 goals and 1,239 points in 977 games.

He's a European hockey icon, as he was one of the best European players to step on the ice in the NHL. He scored a lot of goals but never made the Stanley Cup final. 

Henrik Lundqvist

The first goalie on the list is Lundqvist. He led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup final in 2014, losing in five games to the Kings, but that didn't stop him from having a remarkable career.

He’s ranked sixth all-time in goalie wins with 459, posting a career .918 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average. Not to mention, he won a Vezina Trophy along with a gold medal with Sweden at the 2006 Olympics. Lundqvist also holds the record for most wins as a European-born and trained goalie. 

Pavel Bure

One of the most electrifying players of all time cracks the list, as Bure never won the Stanley Cup, which is hard to believe. In 702 games, he scored 437 goals and 779 points. Bure also scored 60 goals in back-to-back seasons in his second and third years in the NHL.

In 1994, Bure and the Vancouver Canucks pushed their luck to the Cup final, but lost to the Rangers in seven games. It was Bure’s first and only appearance in the Cup final. 

Dale Hawerchuk

Hawerchuk won the Calder Trophy as his only award, but don’t let that fool you. In 1,188 games, Hawerchuk scored 518 goals and 1,409 points. In his career, Hawerchuk also had seven 40-plus goal seasons.

If he were on a better team – his Winnipeg Jets kept running into Wayne Gretzky’s 1980s Edmonton Oilers – maybe he would have won a Stanley Cup.

Eric Lindros

Drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Lindros was heralded as ‘The Next One’ when he arrived in the NHL, as he was expected to be a superstar. Playing most of his career for the Philadelphia Flyers, in 760 games, he put up 865 points, including 372 goals. In just his third year, he won the Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy, putting up 70 points in 46 games.

He wasn’t just known for his scoring, he was described as a beast on the ice with his physicality and strength. But injuries and controversy dogged his career, and his lone appearance in the Cup final came in 1997, when Detroit swept his Flyers.

Carey Price 

One of the greatest goalies to play but never hold Lord Stanley’s Cup is Price. He had an amazing career in Montreal, putting up 361 wins with a .917 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA.

The 2014-15 season was the best in his career, as he won the Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Jennings Trophy and, most impressively, the Hart Trophy. Winning the Hart made him one of just eight goalies to win the MVP. Price led his team through the 2020-21 playoffs, going all the way to the Cup final before losing to Tampa Bay in five games.

Joe Thornton

Thornton, the No. 1 overall pick by Boston in the 1997 NHL draft, is the only player to win the Hart and Art Ross Trophies during a season in which he was traded. That happened in 2005-06, when the Bruins dealt him to San Jose.

One of the best passers and playmakers of his era, Thornton led the Sharks to the Cup final in 2016, falling in six games to Pittsburgh. He finished his career with 430 goals and 1,539 points in 1,714 games.

Connor McDavid

Even though his career is not over, McDavid can stake the (rather ignominious) claim of being the greatest player of all-time to never win a Stanley Cup – at least, not yet. He’s only in his 10th season, but he’s the fourth-fastest player ever to reach 1,000 points, doing it in 659 games.

Out of all the players on this list, he has won the most awards, including five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, one Rocket Richard Trophy and three Hart Trophies. He went to the Cup final last season, losing in Game 7 to Florida, but at least he was recognized with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. McDavid is far from done and is looking to add a Stanley Cup to his already Hall of Fame career.

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