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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The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are full of storylines and tradition.

The battle for the best trophy in sports has players and teams with lots to prove, others that exceed expectations, series everyone wants to watch, playoff traditions and more.

A group of THN.com contributors shared their thoughts on a handful of questions about the playoffs. The biggest predictions, such as the Stanley Cup champion, conference champions, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and more, can be found by clicking here. Here are more playoff poll answers as the games begin.

1. Which player will be an unlikely playoff hero?

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The Colorado Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog and veteran left winger Jonathan Drouin leading the pack along with Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies. Landeskog hasn't played since the Avalanche won the Cup in 2022, but he had a trial run in the AHL last week.

2. Which Cup favorite will go out earliest?

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After last year’s Cup final appearance, the Edmonton Oilers are disrespected in this area, finishing ahead of second-place Washington Capitals. One of the Dallas Stars or Colorado Avalanche – which are playing each other in Round 1 – is going home early, and more people expect it will be the Stars that lose.

3. Which team will go on a ‘Cinderella’ playoff run?

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The Ottawa Senators are playing their first playoff hockey in eight years, and more poll respondents have them on a ‘Cinderella’ run than anyone else. The Los Angeles Kings were a vote behind Ottawa, although they have home-ice advantage against the Oilers. The Sens are in a very competitive division, but L.A. could have a relatively easier road in the comparatively weak Pacific Division. 

4. Which team has the most to prove/lose?

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There was a clear consensus in this category, with the Maple Leafs receiving more than seven times as many votes as the Jets received. More people are cynical about Toronto, and given how the Leafs have regularly flamed out, they deserve to have that cynicism around them. Their stakes are sky-high, and everyone knows it.

NHL Playoffs Poll: Predicting The Stanley Cup Final, MVP, Top Scorer, Best Canadian Team And MoreThe NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and our experts are predicting how it will turn out. 

5. Which player has the most to prove/lose?

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The Leafs have the most to prove, and no Leaf has more to prove than star winger and pending UFA Marner. If the Leafs lose early, he could be the first man out. Jets goalie Hellebuyck got the second-most votes here after dropping the ball last year in the playoffs.

6. Which youngster/playoff newbie will have a coming out party?

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Canadiens rookie winger Ivan Demidov had a stunning impact this week when he made his NHL debut, posting a goal and two points in his first game. Voters in this category are expecting big things from Demidov in the post-season.

7. Which trade deadline acquisition will have the biggest impact?

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As someone traded twice this season, Mikko Rantanen clearly has big fans in NHL executive circles. After recording at less than a point-per-game pace with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Finnish right winger and Cup winner had 18 points in 20 games with the Stars to finish the season.

8. Which first-round series are you most hyped about?

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The Avalanche or Stars could go all the way this season, making this series a powerhouse showdown. Rantanen playing against the team that drafted and developed him is a major storyline in the first round. In second place is the Battle of Ontario between the Leafs and Sens, who face each other in the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04. The Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers is also highly anticipated here. 

9. Which player do you want to see win a Cup for the first time?

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Edmonton’s Connor McDavid narrowly missed out on his first Cup win last season, and getting one would be massive for his legacy. It’s intriguing that voters have Tavares in second place, as Tavares’ teammates Marner and Matthews didn’t land a single vote here. But it’s no shock Canes D-man Burns finished third, as he’s a lovable, gap-toothed figure fans and media always gravitate to.

10. What’s your favorite playoff tradition?

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The Jets have become famous for their home fans dressing in white, and that whiteout tradition continues as the playoffs begin Saturday. Not far behind is the time-honored tradition of shaking hands at the end of series – and slightly behind handshakes is the tradition of playoff beards.

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The New York Rangers organization announced on Saturday that they have fired head coach Peter Laviolette. The team has also let go of Phil Housley, who was Laviolette’s associate behind the bench.

Thank you for everything, Lavi, and all the best. pic.twitter.com/D0QNHoJe4O

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 19, 2025

Rangers GM Chris Drury forwarded a statement, saying, “I want to thank them both and wish them and their families all the best going forward. Peter is first-class all the way, both professionally and personally, and I am truly grateful for his passion and dedication to the Rangers in his time as head coach,” he said.

The Rangers had a disastrous season compared to their previous President’s Trophy-winning 2023-24 campaign. They ended that regular season with a 55-23-4 record and also advanced to the Eastern Conference final, losing to the Florida Panthers in six games.

However, this season, New York finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division and six points out of a playoff spot. This was Laviolette’s second season with the Rangers after being hired for the 2023-24 campaign. His record over those two seasons with the Blueshirts was 94-59-11 with a win percentage of .607. This past season, his team finished with a 39-36-7 record.

Drury touched on what their expectations were going off of last season and how they simply weren’t met. “After finishing with the best regular-season record in the NHL a year ago and making a trip to the Eastern Conference final, we came into this season with high expectations for ourselves,” he said. “Quite simply, we failed to meet those expectations.”

The Rangers GM added that their quest to find a new head coach begins “immediately.”

Late into the season, Laviolette had a hard-hitting quote that shocked the hockey world. After a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 7, Laviolette was asked post-game about what his message was to the team after the game.

He replied, "I don't have a message right now. I don't go into the locker room after the game." That started discussions and rumors that his time with the Rangers could be over.

Before his time in New York, he had coached five other teams over 21 seasons. He began his career as a head coach with the New York Islanders in 2001-02. After that, he went on to coach the Carolina Hurricanes, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2006, the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals.

Aside from winning the Cup in 2006, he advanced to the Stanley Cup final two more times. Once with the Flyers in 2009-10 and the Predators in 2016-17.

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The NHL had only one 50-goal scorer this season in Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers.

Not only did Draisaitl score a lot for the Oilers, but he scored a lot when it really mattered. He had the most goals and points that came at the most important moments, which is why he is The Hockey News' 2024-25 NHL Situational Scoring champion.

You know how they say that it doesn’t matter how, but how many? Well, with Situational Scoring, it doesn’t matter how many. It matters how many mattered, because the stat charts only the goals that are important.

Here's the chart with the top 25 to click on – check it out, see some of the surprising names and keep this in mind when people talk about the Hart Trophy race for the NHL's most valuable player. For the full explanation for Situational Scoring and the glossary, keep reading below, and leave a comment about your thoughts on the list.

NHL Situational Scoring: Top 25 Players In 2024-25Situational Scoring tracks the points that matter the most. Goals and assists are assigned a value depending on the situation and added up in the total (SS points). Scroll to the right for more numbers.

As the name suggests, it measures Situational Scoring, specifically which players produce offense at the most crucial times in the game. For example, an overtime-winning goal, like the one McDavid scored for Canada to finish the 4 Nations Face-Off with gold, is worth more than scoring when it's a blowout.

That's why a guy like Troy Terry of the Anaheim Ducks can be 105th in the actual scoring race but is tied for 23rd in Situational Scoring. (It's actually phenomenal what Terry did, considering the Ducks were third-last in league scoring and didn't score nearly as many big goals as better teams.) Or Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel can be eighth and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar ninth in NHL scoring but not crack the top 25 in this department.

As always, there are a couple of things to note, the most important being that goals are weighted more heavily than assists, with goals worth one point and assists worth half a point.

In this system, goals can be worth more than one point and assists worth more than half a point. For example, the first goal of a game is automatically worth two points, one for being the first goal of the game and one for putting that player’s team ahead in a game. An overtime goal is worth three: one for putting the team ahead, one for being the game-winner and one for the overtime goal. If that is the only goal in a 1-0 game, as it was for Mitch Marner against the Montreal Canadiens last weekend, it’s worth four.

It can all be a little confusing, so here’s a glossary:

FIRST: When a player scores the first goal of the game.

AHEAD: Any goal that puts a team ahead at any point in the game, including overtime.

TIED: Any goal that pulls a team into a tie at any point in the game.

COMEBACK: A goal that is scored when a team is trailing by two goals or more and is part of a series of goals that eventually ties the game, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the game.

WINNER: A game-winning goal, but not by the NHL’s definition. The game-winner in this category is the goal that puts a team ahead in a game to stay. So in other words, you could have a 7-6 game and maybe the first goal of the game was the game-winner.

OT: Overtime goal.

SO: Only shootout game-winning goals are counted in this category.

NHL: Where the player stands in the actual NHL scoring race.

Want to see how the rankings changed since the 4 Nations Face-Off break? Click here.

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and our experts are predicting how it will turn out. 

We had 40 writers and editors answer questions about the post-season, which starts Saturday. As always, the results are intriguing.

Here are who they think will make the Stanley Cup final, who will win it all, some of the standout players and more.

1. Which team will win the Eastern Conference?

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have had early exits in the last two years, and they look refreshed. Voters picked them at nearly a 2-to-1 ratio over the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bolts must get past the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers in the first round, but with star goalie Andrei Vasilevsky thriving, the Lightning won’t shock anyone if they beat the Panthers and embark on a long playoff run.

Also check out Adam Proteau's first-round predictions for the Eastern Conference.

2. Which team will win the Western Conference?

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Based on the voting, the Central Division looks very strong this year. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are going head-to-head in the first round, but a combined 27 voters have one of them winning the Western Conference final. The Vegas Golden Knights also got some love from voters, but with the Winnipeg Jets winning the Presidents’ Trophy, whichever team gets out of the Central can take on any club.

  Also check out Adam Proteau's first-round predictions for the Western Conference.  

3. Which team will win the Stanley Cup?

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The Avalanche’s lineup was altered extensively this season after a slow start. Dallas and Tampa Bay also made major moves on the trade front to make themselves favorites to win it all. But two of those three teams could be eliminated in the opening round.

4. Which player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP?

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Given that many picked the Avs to win the Cup, it makes sense that Nathan MacKinnon is the consensus pick to win the Conn Smythe. When Colorado last won the Cup in 2022, star D-man Cale Makar won the Conn Smythe. So MacKinnon has a chance to add the Conn Smythe Trophy to his trophy collection, which already includes a Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Calder Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy and – of course – the Stanley Cup.

5. Which player will be the playoff scoring leader?

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The general love for Colorado this spring extends into the category of top playoff scorer. In 2021-22, MacKinnon had 13 goals and 24 points in 20 playoff games, but he finished third on the team in playoff scoring behind Makar and Mikko Rantanen. Art Ross winner Nikita Kucherov also has many votes for him in this area, suggesting the scoring race both players had near the end of the regular season will continue in the post-season.

6. Which NHL GM has done the most for his team this year?

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Voters picked Colorado’s management as far and away the most active and effective group in the NHL this season. The willingness of GM Chris MacFarland and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic to radically remake their goaltending while getting a return for Rantanen and adding depth to their defense takes guts. Colorado’s wise gambles make the team winners in this category.

7. Which player should you pick first in a playoff pool?

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Kucherov won this year’s Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season point-getter – the second straight time he’s won it, and the third time in his career – by posting 121 points in 78 games. Thus, voters feel he’s the best pick in anyone’s playoff pool. Finishing third is Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, even though not many voters predicted that Edmonton would reach the final.

8. Which Canadian team will go furthest in this year’s playoffs?

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The Jets had the NHL’s best record this year, so it’s only natural they garnered the most votes for the Canadian team that will go on the longest post-season run. Not all that far behind them are the Maple Leafs, who will have a difficult path in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. And the Oilers could have a relatively easier road in the Pacific Division, although the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights aren’t slouches.

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The Washington Capitals posted an Eastern Conference-best 51-22-9 record this season and enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as one of the favorites to make the Cup final with Alexander Ovechkin leading the way. They will face the upstart Montreal Canadiens in the first round, just as they did under similar circumstances the last time the two clubs met 15 years ago.    

The Caps won the Presidents' Trophy in 2010, with Ovechkin scoring 50 or more goals for the fourth time in his career to that point, while the Habs clinched a post-season berth in game No. 82, as they did on Thursday against Carolina. Regular season success did not matter in the playoffs, as the Canadiens pulled off the shocking upset, eliminating Washington in seven games. 

If Montreal is to pull off a similar upset in 2025, history will have to repeat itself in a few key areas. The main reason for Montreal's advancement was winning the goaltending battle.

Both clubs used two goaltenders. Washington started the series with former Hab Jose Theodore as their starter, but after losing Game 1 in overtime, the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner was pulled in the first period of Game 2 in favor of Semyon Varlamov, who went the rest of the way.  

Jaroslav Halak was stellar in the series opener, stopping 45 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory, but after allowing six goals in a Game 2 overtime loss and three goals on 13 shots in Game 3, he was pulled in favor of 23-year-old Carey Price.

The Habs lost Game 3 and started Price in Game 4, but after falling 6-3 and facing elimination, Habs head coach Jacques Martin went back to Halak. That proved to be the difference in the series, as Halak allowed only three goals on 134 shots for the remainder of the series and stopped 41 shots in Game 7 in Washington.

14 years ago on April 26, 2010, Jaroslav Halak stopped 53 of 54 shots vs Washington as the Habs won Game 6 by a score of 4-1.

This forced a Game 7 against the President's trophy-winning Capitals.

The Habs would win that game & advance.pic.twitter.com/5TXssaYCnC

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 27, 2024

Ovechkin was dominant, with five goals and 10 points in the seven-game series, but his offense was matched by Mike Cammalleri, who had five of his 13 post-season goals against the Caps, and Montreal won the special-teams battle by a wide margin, scoring six power play goals and allowing Washington only one goal on the man advantage. 

The Caps this year have question marks between the pipes going into the playoffs, with starter Logan Thompson out injured since the beginning of April. Thompson is skating, but backup Charlie Lindgren will likely start the series.

For Montreal to have any shot, they will need Samuel Montembeault to emulate Halak’s playoff brilliance over the next two weeks.      

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The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks have more in common than their lackluster seasons.

All three teams fired their coach during the season and named an interim bench boss.

Of the trio, only the Flyers’ Brad Shaw managed a (mini) revival of sorts, but that was in a small sample size: nine games.

That at least gives Shaw an outside chance at landing a spot as the team’s permanent coach.

The other two replacements coaches, Chicago’s Anders Sorensen and Boston’s Joe Sacco, are also hopeful. And one of them appears to have a better chance than Shaw to remain as the No. 1 guy.

Here’s a look at the three interim coaches and their pluses and minuses:

Brad Shaw, Philadelphia Flyers

Pluses

·      Shaw, who turns 61 later this month, directed the team to a 5-3-1 record, and young players like Tyson Foerster (nine goals in nine games), Matvei Michkov (six goals, 12 points in nine games) and Bobby Brink (eight points in nine games) excelled under him.

·      The players sang Shaw’s praises and played much looser – and scored more – under Shaw than they did for his predecessor, John Tortorella.

·      He is familiar with the organization, having coached with the Flyers for three seasons.

Minuses

·      Fair or not, he’s associated with the fired Tortorella.

·      The Flyers will probably go with a younger coach who has experience developing up-and-coming players. That said, the performances of Michkov, Foerster and Brink may give the Flyers’ brass reason to pause.

·      Philadelphia has missed the playoffs in all three years Shaw has been on the staff. This season, they had just 76 points – 11 fewer than last year.

Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins

Pluses

·      Bruins GM Don Sweeney praised Sacco, saying he did well, even though he had to coach “completely different teams” because of several in-season moves that were made.

·      Sacco is extremely familiar with the organization (including some very productive years), having been on the staff for 11 years.

·      Cam Neely, the team’s president, said Sacco would be considered for the full-time position. Lip service or an indication he liked Sacco’s work?

Minuses

·      He failed to lead the Bruins, which dealt away key players at the trade deadline, into the playoffs.

·      Boston went just 25-30-7 since Sacco replaced Jim Montgomery in mid-November.

·      As mentioned, the Massachusetts native was a longtime Boston assistant before getting the “interim” tag, and the Bruins seem to be leaning toward someone outside the organization.

Anders Sorensen, Chicago Blackhawks

Pluses

·      Though he inherited a weak roster, Sorensen’s team was competitive, and it’s noteworthy that the struggling Connor Bedard got untracked under him.

·      Sorensen, 49, is respected for his teaching ability – a mandatory trait for someone coaching a young team. In addition, his engaging personality seemed to click with his players.

·      His last three AHL teams made the playoffs.

Minuses

·      Chicago went 17-30-9 after Sorensen replaced the fired Luke Richardson in December, finishing with the NHL’s second-worst record. Sorensen called it a “rollercoaster,” but he feels the team will be better for it in the long run.

·      The Blackhawks finished 31st in goals allowed (3.56 per game) and 26th in scoring (2.73 per game), though that can be seen as more of an indictment on the roster than Sorensen’s coaching ability.

·      Shortly after Sorensen took over, the Blackhawks lost five straight and were a defensive disaster, cementing their hold on last place in the Central.

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This is the final edition of the Calder Tracker for the 2024-25 season. That means it’s time to put together my unofficial ballot for the NHL’s rookie of the year award. 

In each of the last two years of doing the monthly Calder Tracker, I identified each of the finalists and the winner, nailing the order of all three last year. With that said, let’s get to the top five on my unofficial ballot for the Calder. 

1. Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens

Lane Hutson was a machine for the Montreal Canadiens, transforming the way they played. Not only did he lead all NHL rookies in scoring, but he finished sixth in scoring among all defenseman and tied for second in assists with Quinn Hughes, behind just Cale Makar. 

Hutson’s 60 assists tied Larry Murphy for the NHL’s all-time rookie record for a defenseman. His ability to push the pace and drive offense from the back end is special. Although the conversation about Hutson getting into the Norris Trophy conversation seems a bit premature, that is the level of difference he’s making. 

The debate between Hutson and Celebrini raged on virtually all year. Michkov and Wolf both presented challenges to the duo atop the Calder race every month, but it always seemed to come down to the dynamic defender and the cerebral center. 

Ultimately, Hutson’s historic seasons and his pivotal role in helping the Habs into the playoffs were the edge in the race at the end of the season. Both are deserving candidates, though. 

2. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

There wasn’t much more that Celebrini could have done this season. 

The 2024 first-overall pick was dynamite in his first NHL season, seamlessly stepping into the San Jose lineup and asserting himself as the No. 1 center. He put up 25 goals and 63 points as a rookie on a team that struggled all year long. What was most impressive, though, was that although he missed a dozen games after making his NHL debut in the season opener, he was able to consistently keep the Sharks' vibes high.

If Celebrini wins the award, it would be well deserved. Although the points were impressive, his ability to excel at the finer details of the game, from winning puck battles to positioning himself on zone exits to providing an outlet when he wasn’t the primary puck carrier, Celebrini stepped into the NHL with the poise and steadiness of a 10-year veteran. 

3. Dustin Wolf, G, Calgary Flames

Although he fell out of the race down the stretch, Wolf’s season with the Flames was incredible. 

He was the team’s clear MVP despite it being his first season. Wolf came into the year and took hold of the starter job in the Flames crease. He was truly impressive from start to finish. 

At one point, the Flames couldn’t get a win without their rookie goaltender in net. 

His poise, battle and proficiency were all part of what made him a dark horse for Vezina votes at points in the season. Wolf belongs in the conversation for rookie of the year, and he more than deserves a finalist nod. In most seasons, what he did would likely earn him the honor, as he was one of the best rookie netminders we’ve seen in a long time. 

4. Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

He’s had some ups and downs this year, as most rookies do, but Michkov wound up with 63 points on the season, finishing second in scoring and first in goals. 

Michkov finished the year strong, really taking off after coach John Tortorella was let go. Michkov brought dynamism and skill to a Flyers lineup that desperately needed an injection of it, and with the trades of many key players throughout this season, you could see Michkov taking on a bigger role. He finished second in team scoring behind just Travis Konecny but well ahead of the rest of the pack.  

5. Will Smith, C/W, San Jose Sharks

Smith was one of the hottest rookies down the stretch. He adapted to the NHL's pace and really brought together his skills and playmaking to impact the game. 

He made a late surge up the scoring list among rookies and showcased his highlight-reel dangles and pristine passing ability throughout the final couple of months this season. He wound up finishing fourth in rookie scoring on a team that needed him to be the catalyst when Celebrini wasn’t on the ice. 

Honorable Mentions: Cutter Gauthier (ANA), Marco Kasper (DET), Logan Stankoven (CAR), Maxim Tsyplakov (NYI)

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The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us, and we continue to predict how the first round will go.

On Thursday, we posted our picks to win the Western Conference’s four series. And today, this writer is predicting the winners of each Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

Every year, we say the same thing: this writer’s picks are our best guesses to emerge as first-round winners. However, we’re also going to examine which factors could go in the other team’s favor.

Now, here are our breakdowns for the NHL's four Eastern Conference series:

Washington Capitals (M1) Vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)

Season series: 2-1 Washington

Why Washington will win:The Capitals handily beat the Canadiens in their first two games, winning by a combined score of 10-5. There’s every reason to think they’ll eliminate the Habs from the post-season. 

The Capitals have the NHL’s second-best offense, averaging 3.49 goals-for per game. That’s far and away better than Montreal’s 2.96. 

On defense, Washington’s 2.79 goals against per game is also significantly better than Montreal’s 3.18 goals-against average. By virtually every metric, the Capitals are the better team, and on paper, at least, they should dispose of the Canadiens rather easily.

Why Montreal will win: Nobody expected the Canadiens to qualify for the post-season, so they’re playing with house money. 

Montreal’s group of young, fast and skilled skaters very well may push Washington to its limit in Round 1. The Habs did beat the Capitals in their last showdown, and the Caps went 4-7-0 in their final 11 regular-season games, so Washington’s flaws may be exposed by Habs coach Martin St-Louis. 

Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault posted a .922 save percentage in April, and if he can stay hot, Montreal might frustrate the Capitals to the point a series upset becomes a reality.

Prediction: Capitals in seven games

The Canadiens went 7-1-2 in their final 10 games, so the notion they’re going to be steamrolled by the Capitals is far-fetched. However, Washington is extremely well-coached, and they’ve got a great goalie in Logan Thompson who will be the difference for them. We expect Montreal to put up a fierce fight and extend the series to a seventh game, but the Caps’ all-around depth will be enough to push them into Round 2.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which West Teams Win Round 1? Expect An UpsetThe first-round matchups are finalized for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. That means it’s time for the time-honored tradition of THN.com playoff predictions. 

Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) Vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)

Season series: 3-0 Ottawa

Why Toronto will win:The Senators swept the season series with the Maple Leafs, but after Ottawa’s last win over Toronto on March 15, the Leafs went 13-2-1 to finish the regular season atop the Atlantic Division. 

The Leafs ended the year with the NHL’s seventh-best offense and the league’s eighth-best defense. The Sens had the NHL’s 18th-best offense and 13th-best defense. 

Toronto’s defense is deeper and stronger than Ottawa’s, and while the Buds have their flaws, they have many lineup options if things don’t go well for them early. Coach Craig Berube is also a stellar motivator and tactician. Advantage(s): Toronto.

Why Ottawa will win: The Senators looked like the Leafs’ equal in their three regular-season games, and all the pressure in this series will be on Toronto. 

Sens goalie Linus Ullmark was acquired last summer to give the Senators better performances in net, and with a .910 SP and 2.72 GAA in 44 appearances, Ullmark has delivered on that front. 

The Sens’ young core will be getting the first taste of playoff hockey. If their stars, including Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens, can provide enough offense, Ottawa can capitalize on Toronto’s penchant for playoff letdowns and shock the Maple Leafs into a first-round defeat.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in six games

The stakes for the Leafs couldn’t be higher, and it all starts with the incredible pressure of the Battle of Ontario. But while we think the Senators’ future is extremely bright, Toronto has never had a better back end than the one they’ve currently got, and Leafs stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies will be too much for the Sens to handle. It won’t be easy for Toronto, but we see a Leafs win in Round 1.

Maple Leafs Are NHL's Hottest Team Entering The Playoffs, But Senators Are No Slouches EitherThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) Vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Tampa Bay will win:The Lightning and Panthers were notably different this season. Tampa Bay went a thoroughly mediocre 27-20-4 by Feb. 1, then went 20-7-4 the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Panthers went 40-21-3 by March 8 before going 7-10-1 through the end of the season. 

The Bolts clearly have the momentum advantage, and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois has added tremendous depth. Tampa Bay has the better goalie in the series in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and so long as they stay healthy, the Bolts will be able to outlast Florida in a long and physically taxing series.

Why Florida will win: The Panthers have been a banged-up group, and they lost home-ice advantage to the Lightning. But Florida will get heart-and-soul left winger Matthew Tkachuk back, likely at the start of the series. Star defenseman Aaron Ekblad also will return in Game 3 of the series, giving the Panthers a far better defense corps than Tampa Bay’s group of blueliners. 

Trade acquisition Brad Marchand can and will be a difference-maker and a true thorn in the Lightning’s side. For those reasons, Florida is every bit Tampa’s equal – and then some.

Prediction: Panthers in seven games

This series will be one of the most brutal of any first-round matchup, and there’s not going to be anywhere close to a sweep for either side. But we’ve got a hunch the Panthers will have slightly more skill, grit and determination to emerge as the victors here. The Lightning will put up a terrific fight, but one of these two teams will go home bitterly disappointed, and we’re confident that Florida will find a way to outlast Tampa Bay.

NHL Playoffs 2025 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To WatchThe schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is here.

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) Vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Carolina will win:The Hurricanes knew they’d be playing the Devils for weeks now, and Carolina tried to drastically improve its roster this year. 

Once again, the Hurricanes’ defense corps is one of the NHL’s deepest and most balanced groups. Carolina is not lacking for speed and skill up front, either. 

Their consistency stands out, as the Hurricanes have the NHL’s ninth-most goals-for per game, 10th-fewest goals against per game and the NHL's very best penalty kill. Carolina desperately needs a long playoff run. Against an injury-depleted Devils team, they’re likely to start on the right foot.

Why New Jersey will win: While no team that loses a superstar like Jack Hughes should be considered anything other than an underdog, New Jersey got back top D-man Dougie Hamilton, giving the Devils a competitive defense corps. 

Given that few people will be picking New Jersey to win this series, the Devils will be playing freer and easier – and perhaps, do what many believe they can’t do by sending Carolina packing.

Prediction: Hurricanes in five games

Sorry, Devils fans, but without Hughes, New Jersey can’t compete with a well-coached, well-built Hurricanes squad. Carolina needs its goalies to deliver despite massive pressure on them, but the same can be said for New Jersey’s netminding. We don’t believe Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom can outperform Frederik Andersen and/or Pyotr Kochetkov. The Hurricanes may be eliminated in Round 2, but this series should go in the Hurricanes’ favor.

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 The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the first round of the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Your Guide To The 2025 NHL Playoffs by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

0:57: Will the Battle of Ontario have over or under three fights in this series?

3:01: Do the Ottawa Senators hope they can suck the Toronto Maple Leafs into playing a physical style of game? 

3:55:  What will playoff Brady Tkachuk look like?

5:45: Who will be the Maple Leafs’ X-factor for them? 

7:40: How much of a load will Jake Sanderson face against Toronto's top line? 

8:55: Predictions for the Leafs and Sens series

10:34: Do the youngsters in Montreal have enough in them to run the table against the Washington Capitals?

13:59: Prediction for the Canadiens and Capitals series

15:18: In the Battle of Florida, Vasilevskiy and Bobrosky have both been known to turn it on in the playoffs. Will this series turn into a goalie duel?

17:21: Will the physical aspect of Florida match up to the skill of Tampa? 

18:45 Predictions for the Panthers and Lightning series

21:04: Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series

21:49: Are there any similarities you see between this year's St. Louis Blues team and the 2019 team that won the Cup? 

24:21: Does Jordan Binnington have the edge over Connor Hellebuyck? 

25:34: Prediction for the Jets and Blues series

26:43: How do injuries affect the Dallas Stars? 

28:52: Will Mikko Rantanen be the X-factor for Dallas while facing his old team? 

30:39: How do you see this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild shaking out? 

32:13: Are there any similarities you see between this year's Vegas team and the team that won the Cup? 

33:38: Predictions for the Knights and Wild

34:02: Are injuries still a big issue for the Edmonton Oilers? 

35:03: How will the goaltending matchup look between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings? 

37:08: Predictions for the Kings and Oilers series 

37:20: Who do you see in the Stanley Cup final? 

40:06: Which player will lead the playoffs in scoring?

41:14: Since the 2014-15 season, only three of the Stanley Cup winners have been from the Western Conference. Will this year's winner be coming from the East or West?                                                                                                                                                                                  42:16: Which team will go on a Cinderella run?

43:44: Who is an unlikely playoff hero?

44:36: Which Cup "favorite" will go out earliest?

Watch the full episode here.   

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