Category Archives: The Hockey News

Maple Leafs, Oilers, Jets Fuel Canadian Hope For First Cup Since 1993

Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

As the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs continue to unfold, the odds of a Canadian team winning it all seem to get better and better.

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs are in a strong position against the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers, leading their second-round series two games to one. In Winnipeg, the Jets have pushed back against the Dallas Stars, evening up their series at one game apiece. And in Edmonton, the Oilers are in firm control of their series with the Vegas Golden Knights, leading it two games to none. 

For the first time in a long time, there’s a very real sense that multiple Canadian teams can get at least as far as their respective conference final – and maybe, just maybe, one of them can be the first Canadian team to win the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens did so in 1993. And what a time to achieve that goal. 

Indeed, given recent world events, there’s a soaring sense of national pride among Canadians. We have started to put aside our regional differences in the name of seeing Canada rewarded for our tenaciousness and resilience on the ice, and having a Canadian team win hockey’s ultimate trophy would make Canadians ecstatic. Heck, when Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is an old hockey goalie, you can see how the stars could be lining up to make some memorable magic with the country’s favorite game.

You don’t have to take our word for it – just take a look at a recent poll that investigated the degree of national pride among Canadians. You’ll learn that a growing number of Canadians want to see a Canadian Cup-winner, and the closer we get to seeing one crowned, the more of a sense of excitement there is going to be in hockey’s homeland.

Canada is a vast country with many different people and lifestyles, but when it comes to Canada’s favorite sport, we’re clearly ready, willing and able to support whatever Canadian team gets to the Cup final.

And really, what could be better for Canada at the moment than an all-Canadian-team Cup final? It would take the Leafs winning the Eastern Conference, and either the Oilers or Jets winning the Western Conference. But as it stands, that’s not a pipe dream by any stretch. A Toronto/Winnipeg or Toronto/Edmonton final would more or less shut down the country as Canadians pick sides, but that type of matchup would be one for the ages.

When you think about it, we’re not far away from such an event coming to pass. The Maple Leafs and Oilers are six wins away from the Cup final, and the Jets are seven wins away. A lot will have to go right for the three teams to get to that point, and all three Canadian teams could still be eliminated in Round 2. But the way Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton have performed thus far, it’s far from a longshot to see two of those three teams getting to the final.

There could come a day, sooner than later, when other Canadian teams get to where the Leafs, Oilers and Jets are today. The Canadiens and Ottawa Senators are up-and-coming teams, and the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames may only need a few additions to put them back into the playoff mix. But it should shock no one that any or many of the aforementioned teams could be thriving soon.

If and when one or two of those teams do arrive in the Cup final, Canadian nationalism may not seem as vigorous and widespread as it is right now. Or who knows – maybe it’ll be just as heightened, if not more heightened than it is at the moment. But in the days and weeks immediately ahead, it seems like a perfect meeting between Canadian pride and Canadian team skill that has Canadian hockey fans so stoked. 

The Cup drought in Canada could be coming to a close. And if that happens, the true north strong and free is going to be an especially exciting place to be.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Houston Still Front-Runner, But Bettman’s Praise Pushes Atlanta Further Into NHL Expansion Mix

A general view of the Skyview Atlanta ferris wheel and the downtown Atlanta skyline. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

For months now, the notion of NHL expansion hasn’t been on the league’s front burner, but don’t take that to mean expansion won’t be happening in the next few years. Under commissioner Gary Bettman, the league has always been coy when it comes to the movement or creation of teams.

The NHL is very good at keeping high-end secrets, but Bettman’s comments Friday in Sunrise, Florida certainly did nothing to extinguish long-standing rumors that the league would soon-enough be growing, most likely, by two teams.

The favorite to be the first city to land a team remains Houston, but picking up steam of late is the prospect of the NHL returning to Atlanta for the third time in league history. And it’s safe to say the league is on track to eventually expand by two teams, one of which would be an Atlanta team. 

For proof, consider Bettman’s glowing appraisal of Atlanta Friday night.

“It’s a different place than when the Flames and the Thrashers left, in terms of how big the city is, how robust it is, the sporting interest,” Bettman said. “I don't think the prior two (Atlanta teams) have any bearing on whether or not we would go back – if all the other pieces that are referred to were put together.”

When the league looks at a potential expansion team, the pieces they’re looking for are (a) a market that can support another major-league team, (b) well-established and reliable business-people at the helm of ownership, and (c) either a deal in place to develop land into a new arena, or an arena already standing. That’s what gives Houston the edge right now, as they would likely play in the Toyota Center. 

Atlanta doesn’t have an NHL-caliber rink just yet, but Sportsnet spoke to Georgia businessman Vernon Krause, who is leading a group that intends to put a team in Forsyth County, Ga., which is part of metropolitan Atlanta. Krause revealed that his group is close to putting all its financial ducks in a row – including building a new arena – and presenting an expansion pitch to Bettman and the 32 team owners.

“The next step is for us to go up to (NHL headquarters in) New York and meet with the commissioner of the NHL and show them what we have in place with the county in hopes that they vote for expansion,” Krause said. “There’s certain criteria that we have to meet to even apply for an expansion franchise. And that was purchasing land, getting the zoning that we needed. Both of those have been accomplished. Once we got the (Forsyth) county vote, getting definitive documents done, which our lawyers are working on, that we can present to the NHL, talking with our investors that we’ve been talking with over the last couple of years, being able to present what I would call a completed package to the NHL.”

The NHL doesn’t have a firm timetable for expansion, but THN.com believes that when the league does expand again – and to be sure, we don’t have a doubt that expansion is coming – it will expand by two teams and not, say, by one team one year, and another team in a subsequent year. The competitive imbalance that would occur if only one expansion team materialized would give an advantage to the conference that stays at 16 teams while the other conference grows to 17 teams. And players and team owners won’t want to deal with that imbalance.

It makes much more sense, then, that the NHL will expand with its 33rd and 34th teams – Houston in the Western Conference and Atlanta in the Eastern Conference – at the same time. That would leave 17 teams in each conference, and while the league’s playoff process would probably have to be tweaked to guarantee a fair competitive balance, that won’t stop them from adding teams and putting a couple billion dollars per expansion franchise in the league’s coffers.

If expansion were not in the cards for the NHL, Bettman would’ve firmly shot down any and every rumor to the contrary. Instead, he only stoked the fire of expansion speculation with his comments Friday, and those breadcrumbs of information will almost assuredly lead to a path ending with the league growing to 34 teams. 

You may not like the prospects of expansion, but you should get used to it. Because, absent some unlikely development, expansion is on the horizon for the NHL, and it gets closer to reality with every passing day. And Houston and Atlanta are now firmly leading the pack in landing a new team.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

92 Before 20: How A Perfect Situation With The Kings Helped A Young Jimmy Carson Make History

Jimmy Carson (Janet Schultz)

By Bill Hoppe, Features Writer

Jimmy Carson is on the phone chatting about his exploits as the greatest teenage goal-scorer in NHL history, and he’s doing a little research at the same time.

He can’t remember when he learned that the 92 goals he scored for the Los Angeles Kings – 37 as a rookie in 1986-87 and a whopping 55 in 1987-88, the highest total by a U.S.-born player at the time – are the most by a player under 20.

The affable, down-to-earth Carson, the No. 2 overall pick in 1986, is pretty sure he had no idea at the time. He thinks perhaps he heard about it in 2013 when TSN aired a feature on his career to mark the 25th anniversary of that little trade he was involved in that sent Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles. “At some point, someone said, ‘You know, you have the most goals in the history of the NHL as a teenager,’ ” Carson said.

Carson never looked into it until now. “I’ve been led to believe that’s an accurate record,” he said. “Is ‘record’ the right word?”

Record. Achievement. Distinction. Whatever you want to call it, Carson owns it.

From Oct. 11, 1986, when he scored a power-play goal in his second NHL game, until March 30, 1988, when he tallied four times and broke Bobby Carpenter’s record for most goals in a season by an American player, he compiled 92 regular-season goals before he turned 20 on July 20, 1988.

Carson is so curious about his accomplishment – he wants to double-check he’s really first – he types “most goals in NHL history by a teenager” into an internet search engine. “Let’s see what comes up,” said Carson, now 56 and working as a personal financial representative in suburban Detroit.

First, he finds another one of his records: most goals in a single season by a teenager, 55. After adjusting his search, he finds what he’s looking for. The legendary names behind Carson on the list of the top teenage scorers – Dale Hawerchuk, Gretzky, Sidney Crosby – illustrate how dynamically he performed. Hawerchuk (85) had the second-most goals, followed by Patrik Laine (80), Gretzky and Brian Bellows (76 each) and Crosby (75). No one else has hit 70.

So, how has Carson’s mark lasted for 37 years? For starters, most youngsters don’t play two full seasons as a teenager. Gretzky turned 20 about halfway through his second season with the Edmonton Oilers. Ditto for Connor McDavid, who broke his clavicle as a rookie en route to 16 goals in 45 games.

Jimmy Carson (Janet Schultz)

The high-scoring era Carson played in certainly buoyed him. In 1986-87 and ’87-88, the NHL averaged 7.3 and 7.4 goals per game. In 2023-24, games averaged 6.2 goals. In 2024-25, the average was 6.0 goals.

While some teenagers possess the talent and maturity to produce in a demanding league, it usually takes years. McDavid and Connor Bedard are often called generational talents. Bedard, who turns 20 on July 17, scored 45 goals over his first two seasons with two awful Chicago Blackhawks teams.

Several other factors (most notably talent) contributed to Carson’s unique place in history. He used his speed and lethal shot to make an immediate impact. “He had an explosive first few strides,” said Morris Lukowich, one of the linemates Carson played with as a rookie. “He had huge legs. That was one thing that was tremendous about him. When he got the puck, he’d be gone.”

Jimmy Carson (Janet Schultz)

JIMMY CARSON

But Carson, the NHL’s youngest player during his rookie season, also found himself in the right place at the right time in Los Angeles. The Kings immediately expressed their belief in him, putting him in situations to succeed and showcase his high-end skill set. Like the rest of the Smythe Division in the late 1980s, they played an up-tempo style. Carson was teammates with respected veterans – Marcel Dionne, one of his childhood heroes, Dave Taylor and others – who welcomed him. He also adapted to the NHL alongside Luc Robitaille, another special rookie.

If Carson’s hometown Detroit Red Wings, who owned the No. 1 pick in 1986, had drafted him, he wouldn’t have enjoyed the same early success. The Wings selected Joe Murphy, who, coincidentally, was traded for Carson in 1989. “In hindsight, it was a real blessing for me, I believe, that I was not picked by Detroit, because they had a whole different style of play, and the Norris Division was much more clutch-and-grab,” Carson said. “Who knows if I would’ve made the team or if I would’ve been sent to the minors or back to juniors? Would I have had as good of a start? You never know how those things develop.”

Carson, who scored 70 goals and 153 points for the QMJHL’s Verdun Junior Canadiens in 1985-86, learned early in his first training camp just how much the Kings valued him. “I had a pretty good training camp,” he said. “And then, we started some exhibition games, and I was told, ‘You’re making the team, and we expect you to be an impact player right away.’ ”

The news filled the durable Carson, who played all 160 games over his first two seasons, with confidence. If he had a poor shift or a weak game, he never felt like he would be demoted. While he admits he was raw, he produced from the get-go on a line between Lukowich and Taylor. “Wherever I played, I could put numbers on the board and score,” he said. “It just kind of started translating right away.”

(Janet Schultz)(Janet Schultz)

As a rookie, Carson never went more than eight games without a goal. He enjoyed his hottest stretch in late March, scoring nine times in seven games to hit 37 goals. Meanwhile, Robitaille, a ninth-round pick from 1984 who was always exceeding expectations, scored 45 goals.

Having entered the league together, Carson and Robitaille are often linked. They developed a close friendship off the ice and displayed special chemistry on it when they became linemates in 1987-88. “We were both kind of finding our way around,” Carson said. “But Luc always exerted such enthusiasm and love of the game and a very strong offensive nose. We had a lot of fun off the ice. We had a lot of fun on the ice. And we were putting some good numbers up.”

Carson – whose 186 points as a teen rank fourth behind Crosby, Gretzky and Hawerchuk – remembers watching the 1987 Canada Cup with Robitaille during their second training camp in Victoria, B.C. When Gretzky and Lemieux combined to score their legendary tournament-clinching goal against the Soviet Union – Lemieux, a right-handed shot, moved the puck to Gretzky, a lefty, on the left wing before completing a 2-on-1 – Carson, a righty, and Robitaille, a lefty, looked at each other and said, “Wow!”

“We’re like, ‘We’re going to have to use that play this year,’ and I’ll never forget, we actually did a few times,” Carson said. “I think we called it ‘The Mario’ or something. I remember a few times, right in the middle of a game, we would see the play develop, and one of us would yell, ‘Mario!’ ”

Carson scored his 50th during a three-goal performance on March 26, 1988. He scored four times four days later, reaching 92 goals as a teenager. Robitaille, who turned 22 that season, scored 53 goals.

Then, four months after Carson scored five goals in five games in the 1988 playoffs, the Kings sent him to Edmonton in the massive deal that landed them Gretzky. But even before he was a major part of the biggest trade in sports, Carson had secured his place in hockey history. His early success might never be duplicated. “It’s very hard to compare eras,” Carson said. “Am I surprised? I’ve never really thought about it.”


This article appeared in our 2025 Top-100 NHLers issue. This issue focuses on the 100 best players currently in the NHL, with the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon sitting atop the list. We also include features on Alex Ovechkin finally beating Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, and former CFL running back Andrew Harris' switch to semi-professional hockey. In addition, we provide a PWHL playoff preview as the regular season nears its end.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reacting To Panthers' Important OT Win Vs. Maple Leafs

Jake McCabe and Carter Verhaeghe (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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 and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus, Emma Lingan and Michael Augello react to the Florida Panthers coming within one game of tying the series with a 5-4 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsLeafs vs Panthers Game 3 - Playoff Frenzy | 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...

They also look at the Winnipeg Jets facing the Dallas Stars.

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

'Definitely Miss Him': Avalanche's MacKinnon Reflects On The Rantanen Trade In Sweden

Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Nathan MacKinnon was all smiles as he arrived for the 2025 IIHF men's World Championship.

That said, he had to answer some tough questions in front of a sea of reporters about the Colorado Avalanche's first-round loss and his former teammate, Mikko Rantanen.

One of the wide range of topics discussed after Team Canada's Friday practice was Rantanen, who scored a third-period hat trick to propel the Dallas Stars to eliminate the Avalanche in what felt like a revenge game against the team that traded him. 

With the Avalanche and Rantanen struggling to agree on a new contract extension early in the season, the team traded the superstar right winger to the Carolina Hurricanes, which then moved him to the Stars at the trade deadline. 

The Stars ultimately gave Rantanen an eight-year, $96-million contract extension, and the rest is history. He leads the NHL with eight goals and 15 points in eight playoff games.

MacKinnon attempted to dodge a question about whether the Avalanche made a mistake trading Rantanen, but he did share some feelings about his former teammate.

"It's tough to say," MacKinnon said. "I can't really give you an answer. I don't know. Obviously, I'd love to have him on the team, but he's not on the team, so I don't really know what to say. Definitely miss him. Obviously, he scored a hat trick on us in Game 7. Amazing player and great friend as well."

MacKinnon and Rantanen played in Colorado with each other since the 2015-16 season and shared many valuable memories, including winning a Stanley Cup in 2022.

All of the feelings associated with those memories don't go away. 

While the loss of getting eliminated still stings, MacKinnon had nothing but positive things to say about Rantanen.

"He's an amazing player," MacKinnon said. "As you know, he did so much for our team, so no surprise that he's dominating. Yeah, he's been playing great."

Will The Colorado Avalanche Benefit Long-Term From Depth Over A $12-Million Rantanen? Will The Colorado Avalanche Benefit Long-Term From Depth Over A $12-Million Rantanen? The Colorado Avalanche began and ended the 2024-25 NHL season on a low note. 

There was also a quick discussion about how the Avalanche lost against the Stars in Game 7 of the first round.

MacKinnon made sure to give Dallas its flowers, not before mentioning the two late third-period penalties that allowed the Stars to seize momentum of the game and win.

"They just don't go away," MacKinnon said. "I thought, overall, we had a good series. We played well enough to win. Obviously up 2-0 with 10 minutes left. I think some of those penalties were, I don't know if those are playoff Game 7 penalties, but it is what it is. I feel like our team is close. You know, it's a first-round loss, but it's a pretty good team we played."

It's clear this Avalanche and Stars rivalry is not going anywhere. As for MacKinnon, he still has a different championship to win. Team Canada gets going against Slovakia at 6:20 a.m. ET on Saturday at the World Championship.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

16-Year NHL Veteran Matt Duchene Is One Championship Short Of The Triple Gold Club

Matt Duchene (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

When NHL players get time off at mid-season after spending several months mostly indoors, many will de-camp to a beach resort to unwind and load up on some much-needed vitamin D.

Not Matt Duchene. At the 4 Nations break, the Dallas Stars center and his wife packed up their three kids – ages six, four and two – and headed north. Destination: Duchene’s hometown of Haliburton, Ont.

Nestled in Central Ontario’s cottage country, about three hours northeast of Toronto, Haliburton has a quieter and quainter vibe than Muskoka. If you head up as soon as hockey season is over, you might be the only boat on the lake before the action starts picking up on Canada Day.

Those summer days are sunny and balmy. But in February, the thermometer doesn’t get above freezing, and the daily agenda looks very different from Cabo.

“Skating on the lake is different from anything else,” Duchene said. “You feel like a kid again. Getting in an ice hut with my dad and my son, catching some trout, it was special. They had a blast being around family and friends, and it’s easy. They’re in their own beds, and they’re used to being at the cottage.”

No longer a kid himself, Duchene has passed 1,100 NHL games and ranks second in his 2009 draft class in both goals and points, behind only John Tavares.

Selected third overall by the Colorado Avalanche, Duchene jumped straight to the NHL at 18, living with veteran defenseman Adam Foote and learning what it takes to be a pro.

“I don’t think I even realized how much I was a fish out of water off the ice,” Duchene said. “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

After playing just eight playoff games in his first eight full seasons in Denver, Duchene requested a trade in hopes of finding more post-season success. Early in 2017-18, he was dealt to the Ottawa Senators, staying for parts of two seasons before moving on to Columbus at the 2019 deadline. That April, he scored his first three playoff goals and experienced his first series win when the Blue Jackets swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in one of the biggest playoff upsets in NHL history.

With a love for country music and the family oriented lifestyle that’s the hallmark of the U.S. South, Duchene signed a seven-year UFA deal with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2019. He logged a personal-best season in 2021-22, with 43 goals and 86 points. But when three first-round playoff exits were followed by a playoff miss in 2023, the Preds bought out the last three years of Duchene’s $56-million deal.

Though he was blindsided by the buyout, Duchene bounced back quickly. Just two days after the news broke, he inked a one-year pact with the Stars at a bargain $3-million cap hit. Dallas offered the southern lifestyle that suited him and his family, and pre-existing relationships through Hockey Canada with key Stars personnel, including GM Jim Nill, coach Peter DeBoer and assistants Steve Spott and Misha Donskov, also helped make the Lone Star State a good fit.

As Duchene delivered smart, solid two-way play at a team-friendly price point, the passionate and growing Stars fan base embraced their new center.

“It’s been a really soft place to land after probably the hardest thing I’ve gone through in my career,” Duchene said.

Over the years with Team Canada, Duchene won Olympic gold in Sochi in 2014 and two World Championships (2015 and 2016). He’s now a Stanley Cup away from joining the Triple Gold Club – but he’s also among the 10 most experienced players still looking for their first NHL title.

As consistent contenders knocking on the door over the past few years, the Stars offer a golden opportunity to check that box. And last spring, Dallas’ 19-game playoff run to the Western Conference final was the longest of his career, and it was just the second time he’d gotten out of the first round.

Duchene’s personal highlight was his series-winning goal in double OT of Game 6 in the second round to eliminate his old friends in Colorado. But the eye-opener was the first-round, seven-game slugfest against Vegas.

Matt Duchene (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

After the Golden Knights took out Dallas in the West final before going on to win the Cup in 2023, the magnitude of the rematch was crystal clear, even to a newcomer.

“I think every team and every person in this league has a dragon they need to slay,” Duchene said. “That was ours, and it was by a hair. I’ve never played hockey like that, where it literally felt like nearly every shift was a tie. I think that series took years off my life. I don’t think I’ve ever been so stressed out playing hockey.”

Call it a good kind of stress? Last July 1, he re-upped on another one-year deal at the same $3-million cap hit.

“It was definitely not a situation where we even looked anywhere else,” he said. “There was so much unfinished business. The hockey is what I’m looking for right now, and I only get to do this so much longer. I’m trying to win. I’m trying to fulfill my potential and feel good about what I did in my career.”

In early March, a two-assist night and first-star performance in the Stars’ 4-1 road win over the Vancouver Canucks brought Duchene to 66 points in 64 games, one more than last season, and kept him tied with Jason Robertson atop the team’s leaderboard.

“With the adversity we’ve had with injuries, if he doesn’t play the way he’s played all year, we wouldn’t be in the spot we’re in in the standings,” DeBoer said. “He’s given us big-time minutes and big-time production all year.”

As the Stars prepared for another run through the Western Conference playoff gauntlet, Nill took the most significant trade-deadline swing of the year when he acquired Duchene’s old Colorado teammate Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes in a deal that included an eight-year contract extension for Rantanen.

Matt Duchene (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

A month earlier, Nill had acquired two other former teammates of Duchene’s. Mikael Granlund was a frequent linemate in Nashville, and Cody Ceci was a familiar face from Ottawa, added for defensive depth following Miro Heiskanen’s late-January knee injury and subsequent surgery.

Now in his 16th NHL season, Duchene hopes that once his kids are a little older, he can serve as a mentor himself.

“Because someone did it for me, I would love to do it at some point down the road,” he said. “I was definitely someone who rode that rollercoaster and really felt the ups and downs. I manage way better now, and if I can help a young guy get there a little quicker than I did, then what I went through is worth it.”

He also dreams of the day he can bring the Stanley Cup home to Haliburton.

“The people there eat, sleep and breathe hockey,” he said. “It would be incredible to bring that back to so many people that have been part of my journey in so many great ways and to bring it to a town that is extremely humble and hardworking. It’s shaped so much of who I am and my values.”


This article appeared in our 2025 Top 100 NHLers issue. This issue focuses on the 100 best players currently in the NHL, with the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon sitting atop the list. We also include features on Alex Ovechkin finally beating Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, and former CFL running back Andrew Harris' switch to semi-professional hockey. In addition, we provide a PWHL playoff preview as the regular season nears its end.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On The Blues, Avalanche And Canucks

Brayden Schenn (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

The St. Louis Blues head into their off-season with management facing decisions regarding two key players.

Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic believes they must decide whether Jordan Kyrou fits into their long-term plans before his no-trade clause kicks in on July 1.

The 27-year-old right winger had one of his best all-around seasons, netting 36 goals and 70 points. However, Rutherford noted that he had only three goals in seven playoff games and was on the ice for five goals-for and five against.

Kyrou has six years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.125 million. Rutherford wondered if he matches the club's vision of the future, specifically that of “GM-in-waiting Alex Steen.”

Rutherford also wondered if management might revisit trade discussions with team captain Brayden Schenn. At the trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators were reportedly interested in the 33-year-old center, but he insisted on staying in St. Louis. 

Schenn is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $6.5 million. He has a full no-movement clause, but it reverts to a 15-team no-trade list on July 1. Teams that fail to land one of this summer's top free-agent centers could look into his availability.

NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Marco Rossi, Patrik Laine And Drake BathersonNHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Marco Rossi, Patrik Laine And Drake BathersonMost of the focus for Minnesota Wild followers will be on the club's efforts to re-sign left winger Kirill Kaprizov. 

Turning to the Colorado Avalanche, Corey Masisak of the Denver Postwondered who would fill their second-line center role. 

Trade deadline acquisition Brock Nelson is UFA-eligible on July 1. If he departs, free agent options could include Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers and John Tavares of the Maple Leafs. 

Masisak noted the Avalanche have sufficient cap space to re-sign Nelson or bring in a replacement. He speculated they could also move a contract to free up additional room, suggesting Martin Necas as a trade chip if they really want to shake things up.

Necas was acquired in January's blockbuster trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. He has a year left on his contract with a $6.5-million cap hit and lacks no-trade protection. 

It's unlikely that the Avalanche would trade the key player they got from Carolina in the Rantanen deal. However, few folks expected the Hurricanes would trade Rantanen to Dallas mere weeks after acquiring him from Colorado.

Will The Colorado Avalanche Benefit Long-Term From Depth Over A $12-Million Rantanen? Will The Colorado Avalanche Benefit Long-Term From Depth Over A $12-Million Rantanen? The Colorado Avalanche began and ended the 2024-25 NHL season on a low note. 

In Vancouver, the Province's Ben Kuzma thinks the Canucks should include their 2025 first-rounder (15th overall) in a trade package to acquire a second-line center.

There is concern about whether struggling Elias Pettersson is a true first-line center. Questions also linger over the health of frequently sidelined center Filip Chytil. 

Kuzma suggested targeting someone like Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old center recently expressed his unhappiness over the club's lack of significant movement at the trade deadline to improve their roster down the stretch. However, there is no indication that he wants out of Detroit.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reaction As Capitals Tie Series Against Hurricanes

Logan Thompson (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

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 and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus, Emma Lingan and Michael Augello react to the Washington Capitals beating the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 to tie the second-round series at 1-1.

Capitals vs Hurricanes Game 2 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsCapitals vs Hurricanes Game 2 - Playoff Frenzy | 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...

They also discuss Game 2 between the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights.

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

Does Team Canada's World Championship Squad Have The Sidney Crosby Effect?

Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

This year’s Canadian team for the 2025 men’s World Championship is star-studded. 

There are many name-brand, Grade-A talents on Team Canada, which will play in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hockey Canada officially announced the addition of Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon and star Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. That said, the team also added St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, Blues captain Brayden Schenn and Los Angeles Kings center Philip Danault.

Compare that lineup to last year’s Canadian lineup, where Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel and Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois were among the top players. With due respect, those players aren’t on the same level as this year’s Canadian group. The common factor in the change in roster quality is the superstar we haven’t mentioned yet: Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Crosby effect attracted more star power to the tournament. It’s not like he went to the Worlds the last two years the Penguins missed the playoffs. And many of the same NHL teams that were out of the playoffs by last year’s Worlds are out again.

World Championship: 10 Must-Watch NHL Players From Canada, USA And MoreWorld Championship: 10 Must-Watch NHL Players From Canada, USA And MoreThe 2025 IIHF men’s World Championship is just around the corner. 

NHL players are no different than we are when appreciating top talent. It’s one thing to encounter Crosby as an opponent in hockey’s top league or watch him from afar, but knowing he’s playing with you – well, that’s a very rare thing you should take advantage of.

We might also be seeing more talented players at the World Championship in part because there’s a higher overall quality of the NHL teams. Even some teams eliminated in the first round have some good and great players, such as MacKinnon, Schenn, Danault and Binnington.

We don’t blame any elite player for not choosing to play in the Worlds. They have a long and taxing season, and rest and recuperation must be used for their body’s benefit. 

But there’s no question Crosby makes the Worlds a must-see event. He’s now 37 years old, reuniting with his longtime teammate in Fleury, and preparing for what could be his final Olympics in 2026. Being part of that squad is a no-brainer for some star Canadian players.

The Hockey News' Remy Mastey is in Stockholm to cover the World Championship from May 9 to 25. Also check out Derek O'Brien's coverage on The Hockey News' international hockey site at THN.com/international.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Will The Colorado Avalanche Benefit Long-Term From Depth Over A $12-Million Rantanen?

Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

The Colorado Avalanche began and ended the 2024-25 NHL season on a low note. 

They came out of the gate 13-12-0 and ended their year losing to the Dallas Stars in a first-round Game 7 where they held a lead for much of the game. But in between those competitive valleys, the Avalanche remade their roster about as radically as any team this season.

Although the Avalanche got burned in Game 7 by the star they traded away, right winger Mikko Rantanen, Colorado’s president of hockey operations, Joe Sakic, spoke out about the trade on Tuesday and defended the move.

“You look at where we were the last few years, we weren’t good enough – we weren’t deep enough,” Sakic told media Tuesday. “This stings not because Mikko is on the other side, it stings because…we were close…We felt we had the team to move on and really compete.”

It’s difficult to argue with Sakic’s rationale for the Rantanen trade. The Avalanche could’ve been a top-heavy team, with three highly paid stars in Rantanen, center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar. 

Instead, Colorado wound up with very good right winger Martin Necas, center Jack Drury and trade deadline acquisitions Brock Nelson, Ryan Lindgren and Charlie Coyle. Considering that the Avalanche went 21-10-2 after the Rantanen trade, you can see why Sakic and Avs GM Chris MacFarland chose to move Rantanen and make their roster deeper.

Heading into next season, the Avalanche have a projected $8.7 million in salary cap space. Now that Rantanen has signed an extension with Dallas at $12 million per season, that amount of Avs cap space would’ve been significantly less had he remained in Denver. That would’ve led to a top-heavy Colorado team that had to flesh out its roster with league-minimum players.

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The Avalanche aren’t the only team forced into this kind of financial crossroads, and other teams have chosen to build their team differently. Certainly, the Toronto Maple Leafs have famously built around their ‘Core Four’ of star forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander. And consequently, they’ve had no choice but to pay much of the rest of the roster a relative pittance to stay under the cap ceiling. 

The moves have led to the Maple Leafs getting into the second round of this year’s playoffs, but if Toronto gets eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the rest of the second round, there will be calls for Leafs management to abandon their current team structure and go the way the Avalanche have gone with their financial pyramid.

The Avalanche’s cap space this summer will permit them to potentially bring back Nelson or Lindgren and pay another mid-tier player or two to fill out their lineup. That means Sakic and MacFarland made the right move, and with a full season of a more balanced roster and the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche may have a better record next year. That may lead to a longer playoff run for them next spring.

If that’s the way it plays out for them in 2025-26, it will be because Avs management had the stones to swing big in the trade department this year. The Rantanen deal didn’t work out perfectly, but in the long-term picture, moving away from a top-heavy lineup was the best thing for the Avalanche to do.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.