Category Archives: The Hockey News

Jets' Arniel, Capitals' Carbery And Canadiens' St-Louis Are Jack Adams Award Finalists

Scott Arniel (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

The NHL announced the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the coach who contributed the most to their team's success.

The Winnipeg Jets' Scott Arniel, Washington Capitals' Spencer Carbery and Montreal Canadiens' Martin St-Louis are all finalists after their teams took a step forward this season.

Arniel took over as Jets coach following Rick Bowness' retirement. The Jets finished fourth in the NHL last season, and in his first season, Arniel took the club to new heights.

Winnipeg won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history, recording a team-high 56 wins and 116 points. The team allowed the fewest goals against in the NHL while scoring the fourth-most. Their 28.9 percent power-play success rate topped the league and is the ninth-best rate since the NHL started tracking it in 1977-78.

While Bowness finished third in Jack Adams voting last season, the Jets' new bench boss is in the running to win the award for the first time in franchise history.

Carbery, meanwhile, could be the fourth coach in Capitals history to win the award. The Capitals barely made the playoffs last year and were swept by the New York Rangers in the first round. This year, they finished second in the NHL standings, improving by 20 points. It was the largest points gain by a team that made the playoffs.

Washington improved to second in the league in goals-for from 29th place last season. They were also tied for eighth for fewest goals against, fifth in the best penalty-kill rate and first in comeback wins.

No bench boss has won coach of the year honors in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. Carbery could be the first.

Great Work, Canadiens. Now, The Real Work BeginsGreat Work, Canadiens. Now, The Real Work BeginsEven though the Montreal Canadiens went down in five games to the best team in the Eastern Conference in the first round of the playoffs, there is every reason to frame the 2024-25 season as a tremendous success.

St-Louis had his first playoff experience coaching the Canadiens this season, and it came after a big late-season push. The Canadiens were tied for second-last in the Eastern Conference at the 4 Nations Face-Off break and were six points out of a playoff spot. The rebuilding squad then went 15-5-6 the rest of the season to grab the second wild-card spot in the East by just a two-point cushion.

Montreal improved by 15 points this season from last year, and its penalty-kill rate shot up to ninth-best from 24th in 2023-24.

St-Louis is the Canadiens' first Jack Adams Award finalist since Guy Carbonneau finished second in 2007-08. Only Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns won the Jack Adams Award while coaching the Habs.

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NHL Reveals Finalists For the Bill Masterton Trophy In 2024-25

Sean Monahan (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The Bill Masterton Trophy is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” 

The finalists for this year are Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan. All three of these players had a storied journey before and during this season. 

Fleury wrapped up a memorable NHL career on Thursday as Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights. Toward the end of last season, he made it clear that the 2024-25 campaign would be his last.

The 40-year-old featured in 26 games for the Wild this season, earning a 14-9-1 record. He posted a 2.93 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. The three-time Stanley Cup champion also appeared in one last playoff game to sub in for an ill Filip Gustavsson.

It was an emotional farewell tour for ‘Flower’ throughout the season, but Thursday’s game hit the hardest as he left the ice in tears, saluting the crowd as they gave him a standing ovation.

 “The always-jovial Fleury is one proud athlete, yet at age 40, he signed for one final year and accepted his role as (Filip) Gustavsson’s backup to prioritize team success over personal accolades despite being on the cusp of retirement,” Michael Russo wrote in the Athletic.

Landeskog, meanwhile, had been on a mission to return to the NHL and was finally able to play in Colorado’s first-round series against the Dallas Stars

After three years of training, rehab, and recovery, the Avalanche’s captain was back on the ice, making his season debut in Game 3 of the series. He dealt with a knee injury that he suffered in 2020, when he was accidentally sliced by a skate blade above his knee. While his availability was inconsistent, he was able to feature over the next two seasons and hoisted the Cup with Colorado in June 2022. However, he didn’t play again after the 2022 Cup final until this year.

Landeskog scored his first goal since the injury in Game 4, and the 32-year-old preached about his perspective after the game. 

“I didn't know if I was ever going to get to score again,” he told reporters.

His perseverance and dedication to hockey pushed him through the injury and got him back to where he wanted to be. 

Monahan’s first season with the Blue Jackets didn’t go how he or anyone expected it to go. On Aug. 29, not long before training camp, Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were killed.

Monahan was close friends with Johnny Gaudreau, and playing with him again was one of the big reasons he wanted to join Columbus in 2024 free agency. The NHL community and the Blue Jackets leaned on each other to mourn the loss of the Gaudreau brothers.

Gaudreau was honored with pre-game ceremonies multiple times in the regular season. The most memorable ones were during their home-opener on Oct. 15 and when the Calgary Flames (Johnny Gaudreau and Monahan’s former team) hosted Columbus on Dec. 3.

Monahan scored in Columbus’ home-opener against the Florida Panthers and pointed up to the sky in honor of his old teammate and friend.

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NHL Community Reacts To Marc-Andre Fleury's Final Moments Of His Career

Marc-Andre Fleury's final NHL game came on April 29, when he stopped six of seven shots in relief in Game 5 against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Marc-Andre Fleury’s NHL playing career is over.

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in Game 6 to eliminate them in a back-and-forth series. While it was tough for all of Minnesota to get eliminated from the playoffs, it may have stung a little harder for Fleury.

When Fleury signed a one-year contract extension with the Wild in April 2024, he announced the 2024-25 season would be his last. Now that his team is out of the playoffs, his memorable career has ended.

During the traditional handshake line after the series, opposing players spent a little more time with Fleury. After that, the four officials congratulated him on his long career, before he saluted the fans giving him a standing ovation.

After the game, left winger Kirill Kaprizov touched on the honor of being Fleury’s teammate for a short time.

“It was nice to play with him… a couple of seasons together. You can learn so much stuff from him,” Kaprizov told reporters. “I don’t know what to say, unbelievable career… one of the best goalies in the world, all-time.”

Fleury played 1,051 games over 21 years in the NHL. He spent most of his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups over 13 years. The Penguins made sure to congratulate him and to thank him for his time with them.

“Congratulations to Marc-Andre Fleury on a phenomenal NHL career. We've been privileged to be a part of it,” the team said on social media.

The NHL also released a video on its socials, with several old teammates and star players praising him and his prolonged career. The video consisted of messages from former teammate Sidney Crosby, along with Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid, Jeremy Swayman and Macklin Celebrini.

"Fleury's been doing it for so long," Eichel said. "The model of consistency, and I don't think I've ever spoken to a player or staff member, really anybody who's had a bad thing to say about the guy."

Wild defenseman Brock Faber was also in the video message and couldn’t say enough about Fleury. 

“As a young player in this league, there isn’t a single guy, probably ever, that could be a better role model,” he said. “The way he treats his teammates, his family, how hard he works, it’s a complete honor to be able to share the same sweater as him.”

'Flower' ends his career with the second-most wins and second-most games played by a goaltender in NHL history, behind Martin Brodeur in both categories. 

The 40-year-old from Sorel, Que., signs off with a 575-339-2-95 record, with a 2.60 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and 76 shutouts. He also won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017, the Vezina Trophy and the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2020-21.

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New York Rangers Hire Coach Mike Sullivan: 'Mike Brings A Championship-Level Presence'

Mike Sullivan (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

The New York Rangers named Mike Sullivan their new coach on Friday.

Sullivan, 57, joins the Rangers four days after he and the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways. Sullivan spent parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins, logging a 409-255-89 record and two Stanley Cup championships. He'll now coach their Metropolitan Division rival, which won the Presidents' Trophy last season but missed the playoffs this season.

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Rangers GM Chris Drury said in a news release. “Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career – including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level – Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench.”

The Rangers fired coach Peter Laviolette on April 19. Their coaching search lasted just under two weeks. 

“As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team,” Drury said.

Sullivan was an assistant coach with the Rangers from 2009-2010 to 2012-2013, when John Tortorella was the bench boss. The Rangers even drafted him as a player in the fourth round of the 1987 NHL draft. He ended up playing 709 career NHL games for the San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes.

Sullivan coached Team USA to second place at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he was an assistant coach for the Americans at the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was also named Team USA's coach for the men's hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Rangers defenseman Adam Fox spoke about Sullivan's coaching style at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

"He wants to give us kind of a semblance of the structure," Fox told Taylor Hasse of dkpittsburghsports.com. "But at the same time, it's not being too hands on, and letting us play hockey. (Sullivan has) been great."

Fox and the Rangers finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division this season, five points ahead of the seventh-place Penguins and six points out of a playoff spot. Their 3.11 goals-for per game ranked 12th in the NHL, while their 3.11 goals against per game ranked 19th. The 17.6 percent power-play success rate was fifth-worst in the league, while the 80.3 percent penalty-kill rate ranked 11th.

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'It Was F—–g Unbelievable': Senators Reflect On The Support After First Playoff Round Since 2017

Thomas Chabot and Auston Matthews (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The Ottawa Senators finished their season on home ice in front of 19,007 people in attendance.

That number wasn't all Sens fans, with the blue and white jerseys of their rival visible in parts of the crowd. But the team's prioritization of season ticket holders and newsletter followers in its ticket sales seems to have paid off.

Although the Senators couldn't come back from 3-0 down in their first-round series to force a potentially historic Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sens crowd gave a standing ovation and chanted "Go Sens Go" after the game for a team with lots to look forward to.

The fans also chanted "Brady, Brady, Brady" in honor of Ottawa's captain, Brady Tkachuk, who scored his fourth goal of the series Thursday night to cut the Leafs' lead to 2-1. David Perron tied the game in the third period before Leafs left winger Max Pacioretty retook the lead in an eventual 4-2 Toronto victory.

Tkachuk led the Senators in scoring in the series with seven points, one for every season the team missed the playoffs as it went through a full rebuild and worked its way back up with a new core.

The 25-year-old captain remarked on the crowd's support at the end of the game and over the years.

"It's been a long eight years for them, and to experience it, honestly, I don't really realize the impact that it's made on me and this team," Tkachuk told reporters in the dressing room post-game. "Just really want to do it for them. They were absolutely amazing, and I know it sucks right now, but I really can't wait for what the future holds."

Tkachuk was Ottawa's first player drafted when the rebuild unofficially began. Only two players have been with the organization for longer, including defenseman Thomas Chabot, who was drafted 18th overall in 2015.

While Chabot played his first NHL game in 2016-17, he did not play in the Senators' run to the Eastern Conference final that campaign. This year was his first time on the ice experiencing Stanley Cup playoff hockey.

"It was f-----g unbelievable, to be honest," Chabot told reporters. "The fans, everybody, the city, everyone. Get off the plane the other night from the airport, there's about 30, 40 people there waiting at whatever on a Tuesday night at 1 a.m. You don't get that anywhere else. 

"We have said it all along, even in the tough years, we do have the best fans in the league, I believe. They've been there all eight years that I've been... I think that's what hurts the most right now is we thought for sure coming back home, we were going to pull it off for them."

Brady Tkachuk (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The Senators drafted seven players in between their playoff appearances who played for them against the Maple Leafs this post-season. They include Tim Stutzle (five points in the round), Jake Sanderson (overtime-winner in Game 4), Shane Pinto (shorthanded breakaway goal in Game 5) and Drake Batherson (scored the Senators' first playoff goal since May 2017). 

Ottawa also made trades and free agent signings to strengthen the squad as it looked to take the next step. On came Claude Giroux, Linus Ullmark, David Perron, Dylan Cozens and more.

"I'm really happy with the way that we have taken strides to become a better, a more stable team, that's going – hopefully, for a long time going to always be up there and battle for the playoffs and the Stanley Cup," goaltender Ullmark said to reporters.

Toronto nearly swept the Senators in the Battle of Ontario, but Ottawa won Game 4 at home and Game 5 in enemy territory to raise questions about whether the Leafs could finish the job. The Senators could have become the 11th team in NHL history to tie a series 3-3 after trailing 3-0. The stat that the Leafs have been 1-13 in closeout games since 2018 circulated all week long.

The Leafs are now 2-13 in closeout games during that span. The top seed in the Atlantic Division will now face the defending Cup champions, the Florida Panthers

That matchup should remind everyone how challenging the Atlantic Division can be. The Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning have won the Stanley Cup a combined three times in five years. The Leafs have the longest active playoff streak. The rebuilding Montreal Canadiens even made the playoffs. The Boston Bruins earned a record-breaking 135 points in 2022-23 and only dropped out of the playoff race this year, opening a spot for Ottawa to take.

That means for the team and its fan base to see more progress and playoff hockey, there's still much work to do.

"Crazy thing is, it's not going to get easier – next year is going to get harder to get back in the same position," Perron said to the media. "If we asked the team over there, that's what they would tell you. You make one step, and then the next step is a little bit even harder to win one round, win two rounds, all that. But I'm proud of these guys, the way we worked all year to get better and put ourselves in this situation."

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Toronto Maple Leafs Win A Playoff Round For Second Time In 21 Years

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators in six games. (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs got the job done against the Ottawa Senators in Game 6.

With the Maple Leafsat risk of blowing a 3-0 series lead, they beat the Senators 4-2 to make the second round for the first time since 2023 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and just the second time since 2004, the last time they faced the Senators in the playoffs.

At the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, Ont., Toronto took the lead against Ottawa on Thursday night off a power-play goal by Auston Matthews. William Nylander extended the lead to 2-0.

Senators captain Brady Tkachuk tipped a shot into the net to cut the lead to one entering the third period, and David Perron tied the game by banking a shot off the back of the head of Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

Just over a minute later, however, Max Pacioretty capitalized on some offensive zone time to take the lead back. It was his first playoff goal since 2021 with the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a goal and an assist in four games this post-season after recovering from injury issues. His last regular-season game was Feb. 8.

Despite the Senators piling on the pressure in the final minute with an empty net, Nylander scored at the other end to seal the deal.

The Maple Leafs next face the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, in the second round. The Panthers, which finished third in the Atlantic Division in the regular season, eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.

When the Leafs beat the Lightning in 2023, they faced the Panthers in the second round as well. Florida won in six games and eventually made it to the Stanley Cup final before falling to the Golden Knights.

As for the Senators, they finish their first playoff appearance since 2017, when they made it to the Eastern Conference final. Tkachuk led the Senators in scoring in this series with seven points (four goals, three assists) in six games, while Matthews led the Leafs with two goals and five helpers for seven points.

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The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Join The Conversation As Maple Leafs Eliminate Senators

Anthony Stolarz (Marc DesRosiers-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, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus and Michael Augello react to the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in Game 6 and winning the series.

The Maple Leafs lost twice before winning the series, and they now face the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers, in the second round.

Leafs vs. Sens Game 6 - Playoff FrenzyLeafs vs. Sens Game 6 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News, where we're recapping all of the action from Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

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

Check out the show right now.

Crosby And Bedard Left Off Canada’s Initial World Championship Roster: Who Made The Cut?

Connor Bedard and Sidney Crosby (Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images)

On Thursday, Hockey Canada announced the first 15 players to represent Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, which begins on May 9. While there is talent on the roster, many have been left off the team, whether that’s by the players’ choice or management’s.

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is Canada's GM for this tournament. He’s joined by a selection committee of four NHL executives, including Dennis Bonvie, Jason Spezza, Andrew Cogliano and Gregory Campbell, who have assisted Dubas in evaluating and selecting players for the roster.

Some big names who didn’t qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs are not listed on the roster, like Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard and Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos, among others.

Since this isn’t the full team, there is the possibility that these players haven’t made up their minds on participating, but the reality is that they are not on the team currently.

However, for those who are on the team, there are plenty of players who could be on the bubble of making Canada’s Olympic team for February 2026. 

Philadelphia Flyers right winger Travis Konecny and defenseman Travis Sanheim both made the 4 Nations Face-Off roster, but will be challenging for Olympic roster spots again. Joining Team Canada for the World Championship helps their case.

Other defensemen, including the New York Islanders’ Noah Dobson, Calgary Flames’ MacKenzie Weegar and Seattle Kraken’s Brandon Montour, also boost their odds to play in the Olympics by participating in this tournament. 

Additionally, youngsters Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, along with Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnston of the Columbus Blue Jackets, have also put themselves on the map with an opportunity to represent their country.

In terms of goaltending, Canada has listed Dylan Garand, who hasn’t played a game in the NHL. The 22-year-old netminder plays for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the affiliate club of the New York Rangers.

However, with the Montreal Canadiens recently being eliminated from the playoffs, there’s a chance that Samuel Montembeault suits up for Canada at this tournament.

Here are the 15 players selected for the 2025 World Championship:

Forwards:

Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

Will Cuylle, New York Rangers

Adam Fantilli, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tyson Foerster, Philadelphia Flyers

Barrett Hayton, Utah HC

Bo Horvat, New York Islanders

Kent Johnston, Columbus Blue Jackets

Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan O’Reilly, Nashville Predators

Defense:

Noah Dobson, New York Islanders

Ryker Evans, Seattle Kraken

Brandon Montour, Seattle Kraken

Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers

MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames

Goaltenders:

Dylan Garand, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

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Five Of The NHL's Best Defensive Defensemen In 2024-25

Chris Tanev (Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images)

The three finalists for the NHL’s Norris Trophy are more than capable in their own end.

The Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski have developed into fantastic all-around defenseman. But their recognition as the NHL's top defensemen of the year are are centered around their ability to produce offense from the back end.

Makar, Werenski and Hughes finished the regular season as the top three scorers among defensemen in the NHL. The Avalanche, Blue Jackets and Canucks also all heavily outscored their opponents with their star defenseman on the ice at 5-on-5, according to naturalstatrick.com.

Despite that, the NHL’s best defensemen at keeping the puck out of their net sometimes get overlooked and do not receive the praise they deserve. 

Here are five of the NHL’s best defensive defensemen this season. Advanced stats are according to Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise noted.

Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers

Forsling has become more of a household name after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, but his ability to shut down his opponent's top players is evident each night.

In 80 games this season, the 28-year-old scored 11 goals and 31 points, averaging 22:57 of ice time. While his offence from the back end was appreciated, his 89 blocked shots and just 16 penalty minutes are the true indicators of where his value lies for the Panthers. 

Taking a deeper look at his game, it shows how much better the Panthers were with him on the ice. They had a 56.32-percent share of shot attempts, outscored their opponents 66-48 and dominated the high-danger chance share and scoring chance share at 5-on-5 with Forsling on the ice.

Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild

When Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek sustained long-term injuries, the Minnesota Wild went through a difficult stretch of games. What kept them afloat was their ability to keep the puck out of their net, highlighted by Brodin's play.

The 31-year-old Swede played just 50 games this season due to multiple injury absences but blocked 104 shots while averaging 22:57 of ice time. His return to the lineup in late March came at an important time, helping Brock Faber regain his footing and propelling the Wild to the playoffs despite a late push from the Calgary Flames.

At 5-on-5, the Wild outscored and outshot their opponents with Brodin on the ice. Brodin has not received the same appreciation as Kaprizov and Eriksson-Ek, but if you ask the players on the Wild roster, they will tell you how vital he is to their success. 

Why The NHL's Three Norris Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinWhy The NHL's Three Norris Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinThe NHL revealed the three finalists for the Norris Trophy, which goes "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Slavin has been known for his defensive game for quite some time now, but it became undisputed when he put his game on full notice at the 4 Nations Face-Off. 

His skating and tremendous stick work make him so difficult to beat in 1-on-1 situations. He reads the game extremely well, and it's why the Hurricanes held 56.44 percent of the expected goals with Slavin on the ice at 5-on-5.

In 80 games, Slavin blocked 136 shots and took just eight penalty minutes, while also adding six goals and 27 points offensively.

The Hurricanes have an identity of limiting chances against them that they stay true to no matter what, and Slavin personifies it. With Slavin at 5-on-5, the Hurricanes held 57.87 of the Corsi-for share, 56.83 percent of the high-danger chances and 57.38 percent of the scoring chances. 

Chris Tanev, Toronto Maple Leafs

Tanev is by far the oldest player on this list, but at 35 years old, he still managed to block 189 shots in 75 games, ranking sixth in the NHL. Pairing with Jake McCabe, the pair routinely served as the shut-down defenders for Craig Berube, and the Toronto Maple Leafs reaped the benefits.

The Maple Leafs outscored their opponents 55-34 for a goals-for share of 61.80 percent at 5-on-5 when Tanev was on the ice, the fourth-highest among defensemen to play at least 250 minutes. Tanev also limited opponents to 170 high-danger chances despite starting 279 of his shifts in the defensive zone. 

The Maple Leafs put a lot of faith into Tanev that he could continue to play at this level, signing him to a six-year contract. After one season, he showed that he was worth every penny.

NHL Awards Poll: Predicting The Winners Of The Hart, Vezina, Norris And MoreNHL Awards Poll: Predicting The Winners Of The Hart, Vezina, Norris And MoreWhen playoff season rolls around in the NHL, it also signals award season for the league's best players and staff.

Dylan Samberg, Winnipeg Jets

When Samberg was out with a broken foot, the Winnipeg Jets went through their worst stretch of the season. When he returned, they immediately went back to their winning ways, in large part due to how calming a presence the 26-year-old is on the blueline.

Samberg played in 60 games this season, blocking 120 shots and adding six goals and 20 points. His work on the penalty kill was greatly appreciated by the Jets, but his 5-on-5 dominance may have been the more important factor to the Jets’ success.

Listed at 6-foot-4, Samberg moves very well for a player of his size and uses his reach to break up transition and cycle opportunities. The Jets outscored their opponents 57-36 and had the advantage in Corsi, Fenwick, high-danger chances, shots on goal and scoring chances with Samberg on the ice.

He ranked fourth on the Jets in ice time, averaging 21:08, in large part because of the lack of power-play time. He’s developed into a true shutdown defenseman at just 26 years of age.

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The Hockey News Big Show: NHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to not only discuss the closing stages of the first round but some of the other biggest topics in the NHL.

NHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More by The Big ShowNHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Katie Gaus discussed in this episode:

0:47: Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators is Thursday night. Are the Leafs still "fine," or could they blow another series lead again?

3:30: How much pressure is on the Maple Leafs in Game 6, and do you expect any lineup changes? 

6:06: Even if the Maple Leafs do win the series, have they changed your mind about them being a "contender?"

9:30: The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet in the second round. Thoughts on this series? 

13:28: In Game 5 between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, there was a league review for a kicking motion, which gave Vegas time to watch the goal, and when it was determined there was no kick, Vegas challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned. Many online comments suggest that this is ruining hockey. Do you agree?

16:43: Most surprising series so far?

20:11: First-round MVP candidates so far?

22:07: Player that's been the biggest surprise in the first round, for good or bad reasons?

25:19: The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning like crazy, with so many open jobs. Where do we see Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan landing? Could more coaches lose their jobs?

29:15: The NHL’s Hart Trophy finalists are Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck and Nikita Kucherov. Thoughts on no Nathan Mackinnon? Who will win it? 

33:16: Taylor Hall signed a three-year contract extension worth $3.167 million annually. Do we like it? 

34:25: Utah Hockey Club’s YouTube channel briefly showed "@UtahMammoth"  as the handle... sounds like this is it? Yay or nay?

36:58: Who do you want to see win the NHL draft lottery? Who actually wins it?

39:59: Patrik Laine enters the final year of his contract next season. Do the Habs re-sign him over the summer?

Watch the full episode here.  

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.