The NHL’s playoff picture is coming into focus, which means the bottom-end teams are solidifying their spots in the draft lottery – and the NHL sour rankings. 

Whether these teams expected to be at the bottom or not, they must focus on the future. The work to improve will largely begin at the NHL draft, where they will look for prospects to help shape the next era of their franchise. 

Let’s mock the top 10 for the 2025 NHL draft based on who could be available for each team and what direction they might go when they are on the clock. 

We’re using a reverse order of the standings for the draft order. A key point to remember is that this is a mock draft, not a ranking. This is how the draft could go down, not the order of the best players in my view. 

No. 1, San Jose Sharks: Matthew Schaefer, D

The San Jose Sharks have a solid foundation up front with Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and William Eklund. Quentin Musty and Filip Bystedt are on the way as well. 

Their back end has some solid prospects, highlighted by last year’s 11th-overall pick, Sam Dickinson, and the recently recalled Luca Cagnoni. But getting their future No. 1 defender would be a gift if they get to draft first overall for a second straight year. Schaefer has the skating and tools to be a do-it-all defender on both ends of the ice. 

No. 2, Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Misa, C

Connor Bedard is the franchise center, but adding Michael Misa would give the Chicago Blackhawks one of the most impressive one-two punches down the middle. 

Misa is the most well-rounded forward in the draft. He has an impressive dual-threat offensive upside, a wicked sense of scoring goals in various ways and an excellent vision of play development on the ice. Misa can also insulate Bedard.

2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ferrari's Mid-Season Top 64It's 2025 NHL draft rankings time again as we're about to see the class playing some of its highest-level hockey.

No. 3, Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C

The Nashville Predators weren’t supposed to be this bad, but landing Hagens would be a wonderful way to cap off their season that’s had nothing but disappointment. Hagens would be arguably the most dynamic center the team has ever had. His skill and playmaking would give the Predators a player who can manipulate and dictate play offensively in a way they haven’t had enough of over the years. Hagens is a center who could be the pillar the Preds build around moving forward.

No. 4, Buffalo Sabres: Caleb Desnoyers, C

The first moderate surprise is Desnoyers going to the Buffalo Sabres, which are still looking to find their way out of the basement. The Sabres just traded Dylan Cozens, and while they got Josh Norris back in the deal, they will look to build out their depth up front. Desnoyers could fit as a center in the middle six or play on the wing, but his strength is playing a complementary role. That trait could help the Sabres in a big way as they try to find their way.

No. 5, Seattle Kraken: Porter Martone, RW

The Seattle Kraken have been excellent at drafting the highest-end talent regardless of size. This year, they get the chance to add the best player available and some of the size the team lacks in its young talent. Martone has the kind of functional physicality that thrives in the NHL and an incredible knack for making plays through contact. He also has a very good shot and could complement a player, such as Matty Beniers or Shane Wright, moving forward.

Future Watch: The NHL's Top Rising And Falling Prospects In 2025The anticipated Future Watch issue is when The Hockey News looks at the future of the game, including the top 100 prospects in hockey.

No. 6, Philadelphia Flyers: Roger McQueen, C

The Philadelphia Flyers find themselves back in the top 10 of the draft, but there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful with the prospects on the way, such as Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk, as well as the arrival of Matvei Michkov this season.

Last year, the Flyers took Jett Luchanko in what was considered a conservative and safe pick. That gives them the room to take a risk this year with McQueen. Despite missing most of the year with a back injury, McQueen’s combination of size, skill and scoring ability is a bet some NHL team will make early. The hulking center could be a big swing if McQueen can stay healthy and avoid long-term injury concerns.

No. 7, Pittsburgh Penguins: Victor Eklund, LW

Like his brother a few years back, Victor Eklund goes seventh overall. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ management group is focused on adding skill and… skill. Eklund brings a ton of that and tenacity to make him an instantly effective player in the NHL who can play up and down the lineup. Eklund would be a great addition to a Pittsburgh prospect pool that has grown over the last couple of years, likely asserting himself as the top prospect instantly.

No. 8, Anaheim Ducks: Kashawn Aitcheson, D

The Anaheim Ducks have added a ton of talent up front, and they have some really intriguing young defensemen who can move the puck on the back end. They love their big, bone-crushing defenders as well. Adding Aitcheson would give them a young blueliner who can act as a foil for the puck-moving guys, such as Pavel Mintyukov or Olen Zellweger. Aitcheson is the kind of player the Ducks love with that throwback to rough-and-tumble hockey.

No. 9, Boston Bruins: Jackson Smith, D

The Boston Bruins aren’t used to drafting this high in the draft, but they will look to add a key piece to the next era of Bruins hockey. While they could certainly use some scoring punch up front, the Bruins pipeline lacks everything. Adding Jackson Smith could be a big deal because he has all of the tools to be a very good two-way blueliner. Coming in and eventually learning under Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm would be a perfect situation for the team and player.

No. 10, Detroit Red Wings: Anton Frondell, C

This isn’t just because the Detroit Red Wings love drafting Swedes or that they seem to love their solid, steady centers. Frondell going to the Wings is the perfect spot because it’s a high-end prospect who has dealt with injuries, and it’s a team that has a couple of really solid young centers in Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper but lacks the higher-end prospect Frondell could be.

If Kasper or Danielson end up on the wing because Frondell comes in and takes the No. 2 center spot behind Dylan Larkin, that’s the perfect scenario. Frondell has the steady game that Detroit loves and the offensive upside they need.

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While the Montreal Canadiens jockey for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth, some pundits are looking ahead to GM Kent Hughes' off-season plans.

It's assumed Hughes will be in the market for a second-line center. He recently explained that he felt the trade deadline wasn't the best time to pursue that player, but he said he spoke with other GMs to “spitball” some names, including those involving players who didn't appear in the rumor mill before the trade deadline.

Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported Hughes tried to find a center to play with Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook but couldn't find a way to accomplish that objective at the trade deadline. He indicated he won't overpay for one in this summer's free-agent market, preferring to try again in the trade market.

Hughes has done reasonably well in previous off-season trades, adding Laine, Newhook, Kirby Dach, Mike Matheson, and Sean Monahan. His club possesses considerable trade capital, carrying nine picks in the first four rounds of this year's draft (including two first-rounders), a deep pool of prospects and plentiful cap space.

TVA Sports' Marc de Foy believes Hughes is right to be cautious in this summer's free-agent market, pointing out that UFA-eligible centers, such as Toronto's John Tavares, Dallas' Matt Duchene and Colorado's Brock Nelson, are in the mid-thirties. He also indicated Florida's Sam Bennett is 29, but his physical style of play leaves him susceptible to injuries. Chicago’s Ryan Donato is enjoying a career year with 51 points but never reached those heights before this season.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Off-Season Moves Coming For The Blackhawks And CanadiensThe Chicago Blackhawks were busy sellers leading up to the March 7 NHL trade deadline.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff hopes hang by a thread, sitting eight points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski was asked about the possibility of Penguins GM (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas pursuing Mitch Marner if the 27-year-old right winger goes to market on July1. 

Kingerski doesn't dismiss the idea, especially if Dubas flips some draft picks this summer for younger players and feels good about the club's direction. However, he acknowledged the rising salary cap would give more teams the cap space to bid for Marner.

Dubas could instead use his cap room to target a rival club's RFA with an offer sheet. He believes JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres could be a prime option.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks Dubas should try moving defenseman Erik Karlsson and goaltender Tristan Jarry this summer to free up salary-cap space. 

Dubas reportedly spoke with several teams about Karlsson before the trade deadline. If he's willing to retain part of the 34-year-old defenseman's cap hit, he might find a taker this summer. The Penguins carry $10 million of his $11.5-million average annual value through 2026-27. 

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If you thought things could not get any worse for the Buffalo Sabres this year, take a look at what happened in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

Down 3-2 in the final minutes of the third period, Buffalo had its goalie pulled and extra attacker on the ice when Utah took a delayed penalty. That should have given the Sabres a power play. Instead, it led to an embarrassing moment that pretty much summed up Buffalo's season.

With the official's hand in the air for the delayed penalty, all Buffalo had to do was allow a Utah player to touch the puck and get a whistle.

Tage Thompson, however, had a different idea.

"Give them the puck. Give them the puck. Give them the puck!" shouted Sabres TV analyst Rob Ray, who became increasingly annoyed as the the Sabres passed the puck around. "Give. Them. The. Puck."

If this doesn't sum up the Sabres' fortunes during this record drought, I don't know what does https://t.co/6rtMKb0CUU

— Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia) March 21, 2025

Thompson did not give Utah the puck. Rather, he attempted to pass the puck back to the point.

"I mean, it was kind of a scrambly play, and I was just kind of filling a spot and I got the puck and wasn't really aware that there was a delayed call," said Thompson. "So had that been the case, then I probably would have just tried to attack and shoot it, make them touch it. But yeah, they're kind of sitting there, and thought I had a lane to (Rasmus Dahlin) to the top, and it just went through everybody."

Sadly, Thompson missed his target with his pass and the puck banked off the boards and travelled the length of the ice and towards the net.

"The Sabres throw it away and this is going to maybe go into the net?" added play-by-play commentator Dan Dunleavy. "Off the boards. Oh my goodness, it's in."

"Give them the puck," an angry Ray said again, in disgust.

Ray — and Buffalo fans — had every reason to be frustrated in how Buffalo handled the delayed penalty. After all, it was only two weeks when the Sabres were in a similar situation against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the team passing the puck around and wasting valuable time rather than get the whistle.

“We’ve gone over this,”  coach Lindy Ruff told reporters. “The Tampa game was the same. I don’t know if (Thompson) realized whether they were getting a penalty, but just chalk another one up.”

Utah scored once more as Buffalo had its two-game winning streak snapped. With 15 games remaining, the Sabres are in last place in the Eastern Conference standings — and 29th overall.

"Bad play by me and even worse result," said Thompson.

Alex Ovechkin is nearly the NHL’s top goal-scorer ever – and the likelihood he cements that status against Sidney Crosby continues to grow.

Ovechkin is seven goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. He scored again on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. After that, Washington has 13 games left in the regular season.

The big question is when he will break the record and who he will score against.

Ovechkin’s best odds to score his 895th goal is in the last four games of the season, according to Canada Sports Betting (CSB).

The Capitals play against the Columbus Blue Jackets twice, as well as the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins in those final four outings ahead of the post-season. 

CSB says Ovechkin has a 71-percent chance of snapping the record in the final game of the season against his longtime rival, Crosby and the Penguins. In all fairness, there is something poetic about resetting the all-time goal record with two of the best players of the last generation sharing the ice.

On a broader scale, Ovechkin will have to go through some elite goaltenders to build up his tally before the end of the regular season. The Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck, Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky and Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin are some of the goaltenders he may face along the way.

Ovechkin’s scored on Bobrovsky 16 times in his career and 12 times on Vasilevskiy. Only Marc-Andre Fleury’s allowed more goals to Ovechkin among active netminders, with 28.

In 53 games this season with Washington, Ovechkin has 35 goals and 57 points. He’s tied for fifth in the NHL in goals with Buffalo Sabres right winger Tage Thompson and Boston Bruins right winger David Pastrnak.

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While some big trades at the NHL trade deadline had immediately positive results, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers isn’t one of them.

Laughton has yet to produce a point in six games as a Leaf, and his role diminished on Wednesday as Max Domi improved his play. Leafs coach Craig Berube cut Laughton’s minutes on Wednesday night against Colorado. Laughton played just 11:13 – his lowest time-on-ice total since Dec. 8.

Laughton's current woes must be humbling as someone who averaged more than 15 minutes of ice time as a Flyer before being traded to the Leafs. But not every trade will be an immediate success, and what matters most is how Laughton handles the transition to a new club and what he does by the playoffs.

“I think he’s trying to probably play the game without making mistakes, and he’s overthinking things instead of just playing,” Berube said of Laughton. “Just play. Be aggressive, do your thing, and that will come around. I do believe that. He wants to do well. He’s just got to loosen up and go play. Use your ability. You’re a good player. You’ve played in the league a long time. Just go play. I think he’s holding back a little bit. Just too safe, almost.”

When you don’t have any offense to point to, and when the Leafs are only 3-3 since the trade deadline, it’s easy to grow frustrated. 

Laughton’s under a huge microscope in Toronto, where every shift is hyper-analyzed, and Leafs fans constantly compare him to the best the Buds have had to offer.

But if Laughton can shut out the naysayers, he will work out of this funk and show everyone why Toronto GM Brad Treliving gave up a first-round pick and decent prospect in Nikita Grebenkin for his services.

Woll Or Stolarz: Who Should Be In Net For The Maple Leafs In The Playoffs? The Toronto Maple Leafs do not know who they will be playing if the playoffs were to start today. But regardless of the opponent, it appears they might finally have settled on a starting goalie for Game 1.

The Maple Leafs don’t need Laughton to do all the heavy lifting. They have Auston Matthews and John Tavares doing that by centering the top two lines. He just has to settle in – either at center on the third line or on the wing – and read the game.

Toronto beat the Calgary Flames and the Avalanche to regain second place in the Atlantic Division. That will set up the Leafs for a better position in the playoffs, where Laughton’s game best suits the team. 

Scoring isn’t his specialty, as his career highs are 18 goals and 43 points. He had 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games for the Flyers before the trade. But his two-way play, penalty-killing, physicality, flexibility between center and left wing and his hockey IQ are what the Leafs need in their bottom six. Since the trade deadline, he ranks second among Leafs forwards in blocked shots, with six, and he has 14 hits.

It’s a matter of time before Laughton fully acclimates to his home team.

“He’s from here, and he’s got a lot going on and people and everything else. You want to please, right,” Berube said. “You’ve got to forget about pleasing and play and do your thing. You’re a good player. That’s why you’re in the National Hockey League for a long time.”

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This year’s NHL rookie class is giving hockey fans a thrilling Calder Trophy race.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf solidified themselves as the likely finalists for the award, despite some very impressive seasons from other freshman NHLers. We ranked that trio last month, but the rest of the class deserves some attention this time. 

Let’s take a look, in no particular order, at the rest of the rookie class for the 2024-25 NHL season.

Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

67 games, 20 goals, 27 assists, 47 points

Michkov is exactly what the Flyers hoped for. He’s been an offensive dynamo with improved two-way efforts despite some inconsistent moments throughout the year. The relationship with coach John Tortorella has been about as good as they could have hoped, with some tough love.

Michkov has shown some really impressive moments of relentless off-puck play to blend with his elite skill. Only Celebrini has scored more goals this season among the rookie crop, with 21.

Despite Appearances, Tortorella Loves Coaching Flyers Rookie StandoutIf you’ve watched the Philadelphia Flyers this season, you wouldn’t be faulted for believing that John Tortorella has had a miserable time coaching rookie Matvei Michkov.

Cutter Gauthier, LW, Anaheim Ducks

68 games, 13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points

Gauthier hit his stride in the second half of the season. He’s tied with Will Smith and Huston for the lead in rookie scoring since the 4 Nations Face-Off, with 12 points in 14 games.

Gauthier began to adapt to the pace of the NHL game, and he’s ascended the lineup for the Ducks as of late. The Philadelphia Flyers’ fifth-overall pick in 2022, whose trade request was granted last year, is a heavy shooter who could be a sneaky good breakout candidate for next season. He will likely reach a 40-point rookie campaign. 

Will Smith, C, San Jose Sharks

60 games, 13 goals, 22 assists, 35 points

Smith has always been known for his dynamic playmaking, and it’s starting to show up in the NHL. He’s also tied for second among rookies in goals since the 4 Nations Face-Off, with five in 11 games.

While San Jose sits at the bottom of the standings, the vibes around the franchise are immaculate, thanks in part to their young stars, Smith and Celebrini. 

There is still plenty of room to grow, and finding out if Smith will be a full-time center in the long term will be a work in progress, but his growth from October to today is promising. 

Logan Stankoven, RW, Carolina Hurricanes

63 games, 10 goals, 21 assists, 31 points

Stankoven is one of the most energetic and high-motor rookies in the rookie class, and he was the key piece heading back to the Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade with the Dallas Stars.

With 29 points in 59 games in Dallas and two points in four contests since the trade, Stankoven needs some time to get used to his new surroundings. We may not see him be fully comfortable until next season, but his style of play should fit right in with the Hurricanes. Tenacious and skilled, Stankoven should be a key contributor in the middle-six for the Hurricanes into the playoffs.

Logan Stankoven And The Harsh Realities Of An NHL TradeIt sometimes gets lost in all of the noise, how much a trade can impact a player.

Marco Kasper, C/LW, Detroit Red Wings

63 games, 13 goals, 14 assists, 27 points

The Red Wings have needed a player who can play up and down the lineup and help elevate those around him by being flexible from a stylistic standpoint. 

Kasper has played on the left wing on the top line alongside Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin or down the middle with Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. He’s played down the lineup in a defensive role and meaningful minutes on the penalty kill. 

Kasper doesn’t have the eye-popping counting stats to get into the Calder conversation, but he’s been excellent overall.

Drew Helleson, D, Anaheim Ducks

42 games, four goals, six assists, 10 points

The fact that Helleson doesn’t put up points will always make him a secondary or tertiary part of the conversation among Anaheim’s young talent, but his steady defense should be appreciated.

Helleson plays a physical game and doesn’t try to do too much with the puck. He tracks play well in his own end and moves the puck to skilled teammates effectively. He’s found a way to be a positive influence on the ice with a bad team. He and Gauthier are tied for the team lead in goals-for percentage at 54.45 and 54.47, respectively, according to evolving-hockey.com. 

Mackie Samoskevich, RW, Florida Panthers

59 games, 13 goals, 12 assists, 25 points

The Panthers are unsurprisingly one of the NHL’s best teams this season, but the back half of their season is full of injury troubles. Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t played since the 4 Nations Face-Off, and new acquisition Brad Marchand hasn’t suited up for the team, either. 

That’s given Samoskevich the chance to move up the lineup, and the highly skilled right winger has looked fantastic. His puckhandling and energy have been a nice addition to the top six and top power-play unit. He’s been a dual-threat offensive presence that will likely end up down the lineup come playoff time, giving the Panthers the depth needed to win the Cup (again).

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Welcome to a new episode of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Hockey News Wraparound Show.

Which NCAA Hobey Baker Finalists Can Crack An NHL Lineup Next Season? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: What can the NHL do to generate interest in the 2026 all-star event?

4:15: Will the NHL's support of the current playoff format draw pushback?

7:53: Should the NHL bring back the centralized draft format next season?

10:42: Can the Dallas Stars get past the first round of the playoffs without Miro Heiskanen?

15:07: Will Noah Dobson extend his stay with the New York Islanders beyond this season?

17:30: Should extending Matthew Knies be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top off-season priority?

18:55: What has been the biggest part of the Montreal Canadiens’ recent success?

20:39: Should Jim Nill be the favorite to win the NHL’s GM of the year award again?

22:59: With injuries stacking up, how concerned should the Minnesota Wild be?

25:40: Which NCAA Hobey Baker finalist has the best shot of cracking an NHL lineup next season?

28:29: Which team is Alex Ovechkin most likely to score his 895th goal against?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes on Mondays and Thursdays.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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iHeartRadio

Amazon

Canada's new prime minister practised with the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL team he continues to cheer on.

Mark Carney took the ice with the Oilers on Thursday ahead of the team's clash against the Winnipeg Jets, which rank second in the NHL.

Carney was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minster on March 14. Since then, he spent the past week visiting leaders in France, the United Kingdom and Iqaluit before taking some shots on net on Thursday. The 60-year-old wore an Oilers jersey with his nameplate and the No. 24 on the back.

"Obviously nice to have him here," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said after practice. "He's an Oilers fan, lifelong Oilers fan, and Oilers fans are welcome here for sure, so definitely a unique thing."

Carney was born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., but grew up in Edmonton while Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey led the team to Stanley Cup championships.

He even mentioned the Oilers in his speech after winning the Liberal party leadership race to replace outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau on March 9.

"Yes, we can argue about politics. We can argue about hockey. We can even be an Oilers fan in Ottawa," Carney said at the time. "This is a free country. But when it comes to Canada, we are all on the same side."

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch appreciated Carney's support.

"I assume not too many former prime ministers have been Oiler fans, so it's nice to have one that cheers for the good team," he told reporters.

Carney chatted with players and coaches and even helped out with drills – although his skates hinted at his usual position on the ice.

"Looks like he was a goalie with those goalie skates," McDavid said.

Indeed he was, putting on the pads as a third-string goaltender for Harvard University's varsity squad in the mid-1980s. He didn't start in net for a game, but he did play part of a 10-2 win for the Crimson against Colgate, stopping all the shots he faced, according to the Harvard Crimson. He was even roommates with former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, who captained the team during Carney's senior year.

Carney later became the backup goalie on the University of Oxford's men's hockey team. But despite his hockey experience, he wasn't a practice goalie for the Oilers on Thursday.

 "I'm not sure the security detail would like that very much," McDavid said.

Where Have All The NHL's 50-Goal Scorers Gone?Eighty years ago today, Maurice 'Rocket' Richard set the gold standard for goals in an NHL season. He became the first player in history to record a 50-goal season.

The Oilers host the Jets at 9 p.m. ET. As for Carney, he's expected to meet with Alberta premier Danielle Smith, according to the Canadian Press.

- Jonathan Tovell contributed to this report.

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Let's face it. The NHL proved with the 4 Nations Face-Off it can do so much better with a marquee mid-season event than the All-Star Game.

A Carrot Top marathon movie festival is more watchable than a traditional All-Star Weekend at this point.

Now, the draft, that's a different story. It's compelling, exciting and hopeful. And most people love watching the process, along with the real-time wheeling and dealing that transpires on the draft floor.

That's why it was such welcome news that the NHL is re-evaluating the traditional All-Star Game and is open to pivoting back to a traditional draft after the decentralized draft in Los Angeles this year if the clubs want.

There are lots of interesting events the NHL could hold in lieu of the traditional All-Star Weekend, where there's a skills competition and a 3-on-3 tournament that features some low-effort, meaningless hockey. Most of the potential alternatives revolve around international hockey – and one idea could include players from other leagues.

Today's video column shares that idea and more.

Screen Shots: Reacting To NHL Commissioner's Comments On All-Star Game, Draft And OvertimeNHL commissioner Gary Bettman wrapped up the league’s GM meetings Wednesday by updating reporters on upcoming events, collective bargaining agreement negotiations and other news.

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If you’ve watched the Philadelphia Flyers this season, you wouldn’t be faulted for believing that John Tortorella has had a miserable time coaching rookie Matvei Michkov.

That would be the wrong interpretation.

The hard-driving Tortorella has benched Michkov during games for defensive lapses and gotten into a heated shouting match with the 20-year-old on the bench. He even made Michkov, the Flyers’ most creative player, a healthy scratch for two games earlier this season.

All of that is just part of the process, Tortorella said.

“There’s still a lot of teaching to be done,” he told the media on Monday. “I think it’s been a fantastic process. To get him over here a year earlier than we thought and to go through the process and start the process.”

The old-school coach said that has been beneficial because of “how much we’ve covered – and the way he has grown and his communication.”

Entering Thursday’s game in Washington against fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, Michkov has 20 goals, second among NHL rookies and one goal behind San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. The Flyers’ right winger is third among rookies with 47 points and has made himself a Calder Trophy candidate.

“One of the biggest things is just integrating him to the team and to the team process, and to be a good teammate over here,” Tortorella said. “All that stuff, it's been really good.”

Besides his flashy maneuvers, Michkov has shown feistiness and a willingness to stick up for teammates on the ice.

“I love coaching him,” Tortorella said. “The best compliment I can give him is that he’s a hockey player. I think he wants to learn. He’s got the right type of stubbornness to him. It’s been really good.”

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (53 points) and Celebrini (50) are the Calder front-runners, but Michkov could win the award with a strong finish over the season’s final four weeks. Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (2.62 goals-against average, .912 save percentage), a seventh-round steal from the 2019 draft, is also in the mix.

No Flyers player has ever been named the rookie of the year since the franchise started in 1967. Michkov was selected the NHL’s rookie of the month in October and February. During one stretch last month, he had eight points over a three-game stretch, the first Flyers rookie to accomplish the feat since Eric Lindros in 1992.

Flyers Vs. Penguins: Who Will Be Cup Contenders Sooner?Remember when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins rivalry was arguably the best in the NHL, matching hated cross-state rivals who were usually among the league’s elite?

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Michkov said he is looking forward to facing the 39-year-old Ovechkin again on Thursday.

“It’s always a pleasure to go against a player like Alex,” Michkov said. “It’s been a big honor – and to especially be in the league when he’s so close to that amazing level (goal record). Everybody is waiting for it.”

As for the Calder Trophy, Michkov conceded he is aware of the rookie race, but downplayed the award.

“My main thing is to keep working,” he said, an answer that would undoubtedly make Tortorella smile.

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