The Montreal Canadiens need more than a tough guy on defense after being dominated in most of Game 1 against the Washington Capitals on Monday.

The Capitals are better suited to playing playoff-style hockey against the inexperienced Habs, but that didn't prevent Montreal from rallying late in the third and giving Washington a scare in the 3-2 Capitals' overtime victory at Capital One Arena.

Until resorting to desperation hockey in the latter half of the third period, Washington ran roughshod over the Canadiens, focusing on being physically imposing on Montreal’s smaller skilled players, such as rookie defenseman Lane Hutson and sniper Cole Caufield. 

This tactic worked early in the game, as Capitals blueliner Alexander Alexeyev cross-checked Brendan Gallagher to the face, Alex Ovechkin led his club with seven hits and Capitals rookie Ryan Leonard’s face-washing of Hutson along the boards led to a Kaiden Guhle penalty and Ovechkin’s opening power-play goal. 

Short of putting Arber Xhekaj in the lineup for Game 2 or being able to clone Anderson and Gallagher, the Canadiens are not capable of matching up to the Capitals’ peskiness and physicality in this series.  

Here is the cross-check by Alexeyev right to the race of Gallagher, in plain view. No penalty called. pic.twitter.com/AKSJ97cVg2

— NHL Review (@nhl_review) April 21, 2025

“(It was) a start that we knew, we were probably going have to weather the storm and feel what that feels like, the pressure (and) the physicality of the game.” Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis told reporters. “We got better as the game went on, I thought it was a pretty good first game, but unfortunately, you don’t win.”

The Capitals outhit Montreal 42-33 in the contest. Anderson’s shot at Tom Wilson during a line change was one of the few responses that the Habs showed, and the game only remained close because of the goaltending of Samuel Montembeault.

The Canadiens were also caught with rookie Ivan Demidov and right winger Patrik Laine out against Washington’s top line on a defensive zone faceoff, which led to Ovechkin’s game-winner less than three minutes into overtime.

NHL Playoffs: An Engaged, Energized Alex Ovechkin Is A Very Scary ManYou could argue that Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals haven't exactly been playoff beasts the past couple of years.

St-Louis said after the game that he expects his young club to be better prepared for Game 2 on Wednesday, but there was no indication whether the Habs will make any lineup changes, like inserting Xhekaj into the lineup.

Xhekaj played only one game in the last three weeks of the regular season, with St-Louis opting to go with Jayden Struble down the stretch. 

The 24-year-old ranks second on the Canadiens in hits, with 180 in 70 games. Other than that, he has a goal, six assists and 63 blocked shots while averaging 14:37 of ice time.

If the onslaught continues on Wednesday, the Canadiens may consider bringing him in when they return to the Bell Centre for Game 3 on Friday. But that move might not lead to much if the rest of the team can’t withstand the Capitals’ physicality and scoring power.

The X-factor is Montembeault, who stopped 29 of 32 shots in Game 1. If he channels 2010 Jaroslav Halak, who had a .923 save percentage in 18 playoff games, then Montreal will keep the series close. 

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.

Many 2025 NHL draft talent will get one last chance to impress scouts at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship, which snuck up on the hockey world.

The event kicks off on Wednesday, as some of the top U-18 players from around the world will go head-to-head in Texas for the next two weeks. 

NHL scouts get to see these players compete against their age group, and they’ll watch European players on the same ice as many North Americans. 

So, who has the most to prove moving forward? Let’s look at some of the 2025 NHL draft prospects with the most on the line heading into the biggest tournament of their draft-eligible season. 

LJ Mooney, C/W, USA

After missing a couple of months early in the year with a leg injury and coming back a little early for the CHL-USA Prospect Challenge, LJ Mooney has finally started to look like himself over the last couple of months. 

The highly skilled, high-motor forward plays far bigger than his 5-foot-7 stature, engaging physically on the forecheck or along the wall. Mooney brings upper-tier skill as well, showing off some wicked hands and slick playmaking. A big U-18 tournament could help put him back on the map after falling down draft boards through the midway point of the season. 

Filip Ekberg, RW, Sweden

Coming over to North America, Ekberg was slow to start the OHL season with the Ottawa 67’s. His skilled possession game didn’t exactly mesh with the brand of hockey Ottawa was playing, and he had to learn to play within the system. 

In the second half of the year, Ekberg nearly doubled his production and looked far more comfortable. He used his speed and skill to play within the north-south style of game that the 67’s were playing. 

Once a highly regarded prospect, Ekberg could do wonders for his draft stock with a big U-18 Championship. 

Eric Nilson, C, Sweden

Every year, there seems to be a center from Sweden who raises their draft stock at the U-18s, thanks to an excellent tournament and steady 200-foot game. 

This year, Nilson feels like a good bet to be that player. He’s already begun to rise on draft boards, but a solid tournament on a big stage could make him a definite first-rounder. His intelligent tactical play and ability to facilitate offense for his teammates are what he’s all about. He needs to fill out his 5-foot-11 frame, but Nilson is a really reliable, steady center, and NHL teams love that.

Instant Reaction: NHL Central Scouting Releases Final 2025 Draft RankingsNHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL draft.

Max Westergard, LW, Finland

Playing primarily at the U-20 level in Sweden, we saw Westergard get some Swedish League action in the playoffs, and he looked quite solid in those games. His skating is simply fantastic, bringing an element of speed that few others have. He’s also shown some excellent facilitation abilities this year. 

The Finns as a whole have been underwhelming in the  2025 NHL draft class, but Westergard brings an element of pace and playmaking that could make him the highest-drafted Finn in June. A great performance and proving he’s a driver would be huge at the U-18 Worlds. 

Michal Svrcek, C/W, Slovakia

Playing in Sweden with Brynas, Svrcek brings a level of dynamism and pace that few players at the U-18 level possess. 

Svrcek plays like a dog on a bone, consistently looking to be involved in the play in all facets. When playing against men, he simplified his game and played within the structure. 

Against junior-age players, he was much more creative and daring with his play, consistently looking to put defenders in a compromising position. He’s already one of the most underrated players in the draft, and a good performance in Texas would help more people understand that.

Luka Radivojevic, D, Slovakia

Coming to the USHL during the season, Radivojevic is a highly skilled puckhandler and shifty skater who can be a very solid offensive defenseman. 

Some of his flashes of skill and playmaking really dazzle, but his defensive issues make him a bit of a risk. There is hope he can develop his defensive game through his skating, but he will need to prove he’s made progress in his own end against the best U-18 talent in the world for scouts to take him more seriously. 

Adam Benak, C/W, Czechia

Benak’s stock may never have been higher after the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, where he was wowing fans and scouts with his stickhandling and passing ability en route to becoming the all-time tournament scoring leader, finishing second this year with 11 points. 

Benak is listed at 5-foot-7, which will give teams pause, but he has immense skill and high-end offensive ability, which should lead to some team taking the chance. After a good but not great USHL season, Benak has one last chance on the international stage to show he should be drafted as highly as people thought coming into the season. 

Vojtech Cihar, LW, Czechia

The consensus on Cihar among those in the public sphere has been that he’s a safe bet to be a solid bottom-six player who brings grit and physicality on the forecheck and a solid two-way game to go with it. 

His offensive game is often referred to as “simple,” especially as he’s played against men all season. This will be an excellent opportunity to showcase his skills and offensive prowess against players his age.

NHL Sour Rankings: What Lies Ahead For Every Non-Playoff TeamThe NHL is so often focused, for good reason, on the races at the top of the standings, but the NHL Sour Rankings looks at the bottom. 

Jackson Smith, D, Canada

Canada enters the U-18s without many of its top players eligible for the tournament due to various reasons, including some players still competing in the CHL playoffs and injuries that have ruled them out of consideration. That leaves the Canadians particularly thin on the back end, but it should give Jackson Smith ample opportunity to showcase his tools and drive up his draft stock. 

Smith has excellent size, nice puckhandling, fluid mobility and all of the tools to make him a solid two-way defender. Putting it together on the big stage would be a boon to his NHL draft ranking. 

Braeden Cootes, C, Canada

Cootes will play a big role for Canada, regardless of which line he is on. He likely comes into the tournament as their best two-way center, with the motor to play in all situations. 

Cootes' offensive numbers were solid in the WHL this season, and his defensive game never waned. He might not be the most dynamic or skilled player, but he plays a predictable game in the best way. Coaches know what they will get from him. If Cootes can show how versatile and important he can be on the U-18 stage, NHL clubs will be very happy to add him to their pipeline on draft day.

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 New York Islanders won't renew the contract of the second-winningest GM in NHL history, Lou Lamoriello.

The search for a new GM is underway, the Islandersannounced Tuesday. Operating partner John Collins will lead the search.

Lamoriello's Islanders missed the playoffs by nine points this season. Their .500 points percentage was their lowest since 2017-18.

Lamoriello, 82, joined the Islanders organization ahead of the 2018-19 season as GM and president of hockey operations. In the past seven seasons, he's had a 268-195-71 record with the Islanders.

He was named the NHL's GM of the year in 2019-20 and 2020-21, when the team made back-to-back Stanley Cup playoff semifinal appearances. Under Lamoriello, the Islanders ultimately won five playoff rounds, six including the qualifying round in the 2020 bubble playoffs.

Lamoriello brought on key players over the years, such as Semyon Varlamov, Bo Horvat, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov and Anthony Duclair. He also re-signed important Islanders to long-term contracts, such as captain Anders Lee, Horvat, Ilya Sorokin, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, as well as depth players Pierre Engvall and Scott Mayfield.

The Islanders have had three coaches in the past seven seasons. Barry Trotz coached for four campaigns after winning the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018. Lane Lambert then took over for parts of two seasons and had a 61-46-20 record before Lamoriello replaced him with Patrick Roy on Jan. 20, 2024.

Whoever replaces Lamoriello has seven pending RFAs and five pending UFAs to handle, including RFAs Noah Dobson, Adam Boqvist, Romanov and Maxim Tsyplakov and UFAs Palmieri, Mike Reilly and Tony DeAngelo.

Lamoriello's resume includes the second-most regular-season games, wins and losses in NHL history, trailing only David Poile in each category. The biggest difference between Lamoriello and Poile is the former's three Stanley Cup wins, all with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

The Johnston, R.I., native also has the most playoff games managed and ninth-most post-season wins in NHL history. He also won a World Cup gold medal on Team USA in 1996.

Lamoriello was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2009 and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2012.

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.

You could argue that Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals haven't exactly been playoff beasts the past couple of years.

In fact, you could really make that argument since the Capitals won the Cup in 2018. Five one-and-dones and a one missed playoff tend to give that perception.

But the Capitals haven't been this good since they won the Cup. And Ovechkin hasn't been this inspired. Fresh off breaking the all-time goals record, Ovechkin had two goals, including the overtime-winner, in Game 1 of the Caps' first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Ovechkin and the rest of the Capitals look as though they know they have a chance to accomplish something special in 2025. And that kind of feeling can go a long way.

Today's video column has more.

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.

Last summer, the Calgary Flames were sellers, shipping out goaltender Jacob Markstrom and left winger Andrew Mangiapane after missing the playoffs. 

Flames GM Craig Conroy could become a buyer this summer, looking to bolster his roster after his club exceeded expectations and narrowly missed a Western Conference wild-card berth.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic felt improving the offense should be a priority for Conroy. The Flames finished 29th in goals per game with 2.68. 

LeBrun felt the Flames' biggest need is a right-shot center. They were interested in Dylan Cozens before the Buffalo Sabres shipped him to the Ottawa Senators at the March NHL trade deadline. 

Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun reported Conroy didn't rule out making a splash in this summer's free-agent pool. He also didn't take the possibility of an offer sheet off the table. However, Conroy will continue taking the patient approach toward building his team. 

The Flames will have the cap space to make one or two significant additions. PuckPedia shows them carrying a projected $34.3 million of cap space with 17 active roster players signed for next season. 

Austin believes Flames fans will closely monitor Rasmus Andersson's future this summer. 

The popular 28-year-old defenseman has one year remaining on his contract. Conroy can sign him to an extension as early as July 1, but both sides admit there's a bit of uncertainty right now. They're hoping to meet later this summer to discuss the situation.

Austin's colleague Wes Gilbertson observed that Conroy's been in this situation before with Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin. Both were traded in the final year of their contracts when an extension could be reached. 

Gilbertson suggested Andersson could face a similar fate if the two sides can't hammer out an extension. If that's the case, it might be better for Conroy to move Andersson this summer rather than have his situation become an unnecessary distraction that carries over into next season. 

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.

It's hard to believe that of Alex Ovechkin's 72 career playoff goals heading into Monday night, none of them came in overtime.

But anything can happen in the NHL playoffs, including new heroes, huge rallies, a depth player winning a game and goaltenders standing tall.

Monday night in the Stanley Cup playoffs featured a new bunch of storylines from the four games. Here's more on the Capitals versus Canadiens, Jets versus Blues, Stars versus Avalanche and Kings versus Oilers.

Washington Capitals Defeat Montreal Canadiens 3-2 OT (WSH Leads Series 1-0)

The regular season was all about Ovechkin’s chase and eventual capture of the all-time goal record. In Game 1 of the playoffs, it was about Ovechkin again.

The Washington Capitals captain scored two crucial goals against the Montreal Canadiens. He opened the scoring with a goal from his office, but more importantly, he ended the game with the game-winning goal.

This was Ovechkin’s first playoff overtime goal of his 20-year career, and it was in the first overtime period of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. It could not have been better timing after the ESPN and Sportsnet broadcasts highlighted that he never scored an overtime-winner in the playoffs.

"There are a few things Ovechkin hasn't done, not many, but he's never scored an overtime game-winning goal in the playoffs." 🤷‍♂️

Literally 10 seconds later...

Sean McDonough spoke it into existence. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/LC09wFynT5pic.twitter.com/d45IogUGGE

— NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2025

If it wasn’t for Ovechkin’s imprint on this contest, it would be all about Montreal’s late push, specifically from Nick Suzuki’s line. That line had 16 shots while the rest of the team had 19.

Despite the loss, the young Habs can take some positives from that battle. 

“There was a lot of good stuff. Unfortunately, you don’t win, but we got some really good stuff from this game,” Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis told reporters post-game.

Game 2 is on Wednesday, and Montreal expects to play better.

 "We'll be in better shape coming into Game 2," Suzuki told the media.

The Capitals, meanwhile, will be without Martin Fehervary for the rest of the playoffs. The team announced Tuesday he underwent surgery to repair his meniscus.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which East Teams Get Past Round 1? Expect Tight BattlesThe NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us, and we continue to predict how the first round will go.

Winnipeg Jets Defeat St. Louis Blues 2-1 (WPG Leads Series 2-0)

The Winnipeg Jets beat the St. Louis Blues in a tight-checking game. However, it’s Winnipeg’s stars that pull the team through for the victory. 

Winnipeg’s physicality from the back end, as well as the goaltending from both teams, contributed to the low-scoring affair. But for the second game, the Jets’ Hellebuyck outduelled the Blues’ Binnington.

Much like Game 1 of the series, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor led the Jets in Game 2. The duo has nine points in two playoff games. Connor also has back-to-back game-winning goals.

However, the Jets must be wary of the Blues’ power play as the series moves to St. Louis for the next two outings. Through the first two games of the series, the Blues are three for seven on the power play.

They had four opportunities in Game 2 but only converted once as Winnipeg’s penalty-killers prevailed. Since March 10, St. Louis had the second-best power play in the NHL, and the Blues will look to continuously be a threat with the extra man for the rest of the series.

Blues coach Jim Montgomery wants to move forward and look ahead to what’s next. 

“We're gonna go home, we're going to be in front of our frenzied crowd, and we're going to have an opportunity to hold serve at home. We have to get ready for Game 3," he told reporters.

Dallas Stars Defeat Colorado Avalanche 4-3 OT (Series Tied 1-1)

The Dallas Stars provided a great response in Game 2 after a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1. This game was a testament to how close the matchup is between the two clubs in the series.

Colorado’s offense was heavy in the first two periods of this game, but the undermanned Stars – missing Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen – stayed persistent and took over in the later stages of the contest.

From the third period onward, Dallas continuously threatened the Avalanche and eventually took them to overtime, equalizing in the middle of the third period. The game would ultimately need the NHL’s second overtime of the night to decide a winner.

Colin Blackwell was the hero for the Stars after an absolute chess match between the two clubs. He had six goals and 17 points in 63 games for the Stars this season, all while averaging 11:34 of ice time. While he has had five previous goals hold up as game-winners, this is the first time in his NHL career that he scored in overtime. 

The Stars had to grind their way to this victory, although they did control most of the play in the extra frame.

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

Los Angeles Kings Defeat Edmonton Oilers 6-5 (LA Leads Series 1-0)

This was easily the most dramatic game of the entire playoffs so far.

"This game is on some sort of substance," The Hockey News' Ryan Durham wrote in a live game thread.

From a 4-0 lead for the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-5 tie and a 6-5 Kings victory, this contest was a real rollercoaster.

It was a dreadful start for the Edmonton Oilers, which had a mountain to climb after two periods and were completely outplayed by Los Angeles. However, Oilers captain Connor McDavid put the team on his back.

Leon Draisaitl planted the seed, scoring the team’s first goal with an assist from McDavid and Evan Bouchard with just under five seconds remaining in the second.

There were six goals in the third period, four by Edmonton. They completed an improbable comeback, evening up the score with goals from Zach Hyman and McDavid in the last two minutes to make it a 5-5 game.

Despite this exciting comeback for Edmonton, they couldn’t force overtime as Phillip Danault gave the Kings the lead again, scoring with 41.1 seconds left.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Oilers, but a relieving win for L.A. 

“I’m so happy we won that game, because that would have been a s----y game to lose,” defenseman Drew Doughty told Sportsnet’s Gene Principe post-game.

Bouchard drew criticism for his defensive play Tuesday night with Mattias Ekholm missing the first round due to injury. But Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch had other words about Bouchard.

“I saw Evan give us an excellent opportunity to win tonight,” Knoblauch told the media post-game. “He made a lot of nice plays. Was his game perfect? I’m not sure anyone’s game was perfect tonight.”

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.

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, Andrew McInnis and Michael Augello react to a tight Game 1 between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens and take a look around the NHL playoff picture.

Playoff Frenzy Live - April 21 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

Will this series play out like the last time the two teams faced off in the playoffs in 2010? Just how good has Nick Suzuki been for the Canadiens since the 4 Nations Face-Off? And Alex Ovechkin scores again in big moments.

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

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas didn’t mince words when he addressed the media on Monday.

As part of Dubas’ post-season press conference, he talked about defenseman Erik Karlsson’s future with the Penguins and his view of a rebuild in Pittsburgh after a third straight season of missing the playoffs. He was direct throughout the questions and answers, including when he shared his expectations for Karlsson.

"Erik is and will forever be a polarizing figure,” Dubas said. “My view would be we expect him to be one of the people who pulls us from where we're at into contention.”

After the Penguins' season ended, the Swedish defenseman was vague about his future with the Penguins and said he “did not enjoy the last 15 games of the season.” 

He further explained that he does not look forward to missing many more playoff campaigns as he turns 35 in less than seven weeks. Karlsson made it clear he wants to play important games and make the playoffs.

“His actions have to match his ambitions,” Dubas said on Monday. He said Karlsson must be more reliable in terms of consistency. 

"He had moments of great play with too many inconsistencies,” Dubas said. “We have to push him to get here.”

However, Dubas believes in the defenseman, saying he has the tools to help this team get back to the playoff hunt.

“He showed throughout the year that he has another level to him,” the GM said.

He recalled Karlsson’s great performances for Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off and said he could help any team contend and win. Karlsson finished the tournament with a goal and three points in as many contests. Karlsson said the 4 Nations was as close to playoff hockey as he’s had in a while.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

Dubas also talked about where the Penguins stand in their “rebuild” phase. He provided a perspective of two different ways to rebuild in the NHL.

One way is to completely tear down a roster and build it back up through the draft. A little bit of luck in the draft lottery helps as well. But Dubas doesn’t plan to go down that route.

"You can hope in one hand and s--- in the other and see which one fills up first," he said.

He compared his team to the Washington Capitals, which turned around over last off-season to become one of the best in the NHL. The Pittsburgh GM highlighted what has worked for the Caps and the mix of young and old players.

“They’ve got obviously Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, John Carlson… and others that have been there. We have that here with our own high-end guys,” Dubas said. “The difference that I see between the teams is in that middle range. We don’t have Martin Fehervary and Connor McMichael, yet. We’re trying to rapidly get to that point.”

Dubas name-dropped a handful of players with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who could make a push in training camp next season to help fill in these middle-range roles.

He highlighted Jack St. Ivany, Owen Pickering, and Harrison Brunicke as blueliners who could emerge as potential NHL players next season.

As for the forwards, he said most of those youngsters have already made appearances this season due to injuries. Those players include Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen.

Tristan Broz could make his NHL debut next season for the Penguins. The team would’ve liked for him to play for Pittsburgh earlier, but Dubas said they didn’t want his first taste of the NHL to be in meaningless games or “playing a team that’s dressing 14 forwards and four D.” Broz finished his AHL campaign with 19 goals and 37 points in 59 games. 

Dubas’ Penguins have two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL draft, a second-rounder, three third-rounders and five more picks in deeper rounds. They also have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Karlsson and Kris Letang as some veterans signed through next season.

The Penguins had a 16-year post-season streak from 2007 to 2022. Before that, they missed the playoffs for four straight years but drafted Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury during that time. During this current three-year drought, their highest draft pick was Brayden Yager at 14th overall, and they traded him to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for McGroarty.

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 Seattle Kraken fired coach Dan Bylsma on Monday.

Bylsma leaves the Kraken after one season as their bench boss. The team went 35-41-6 for a .463 points percentage, the lowest since the Kraken's inaugural year in 2021-22.

“We thank Dan for his commitment and the energy he brought to our organization over the past four years at the NHL and AHL levels,” Kraken GM Ron Francis said in a statement. “After a thorough review of the season and our expectations for next year and beyond, we’ve made the difficult decision to move in a different direction behind the bench.”

The team didn't name a replacement. The Hockey News' Caroline Anne cited an ESPN report that assistant GM Jason Botterill could be promoted to GM while Francis stays on board, while Jessica Campbell, the NHL's first woman as a permanent assistant coach, is expected to remain with the team.

Bylsma replaced Dave Hakstol last season, after Hakstol had coached the team for its first three seasons. The team made it to the second round in 2022-23 but then fell out of a playoff position the following season. Bylsma got the job after guiding the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds to the 2023 and 2024 Calder Cup finals, losing both times to the Hershey Bears.

Bylsma has also won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year in 2010-11. In parts of nine seasons coached for the Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Kraken, the 54-year-old has a career NHL coaching record of 355-231-61 in 647 games and 43-35 in the playoffs.

The NHL has now seen three teams make post-season coaching changes, with the Anaheim Ducksparting with Greg Cronin and New York Rangersfiring Peter Laviolette on April 19. The Philadelphia Flyers also fired John Tortorella on March 27 before the season ended, with Brad Shaw becoming the interim coach.

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 NHL is so often focused, for good reason, on the races at the top of the standings, but the NHL Sour Rankings looks at the bottom. 

With the regular season complete, we now have the final standings and can examine their NHL draft lottery odds and what they might do moving forward. 

San Jose Sharks, 20-50-12

Lottery odds: 18.5 percent
First-overall odds: 25.5 percent

The Sharks finished last in the NHL for a second straight year, which means they have the best odds for first overall once again. They won the first-overall pick last year, taking likely Calder Trophy finalist Macklin Celebrini, giving them a top-line center for the next decade and more. 

The vibes were high this year despite their unfortunate results, and that can be attributed to the success of the rookies, the fun that the team had on and off the ice and an understanding that they weren’t expected to be great this year. 

If they get another top pick, blueliner Matthew Schaefer seems like the obvious choice for San Jose. He would give them a defender to build around and slot other prospects, such as Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni, into spots that better fit their skill set.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Blackhawks To Target Mitch Marner? Sharks To Shop First-Overall Pick?This was a difficult season for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. They improved marginally over their 2023-24 campaign amid concerns of growing frustration from franchise star Connor Bedard.

Chicago Blackhawks, 25-46-11

Lottery and first-overall odds: 13.5 percent

While the vibes were high in San Jose, the opposite was true for Chicago. 

Connor Bedard had 67 points this season, six more than his rookie year, but his points per game were down from 0.9 to 0.82. Frank Nazar looked good when he got into the lineup, and Artyom Levshunov had some bright moments when he got to the NHL. 

Chicago’s issue is it had so many injuries and plenty of underwhelming performances from the veterans. They just didn’t take the step they were expecting to take this year. You could see the frustration on the faces of players on a nightly basis, and the team was just down in the dumps from October to April. 

If they get the first-overall pick, pairing Michael Misa with Bedard would give them a one-two punch down the middle that opposing teams would envy, but they still need to surround them with steadying vets, something they were unable to do last summer. 

Nashville Predators, 30-44-8

Lottery and first-overall odds: 11.5 percent

No matter how many times we’ve checked in on the NHL Sour Rankings, seeing Nashville down here continues to be perplexing, at least until you watch the Predators play. They have a talented roster, and the lack of a full teardown at the deadline likely means the organization believes this season was a blip on the radar.

They won last off-season when they signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. They have a lot of talent with goalie Juuse Saros, left winger Filip Forsberg and defenseman Roman Josi, but getting everyone healthy and ready to go next season will be key. 

If they win the lottery, adding Misa or Schaefer would be a great addition, as they could start building the future while competing immediately next season. The Preds are a wild card going into the summer. 

Philadelphia Flyers, 33-39-10

Lottery and first-overall odds: 9.5 percent

After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, the Flyers finished last in the East this season. They did, however, bring in high-flying rookie Matvei Michkov, who lived up to expectations, reaching the 60-point plateau in his first season and delivering on the promise of a future star immediately. Management traded several former key pieces, and they have their eyes set on the future. 

They won’t have John Tortorella behind the bench because, despite the moderate success he had last season, he was outwardly frustrated with the team, which led to his firing. His rants and raves in the media were enough. 

The team is looking to usher in a new era centered around Michkov, and a top-five pick this summer would be a big piece in building toward a better future.

Pluses And Minuses: What The Flyers, Blackhawks And Bruins Must Consider With Their Interim CoachesThe Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks have more in common than their lackluster seasons.

Boston Bruins, 33-39-10

Lottery and first-overall odds: 8.5 percent  

As much as everyone outside of Boston seems to be enjoying the downfall of the once-strong Bruins, they moved on from the old guard and are focused on building around Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak. It also means the Bruins are slated to get a top-five pick and have a decent chance at first overall. 

If the Bruins were to draft Misa or Schaefer, they’d get a new top prospect who sets them up for another run at being a contender for a very long time. The Bruins have been a contender for over a decade, and this year was a true fall from grace, but with the players they sold and the young players coming, they shouldn’t be down here long. 

Seattle Kraken, 35-41-6

Lottery and first-overall odds: 7.5 percent  

The Kraken seem to understand where they are, and they did a good job this season of making the right moves at the deadline to help set themselves up for the future. 

They have some very solid young players, such as Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, and their prospect pool is solid, but they need a true difference-maker and a centerpiece to build around. Misa or Schaefer could be that player. The Kraken would benefit from a lottery win, but they're in a good spot to get another solid young player regardless. 

Buffalo Sabres, 36-39-7

Lottery and first-overall odds: 6.5 percent  

Why are you still here? That’s the question everyone, Sabres fan or not, has been asking this squad, which sits at the bottom of the standings once again. 

It’s tough to gauge what Buffalo needs. They have some solid forwards, some studs on the back end and a couple of good goalies. Obviously, adding Misa, Schaefer or any other top-end talent in this draft will be a good thing, but the Sabres need to figure out how to get out of the basement, period. 

Anaheim Ducks, 35-37-10

Lottery and first-overall odds: 6.0 percent  

The Ducks were an interesting team this year. They have a lot of young talent up and down the roster, with more on the way. They have some crafty veterans as well. Anaheim seems to be on the rise, and it had a better second half of the season as its young players continued to improve and get more comfortable at the NHL level. It’s going to be interesting to see what they add at the draft and how they rise next year.

Pittsburgh Penguins, 34-36-12

Lottery and first-overall odds: 5.0 percent  

The Penguins are in a downfall. We are seeing the final years of Sidney Crosby’s NHL career come on a team with very little chance of contention unless something drastic changes. 

If they wind up with the eighth-overall pick, they aren’t getting a player who can change their fortunes anytime soon. Even if they win the lottery and get their choice of player at the top, they can’t rely on a rookie to be the Robin to Crosby’s Batman and hope for success. They need to decide on what comes next for this team, with or without Sid. 

New York Islanders, 35-35-12

Lottery and first-overall odds: 3.5 percent  

The Islanders decided to move Brock Nelson, bringing in Calum Ritchie and proving they needed to retool some things at the very least. 

They need to add more speed and skill to the roster. They have needs all over the lineup. The Islanders are dangerously close to sitting in the mushy middle for years. A lottery win would be great for this team, but any added skill would help long-term. 

New York Rangers, 39-36-7

Lottery and first-overall odds: 3.0 percent  

Oh, how the mighty have fallen – and it was ugly. 

The Rangers’ season fell off the rails early. After an off-season in which they tried to trade captain Jacob Trouba, tensions were high coming into the year, and things just continued to go south from there. The team traded notable players during the season, including Trouba, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, while bringing in J.T. Miller and Will Borgen, among other assets. 

It’s been a weird year. They are the last team that could move up into the first-overall selection with the lottery, but with the luck they’ve had this year, I wouldn’t count on it.

Larkin Expresses Frustration with Red Wings Trade Deadline ApproachDylan Larkin is not just the Red Wings captain.  He is also the team's longest tenured player, the only one left with first hand experience of playoff hockey in Detroit, and he grew up 40 minutes northwest of Little Caesars Arena in Waterford.  When you put it all together, it's no surprise that Larkin wears his team's shortcomings and nine season playoff drought the hardest.  At Saturday's locker clean-out day, Larkin expressed one particular aspect of that frustration.

Detroit Red Wings, 39-35-8

Lottery odds: 2.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

Forever the bridesmaid and never the bride. Is that comment about the playoffs or the draft lottery? No one knows, but it’s certainly true in both cases for the Red Wings.

The Wings were in a playoff spot for long stretches this season before falling out at the end, just as they did last year. They also weren’t bad enough to even be in the running for first overall as the first team outside of the range to move into the top pick. 

Detroit’s best players were its young, homegrown talent. Its worst were the guys it signed to insulate the younger players. Fix the surrounding roster, and the young guys will probably get them to the postseason. It feels that simple, but the Yzerplan is struggling to get it going. 

Columbus Blue Jackets, 40-33-9

Lottery odds: 2.0 percent (0 percent for first overall)

The Blue Jackets were the darlings of the season.

They were in the running for a playoff spot up until their last game, and they had so many good things happen to them on the ice. Adam Fantilli’s ascension was fantastic, reaching the 30-goal mark. The duo of Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov elevated their game even more this season. Zach Werenski is a Norris Trophy contender.

The Blue Jackets were legitimately fun this season after an off-season filled with tragedy. A lottery win wouldn’t get them into the top two, but it would help them add another promising young talent for a team on the rise. 

Utah Hockey Club, 38-31-13

Lottery odds: 1.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

In their first season in Utah, the former Coyotes players looked like they were having fun again.

The team was finding some level of success on the ice and plenty more off of it. Utah still has some holes, and its young players are improving, but it could use a few more prospects entering the NHL and making an impact. Thankfully, the Hockey Club has a solid stable of players coming. This team is close to making a push for the playoffs, which could happen as soon as next season.

Vancouver Canucks, 38-30-14

Lottery odds: 0.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

The Vancouver Canucks were essentially the Rangers-West, which made it all the more entertaining when the Canucks swapped Miller for Chytil and a pick just to flip the pick for more immediate help. 

The constant drama around the club, from the Elias Pettersson and Miller saga to the weird pending divorce with Brock Boeser, made the season a drag. This team has elite talent, such as Quinn Hughes, but they need a return to form for Pettersson and a lot of other things to fall into place, or they will become the epitome of the mediocre mushy middle.

Rick Tocchet Sounds Like He Has Unfinished Business With The Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are out of the playoffs and moving into summer mode, but 2024 Jack Adams Award winner Rick Tocchet will hold onto the title of NHL coach of the year for a few more weeks.

Calgary Flames, 41-27-14, (Montreal Owns Pick)

Lottery odds: 0.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

Montreal owns Calgary’s first-round pick, but Calgary has New Jersey’s, so they shouldn’t be too upset with how this season went. They had star rookie Dustin Wolf assert himself as the guy in net, Jonathan Huberdeau quietly had a very good season, and the Flames almost made the playoffs despite many predicting them to sit near the bottom. 

Calgary needs to build on what they did this season, and finding a way to continue adding young talent will help ensure that it’s not just a one- or two-season playoff contention window.

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.