‘Head of the snake': Teammates, opponents impressed by Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev
Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev (8) clears the puck in front of goaltender Joseph Woll (60) as Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks on during Game 2 of the teams' second-round playoff series in Toronto on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
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National Post
21 minutes ago
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The depth chart in the crease
As we enter the final week of our position-by-position series tracking the Calgary Flames Retool, it's time to look at goaltenders. Article content It's a spot where a lot of ink has been spilled recently, whether that was about trading Jacob Markstrom a year ago to Dustin Wolf winning the starter's job and emerging as a Calder Trophy contender. Article content Article content Wolf's emergence puts the Flames in a nice spot for the foreseeable future, but it doesn't mean there aren't questions. Article content Here's a look at where the organization stands at goaltender, from top to bottom: Article content 1. Wolf's next step Article content There isn't much mystery about who is going to be starting in the crease for the Flames for the foreseeable future. Dustin Wolf 's fantastic rookie season has brought clarity to the position and you could comfortably argue that it has fast-tracked the retool as you don't want to waste his prime years. Wolf went 29-16-8 last season, with a 2.64 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage, earning himself a Calder Trophy nomination. Only three goalies — Stuart Skinner, Jordan Binnington and Alex Nedeljkovic — have earned Rookie of the Year nominations over the past 10 years, so Wolf is in nice company. He'll have to prove he can do it again and again, year after year, but that's true of every goalie. Assuming he does, the Flames have a franchise cornerstone already in place. He's a restricted free agent next summer, so getting a new deal in place will be a top priority for the organization over the next 12 months. Article content Article content 2. Vladar's future Article content After Dan Vladar 's end-of-season media availability, the conversation around the Ed Whalen Media Centre at the Saddledome was cautiously optimistic about the Flames' backup of four years reupping for another stint. There hasn't been any news since and with Vladar set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, it gets more likely by the day that the Flames will be looking for someone else to fill the backup duties behind Wolf. There's absolutely still an argument for bringing Vladar back if a deal can get done. He shouldn't be too expensive, worked well with Wolf last year and already understands the team's culture. Article content If Vladar and the Flames do mutually decide to go their separate ways, who could find themselves backing up Wolf next year? There are a few contenders. Devin Cooley was the best goalie in the AHL for the first few months of last season and while his numbers dropped in the back half, he still finished the season with a 2.94 goals-against-average and a .905 save percentage. The 28-year-old has six games of NHL experience and will want to be competing. There are rumours the Flames are a leading contender to sign Russian shot-stopper Ivan Prosvetov, too, as he eyes an NHL return. The free-agency market for goaltenders is sparse this summer, with Jake Allen being the best of the bunch.
Toronto Sun
23 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Panthers' Game 3 rat towel gimmick trolls Leafs, Canes and Bolts
Teams handing out towels for their fans to wave isn't new, but Florida has taken it to the next level The towel being handed out to Panthers fans in Florida. Note the Maple Leaf and the lightning bolt and the hurricane flag? Photo by Steven Sandor / Postmedia When the Florida Panthers skate onto the ice at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday, fans will be waving red and white towels made especially for this year's Stanley Cup Final. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The seats are blanketed in 'Rats Rule' towels that the fans will wave before and during Game 3 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. The rat has long been a symbol of the Panthers franchise. There's even a rat mural in the media area at the arena. The rat tradition dates back to 1995 when Panther Scott Mellanby smashed a rat with his stick in the team's old dressing room at the Miami Arena, then went out and scored twice that night. Rubber and plastic rats being showered on the ice became a thing as the Panthers made a Cinderella run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final, where they were smashed by the Colorado Avalanche. Take a close look at the photo below before you read any more of this article. Blow it up if you have to. Can you find the three NHL teams being trolled in the art? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It shouldn't be hard to figure out which three teams are being mocked here. Maybe the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Panthers' first-round victim. Do you see the lightning bolt just above the rat's foot? What about the Carolina Hurricanes' warning flag logo near the knob of the stick? And, sorry, Leafs Nation, of course, the Panthers didn't forget you. Once you see the Maple Leaf in the rat's ear, you can't unsee it. The towel being handed out to Panthers fans in Florida. Note the Maple Leaf in the ear? Steven Sandor/Postmedia Photo by Steven Sandor / Postmedia The thing is, in a little more than a week, will a new rat also feature an Oil drop? Read More Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun World Sunshine Girls Golf Editorial Cartoons Sunshine Girls
CBC
37 minutes ago
- CBC
Oilers' forward Corey Perry playing key role in 20th NHL season
Social Sharing Mark Hunter remembers pulling Corey Perry aside for a chat. The co-owner and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights wanted to make sure his player understood the consequences. "Grit, hitting people and punching people," Hunter recalled of the skinny teenager's on-ice approach. "He was like 160 pounds … 'Seriously Corey, don't be doing that. You might get hurt by somebody.' "But he didn't want to be pushed around. There was desire to be the best." Not much has changed. The 40-year-old Oilers winger in his 20th NHL season is playing important minutes and making big contributions as Edmonton sits tied 1-1 with Florida in a Stanley Cup Final rematch. Promoted to the team's top line alongside superstar captain Connor McDavid since Zach Hyman suffered a dislocated wrist last round, Perry forced overtime with 17.8 seconds remaining in regulation in Friday's Game 2 before the defending champion Panthers secured a 5-4 victory in double OT. The motivation remains the same as when he played for the Knights. "To win," said Perry, who was selected 28th overall by Anaheim at the 2003 draft and won his only Cup with the Mighty Ducks in 2007. "I love being around the rink, I love being around the guys, I love the competitive fire that's still inside me." WATCH | Oilers' Perry sends Game 2 to OT with goal late in regulation: Oilers' Perry sends Game 2 to OT with goal late in regulation 2 days ago Duration 1:30 The Peterborough, Ont., product joined the Oilers midway through last season following an ugly end to his brief stint with the Chicago Blackhawks. Signed to mentor an up-and-coming roster, the club terminated his deal in November 2023 after alleging he violated his standard player contract and team policies "intended to promote professional and safe work environments." Neither the Blackhawks nor Perry were willing to provide details. Perry apologized for his actions and said he'd started seeking help for alcohol abuse before signing with Edmonton after a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "The situation that happened, it happened," Perry said earlier this week. "I've dealt with it and I've learned from it. It was unfortunate." McDavid said Perry's calming presence was for a team that roared back to force Game 7 in last year's final against the Panthers after falling behind 3-0 in the title series. "Makes great, subtle, little plays," said Edmonton's No. 97. "His gamesmanship, understands the ebbs and flows of the games, the intricacies that not every fan sitting at home understands. He's played in every big game." Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Perry was crucial in last year's run to the final that ended in heartbreak. "Allowed the team to settle things down," said the second-year head coach. "When he spoke, guys listened because of the respect that they have for him." Dale Hunter — Mark's brother and the Knights' head coach who had Perry in London from 2001 to 2005 — said his passion for the game hasn't wavered. "He's a battler," said Dale Hunter, who won the Memorial Cup with Perry in his final junior season before the Knights also climbed Canadian junior hockey's mountain in 2016 and again last month. "He loved hockey, and it's never changed." The Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP in 2011 with Anaheim has 448 goals and 487 assists for 935 points across 1,392 contests with six franchises over his two decades in the league. He's added 62 goals, including eight this spring alone, and 77 assists for 139 points in 233 playoff contests. Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse said he and Perry, who is in his sixth Cup final and plans to play a 21st campaign in 2025-26, have talked about their past battles. "We've had some fun moments," said Nurse. "He's been so important for this group — the experience and all the big moments that he's played in." Perry, who had 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 games in 2024-25 while averaging just under 12 minutes of ice time, said getting ready each summer — especially the short ones after long post-season runs — is an increasing challenge. "You try to give your body some time to rest," he said. "But you're also like, 'Man, we've got to be back in camp in six weeks."' These are good times for Perry. His seven-year-old son, Griffin, is a staple around the Oilers, including at NHL media day before the start of the Cup final. He's also been through some tough times. Apart from the contract termination in Chicago, he was bought out of the final two years of his long-term deal with the Ducks in June 2019 for salary-cap reasons. "The highest of highs and some pretty low moments," he said. "I use that as motivation." Mark Hunter said players — their desires and priorities — often change with age. But not Perry. "They lose that gleam in their eye," Hunter said. "If you watch him, there is excitement, passion, desire, loving the moment. It's hard to find at 40. People don't usually have that, but he does.
