Edmonton Oilers deal with goalie debate. Florida Panthers, 1 win from 2nd-straight Stanley Cup, have Bobrovsky
When the Edmonton Oilers face elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers, either Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard will lead them on to the ice as their starting goaltender.
The defending champion Panthers have no such debate. Two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky has started 63 consecutive playoff games going back to early in the playoffs in 2023, and he is a big reason they are on the cusp of winning a second consecutive title.
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stands on the ice before the start of Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup final against the Edmonton Oilers Monday, June 9, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
Lynne Sladky / AP
"He puts so much time into his focus and his ability and then the experience that he has, so there's a calmness that comes with Sergei that's spread throughout the team," coach Paul Maurice said Sunday. "He's the incredible, elite player that gets totally underappreciated: taken for granted, I guess, by us because he's so consistent with his game."
Bobrovsky has stopped 165 of the 181 shots on net during the final, allowing 16 goals with a save percentage of .912. Skinner and Pickard have combined to stop 141 of 163, allowing 22 with respective save percentages of .860 and .878.
Many of those goals scored by Florida and allowed by Edmonton had more to do with the skaters in front of whoever is in the crease, hence a rotating door at hockey's most important position in the final. Skinner started the first four, Pickard entered Game 4 and won in relief, then lost Game 5.
Skinner will probably get the nod in Game 6, but coach Kris Knoblauch is not saying which way he's leaning.
"It's not an easy decision," Knoblauch said. "We've got two goalies that have shown that they can play extremely well, win hockey games and we feel that no matter who we choose, they can win the game."
That confidence is even stronger around the Panthers, given how steady Bobrovsky has been. Even though Game 5 turned into a rout, Maurice credited the goalie known as "Bob" for a handful of important early saves to make it possible.
It is something Bobrovsky has done all series, all playoffs and all season for a long time.
"He keeps us in the game so many times at key moments and is making huge saves," top defenseman Gustav Forsling said. "He always gives us a chance to win every night. He's been amazing for us."
Bobrovsky at 36 is adored by teammates. Aaron Ekblad, who has played with him for six seasons, called him simply the best.
"We love him," Ekblad said. "There's no doubt about it."
That admiration has been earned. Bobrovsky has developed a reputation for his tireless work on dry land and the practice habits on the ice that have translated into results: a lot of winning.
Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky looks on during a stoppage in play during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, in Edmonton, on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
DARRYL DYCK / AP
It's no coincidence the Panthers have won 10 of 11 playoff series since Bobrovsky took over for Alex Lyon three games into the first round in 2023.
"He just sticks kind of to the same routine, and his preparation is unlike anything I've ever seen while being in this league," forward Evan Rodrigues said. "It almost becomes routine some of the incredible saves he makes."
There is nothing routine about how the Oilers' goaltending has developed over the course of the final. Skinner and Pickard have each been hung out to dry by turnovers, mistakes and missed coverages.
They have also made some unexpected stops along the way to keep this series going.
"They've both been amazing," veteran winger Corey Perry said. "It doesn't matter who's in the net or who's back there. We have trust in both of them."
Maurice, who has coached more games in the NHL than anyone but nine-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman, has made it clear he knows nothing about goaltending and has no interest in learning about it. But he has defended all the goaltenders in this final between "two really powerful offensive teams" with plenty of star power.
Still, Bobrovsky has the ability to swing it in Florida's direction with another of the performances his team has come to expect from him.
"His ability to focus is trained — maybe it's a talent," Maurice said. "If one gets by him that he doesn't like, it has nothing to do with what's going to happen next."
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New York Times
29 minutes ago
- New York Times
Evaluating 13 potential Senators picks for 2025 NHL Draft: Blake Fiddler? Malcolm Spence?
With a wide selection of players available to them with the 21st pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and a limited prospect pool, it is no surprise that the Ottawa Senators are approaching their first selection with a 'best-player-available' mentality. Underscoring the team's need to get talent wherever it can: Since the 2021 draft class, just one Senators draft pick has suited up in NHL games, with Zack Ostapchuk playing 50 for Ottawa before he was traded to the Sharks in March. Whichever player the Senators take, he will instantly become either the team's top prospect or its second, behind Carter Yakemchuk. Advertisement This year's pick carries even more importance as the Sens forfeited their first-round pick in 2026 due to the team's role in a nullified trade involving forward Evgenii Dadonov in March of 2022. Based on recent mock drafts, draft rankings, projections and consultations with The Athletic draft experts Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler, here's a list of players who could be available to the Senators when they are on the clock in the first round later this month. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 24 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 22 Spence is a high-compete winger with some size and offensive ability, while also being frustrating to play against. The Senators have a few younger players who fit that bill at the NHL level already, and the postseason has shown why those players are of value. Ottawa wouldn't complain if Spence turned into a solid, middle-of-the-lineup contributor if they chose him. Recent mock drafts at The Athletic have projected Spence being taken in the early 20s in this month's draft, so he could very well be in Ottawa's sights. Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton (WHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 22 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 29 A big, imposing right-shot defenceman with mobility, Fiddler doesn't have the same offensive ability as a player like Yakemchuk. Fiddler's play has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Kings defenceman Joel Edmundson. If that means he can be a minute-munching, middle-pair defenceman who can play solid defense and take away space from opposing players, the Sens would benefit from having him in their prospect pool. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 15 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 32 Despite the wide range in opinion from our prospect gurus, Nesbitt's size, physicality, ability to play centre and play on the puck make him an enticing option for the Senators at No. 21. His skating doesn't appear to be a plus in his game. 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Advertisement Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 14 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 23 An all-around forward who will entice teams despite being under six feet and not having eye-popping offensive statistics, Cootes was taken with the 12th pick by the Rangers in our recent staff mock draft. Cootes's skill, speed, competitiveness and shot are among his biggest assets, in addition to being a two-way player. Cootes would bolster the Sens' centre depth in their prospect pool if he fell to Ottawa. Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 23 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 18 I've been told a few times not to expect Lakovic to fall to the Senators at No. 21, but if he's available, the Senators should have him high on their list. A big forward who can skate and produce offence with a 'high-end' shot will be top of mind for a handful of teams, possibly out of the Sens' range. Wheeler says Lakovic is of interest to the Columbus Blue Jackets, while the Canadiens nabbed him in our recent staff mock draft. Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener (OHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 20 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 19 Reid is a candidate to be off the board once it's the Sens' turn. The Kitchener left shot is projected as a second-pair defender who stands out thanks to his skating and vision, drawing comparisons to Flyers defenceman Jamie Drysdale. Considering the importance of puck-moving defencemen in recent years, Reid could be snatched up rather quickly, even if he's hovering around 5-11 or 6 feet tall. William Horcoff, C, Michigan (NCAA) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 28 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 50 Horcoff intrigues with his size and shot, among other offensive capabilities, but he doesn't appear to be a strong skater. Even with the wide range in appeal between Pronman and Wheeler's rankings, Horcoff should be considered a late first-round pick at best. The Sens don't have a second-round pick this year to trade up into the first round. But if the Sens (who say they're open to anything) end up trading down in the draft, Horcoff becomes a candidate. Advertisement Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 30 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 56 Prokhorov is a big winger at 6-foot-5 who can score goals and get to the dirty areas, particularly the net-front. While he won't wow as many people with his hockey sense, playmaking or skating, he could be a late first-round pick for some team who'd want him. Even Wheeler, who has him as his 56th-best prospect on his board, acknowledged the possibility. Same with Horcoff, Prokhorov is a pick the Sens should only consider grabbing if they somehow trade down in the first round or obtain a second-rounder for this year's draft. Haoxi 'Simon' Wang, LHD, Oshawa (OHL) Pronman's latest prospect ranking: No. 44 Wheeler's latest prospect ranking: No. 44 The only prospect in our exercise where our draft experts were in lock-step on their ranking. The Beijing-born Wang is a mountain at 6-foot-6 who surprised many with his skating, which makes him one of the more fascinating prospects in the draft. But he's still projected as a second-round pick. Wheeler recently identified Wang as a trade-down candidate for the Senators in his latest mock draft. (Top photo of Blake Fiddler: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Wild's Judd Brackett discusses 2025 NHL Draft plans, Marco Rossi, prospects and more
This year's NHL Scouting Combine was different for Minnesota Wild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett. The Wild don't have a first-round pick (thanks to the David Jiricek trade), nor did they have a third-rounder. So there weren't nearly as many interviews in Buffalo as they focused on who they might take as their second-rounder (No. 52). Advertisement 'It's certainly harder to predict,' Brackett said on the 'Fellowship of the Rink' podcast. 'Years past, when you know whether it's 13 or a specific number, you can start to ballpark maybe four, five, six players. Forecasting 52 is way out of your control.' The Wild feel they've hit on some gems in the second round in recent years, from Ryder Ritchie last year to Riley Heidt (2023) and Hunter Haight (2022). Does the fact they don't have a first or third put more pressure on Brackett and his staff to hit on this year's second? 'To say, 'Is there more pressure?' Probably not — we want to hit on all these players,' Brackett said. 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Sam Rinzel and Jimmy Snuggerud went after Liam Ohgren at No. 19 in the 2022 draft (the Wild got a strong combo of Oghren and Yurov in the first round). Wyatt Johnston went three picks after the Wild took potential goalie of the future Jesper Wallstedt at No. 20 in 2021. The Wild took defenseman Jack Peart in the second round that year (No. 54). Matthew Knies went three picks later. Advertisement Does Brackett, in general, ever have any regrets? 'Always,' Brackett said. 'This is an incredibly humbling business. We're talking about 17-, 18-year-olds. This is a draft and development, much like MLB. It's not a plug-and-play into your lineup and your scheme. It can be very humbling. What you thought might happen doesn't. There's always times where you love a player and someone picks them two picks in front of you. The opportunity wasn't there to do it. 'There's always retrospect and looking back and learning from it. I try not to name names on the record. But there are players we look back on and say, 'Man, we were so close, or 'We had it this way, imagine if it was one or two off?' But you stay to your core values and stick with your staff and truly believe in the picks you make, you're going to be thrilled with what you have and stand behind the player you picked and hope they continue to develop the way you envisioned on draft day.' The Wild made Marco Rossi the No. 9 pick in 2020. He's overcome a missed year of development due to COVID-19 and a subsequent heart condition. Rossi was the team's second-leading scorer last season, though he could be moved this summer if the Wild can't come to an agreement on a contract with the pending restricted free agent. Brackett and the team's brass took Rossi over the likes of Anton Lundell, Seth Jarvis. 'I think on draft day, what it was with us for Marco, outside of the 40 goals, 80 assists, the monster production, it was the detail he played with,' Brackett said. 'An import player coming over that's undersized that takes the OHL by storm, that doesn't happen. And, you know what, more than just the production, it was the driver. It was making others better. We were steadfast that he was going to be a National Hockey League center and he would be a top-six center. His hockey sense was unparalleled. It probably was a slower roll to becoming that player, but I think Marco has become the player we thought he'd be.' Advertisement When asked what prospects Brackett is most excited about, he said the 'headliner' is Buium. 'He wins another World Junior, goes to win the World Championship, gets the taste of the National Hockey League,' Brackett said. 'He's the headliner in a sense that he continues to deliver. There's excitement about his play, the skill level. It goes without saying what he brings. 'He's got an infectious personality. The skill level is there. This is where he wants to be. I think honestly, when he steps on the ice every night, he wants to be the best player. I don't see that from a cocky, arrogant standpoint, he truly thinks he can and will be. That'll continue to drive his game and I think what his future potential might be is honestly up to him.' Brackett also weighed in on several other Wild prospects: On Ryder Ritchie: 'He's an August birthday, still 18 years old. His age is also a part of where he is in his maturity. You see his body is still changing. He looks like he's pushing around 6-1 right now. A player who dealt with injuries in his draft year, settled in nicely, had injuries this year with a skate to the eye, still finished with 40 goals. There's no question about his ability to release the puck and mesh with other high-end talent. His game is still very much in its infancy.' On David Jiricek: 'The hallmark of David's game is his compete level. You've got the huge, hulking frame, 6-4, right shot. Moves well enough; it's still an area he continues to work on. But you see him off the ice, he's still very much got pounds to put on and man strength to come. I think with that you'll see more strength, more balance, more engagement on the ice. He plays a very assertive game, loves to pinch at the offensive blue line and get involved. He has a huge shot. 'At the time of his draft year, he already had played in a men's league, had world junior experience, had been on the big stage and a leader for his team nationally. He's a player we believe in. He just needs a bit of streamlining in his development path. There's been a lot of ups and downs for him. That speaks to the caliber of player — he's so close that, at times, you think he's ready. But sometimes he needs a little bit more seasoning. A player we're excited about. Great attitude, comes to work every day. It's a really hard player to find. Right shot with that size with that pedigree. Looking at your defense for under-23 with (Brock) Faber, Buium and Jiricek, there's a lot to be excited about.' Advertisement On Danila Yurov: 'Another player who had surgery. Even if you saw how quickly he came back from the last injury, you see how much fire there is in this player. Another one of ours who won a championship. He led his team in scoring. Plays up the middle. Two-way. Can skate, handles the puck, terrific shot. I'm excited to see his integration to North America. He's got a great personality, there's always a smile on his face. He's been talking about being in North America since the day we met him in Montreal. I expect him to attack it with that kind of vigor.' On Charlie Stramel: 'That was the perfect situation this year. A familiar coach, a program on the rise. A big opportunity. I think it goes without saying that Will Morlock and the strength and conditioning staff at MSU did a great job. Charlie is significantly lighter this year, moving great. I think also with (coach Adam Nightingale), his identity is very clear. He's straight-line, he's getting to the net, he's making room, he's winning faceoffs. It was fun to watch Charlie, he was enjoying hockey again. It was a tough track for him. He's been through some things off the ice, he went in early to school, had a coaching change, maybe lacked some support as well. He had a great year and we want to see him go back and do it again and hopefully win a national championship.' On Liam Ohgren: 'For Marco and Liam, the conscientious two-way game can sometimes supersede the offensive ability. Liam can shoot the puck as well as anybody. For me, one of his strengths his draft year was his ability to forecheck. As he gets more and more comfortable and more of an opportunity to get in and pressure pucks and create turnovers, you're going to see how strong he is at that. He's great at angling, has a really good stick, can create turnovers down low. He can beat goalies clean from that level with his shot, which is not easy to do. He's coming. The confidence is there. I'm excited to see how he arrives at camp. He's built like a tank.' On Hunter Haight: 'I think a big one for Hunter is his mindset. He's already had that first good step, quickness and speed, skill, hockey sense. But I think for a guy in his frame, part of what makes him really successful is he chose to be. He chose to engage in battles, he chose to win pucks, never takes the long route. He's quick on pucks, he forces things and he can read and react off others. A lot of it is he decides to be as good as he is going to be. That was his choice for him to go out and make an impression (in AHL Iowa). It started at rookie camp, even amongst his peers, he wanted to stand out. It's not always about ability, sometimes it's also about that drive and that compete, that will to want to get there, and I think Hunter has that.' (Top photo of Marco Rossi: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Will Maple Leafs target Brad Marchand, Nikolaj Ehlers? Move Morgan Rielly?
We're really getting into silly season now. Trade rumours are flying, and with Chris Kreider's cap hit dumped to the Anaheim Ducks, more actual trades are likely to start flowing once the Stanley Cup Final wraps this week. First of all, I appreciate your patience waiting for me to get to some of your many excellent questions. I'm hoping to do more of these as we wind through what is going to be a very busy, challenging offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Advertisement Let's start by digging into some of your most pressing queries two weeks out from July 1 … Editor's note: Questions have been edited for clarity. Is one of Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand going to be a Leaf next season? — Emele V. The one who almost certainly won't be is Bennett, who is either going back to Florida or hitting a massive UFA home run with a team that has acres of cap space, such as Utah. That's just his personal choice, from what I've been hearing. Marchand, however, is going to enter free agency with a ton of suitors, and you'd really be guessing trying to forecast where he lands. I do think he'll be interested in the challenge/opportunity of coming to Toronto and trying to help them finally have more playoff success. But it's going to cost the Leafs (or whoever ends up signing him). A 37-year-old who had 51 points during the regular season getting term (at least three years) and big dollars ($8 million plus a season) would be unheard of any other year, but you have this confluence of factors — a lot of teams with cap space, a ton of teams needing scoring, his unique skill set and a huge postseason performance — that will get Marchand there. If the Leafs are willing to meet that asking price, I really think they'll have a decent shot. There just aren't going to be many contenders willing to spend that much. And, frankly, it's not like they're going to have a ton of other high-end options, so he might represent their best shot to change this team's DNA when the games matter the most. There's obviously risk there, but that's the same for just about any path this summer. At least it's a gamble with some logic behind it. And I don't think that number will be so onerous as to prevent them from trying to add elsewhere, too. So frontload the deal, putting up $11 million or more in Year 1, and take a chance. Advertisement Have you heard of any buzz around the idea of moving Morgan Rielly this summer? He isn't moving like he used to, and it seems possible that both he and Vancouver would be open to him going home. — Mike C. I have heard the talk in the fan base and media. But I don't think he has any interest in leaving. I've covered Rielly since draft day back in 2012, and a few things have stood out the whole way. He's a proud person, someone who I believe is going to be really determined to have a better season next year. And he really does love Toronto and playing for this team. While not a local, I think he feels like a Torontonian now (and he's married someone from Ontario and started a family). He's not going to want to give up on being a Leaf and trying to help them have more success. That's his DNA. I understand why fans are frustrated with his season (and $7.5 million cap hit), but the deal he signed in 2021 has a full no-movement clause for another three years. Yes, other players with NMCs have been dealt by other organizations, and it's not impossible to make that happen through tough conversations and brute force. At the moment, however, there's no indication the Leafs are going down that path. If Rielly continues to struggle, I could see that being on the table down the line. (A buyout doesn't really make sense to me, given he would be movable.) What I have also heard is that Toronto would like its blue line to be able to break the puck out better and help defenders maintain possession more, something that was an issue against Florida. In an ideal world, that would mean bringing in another puckmover, not moving out the only one they have (or two if you include Oliver Ekman-Larsson), but it's hard to see them being able to address the composition of their defence with all of their needs up front and the limited options in free agency. For now, they need Rielly to be part of that solution. He knows he needs to be better. Advertisement Should the Leafs target Nikolaj Ehlers? He seems like he'd be a good fit as a top-six winger replacement for Marner. — Andrew C. In a vacuum, I can see the argument for it, given their needs up front and the thinness of the UFA crop. But he's going to command upward of $9 million a season, has struggled historically in the playoffs and brings little physical element. I can't see him being a fit with the style the coach and GM want this team to play, especially not at that number. And I doubt he would have success here. Do you think Nick Robertson is a Maple Leaf next season? What would he be worth in a trade? — Kyle N. The fact that he was scratched for 10 of 13 playoff games speaks volumes. Like Ehlers, he's really just not a great fit for this coach and play style. The tricky thing is Robertson is an RFA with arbitration rights, and it's hard to know what kind of an award he might get, given he's scored 29 goals over the last two seasons. They can't walk away from whatever it is, so it could be like the Timothy Liljegren scenario last year, where they really want to avoid the unknowns of that process. (Dom's player cards have Robertson's market value at $1.8 million.) But with Robertson requesting a trade a year ago and struggling to stick in the lineup regularly, his camp could certainly pursue that process and/or make a contract negotiation difficult. His qualifying offer alone is $918,750, and Toronto probably won't want to spend anything beyond that to retain him. The best outcome here is likely going to be a trade before it gets to that point. I can't see the Leafs getting more than a late-round pick for him, however. But it's hard to see a scenario where he succeeds in Toronto. If the Leafs had simply lost a fairly close seven-game series to the defending Stanley Cup champions without the nightmarish humiliations of Games 5 and 7, would Brendan Shanahan still have a job? Would Toronto fans have been satisfied with that outcome? — Daniel M. No one at MLSE is going to tell us for sure, but I believe the answer is yes, they would have kept the upper management team the same. Those embarrassing losses with ownership sitting in the expensive seats were a big-time slap in the face to the decision makers. Advertisement Would fans have been satisfied with more of the status quo? I doubt it, but it really depends on who you ask. I find the Leafs fan base is heavily splintered right now. (Just look at the comments these days.) We should probably do a survey at some point to gauge the mood of the group. My perspective is that after 11 years, it was time for a shakeup at the top. There's a real staleness that has set in with the Leafs, and it goes beyond the Core Four and what's happening on the ice. But, as I wrote here, I also think they should be looking for a new president to add some high-level managerial and championship experience to the organization. They should view this as an opportunity to improve, rather than to save money. I suspect that's what happens next year if there's a step back on the ice in 2025-26. Which is why there's a lot of pressure on GM Brad Treliving now. Where does Brandon Pridham fit into the future of the Leafs front office? — Matthew B. What I've heard is he really wants to be in Toronto and hasn't been looking elsewhere. At the combine in Buffalo earlier this month, he was the only AGM whom I saw front and center in the meetings with Treliving. He's a local guy who's well compensated and valued in his role. I don't get the sense he's aggressively chasing a GM job at this point. When will the pain end? — Wesley D. You might want to get that looked at. I find physio helps. No, in all seriousness, I get the angst in the fan base right now. It's not going to be easy for this group to take a step forward. There are a lot of holes to fill and not much to fill them with. That said, this is still going to be an interesting offseason. Not all is lost. There are finally going to be changes at the top of the roster. A lot of what made Toronto a 108-point team this past season remains, even if some of that success was unsustainable and adjustments are needed. While Marner is going to be difficult to replace, at least you're going to get a different approach to roster building in the fall, one that attempts to build more depth. Advertisement But it's probably healthy to get some time away from this group this summer! I know I will. How does the team get younger talent onto the roster, having blown away so much early-round draft capital and prospects? They have been backfilling with college free agents and unsigned draft picks or undrafted players, but those are long shots. Who could they trade off the roster to begin repairing the current prospect pool? — Chris B. Has the Maple Leafs' obsession with short-term competitiveness — at the expense of future assets — created a cycle where meaningful postseason success is impossible without first accepting a step back? — Eph M. A step back to what, though? Trying to draft their way out of this? That feels impossible given how long it takes for those players to make an impact. I've seen a lot of concerns in the fan base over the Leafs' lack of draft picks and prospects, but the reality is that's not going to change. They're going to be an older team for a few years, they're going to have to try to contend by building around Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and there aren't going to be a bunch of youngsters coming in to save the day. That time has passed. It's not really that much different than what the Oilers are doing right now. Edmonton is the oldest team in the league. They have one player under 25 years old playing a role right now (Vasily Podkolzin) and more than a dozen contributors who are on the wrong side of 30. And you can win that way, if your stars play like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl do. The Leafs should trade for and sign some undervalued players in that 24-28 age range when they can (and make good draft picks and sign undrafted free agents), but the priority has to be trying to make them better in the moment, not getting younger. There will come a time when some of their aging pieces are going to have to be moved out before a decline hurts them on the ice, but that's not today. It's going to be all-in time in Toronto as long as they have their stars to try to build around. And as long as there's a chance, they can augment that group with more high-end help, including from a strong 2026 UFA class. The good news is that the cap going up should give Toronto an advantage and prolong their contention window, if they use the extra space they'll have wisely. (Top photo of Morgan Rielly and Brad Marchand: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)
