Oilers look to regroup after ugly Game 3 loss in Stanley Cup final
The Edmonton Oilers will be looking to rebound following disastrous 6-1 loss in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final. The Florida Panthers scored early and often to take a 2-1 lead in the NHL title series with Game 4 on deck Thursday. (June 10, 2025)
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Should Bruins fans want Brad Marchand back, or should they instead look toward a new chapter for the Black & Gold?
But Marchand plays for the enemy now, and he's been busy proving himself one of the best trade deadline acquisitions of all time. As he helps the dreaded Florida Panthers inch closer to a second consecutive championship with timely goals and timeless leadership, Marchand, two wins away from hoisting the Cup, spends seemingly every night reminding the Bruins of what they gave up. Advertisement And no doubt making them wonder if they should pony up the money to bring him back. Emotionally, it's a no-brainer. Marchand is beloved in Boston, a Stanley Cup winner in his first full pro season, a former captain, BFF to Patrice Bergeron, a direct link to better, more competitive times, a fixture among all-time franchise leaders in everything from games played to goals scored to penalty minutes logged. Whenever and however this Stanley Cup Final ends, Marchand will be on target to be an unrestricted free agent July 1. With a new, lucrative contract on his mind, the Bruins might well be among his suitors. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Unless they're not, a real possibility given the sides' inability to agree to an extension during the regular season. And when rational heads take over, there are as many cogent arguments to keep the chapter on Marchand closed for good, to celebrate from afar as he plays out the final years of an extraordinary career elsewhere, and then invite him back for an inevitable jersey retirement ceremony in Boston. Advertisement While the Bruins begin this next franchise phase under new coach Marco Sturm, they would be wiser to follow 'We've got to reestablish the whole thing, because these guys are not here anymore,' Sturm said. 'So now it's going to be up to us and the new group to lead this group to a new era.' Of course it's tough to watch Marchand during this postseason rebirth and not be tempted by his eight playoff goals (fifth among all players), 18 postseason points (seventh), and plus-minus of plus-15 (second) heading into Game 4 Thursday night, in which the Panthers held a 2-1 series lead. Marchand is the oldest player in Cup Final history to score in the first three games of the series. Seriously, what more could he do to prove there is gas left in his 37-year-old tank? Among those eight goals are the Advertisement Quite the impact from a deadline trade that saw Florida surrender only a conditional 2027 second-round pick (which has since become a first-rounder with the Panthers making at least Round 3 of the playoffs). 'He's an exceptional man,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters over the weekend. 'I've really enjoyed having him.' Sturm would likely enjoy it, too. But the reality of the Bruins' roster is nothing like the one Marchand is on in Florida, where depth reigns so supreme that a man with first-line talent has become a third-line force. Alongside the likes of Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov et al, Marchand is the cherry on the sundae. He puts the Panthers over the top. Back with the Bruins, he would be expected to shoulder the load, be the same player who was left wing on a top line, was first out on the power play, was first out on the penalty kill, all while setting the locker-room vibe. Seems wiser now to let younger players take those roles. Wiser now to watch Marchand earn the spoils of his contributions in Florida, where he has fit in seamlessly inside a locker room that tormented his former team out of the playoffs the last two years. 'I may never get back this late in the playoffs ever again in my career,' Marchand said during this playoff run. 'To be one of the last teams standing and being part of a great group of guys, these are memories that I want to remember and enjoy.' Advertisement Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Where Will Sam Bennett Play Next Season? New Bettting Odds Spark Major Buzz
Panthers' Sam Bennett betting odds for next team officially come out with sizeable front runner ahead of the pack Image After another bruising and productive postseason, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is gaining attention not just for his on-ice heroics but also for his uncertain future. Advertisement The 28-year-old has been a difference-maker in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the league with 10 goals in 17 games to go with 6 assists, 58 shots, and a whopping 91 hits. He's been instrumental during Florida's Finals run, including a highlight-reel breakaway goal in Game 3 after delivering a thunderous hit to ignite the play. This follows his 2024 playoff campaign where he produced 7 goals and 7 assists in 19 games during Florida's Cup win. Over the past two postseasons, Bennett has racked up 17 goals and 13 assists in 36 games while playing a physical, agitating, and clutch brand of hockey. As a pending unrestricted free agent, teams across the league are watching closely—and sportsbooks are already lining up next-team odds for the rugged forward. Betting Odds: Sam Bennett's Next Team per FanDuel Sportsbook Florida Panthers –230 Toronto Maple Leafs +500 Vegas Golden Knights +900 Boston Bruins +2200 Los Angeles Kings +2600 Ottawa Senators +2600 Colorado Avalanche +3400 New York Rangers +3400 Vancouver Canucks +3400 New Jersey Devils +3400 Detroit Red Wings +3700 St. Louis Blues +3700 Buffalo Sabres +4500 Anaheim Ducks +4500 Advertisement More NHL: Florida Fade: Why Bettors Should Rethink Backing McDavid on the Road in Cup Final Florida Panthers (–230) The Panthers are the clear betting favorite to retain Bennett and for good reason. He's a perfect fit for Florida's system with a fast and physical playstyle that works well in Paul Maurice's system and has proven to be successful in the playoffs. He's already racked up a league-best 14 goals this postseason, including five goals over his last four games. Florida has created a winning culture in a location that's very hard to beat with nice weather all year round and no-state tax that has allowed Bennett to keep more of his money. He's been vital to the success of the Panthers for the last three seasons and will likely be one of the main priorities for management this off-season. Toronto Maple Leafs (+500) A homecoming to Toronto is definitely a possibility as the Buds are desperately looking for playoff competitors with Bennett being one of the best in the league. Bennett's grit and playoff prowess could be a massive addition to a Leafs team that has always struggled to close out series due to their stars failing to play at their best when it counts. The Leafs could also benefit from his versatility as he's able to play center or wing. If Bennett is interested, Toronto will do everything they can to get him as they'll have extra cap space following the likely departure of Mitch Marner. Vegas Golden Knights (+900) The Golden Knights have built their identity on being aggressive with acquiring playoff-tested forwards like Bennett. If Vegas doesn't retain all of its current free agents, there could be a roster and cap-space opening for a player with his unique blend of scoring touch and sandpaper that Vegas is known for as well as Florida. His game would mesh well with Bruce Cassidy's system, particularly in heavy matchups. Boston Bruins (+2200) Boston has been on the hunt for a gritty forward who thrives in the playoffs and after last season's 33-39-10 record, they'll be looking to make some serious changes to get themselves back into playoff contention. Bennett fits that bill of a Boston Bruin and could play the Charlie Coyle-style hybrid role up and down the lineup with his ability to play multiple positions. Cap gymnastics may be needed but the Bruins have a winning culture that is always enticing to free agents. Los Angeles Kings (+2600) The Kings are an intriguing dark horse. They have young, impactful centers but may look to add more physical edge and depth scoring. Edmonton disposed of LA for the fourth year in a row this postseason and could influence the Kings to try and make a serious move like bringing in Bennett. Advertisement If the Kings are looking to retool, his veteran presence could make sense—especially as a tone-setter on the road. Ottawa Senators (+2600) If Ottawa aims to accelerate its rebuild into playoff contention, a forward like Bennett makes sense. He brings experience and edge, and his Ontario roots might play well with fans and local interest. Still, the Sens would likely need to overpay to outbid a win-now contender. Colorado Avalanche (+3400) Colorado is a bit of a longshot considering their cap, but Bennett's game has traits the Avs might appreciate, particularly his toughness, versatility, and postseason success. He could slot in as a utility forward with significantly less pressure as he goes undercover behind their top stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog. Bennett would propel the Avalanche to potentially the best forward group in the NHL but it all depends on financial flexibility. New York Rangers (+3400) The Rangers have often lacked grit in the playoffs, and Bennett could help fix that. This season was a turbulent one in New York and they may be looking for a serious shakeup to the roster after closing in on a deal to send longtime Ranger Chris Kreider to the Ducks. Bennett's ability to draw penalties, create chaos, and contribute timely goals could complement New York's elite skill players they already have in Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. Vancouver Canucks (+3400) Vancouver's deep run last season showed they're on the cusp. But after a dramatic season with locker room problems and losing a key player in J.T. Miller, they could be looking to add another big ticket winger that could help the Canucks back into the playoff picture. Adding a playoff-tested player like Bennett would bring edge and scoring, especially on a team needing consistency from their forward group. The Canucks' cap situation is tight, but if they create space, Bennett could thrive there. Advertisement More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges New Jersey Devils (+3400) New Jersey is building a dynamic core but could use some grit and playoff experience up front. Bennett could be an anchor on a line with younger talent, helping push the team further in the playoffs. Detroit Red Wings (+3700) Detroit's slow but steady progress makes them a sleeper pick for Bennett. The Red Wings lack playoff seasoning as their roster is still very young and bringing in a player of Bennett's caliber could help them into the playoffs after just barely missing out the last two seasons. Advertisement Bennett could be a stabilizing two-way player in their top six, mentoring younger forwards with his playoff experience. Still, Detroit would be required to go all-in for a player like Bennett and they may not have enough cap space to make the move. St. Louis Blues (+3700) The Blues had he identity of a gritty, phyical team when they won the Stanley Cup back in 2019 and still today, they work well with forwards like Bennett. His gritty style fits their mold, and he'd be a solid piece in a team on the rise as the Blues are almost complete with their retooling phase. St. Louis may have some big upcoming contracts like keeping Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas for the rest of their careers which may limit the feasibility with the cap. More NHL: New Jonathan Toews Next Team Betting Odds Revealed With Unexpected Frontrunner Buffalo Sabres (+4500) Buffalo is improving, but remains far from playoff contention. GM Kevyn Adams has been vocal about how aggressive the Sabres will be this off-season as their players are begging for a chance to play in meaningful games. Bennett would be a major asset for Buffalo as a locker-room leader, playoff performer and a cornerstone piece for a hopeful contender in the future. The Sabres have cap space, but it's unlikely Bennett would choose a non-contender unless he's paid handsomely. Anaheim Ducks (+4500) Anaheim's odds are long for a reason. While Bennett would provide leadership and energy, the Ducks are rebuilding and likely won't be a competitive team in the near term. Like the Sabres, GM Pat Verbeek spoke out about wanting to be agressive this off-season and made the bold proclamation that he wants Anaheim back in the playoffs next season. Advertisement Bennett would be a key player in getting the Ducks back in contention and excel when getting there. He'd also be a solid mentor for a young roster, but it's a fit better suited for a veteran on a long-term deal—something Bennett may not seek. More NHL: Ducks Nearing Big Splash, Landing Rangers' Chris Krieder in Potential Trade for Top Prospect
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Some Things I Think I Think: Red Sox' biggest problem is plain to see
*Everyone's got a theory about what ails the Red Sox Is it poor defensive play? Well, yes, that's certainly been a factor. The Red Sox lead the American League in both errors and unearned runs and that's not good. Advertisement Then there's their struggles with runners in scoring position, where they're ranked 23rd overall in batting average. Constantly squandering scoring opportunities is almost always injurious to a team's won-loss record. But those — and other issues — pale in comparison to the team's starting pitching deficiencies. The Red Sox gave up four top prospects to get Garrett Crochet, then locked him for six years and $170 million and don't regret either commitment for a moment. Crochet has been everything for which the Sox could have possibly hoped — as his 1.98 ERA and 1.061 WHIP prior to Saturday night's start attests. Problem is, after Crochet, the Red Sox starting pitching drops off the proverbial cliff. Advertisement Subtract Crochet's numbers from the rotation and it's ugly: the remainder of Red Sox starters have a combined ERA of 5.38. Put another way, the team's ERA without Crochet would rank them last in the American League, and isn't much better than the Colorado Rockies (6.53), a team which plays half of its games in a launching bad and who, as a team, are on pace to set records for overall futility. Too often, the Red Sox find themselves behind by multiple runs after the first couple of innings. Lucas Giolito has had three starts in which he's been shelled for six or more runs; Tanner Houck, before being injured, had two starts in which he allowed 11 (!). Bryan Bello hasn't provided length. Walker Buehler has been entirely too inconsistent. Advertisement Naturally, the underperformance of the rotation has led to overwork of the bullpen at times and that's something from which a team can't recover. It's not a good sign when you score 26 runs over four games — as the Red Sox did earlier this week — and only go 2-2 in those contests. Even if they fix the other weaknesses, they stand no chance of climbing back into contention if their rotation continues to falter. It's that simple. *How can you be a Bruins fan and not be rooting for Brad Marchand to win his second Stanley Cup? Marchand wanted to to spend his entire career with the Bruins and was willing to compromise to get a contract extension done back in March, just before the NHL trade deadline. The Bruins, however, held firm and ended up dealing him to Florida for conditional draft pick. Advertisement Marchand's play in the postseason has proved that he's still got plenty left in the tank. He's already got three goals through the first two games of the Final, including one in double-overtime to win Game 2. Should the Panthers win a second straight Cup, Marchand will be in the conversation for the Conn Smythe trophy. Not a good look for the Bruins. *If Stefon Diggs was the first real rest for Mike Vrabel, it appears the new head coach passed. Behind closed doors and without a lot of public back-and-forth, Vrabel seemed to deliver the proper message. *I like the hiring of Marco Sturm and from all I've seen and heard, he's got a chance to be a fine coach at the NHL level. Advertisement But I can't help but wonder if the Bruins might have acted differently if Pete DeBoer had been fired by Dallas last week instead of the day after Sturm's hiring was announced. *Major League Baseball is close to announcing a new TV deal for the package that ESPN opted out of from 2026-2028, and a source indicates that Apple TV+ is currently the highest bidder. The package includes the Home Run Derby, Sunday Night Baseball and the wild card round of the postseason. Baseball is, like most sports, out to make a deal for the most revenue possible, but if MLB puts an entire round of its postseason on a streaming service with just 45 million subscribers, it's deserves all the grief it's going to catch. Advertisement *I'm a sucker for those videos in which minor leaguers are told they're going to the big leagues for the first time. But I can do without the ones in spring training where the major league manager awards Opening Day honors to the starting pitcher. Sorry, it's just not the same. *It's fashionable to scream 'Nerds!' whenever the topic of analytics is broached, but the more information the better, I say, and if advanced metrics offers additional ways to evaluate players, then teams would be silly to not use them. However, the suggestion in the analytics community that there's no such thing as clutch players loses me. Some players seem to rise to the occasion. And Marchand and Tyrese Haliburton are reminding us all this spring. Advertisement *I fully understand Alex Cora's decision to use his entire roster and give the depth players the occasional start. But I can't get behind the idea of David Hamilton starting more than a third (23) of the Red Sox' first 64 games. Hamilton may have great infield range and plus-plus speed on the bases, but he owns a .647 career OPS and there's nothing to suggest that, from an offensive standpoint, he's going to get any better. *Roman Anthony doesn't deserve the backlash he's getting for being hidden in a laundry cart to escape some autograph hunters. By all accounts, Anthony is generous with his time with fans at the ballpark. So if a few professional 'collectors,'' holding their beloved binders with dollar signs in their eyes got stiffed last week, we'll all survive. Advertisement *Separated at birth: Red Sox starter Hunter Dobbins and actor Kieran Mulroney — the actor who played Timmy, who rebuked George Costanza after the latter 'double-dipped the chip' in the famed Seinfeld episode. *Good luck, Mike Tomlin. You're going to need it. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
