Latest news with #DrewDoughty
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MacKenzie Weegar Named to Team Canada Orientation Camp — Olympic Hopes Still Alive
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar has officially been invited to Team Canada's National Teams Orientation Camp, set for August 26–28 in Calgary — another important step toward potentially representing his country on the world's biggest hockey stage. The camp serves as a precursor to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, and includes a select group of NHL blueliners being evaluated for Canada's national roster. It's a welcomed nod for Weegar, who was in strong consideration for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off but ultimately didn't crack the lineup. Now, he's right back in the mix — and for good reason. The list of defencemen invited to camp includes some of the best Canadian blueliners in the game: Cale Makar, Drew Doughty, Aaron Ekblad, Josh Morrissey, Evan Bouchard, and others. With Olympic spots at a premium, every name on the list brings elite-level pedigree. Weegar's recent play and international resume have earned him a legitimate spot among them. Weegar, 31, is coming off a solid year with the Flames, notching 8 goals and 47 points in 81 games with a +18 rating while logging top-pair minutes. He leads by example on and off the ice and was arguably Calgary's most consistent defencemen. He continues to draw praise as a future captain candidate. This isn't Weegar's first brush with the national team. He suited up for Canada at the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship, bringing experience and poise to the blue line on international ice. His strong play at that tournament only bolstered his case as a well-rounded defender who can adjust quickly to different systems, teammates, and roles — a valuable trait in short tournament formats like the Olympics. It's not just about points, although Weegar's offensive totals were impressive. His real value lies in his versatility. He plays both sides, handles tough defensive assignments, can chip in on special teams, and thrives in high-pressure situations. His mix of grit, smarts, and adaptability make him a perfect fit for the grind of international competition. He's the kind of player coaches trust — and that might be just what gets him over the hump. Making Team Canada is never easy, especially on defence where the talent pool is deep and the expectations are sky-high. Still, Weegar's trajectory is trending in the right direction, and the invitation to orientation camp is a strong indication that Hockey Canada has taken notice. With continued strong play and his recent Team Canada experience under his belt, don't be surprised if Weegar earns himself a ticket to Italy in 2026. He's no longer on the outside looking in — he's firmly in the conversation.
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL contract grades: Kings sign Corey Perry with eye on Stanley Cup playoffs
Corey Perry agrees to terms on a one-year contract worth up to $3.5 million with the Los Angeles Kings. Dom Luszczyszyn: Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings on making the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. That's the deal with Corey Perry, who made it to the final in 2020 with the Dallas Stars, 2021 with the Montreal Canadiens, 2022 with the Tampa Bay Lightning and over the last two years with the Edmonton Oilers. Sure, his teams somehow lost each time, but the Kings will gladly take a trip that far after four straight first-round exits. Advertisement It's hard to say when the wheels will finally fall off for Perry, who is now 40 years old, but if last season is any indication, he's still got some juice. Perry scored 19 goals in a fourth-line role, then upped the ante in the playoffs with 10 goals in 22 games. When Zach Hyman was injured, Perry stepped up onto Connor McDavid's wing — and didn't look out of place doing so. It may be weird at first for some Kings fans to envision Perry on the same team as Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. But Perry can still do the little things and the hard things that make him a quality play-driver who works extremely well in the bottom six. He should be a fantastic fit for the Kings for that reason and makes them a tougher team to play against in the playoffs. That all depends, of course, on what 40-year-old Perry looks like compared to 39-year-old Perry. This is an age that very few NHLers get to, and thoug Perry is a special breed, a steep drop-off is more than possible. You have it until you don't, and that's the risk that comes with this signing. The Kings have a lot of money to work with and have a mostly set roster with only Alex Laferriere to sign. For that reason, they can splurge on a playoff-caliber guy and take that risk with ease. If Perry hits his max bonuses, he will come in at $3.5 million. That's a little pricey due to Perry's age. Something closer to $2 million would be safer. But the Kings are at a point where they can afford the luxury price in order to fill the need. Perry isn't a needle-mover on his own to get the Kings over the hump and deeper into the playoffs; they need more help than that. But it isn't a complete coincidence that his teams have been able to go to the final so frequently. He's a playoff warrior and exactly the type of player the Kings need. Fit grade: A Contract grade: B
New York Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why acquiring Jordan Spence could be a window into how Senators will run their offseason
OTTAWA — Jordan Spence knew something had to give when his ice time dwindled from an average of nearly 17 minutes per game in the regular season to between six and 11 minutes during the playoffs. He wanted a bigger role on the Los Angeles Kings, a team he had adored since childhood. He became a Kings fan watching Drew Doughty turn into one of the league's best defencemen, and he got his chance when he was drafted by them in 2019. But with Brandt Clarke, another young right-shot defenceman, in their system, a hurdle was in Spence's way. Advertisement 'When you're playing at a high level, you want to be relied on and trusted in any situation,' Spence said in a conference call on Saturday after his trade to the Senators. 'And, for me, I think I'm ready to take a big step. I'm ready to take a bigger role. It was unfortunate that L.A. couldn't give me that opportunity.' Spence wanted a change of scenery, a new market that would allow him to play more with increased responsibility. Senators general manager Steve Staios spotted an opportunity. And that it wouldn't cost too much to obtain him. It could be a glimpse into how the Senators might operate throughout the summer, unless something dramatic comes their way. The Senators came away from this weekend's draft with six players. But their biggest move was landing Spence in exchange for a third-round pick (acquired from Nashville after Ottawa traded down from No. 21 to No. 23) and a sixth-round pick in next year's draft (which initially belonged to Colorado). Moving down two spots in the first round allowed the Senators to acquire a 24-year-old who was the third-highest-scoring defenceman on his team behind Clarke and Vladislav Gavrikov, with four goals and 28 points. Even after accounting for usage (extremely soft), model is still enamoured by Jordan Spence. At best, he makes a jump to the top four. At worst, he keeps crushing easy minutes — something Ottawa does desperately need. Good bet by the Sens. — dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) June 28, 2025 'Every chance at the draft, free agency, you look at opportunities to try and make your team better,' Staios said. 'Sometimes it doesn't land. As the draft went on, we really liked the player that kind of was sliding to our pick (at No. 21). … I felt, at that point in time, if we were going to trade back in consulting with (head scout) Don Boyd and scouts, that we could gain an asset. Advertisement 'Knowing what it would take to be able to get him, to acquire him, it lined up with the acquisition return that we got from trading back. So, we were able to parlay that into a phone conversation with L.A. and be able to acquire Jordan Spence.' Acquiring Spence is far from a blockbuster, especially considering the other trades made this weekend. It wasn't even the biggest trade made on Day 2. The Red Wings' acquisition of John Gibson from Anaheim holds that distinction, but only because the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights didn't complete a trade involving Mitch Marner on Saturday. But the Spence trade indicates how the Sens could operate this offseason, with subtle tweaks to the roster without sacrificing much of their core. Staios said Saturday that it would likely be his modus operandi for the free-agent market once it opens up on July 1. That means if Staios wants to take it a step further, it will have to be via trade. Staios said 'yes' when asked if he'd be open to making another trade, but cautioned that it's not something he's actively looking to do. But Staios has shown he's unafraid of making a move if the opportunity presents itself, and when it seems like no one expects him to do anything of significance, despite limits on salary-cap space or assets at his disposal. 'I don't, honestly, think I could have said to you a week ago that we'd had an opportunity to acquire Jordan Spence at the draft,' Staios said. 'Once they come up, you've got to be prepared, and again, have the flexibility to be able to take advantage of a situation where you can add something to the group.' Ottawa's $9.25 million cap space available, per PuckPedia, limits them on the free agent market when it comes to luring a big fish. Not to mention, the Senators want to retain as much cap flexibility as possible. Yes, they could move some salary off the active roster, such as Carter Yakemchuk's entry-level deal. But the Sens still intend to sign pending free agent Claude Giroux. Advertisement Staios said Saturday, when asked for an update, that he was 'hoping to hear back' from Giroux and his camp. Despite whatever gap may remain between the Sens and Giroux's camp, both sides want to get a deal done. So while some despair may linger over Giroux's future, that could change quickly. In Spence, Ottawa has a depth defenceman and right-shot who can take up minutes if Nick Jensen needs more time to recuperate from his hip injury. Natural Stat Trick says Spence has good underlying metrics, posting a 56.80 Corsi For and a 48.8 expected goals for percentage when he's on the ice at five-on-five. Slotting Spence alongside Jake Sanderson on a top pairing would be a fascinating way to ease him into the lineup. And if Jensen is ready to play, and the Sens don't want to split up Sanderson and Artem Zub, Spence could provide more mobility and scoring alongside Tyler Kleven. On top of all that, Spence could be an alternate option for their power play, which already has Sanderson and Thomas Chabot as quarterbacks. The Senators needed another defensive option and could've sought a cost-effective option on the free-agent market. Instead, they get that in Spence, who carries a $1.5 million cap hit through 2026. On a team that could use more mobility and offence from its back end, Spence's skillset improves their defensive group. 'Maybe I could have a better opportunity in Ottawa and have a bigger role,' Spence said. 'Obviously, it all depends on my performance. But I'm going to have a big summer. And I'm excited to go to Ottawa this year and to have a good season.' Ottawa's offence, however, could still use another younger weapon up front despite the re-signing of Fabian Zetterlund this month. The Senators' struggles in five-on-five scoring are well-documented. A goal-scoring winger who could either play to the right of Tim Stützle or the left of Dylan Cozens would bolster Ottawa's forward group. It would allow older players such as David Perron to slide down the lineup — and potentially Giroux, if it came to that. Scoring wingers are available on the trade market, if Chris Johnston's board is any indication. Jason Robertson, Viktor Arvidsson, and Jared McCann are among the handful of players potentially available. That leaves the fourth line — with no guarantees that Adam Gaudette, Nick Cousins or Matthew Highmore will be back — to be plugged with either depth signings or young players from Belleville to take their spots. 'Depending on how things unfold and the conversations that we have,' Staios said. 'Any opportunity we have to improve our team, that's my job to seek those out and make sure that I have all the information.' That approach allowed Staios to acquire an asset such as Spence at this year's draft. It could serve him well as the Senators enter July, regardless of how much cap space is at their disposal. (Photo of Jordan Spence: Harry How / Getty Images)
CTV News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
From scorer to bruiser, Oilers' Hyman making a different mark in the NHL playoffs
Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, left, puts Kings defenceman Drew Doughty into the boards during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL first-round playoff series on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Oilers vs Kings: Live Stream NHL Playoffs, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Edmonton Oilers will face the Los Angeles Kings in this NHL Playoff matchup on Monday at Arena. Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates the puck against Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings in the third period at Arena on February 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates the puck against Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings in the third period at Arena on February 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Ronald Martinez How to Watch Oilers vs Kings: Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 Time: 10:00 PM ET Channel: ESPN2 Stream: FuboTV (TRY FOR FREE) This is the first game of a best-of-seven series between these Stanley Cup hopeful teams. The Oilers enter the postseason with a 48-29-5 record, securing the third playoff spot in the Pacific Division. The Kings finished with a 48-25-9 record, edging out Edmonton for second place in the division, giving Los Angeles home ice advantage in the series opener. The Kings are looking to end their postseason nightmare, which has seen the Oilers knock them out in the first round for three straight years. Losing in the first round is one thing, but when it comes against a division rival that many seasons consecutively, it has to hurt that much more. This time around, they had the better regular season, and they are hopeful that playing at home will give them the edge. The Oilers are led by two of the best offensive players in the NHL in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid finished off a fifth consecutive 100-point season and eighth overall during his Hall of Fame-caliber career. Draisaitl led the league in goals this year with 52 and recorded his fourth consecutive 100-plus point season. This is a great NHL Playoff matchup that will not disappoint; make sure to tune in and catch all the action. Live stream Oilers vs Kings with FuboTV: Start your subscription now! This game can be streamed on ESPN2 with a one-month free subscription to FuboTV. Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
