Latest news with #Duchene
Vancouver Sun
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Abbotsford Canucks: Could (should?) Manny Malhotra fill Dallas Stars' coaching vacancy?
It's not whether could Manny Malhotra run his first NHL bench next season. It's should the Calder Cup champion head coach fill the Dallas Stars' vacancy after guiding the Abbotsford Canucks to a remarkable and resilient AHL season as a rookie bench boss? Malhotra, 45, is a hot commodity, but the heat is always on in Dallas to take the next step. To finally clear that big Western Conference final hurdle and get back to the Stanley Cup final after three-straight failures under head coach Peter DeBoer, who was fired June 6. The Stars' anxiousness was reflected is signing pending UFA centre Matt Duchene, 34, on Thursday to a team-friendly, four-year, $18-million US extension. The Stars got a palatable salary cap hit, and Duchene, who was on the Vancouver Canucks ' radar to fix their riddle in the middle, got term. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Duchene had 30 goals and 82 points this season, and his contract extension was another indication that Dallas has unfinished business. What does this possibly mean for Malhotra? There is a reason why the Stars are still waiting to fill their coaching void. It's Malhotra. He's well beyond a curiosity. Stars general manager Jim Nill could convince owner Tom Gaglardi to go the customary route and chose from a number of seasoned coaches to push a veteran-laden roster. They may need a heavy old-school hand. That list includes those fired this season, others looking for another shot in The Show, and those worthy of taking the next career step. However, Gaglardi could believe a fresh voice in Malhotra amid a fast-changing game may be a worthy play. It worked for the Washington Capitals and Spencer Carbery. At 43, the Victoria native was an AHL head coach and turned his second season running an NHL bench into the Jack Adams Award in 2024-25. The Stars could chose familiarity and promote Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham after five seasons of running the AHL affiliate bench. An assessment trip to Cedar Park, Tex. this month would have been prudent. Watching Graham, 40, match Western Conference final wits with Malhotra would check boxes. Malhotra's management is a culmination of 1,026 NHL games as a centre with seven teams — including three seasons with the Stars — and seven seasons as an NHL assistant. And the manner in which young impressionable players and grizzled veterans responded to Malhotra in Abbotsford is beyond noteworthy. It's everything. The Canucks struggled in January, strung together a franchise record 13-game wins streak, and finished the regular season on a 16-1-1 run. Malhotra saluted his staff and players Monday following a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers to claim the championship in six games. But the title run was more a reflection of him getting the buy-in. 'The belief is far greater than I every thought a team could have,' said Malhotra. 'They all believed in one another, the system, and the culture they've built. It's extremely special. The entire run we just realized how committed these guys were. How motivated they were to win.' It's hard to coach in the AHL. The roster is in constant flux with injures, NHL recalls, struggles, and a brutal travel schedule. However, at root of it all is a devotion to the game and willingness to make it memorable. Former Canucks head coach Travis Green, who guides the Ottawa Senators and finished sixth in Jack Adams Award voting this season, was at the helm of the 2015 Utica Comets who advance to the Calder Cup final. He knows what Malhotra went through in this long playoff run and had him as an assistant for two seasons in Vancouver. He saw something special. 'I could see him being a (NHL) coach if he gets the bug, and I think he has it,' Green told Postmedia. 'Always had a real love for the game and wanted to be on the ice all the time. To be a good coach, you've really got to love it. It doesn't feel like a job to me. It's not work. It's got to be fun. 'Much like playing, Manny has those attributed and the smartness. That part is how you see the game, and he always saw it in a smart way.' The challenge for any new NHL coach is to gain respect and reach elite players. Carbery accomplished that with superstar Alex Ovechkin, and Malhotra would have to mirror that approach in Dallas, depending on the status of six remaining UFAs in their 30s and key younger players. Abbotsford general manager Ryan Johnson told Postmedia in hiring Malhtora that his bigger career picture was always in focus. 'He wants to be an NHL coach and we discussed his path. It was an open conversation,' said Johnson. 'I go through a pretty thorough process in my hiring and I hope they become the next whatever. I tell people that if they're still here after eight years, I've done something wrong. They want to elevate, but it may not be here.' Malhotra was a finalist to replace departed Rick Tocchet as Canucks bench boss. Management chose to promote assistant coach Adam Foote as a first-time NHL head coach. Roster familiarity and structure were factors in his three-year deal. Only time will tell if it was the right call, or if Malhotra may be the one that got away. bkuzma@
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Matt Duchene signs four-year extension worth $18 million with Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene has signed a four-year contract extension with the team, general manager Jim Nill announced on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $4.5 million and will run through the 2028-29 NHL season. PuckPedia states the contract includes a full no-move clause for the first two seasons. In the final two years, it shifts to a modified no-trade clause, which allows Duchene to submit a list of five teams to which he can be traded. 'We are thrilled to have Matt back with our organization,' Nill said. 'As our team's leading scorer last season, he helped solidify our forward group while providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: 1 simple trick to get all TV channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Duchene originally joined the Stars in the summer of 2023 after the Nashville Predators bought out his contract. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal with Dallas and returned on the same terms for the 2024-25 season, and he delivered in both years. The 34-year-old from Haliburton, Ontario, recorded 30 goals and 52 assists for 82 points in 82 games this past season. It marked the second time in his career he reached the 80-point mark, and the third time he scored 30 goals in a single season. He finished second in team scoring behind newly-acquired forward Mikko Rantanen. Live Events In the 2023-24 season, Duchene had tallied 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points, after inconsistent years with Nashville and the Ottawa Senators. In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Duchene added one goal and five assists for six points. The Stars reached the Western Conference Final but were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers for the second consecutive year. Throughout his NHL career, Duchene has played 1,138 games, scoring 371 goals and adding 520 assists for 891 points. He has also contributed 37 points in 69 playoff appearances.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Matt Duchene commits to Dallas Stars with new four-year, $18 million deal
Image Via Twitter (Matt Duchene commits to Dallas Stars with new four-year, $18 million deal) This deal epitomizes loyalty and ambition: forward Matt Duchene has signed a four-year contract for just short of $18 million with the Dallas Stars. Instead of testing the waters of free agency on July 1, this 34-year-old veteran chose to extend his tenure with the organization, being the top point-getter for the team in the recent NHL season. His continued presence stabilizes the offensive core and only adds strength to its championship aspirations. Matt Duchene commands the superior role in the Dallas Stars through his leadership and experience What a fascinatingly late-blooming affair for Duchene in Dallas! Duchene single-handedly created the offensive core of the Stars in 2017-18 with 82 points in 82 games, including 30 goals and 52 assists. However, his contribution diminished in the playoffs while the tall-tale leather drove him six points in 18 games. Yet his handling and other intangible characteristics kept on counting. Having been present all season, much of the time, he found his way onto the ice, creating plays for the Dallas Stars, who reached the third round of the playoffs for the second year running to punish and humble on the mark. Since Matt Duchene has been a part of five NHL teams (Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and currently thinking of joining the Stars), he brings along tons and tons of experience: 891 points in 1,138 regular-season matches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo His versatility as a player-as both a scoring threat and a setup man, allowed him to blend seamlessly into Dallas's setup, adding scoring and some leadership to the table. General Manager Jim Nill stated that the new partnership was almost assured to succeed because of Duchene's immediate contributions both on and off the ice. Duchene's staying power within the Stars' long-term plans was cemented by his influence within the locker room and in the community beyond his numbers. With the choice to pursue a new contract and stay, Duchene demonstrates that his ambitions go beyond himself and are motivated by the prevention of seeing his team compete for a Stanley Cup. With the baggage of age slightly coming in the way, there is growing urgency for Duchene to chase that title. When Duchene said there was "more behind than ahead," he was conveying the view that the decision to remain in Dallas was steeped in both the emotional and strategic. For Duchene, this is no longer just about the personal wins, it's all about winning as a team. Also Read: Matt Duchene gets honest about uncertain future with Dallas Stars The new contract of Deuxne with the Dallas Stars points to much more than a mere business transaction, it is rather a pledge toward unfinished business shared by both parties. With his skill, leadership, and belief in the team, the Stars will be able to utilize momentum from the last couple of seasons as a stepping stone toward NHL glory. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
San Francisco Chronicle
19-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dallas Stars re-sign Matt Duchene to a 4-year, $18 million contract
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars have re-signed forward Matt Duchene to a four-year contract worth $18 million. General manager Jim Nill announced the deal Thursday. Duchene will count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 season. 'We are thrilled to have Matt back with our organization,' Nill said in a statement. 'As our team's leading scorer last season, he helped to solidify our forward group while also providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community. The fit with Matt and our team has been seamless from the start, and we're looking forward to continuing to pursue our shared goal of bringing a championship to Dallas.' Duchene was a point-a-game scorer — exactly 82 in 82 — in his second season with Dallas. He had just one goal and five assists in 16 playoff games as the Stars reached the Western Conference final before losing to Edmonton. Now 34, Duchene is going into his 17th season in the NHL. He previously played for Colorado, Columbus, Ottawa and Nashville since making his debut in 2009. ___
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Stars re-sign Matt Duchene to a 4-year, $18 million contract
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars have re-signed forward Matt Duchene to a four-year contract worth $18 million. General manager Jim Nill announced the deal Thursday. Duchene will count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 season. Advertisement 'We are thrilled to have Matt back with our organization,' Nill said in a statement. 'As our team's leading scorer last season, he helped to solidify our forward group while also providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community. The fit with Matt and our team has been seamless from the start, and we're looking forward to continuing to pursue our shared goal of bringing a championship to Dallas.' Duchene was a point-a-game scorer — exactly 82 in 82 — in his second season with Dallas. He had just one goal and five assists in 16 playoff games as the Stars reached the Western Conference final before losing to Edmonton. Now 34, Duchene is going into his 17th season in the NHL. He previously played for Colorado, Columbus, Ottawa and Nashville since making his debut in 2009. ___ AP NHL: The Associated Press
