Latest news with #EvgeniiDadonov
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Senators offseason targets, and should they keep their 2025 first-round draft pick? Mailbag
As we settle into the early days of the Ottawa Senators offseason, there's no better time to get to your mailbag questions. We received many questions, so this month's edition has been split into two parts. Part 1 addresses which potential trade and free-agent targets the Senators could add to their top six. Note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Great work covering the Senators for the first time this year! Should the Sens give up their draft pick this year or next year? I'm leaning this year, seeing as next year's supposedly a deeper draft, but what are your thoughts? — Erik S. Thank you for the kind words, Erik! It's a question that I go back and forth on, to be honest. The 2026 draft class looks deeper compared to the 2025 class. If the Sens choose to give up this year's first-round pick — they have to give up their first-rounder in either 2025 or 2026 due to their mishandling of the Evgenii Dadonov trade in 2022 — they'll have a lottery ticket for that stellar class. But giving that pick away might be premature if the NHL is willing to forgive them. And if the Senators improve next year, they'd pick lower than this year's No. 21 spot. One more thing (this is just an idea I have): The Sens have three second-round picks in 2026. Maybe there's a way to trade into the late first round with those picks. Advertisement Ultimately, the Senators are hoping the NHL relieves them of their draft pick punishment. If they keep the pick this year and behave next season, there's a world in which they keep both picks. I still envision a scenario where the Sens are told their first-round pick is the last one of the first round and cannot be traded. That's what happened to New Jersey back in 2014. So, today, I'd keep the pick. What are some options, either via trade or free agency, for the Sens to add a top-six winger? — Michael R. Last week, I wrote about some free-agent possibilities for the Senators, including Nikolaj Ehlers, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Donato and Brock Boeser. I like Ehlers a lot for the Senators, especially since he has speed. According to NHL Edge, Ehlers has the ninth-fastest recorded max speed in the league this year at 36.98 km/h. But let's wait and see what his intentions are if he hits the free-agent market. Ehlers could make for a decent consolation prize for teams that miss out on the Mitch Marner sweepstakes, if that's still a thing come July, which might hurt the Sens' chances at getting him. Speaking of Marner, I get there's a small faction of the Sens fan base that would like to see him go from blue to red. But I don't see Ottawa as a top destination for Marner. I'm also starting to change my mind about whether he'll leave Toronto. (I think he stays; this playoff run should prove his worth.) Pius Suter is further down the list of pending UFAs, but he's coming off a 25-goal season in Vancouver. I don't know if he's a long-term fix for a scoring winger, however. If the Senators wanted to go the trade route, they'd have to get creative. Pittsburgh's Rickard Rakell is a player I'd consider, but he has an eight-team no-trade clause, and it seems like he'd rather stay in Pittsburgh. There's also Seattle's Jared McCann, another versatile forward with a penchant for scoring goals. But it remains to be seen if Seattle would want to part ways with him. Advertisement As for restricted free-agent targets, don't expect it. The Senators aren't eligible to make offer sheets above $6,871,374 because of their draft pick pool situation (unless they make an offer above $11,452,295). Long story short: Giving up their 2026 first-round pick complicates things, and they also don't own their 2026 second-round pick. They instead own the Buffalo Sabres' pick, which partially explains why they couldn't afford the offer sheet compensation. So there's no need to put Marco Rossi or JJ Peterka in a Senators uniform through Photoshop or AI just yet. What would be a reasonable contract for both Claude Giroux and the team to keep him around while understanding he is not likely a top liner going forward? — Chris B. I still like the David Perron contract as a base for a potential Giroux contract. For those who remember from previous mailbags and posts, PuckPedia estimated a new deal for Giroux could be between $4.85 million and $5 million and listed Perron's contract among its comparables. Perron is entering the second year of an $8 million deal ($4 million AAV). If I'm GM Steve Staios and want him around, I'd try to keep Giroux at $4.25 million on a one-year deal. Anything more hampers the Senators' chances of being active in other areas this offseason. Signing Giroux at that rate would still give the Sens over $13 million in cap space. If you're looking for a deal that would be fair to both sides, I think this is the one. We know how much Giroux means to the Senators; his influence in the dressing room and on-ice play could be worth keeping him around. But the Sens need to be cautious with how much money and term they dole out to a 37-year-old forward whose statistics have been trending downward. They also have some leverage with Giroux's age and his wanting to be closer to home. Do you see the team choosing to trade Drake Batherson? If so, who would be viable teams and who or what could Ottawa expect coming back in the trade? — Eric O. I don't see the logic in moving Batherson unless you're getting a bona fide top defenceman or a younger talent who can score goals. That's at least what I'd aim for if I were the Senators. Batherson is entering his prime, knocking on the door of a 30-goal season on a team-friendly contract with an AAV under $5 million through 2027. That makes his contract appealing to teams. But if you deal him away, your need for goal scoring becomes more of a focal point unless you get another goal scorer to replace him. The Senators could ill-afford to start next season with fewer goal scorers after ending the season with the 19th-best offence and the second-worst goals scored at five-on-five. Advertisement If Batherson has to move on, it means the Senators are putting a full-court press on somebody (either through free agency, trade or other means) to supplement that scoring. Anyone can be traded, but it would need to make too much sense for the Senators to move on from the scoring winger. Do the Sens need a right-shot defenceman to upgrade on Nick Jensen? — Cory D. I'd argue the Senators would need one even if Jensen is healthy enough to play in time for next season's training camp. The Sens could use another body to help solidify their top six with newly signed Nikolas Matinpalo rotating in and out as a seventh defenceman. That new defenceman could either suit up with Tyler Kleven or Thomas Chabot. For those wondering, no, I don't think the Sens should rush Carter Yakemchuk into that spot. Let him play AHL games and get his bearings at the pro level before slotting him in. The defencemen market this summer seems relatively thin compared to that of the forwards. But it won't stop the Sens from being linked to some potential talents. I mentioned Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson a few days ago — if, of course, the Flames decide to trade him. Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Dante Fabbro (who was on waivers this past season) are among the right-shot rearguards available in free agency. Depending on how the Sens address their scoring issue, maybe they opt for a cheaper depth option on defence. But yes, I think the Sens could benefit from having more depth at the back end. Especially if Jensen's health continues to be a question mark this fall. (Top photo of Nikolaj Ehlers and Mads Sogaard: Jonathan Kozub / NHLI via Getty Images)
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NHL Playoffs: Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions
NHL Playoffs: Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions The Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche meet in Game 3 of a Western Conference best-of-7, first-round series Wednesday in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The opening puck drop at Ball Arena in Denver will be at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Stars vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions. Series: Tied 1-1 Dallas was blitzed 5-1 in the Saturday series lid-lifter and then bounced back with a 4-3 overtime win Monday. These 2 games were played in Dallas. The Central Division runners-up were behind 3-2 heading into the third period Monday, but they leveled the contest with a RW Evgenii Dadonov goal midway through the third and then won it on a C Colin Blackwell netfinder 18 minutes into OT. Colorado, which took 2 of 3 from the Stars in the regular season and lost to them in a second-round series last spring, are back on home ice for Game 3. In the regular season, the Avs went 26-12-3 at home. In last year's playoff series, Colorado dropped each of 3 home games against the Stars. Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team's out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now! Stars at Avalanche odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:35 a.m. ET. Moneyline: Stars +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Avalanche -185 (bet $185 to win $100) Stars +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Avalanche -185 (bet $185 to win $100) Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-160) | Avalanche -1.5 (+135) Stars +1.5 (-160) | Avalanche -1.5 (+135) Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115) Stars at Avalanche projected goalies Jake Oettinger (regular season: 36-18-4, 2.59 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Mackenzie Blackwood (28-21-6, 2.55 GAA, .912 SV%, 4 SO)Oettinger allowed 4 goals in the series opener but bounced back to stop 34 of 37 in Game 2. The 26-year-old has a lengthy playoff resume, and that includes posting a .911 SV% in the 2024 series against Colorado and logging an overall .914 SV% across 49 career postseason was between the pipes for Games 1 and 2. Saturday's series opener marked his first career playoff game. He owns a .921 SV% this series. Blackwood had struggled down the stretch in the regular season, notching an .867 SV% across his last 4 our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! Stars at Avalanche picks and predictions Prediction Avalanche 4, Stars 3 Dallas dropped its last 3 road games of the regular season. In regular-season and playoff games combined, the Stars have coughed up 42 goals over their last 9 outings. Colorado was not great down the stretch in the regular season but was better than Dallas. And the Avs have been quite good on home ice. They played out the back end of the season with better 5-on-5 analytics. BET THE AVALANCHE (-185). There is a lean on the Over in this contest, but the Oettinger is worthy of enough respect to generate a PASS here unless the return for Colorado gets a bump. The Over is 4-1 across the last 5 Dallas-Colorado games. The 5-on-5 expected-goal figures lean toward more scoring. (Those numbers also back up more Avs offense and a higher yield in goals for the Stars.) Both sides have some playing-on-1-day rest figures that lean toward more scoring also. And adding in special-teams trends on both sides (the Avs have tallied power-play goals in 4 straight games for instance) adds more fuel to the Over fire. TAKE THE OVER 6.5 (-105). For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Associated Press
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Stars visit the Wild after Dadonov's hat trick
Dallas Stars (50-22-4, in the Central Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (41-29-7, in the Central Division) Saint Paul, Minnesota; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stars -155, Wild +130; over/under is 5.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars visit the Minnesota Wild after Evgenii Dadonov's hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stars' 5-3 loss. Minnesota has gone 41-29-7 overall with a 12-11-2 record against the Central Division. The Wild have a -13 scoring differential, with 206 total goals scored and 219 allowed. Dallas is 15-5-2 against the Central Division and 50-22-4 overall. The Stars have a 43-7-2 record when scoring three or more goals. Sunday's game is the fourth time these teams square off this season. The Stars won 3-0 in the last meeting. TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Boldy has scored 25 goals with 39 assists for the Wild. Marcus Johansson has three goals and four assists over the past 10 games. Jason Robertson has 33 goals and 43 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has seven goals over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 4-4-2, averaging 2.5 goals, 3.9 assists, three penalties and 6.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. Stars: 8-1-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.3 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. ___
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stars visit the Wild after Dadonov's hat trick
Dallas Stars (50-22-4, in the Central Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (41-29-7, in the Central Division) Saint Paul, Minnesota; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stars -155, Wild +130; over/under is 5.5 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars visit the Minnesota Wild after Evgenii Dadonov's hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stars' 5-3 loss. Minnesota has gone 41-29-7 overall with a 12-11-2 record against the Central Division. The Wild have a -13 scoring differential, with 206 total goals scored and 219 allowed. Dallas is 15-5-2 against the Central Division and 50-22-4 overall. The Stars have a 43-7-2 record when scoring three or more goals. Sunday's game is the fourth time these teams square off this season. The Stars won 3-0 in the last meeting. TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Boldy has scored 25 goals with 39 assists for the Wild. Marcus Johansson has three goals and four assists over the past 10 games. Advertisement Jason Robertson has 33 goals and 43 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has seven goals over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 4-4-2, averaging 2.5 goals, 3.9 assists, three penalties and 6.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. Stars: 8-1-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.3 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. INJURIES: Wild: None listed. Stars: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Blue Jackets host the Stars after Johnson's 2-goal game
Dallas Stars (37-18-2, in the Central Division) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (27-22-8, in the Metropolitan Division) BOTTOM LINE: The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Dallas Stars after Kent Johnson scored two goals in the Blue Jackets' 5-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Columbus has a 27-22-8 record overall and an 18-6-4 record on its home ice. The Blue Jackets have gone 6-5-7 in games decided by a goal. Dallas has a 17-11-1 record in road games and a 37-18-2 record overall. The Stars have scored 188 total goals (3.3 per game) to rank fifth in NHL play. Tuesday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Stars won 5-3 in the last meeting. Evgenii Dadonov led the Stars with two goals. TOP PERFORMERS: Zachary Werenski has scored 18 goals with 44 assists for the Blue Jackets. Johnson has six goals and five assists over the last 10 games. Wyatt Johnston has 17 goals and 33 assists for the Stars. Jason Robertson has eight goals and four assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jackets: 5-4-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.5 assists, 2.9 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Stars: 8-1-1, averaging 4.1 goals, 7.2 assists, 3.1 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
