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New York Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
NHL free-agent big board: Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett and the top 50 targets a month before July 1
Four weeks remain until the frenzy begins. While this may not be the deepest or most star-studded NHL free-agent class, there's bound to be a little more intrigue come July 1 due to the shifting market dynamics brought on by a surging salary cap. There's also at least one bona fide superstar likely headed for the open market, plus a whole bushel of players who will be on center stage when the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers kick off their Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night. Advertisement All of that calls for the return of the Big Board. Here's a detailed look at the NHL's top 50 pending unrestricted free agents. (Note: Net ratings are for 2024-25 via The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn, stats are via Hockey-Reference and GSAx via Evolving-Hockey. Contract projections are via CapWages and AFP Analytics.) Coming off the most productive season of his NHL career, Marner is the kind of blue-chip player who rarely hits the open market in his prime. Adding him would be viewed as a franchise-altering move in several markets across the league because of a unique skill set that makes him not only one of the NHL's most offensively gifted performers but also one of its more trusted forwards on the defensive side of the puck. The former Selke Trophy finalist has been a top penalty-killing option for years and routinely uses his elite instincts to pressure opponents into turnovers when defending at five-on-five. Marner will be paid among the game's highest earners on his next contract. Bennett is on the younger end of this free-agent class and brings something that can't be measured with boxcar numbers: tenacity. One NHL exec calls him a 'dog on a bone.' So while other centers with longer track records of regular-season production will be available in free agency, Bennett will be more in demand because he's viewed as a player who could tip the scales for a team in the playoffs. That's a significant piece of leverage to bring to market. Seeing him compete in a third straight Stanley Cup Final this spring will only boost his value, especially since Bennett enters the championship series with a playoff-leading 10 goals. Tavares is a reluctant free agent who is still hoping to work things out in Toronto. The veteran will draw multiple suitors if he hits the open market. Tavares is coming off a season in which he drank from the fountain of youth, scoring the most goals (38) among any player in this free-agent class and the third-most points (74). It's a reflection of the fact that, while his skating (never a strength) may not blow anyone away, his hockey IQ and hands are as sharp as ever. Tavares remains incredibly driven when it comes to his preparation, and he's deadly when the puck is on his stick around the net. He's also elite in the faceoff dot. When you couple that package of skills with his impressive resume and positive dressing-room impacts, you have a unique player. Steady as a drumbeat, Ehlers has been an automatic 20-plus-goal player for a decade and consistently drives play for teammates. While not physically imposing at 6 feet and 172 pounds, he backs opponents off with his immense skill. Ehlers can both start plays and finish them, and he's posted a 55 percent expected goals percentage at even strength through more than 600 career NHL games. He's also a power-play threat who produced points at the best rate of his NHL career this season. While he'd be a useful top-six addition for basically every team in the league, there may be some durability concerns with Ehlers over the long haul. Still relatively young and already with nearly 800 total NHL games on his resume, Ekblad is a bit of a polarizing player among scouts. That he chews through minutes as a top-pairing right-shot defenseman should make him incredibly valuable, especially since his resume now includes three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final with the Panthers. Not only is he big and strong, he's also a good passer who has consistently put up solid offensive numbers throughout his career. However, there are some concerns out there about how well Ekblad's game will age. He's also been plagued by injuries in recent years and served a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program this season after, he said, accidentally taking a product to help with injury recovery that included a banned substance. Arguably no free agent has done more to burnish his resume during these playoffs than Marchand, who has managed to excel for the Panthers after a prolonged late-season injury absence and the first trade of his NHL career. Proving he can be a culture-setter and play-driver outside of Boston should pique interest come July 1. Marchand is a high-motor, high-character player with Stanley Cup pedigree and Team Canada bona fides, but he's also seen the injuries stack up in recent years. Of particular note with Marchand is that he hasn't earned as much as peers of his quality throughout his NHL career, so he's not expected to come at a discount. He's scored at a 30-goals-per-82-game pace across his NHL career, while only actually cresting that mark once, when he scored 40 times in 2023-24. Boeser is a pure sniper with a dangerous release, which makes him a threat both on the power play and at even strength. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued him at times during his career, but there's no getting around that he excels at the most difficult thing in the game to do. Getting a fresh start after a difficult final season in Vancouver could put some wind in his sails. While Gavrikov may not be a household name, he was a top-pairing defenseman on one of the stingiest defensive outfits in the league this season. That's earned him plenty of admirers across the NHL. The Kings' leader in total ice time this season, Gavrikov is known as a player who seals the wall and keeps the game in front of him. There's also an element of physicality and bite to his game that prevents opponents from getting through him, and he keeps the play moving, which is reflected in the high-end possession metrics Los Angeles produced with him on the ice. While Gavrikov lacks the offensive tools and production to be viewed as a No. 1 defenseman, he has a credible case as a No. 2. Provorov is an all-situations defender who is equally as comfortable lining up on the right side as the left, which boosts his value ever so slightly. He's played more than 20 minutes a night since stepping into the NHL at age 20 and possesses a smooth skating stride that should age well. While prone to the occasional defensive error, he excels at getting play going in the right direction with a good stick to force turnovers and a strong breakout pass. It's no certainty that he'll hit the open market with his younger brother, Vladimir, set to move to Columbus to attend Ohio State. A strong straight-line player with a dangerous shot and a knack for scoring goals, Nelson will be of interest to teams looking to fill a hole at second-line center. Viewed as defensively responsible after developing his game on Long Island, he also has utility as a playmaker. Now, at this stage of his career, Nelson may not be counted on to drive his own line full-time. He'd benefit from having an offensive weapon at his side. But he's a useful special-teams contributor who can kill penalties and man the net-front on the power play. Still skating like the wind and still producing like a viable top-six option after 16 NHL seasons, Duchene has vastly outperformed bargain contracts for two years running in Dallas. While it may be unreasonable to expect him to replicate this year's 30-goal, 82-point campaign due to a high shooting percentage, he's still a useful offensive weapon who will have options if he's willing to move on from the Stars. Duchene is best slotted as a second-line player at this stage of his career and remains reliable in the faceoff dot. A good short-term bet if the price is right. A well-known commodity who has appeared in more than 450 career NHL games, Allen was a bright spot in the No. 2 role for the Devils this season. Not only was his .906 save percentage right in line with his career average, but also his goals saved above expected per 60 minutes ranked among the top goalies in the entire league. Allen stands above a thin free-agent class at his position. Donato is a relentless, high-energy player who exploded for a career season in Chicago at the perfect time. He's an eight-year NHL veteran who has bounced around to five teams and will have suitors wondering if his high-water mark can be repeated. Donato made some strides with his skating this season and has the hands necessary to bury offensive chances when he gets them. There have already been some discussions about a potential extension with the Blackhawks. Granlund enjoyed a nice run to the conference final with the Stars after coming over from San Jose in a midseason trade, and he illustrated exactly what he is in those two disparate situations — a useful middle-six winger on a contender who can handle top-line duty on a weaker roster. His experience and versatility are a plus, as is that he can contribute to both special-teams units and handle his business in the faceoff dot. A steady player all around. A Swiss Army Knife-type coming off the best season of his career, Suter profiles as a third-line center who can be moved around a lineup as needed. What he lacks in pure foot speed, he makes up for with an ability to process the game at a high level, which keeps him a step ahead positionally on the ice. During his time with the Canucks, Suter also showed that he can handle tough matchups, which is why he could command as much as $5 million per season on the open market. After going from a waiver claim to a spot on the Blue Jackets' top pairing with Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski, Fabbro supercharged his career. The right-shot defenseman more than held his own while seeing 21 minutes per night for three-quarters of the season. Fabbro gets around the ice well and has a heavy shot, as evidenced by his nine even-strength goals. He should be in for a nice payday this summer. Lindgren is a high-character player who doesn't shy away from physical play and is at an age where he likely hasn't yet hit his ceiling. Some of the defensive challenges that plagued the end of his tenure with the Rangers weren't as evident in Colorado, where he logged more than 18 minutes per night in the playoffs after arriving at the trade deadline. Lindgren is a steady puck-mover who can contribute on the penalty kill. If you're looking for signs of encouragement here, Kane has scored and put up points at a better rate in the two seasons after hip surgery than the two immediately before it. The procedure looks to have given new life to one of the best American players ever. Still, Kane hasn't appeared in a playoff game during that period and might be tempted to jump to a contender under the right circumstances. He remains an elite playmaker and puck handler who would nicely complement high-end offensive teammates. What can be expected from the three-time Stanley Cup winner after two complete seasons away from the game is anybody's guess. But there will be a crowd of interested suitors because Toews has already spent months ramping up toward a comeback and believes he's put significant health challenges behind him. He's eligible to sign a performance-laden contract, which should mitigate some of the risk or uncertainty on the team's end. With Toews, you're getting a boatload of intangibles and experience, and his mind alone should make him an effective depth center as long as his body cooperates. Some of the offensive pop appears to be waning with age, but Giroux remains an elite faceoff man and a skilled playmaker. He's a good power-play option, too. While Giroux seems right at home playing for the emerging Senators their potential championship window may not align with the time remaining on his career, which is why he has a big decision on his hands. While no longer the NHL's preeminent power forward, Benn continues to play a physical and effective brand of hockey. He's more of a checker at this stage of his career, but he also can be counted on for a bit of bottom-six offense, as evidenced by his 15 even-strength goals this season. If he chooses to leave Dallas, his only NHL home, it'll likely be to chase a Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes may not have been the best fit for Orlov's preferred style of play, and a rough ending to the playoffs may ultimately affect his market. So, consider this a buy-low opportunity. Orlov has been an excellent two-way defender throughout his career and can handle the physical demands of the position. Vladar has never made more than 30 appearances in an NHL season, so he shouldn't be viewed as a No. 1 option. A big man known for his athleticism, there may be a higher level of performance to be unlocked here. Outside of a down year in 2023-24, he's performed at roughly league-average level since the pandemic. A strong skater with a decent set of offensive tools, Roslovic can be counted on to produce about 0.5 points per game. He brings some versatility as a right winger or center who can help a power play. However, Roslovic also has battled consistency issues and was a healthy scratch at points for Carolina during the playoffs. He's put up 0.76 points per game across the past two seasons in Colorado, where he took advantage of favorable lineup deployment. Drouin excels when skating alongside a high-end finisher because of his playmaking creativity and vision. A fantastic teammate who is finally healthy again after missing virtually all of the 2022-23 season because of major knee surgery, Brown is a low-maintenance winger and an attractive complementary roster piece. You can count on him to hound pucks and kill penalties. He'll chip in with the odd big goal, too. He's skating incredibly well after missing a year due to a double hip resurfacing procedure. In fact, Klingberg's performance for the Oilers during this run to the Stanley Cup Final should have him in reasonable demand this summer. While he's almost certainly not going to be a $7 million player like he was in the past, Klingberg's ability to transport the puck and facilitate breakouts still holds value. Ceci's one of the more polarizing performers in the NHL. As easy as it is to poke holes in his puck-handling ability or lukewarm offensive numbers, he has been a core defensive fixture on multiple teams that have recently gone on long playoff runs. He's a minute-muncher who kills penalties and tends to pair well with a more offensive-minded partner. He's a right-handed shot, too. He'll hit free agency just days after celebrating his 26th birthday, making him one of the youngest players available on the open market. It's still not clear exactly where Jokiharju's ceiling will settle as an NHL player. He's a strong puck-mover who has made some strides with his defensive game, but his size has kept him from playing big minutes. The Oilers would love to keep a player they acquired at the trade deadline and only saw truly return to full health during these playoffs. Frederic is a big man who skates well and can effectively be deployed as a checker. While he's a bottom-sixer, he also has an 18-goal, 40-point campaign on his resume. Olofsson's biggest weapon is a hard, heavy and accurate shot. That makes him a threat to score whether he's on the ice at five-on-five or patrolling the power play. While his game can leave something to be desired on the defensive side of the puck, there's always going to be room for Olofsson in a lineup somewhere because of his ability to score goals. A puzzling player who either seems to be scoring in bunches or not at all, Kuzmenko had a nice run in Los Angeles after coming over at the trade deadline. He scored three times in a six-game series loss to the Oilers. While the degree of unpredictability is high here, it's hard to ignore the 39-goal, 74-point campaign Kuzmenko had in Vancouver in 2022-23. A bit of a late bloomer who only broke into the NHL three seasons ago, Perbix has the size and demeanour to carve out a long career. He reads the play well and is positionally sound. There are some offensive limitations to Perbix's game, but he's a steady player with some room still to grow. The owner of the NHL's second-longest consecutive games played streak at 925 games, the 40-year-old workhorse is coming off a season in which he played 21 minutes per night for Carolina. His offensive production has trended down with age, but he's still pretty mobile for a large man and can give you some spot duty on a power play, when needed. A veteran left-shot defenseman with two Stanley Cups already on his resume, Dumoulin profiles as a nice depth addition for a contender. Big and mobile, he can be trusted to move the puck effectively while handling a steady workload. He's not known for being overly physical, but he also won't be pushed around. There's been a slight dip in production in the past two years, but Smith remains a strong two-way player with Stanley Cup pedigree. He can be counted on to win puck battles and is an effective penalty killer who has 15 short-handed goals on his resume. Smith is also a big-game player known for strong playoff showings. The journeyman is known as a good goaltending partner and a reliable No. 2. He moves around the crease well and has put together some strong NHL stretches, basically getting the Florida Panthers into the playoffs with a hot run at the end of 2022-23, when he briefly supplanted Sergei Bobrovsky. Lyon made 74 appearances for Detroit across the last two seasons. Bought out by Winnipeg a year ago, Schmidt found a home on the Panthers' third pairing and now has a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The affable puck-moving defenseman brings life to the dressing room and keeps the game moving in the right direction when he's on the ice. Florida had 59 percent of expected goals during his five-on-five minutes in the regular season. Best slotted as a third-liner at this point in his career, Mangiapane is known for having a nose for the net. He scored 13 even-strength goals for Washington this season and also was deployed as a penalty killer. Just 29, there's still good hockey left in Mangiapane's legs. Beauvillier has quite a collection of sweaters in his closet after playing for six teams in the past three years. He went from Long Island to Vancouver to Chicago to Nashville to Pittsburgh to Washington. A skilled winger with decent puck-handling skills, he didn't find much post-deadline success with the Capitals and will likely need to find another new home. A steady winger who doesn't do anything flashy, Appleton is a veteran who can be trusted to handle his own on the defensive side of the puck. He also has a little offense in his stick, primarily as a playmaker. Appleton will likely find a raise on the $2.1 million he was earning. After bouncing between five organizations in eight years, not to mention between the AHL and NHL during many of those stops, Gaudette exploded for a career season with 19 goals in Ottawa. While there will still be some "buyer beware" around those numbers given past consistency issues, Gaudette profiles as a versatile depth forward with some offense. Not particularly big or adept at winning puck battles, Dadonov does his damage when the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone. The veteran winger has a good shot and hit the 20-goal mark again for Dallas this season. The goals did dry up for him in the playoffs, but he's viewed as a useful complementary piece. The veteran winger plummeted back to earth after a dream season in 2023-24, when he racked up 75 points for Nashville. That total fell to 28 in a campaign split between the Predators and Wild. Nyquist is a talented playmaker who remains a strong skater and seems like a plausible bet to deliver a season that falls somewhere between the extremes of his last two. Saad made a big bet on himself in late January, walking away from more than $5 million in guaranteed salary to mutually terminate a contract with St. Louis before ultimately signing for much less with Vegas. His results with the Golden Knights were so-so. Still, Saad is clearly a motivated athlete who plays a power game and can chip in with some offense. Just two years removed from being the Avalanche's No. 1 goaltender, Georgiev has seen his game hit rock bottom. He was statistically among the worst NHL performers at the position this season and saw Colorado dump him to San Jose amid his struggles. Still, Georgiev is only 29, and in a diluted market, he may find someone to take a flier. The veteran produced encouraging numbers in 30 appearances for Ottawa and should be able to find a No. 2 job on the open market. He has a fair amount of experience built up over the past few seasons. Sacrificing for the team seems to run in the family, and Chris Tanev's younger brother finished the season with the second-most blocked shots among all NHL forwards. He's known for a grinding game that wears on opponents. Tanev is also a proficient penalty killer who scored 10 even-strength goals in a year he split between Seattle and Winnipeg. While there are some obvious limitations with a 5-foot-10 defenseman who isn't particularly well-suited to withstanding a physical game, Grzelcyk makes a killer breakout pass. That helped propel him to a career-high 39 assists in Pittsburgh this season. Grzelcyk is also an excellent skater and can transport the puck on his own. About to compete in the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth time in six years, Perry is showing no inclination to stop here. He's previously said that someone would have to cut the skates off him before he retired. Perry continues to battle for the hardest areas of the ice and scored 19 goals in the regular season and has another seven through the first three rounds of the playoffs. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic, with photos of Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Mitch Marner by Patrick Smith, Claus Andersen and Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why 2024-25 Was The Best Season Yet For Senators Centre Tim Stützle
Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stützle just enjoyed the best season of his NHL career. It might not look that way on the surface if you look at the back of his hockey card and compare his traditional statistics in 2024-25 against previous seasons. It is not that Timmy's 24 goals and 79 points in 82 games are modest. They represent the second-highest totals in his career, but Stützle's strides in his all-around game made him one of the most valuable forwards in the entire NHL last season. Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. Evolving-Hockey's 'wins above replacement' (WAR) metric attempts to quantify a player's total contribution as a single value, measured in wins, compared to what a replacement-level player would bring to a team. According to their proprietary WAR data, only three forwards this season posted a higher WAR than Tim Stützle's 3.8. These players are Leon Draisaitl (4.7), Connor McDavid (4.1), and David Pastrnak (3.9). WAR is obviously not an infallible metric. It is a calculated statistic that estimates how much more valuable a player is than a league-average player. In light of that, considering how elite those aforementioned players are, it is pretty good company that Stützle is keeping. HockeyViz's data corroborates Evolving-Hockey's data about Stützle's on-ice impacts, both offensively and defensively. When Juice is on the ice, great things happen for the Senators. The Senators struggled to produce results at five-on-five, but when Stützle was on the ice, the team did a significantly better job generating offensive chances and expected goals with him on the ice than off. Conversely, the same is true regarding the team's ability to suppress the opposition's offence when Stützle is on the ice. In speaking to reporters at his end-of-the-season availability, Stützle believed he made significant defensive improvements this season. "I think my two-way game and trying to be able to play better defensively," the Senators first line centre said. "There are still lots of improvements to be made. There are still lots of errors I can (improve), but I think the most improvements were in my defence game and decision-making." Using Evolving-Hockey's 'total defence' (DEF) metric that combines a player's contributions at five-on-five and while shorthanded into one encapsulating value, the 2024-25 campaign was far and away Stützle's best defensive season. In terms of defensive value created, the only other positive season he had was his sophomore 2021-22 season (0.8 DEF). During the 2024-25 season, he amassed a 4.1 DEF value, more than five times the value of that sophomore campaign. In fact, it was one of the best defensive seasons by a Senators forward in the modern analytics era - ranking amongst staunch defenders like Chris Kelly, Mark Stone, and Erik Condra. For the Senators to ascend the Eastern Conference standings and put themselves into the Stanley Cup contender discussion, they will need their young core's growth to continue. Stützle's ongoing evolution is an integral piece of that puzzle. One of the more impactful lessons of the Senators' first round is how important faceoffs can be. The Next Big Thing? A Glance At How Top Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Fared This Season For Ottawa Senators fans, the sting of their team's first-round elimination is starting to fade. Soon, that disappointment will give way to excitement for the future, and much of that excitement centers around young NHL prospects. Across large sample sizes, there is no significant correlation between winning and losing draws. However, as the Leafs' success in the dot showed, they can be essential situationally. The Maple Leafs scored four goals in just 38 seconds of power-play ice time early in the series because of their ability to win draws cleanly and quickly gain puck possession. In the postseason, Stützle was the only centre on the Senators with a faceoff success rate higher than 50 percent. The Leafs dominance in this facet of the game, however, reinforced how it is an area that Stützle wants to improve upon. "Every single part of my game, I still want to improve, but I think faceoffs was a big point," the Senators centre acknowledged. "I don't even know what my percentage was years before, but it couldn't be too high. "Obviously, the coaching staff didn't trust me taking those responsible faceoffs. I want to be a guy who can take those faceoffs and be on the ice in those moments. (The coaches) showed me what I've got to do to (improve) and win more faceoffs. Obviously, you can't trust a guy whose faceoff percentage is 35 percent, and you have another guy whose faceoff percentage is 57. You're obviously taking the guy with 57. We have a lot of good faceoff guys on the team, so that motivates me to get better." Interestingly, another area where Stützle wanted to improve was on the offensive side of the puck. Given his skill set and near point-per-game production, it would be easy to believe that component would be the one he would be most comfortable with. That is not the case, as Tim explained. "In the offensive zone, knowing when to shoot and when to pass, I've struggled a little bit with that this year," he admitted. "I had a lot of scoring chances throughout games where I couldn't really capitalize. "Sometimes it's bounces, and sometimes it's just picking a better spot. I'm going to try and get better at that - just knowing when to shoot and picking my spots. That's really important, and it's going to help me continue to get better." The numbers corroborate Stützle's indecision. Although his five-on-five goals per 60 rate (G/60) was the third-highest of his career per NaturalStatTrick, many of Stützle's underlying rates plummeted. Stützle's Individual Five-on-five per 60 minutes of ice time rates: Shots on goal: 5.43 (lowest of career) Shots (iCF/60): 9.99 (lowest of career) Scoring chances (iSCF/60): 6.12 (lowest of career) High-danger chances (iHDCF/60): 2.64 (second-lowest of career) An emphasis on playing responsible defensive hockey without cheating for offence could certainly hamper those numbers, but it is fair to point out that in many instances this season, the Senators prioritized shot quality over quantity. After scoring 39 goals during the 2022-23 season, assuming he can flirt with that benchmark every year is unreasonable. That season, he combined his highest volume of shots (228) with his career-best shooting percentage (17.1) to produce his best offensive season. Stützle acknowledged dealing with some wrist injuries over the past few seasons when discussing faceoffs, so they probably negatively impacted his ability, or willingness, to shoot the puck. Despite the injuries, he is still a career 13.2 percent shooter, including a 14.8 percent success rate in 2024-25, so he can still fire it. Even if his future shooting percentages stay closer to his career norm, he can be more productive by playing more selfishly and shooting the puck more. Graeme NicholsThe Hockey News - Ottawa Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flyers Offseason: Dream Marco Rossi Trade Scenario Just Became a Real Possibility
Wild center Marco Rossi could step in and become the No. 1 center on the Flyers tomorrow. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images) If the Philadelphia Flyers are still assessing the trade market for their highly coveted top-six center, they will be privy to the fact that Marco Rossi is increasingly likely to be traded by the Minnesota Wild this summer. But how has this dream scenario become a reality for the Flyers? Rossi, 23, is a pending restricted free agent this summer, likely to command a big raise on the three-year entry-level contract that carried a total value of $2.59 million. And despite his breakout 24-goal, 60-point campaign, the Wild eventually demoted Rossi to fourth line in the six-game first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup playoffs, then publicly declared a search to find help for their No. 1 center, Joel Eriksson-Ek. 'We'll see what happens. There's contract talks. There's player movement — not just for Marco; for anybody," Wild GM Bill Guerin was quoted as saying of Rossi by The Athletic. "I'm not going to try to predict the future where I see this, I see that. I have to go through the process and see where it goes.' As for Rossi? He's steadfast in his belief in himself, even if he knows he can't fully push back on Guerin or head coach John Hynes. That can be a slippery slope, even for the most even-keeled. 'As a player, you don't always have to understand some decisions, but it's important to respect those decisions," Rossi was quoted as saying by The Athletic. "I've showed all year long how good I am (...) And anyone who knows me, it's always going up and I always improve, and especially with my work ethic. So I've no doubt, I'm for sure a top-six guy.' And a top-six guy, like Rossi, is exactly what the Flyers need. Jett Luchanko, the Flyers' 2024 first-round pick, is still just 18 years old. The Flyers could also use one of their 2025 first-round picks, sixth overall, to add another blue-chip center prospect. At the same time, though, it is not realistic to expect Luchanko or any other prospects to play savior, jump into an NHL lineup in their teenage years, and begin producing at a high level. Rossi, in his first year in the NHL in 2022-23, had an assist in 19 games. That was it. And that leaves the Flyers in the predicament they're in. They have Luchanko and they added the enigmatic 22-year-old college standout Karsen Dorwart, but the NHL center depth is currently constituted by Sean Couturier, Ryan Poehling, and Noah Cates. Beyond them is a total mystery, be it Luchanko, Dorwart, or someone else. Marco Rossi's 2024-25 stat card, courtesy of Evolving-Hockey, showcases his borderline elite offensive play-driving at 5-on-5. Completing a highly anticipated trade for a young player of Rossi's caliber instantly supercharges this motley crew of centers and gives the Flyers and immediate running mate down the middle for Matvei Michkov--someone who can genuinely think and creatively play the game on Michkov's level. But, to get, you have to give. The Wild won't be giving Rossi away for free, even if their trade leverage seems frayed in the public sphere. The Flyers have an overabundance of wingers and draft picks they can offer the Wild in exchange for the 5-foot-9 pivot. One of three Flyers first-round picks in 2025 originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche, who were dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Dallas Stars. A draft pick in the low 20s is good starting place. Beyond that, Cates and Tyson Foerster are two top-nine caliber players who are pending restricted free agents this summer, like Rossi. Cates, 26, is a center and a Minnesota native, but plays a different style and has a different skillset than Rossi. Another name to consider is the uber-talented Owen Tippett, who just had the least productive season (43 points, 20 goals) of his full-time NHL career while playing on the first year of the eight-year, $49.6 million contract he signed with the Flyers on Jan. 26, 2024. Tippett, 26, will have a 10-team no-trade list kick in ahead of the 2026-27 season, so the Flyers will be hard-pressed to trade him then if things don't start to trend upwards. It is something they will have to consider. Veteran Wild wingers Gustav Nyquist, Marcus Johansson, and Justin Brazeau will all be free agents this summer, and the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyout charges will drop from $7.371 million each to just $833k each. In short, Minnesota is going to be in the hunt for younger, talented wingers, and they will finally have the funds to support their ambitions. A trade between the Flyers and the Wild seems like a dream scenario for both sides, but only time will tell if the price is right for Marco Rossi.
New York Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jacob Markström shows why Devils acquired him — and what he means to them in the future
New Jersey Devils president of hockey operations Tom Fitzgerald spent last summer trying to mold his team from a group with talent into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. His biggest bet in the on-ice overhaul — which included the additions of Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon and Stefan Noesen — was on Jacob Markström. Advertisement The goaltender showed why in Game 5. He made 33 saves in the third period and in the two overtime frames, robbing Jackson Blake, Eric Robinson and Jordan Martinook on dangerous chances in the first extra period. Martinook looked to the sky in frustration after the goalie gloved his wrist shot from the slot. When Markström is at his best, he's among the best goalies in the world. He showed that with the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames, finishing in the top five in Vezina voting while with each team. That level of performance wasn't enough for the undermanned Devils, down Jack Hughes and three defensemen, to upset the Carolina Hurricanes. After a Carolina push that lasted more than 40 minutes of game time, Sebastian Aho ripped a power-play goal past him early in the second overtime, ending the Devils' season with a 5-4 loss. Markström, who can wear his emotions on his sleeve, slammed his stick on the post, breaking it in half. 'It's frustrating right now that it ended like this,' the goalie told reporters in Raleigh, N.C., after the game. Now that the New Jersey season is over, Markström has one year left on his contract. He's 35 years old, which adds a wrinkle to the Devils' contention window. When healthy — which they weren't this year — the Devils have high-end forward talent in Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and captain Nico Hischier, as well as Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Pesce on the back end. Markström's age could put a limit on how long he's part of that core, and it could perhaps add urgency to Fitzgerald's approach to the coming season. The Devils gave up a 2025 first-round pick and Kevin Bahl to acquire Markström from Calgary. He had an injury-interrupted first season with the Devils, but in the games that mattered most, he proved himself as worth the price. He posted a .910 save percentage in the playoffs and stopped 6.23 goals more than expected, according to Natural Stat Trick. Advertisement 'He's the best,' Pesce said earlier in the series. 'He's our horse. Love that guy to death. I love going to battle with him. You know he's going to come up big.' He did in the regular season, at least before suffering an MCL sprain Jan. 22. Before the injury, he had a 21-9-5 record with a .912 save percentage. He saved 12.67 goals more than expected, according to Evolving-Hockey. He struggled his final 13 regular-season games after coming back from injury March 2, dipping his season save percentage to .900 in 49 games. Marky's out here making the incredible look easy. — x – New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 30, 2025 Markström had a save percentage above .900 in four of the Devils' five games against Carolina. His best stretch of play came toward the end of Game 5, all after he gave up goals on three consecutive shots early in the second period, then another to Aho on a five-on-three power play later in the frame. He made 15 saves in the third period, including a flurry of stops on Logan Stankoven. He continued to rob Hurricanes players in the first overtime period. Blake couldn't beat him on a three-on-one rush. He gloved a one-handed Robinson redirect. Martinook looked to the sky in disbelief when Markström robbed him from the slot. 'Man, we were under siege, and he was outstanding,' Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said in his postgame news conference. Each save kept the Devils' season alive a little longer. 'He gave us a chance to keep fighting,' Keefe said. The skater group — battered on the back end and lacking necessary forward depth — just did not have enough. Trade rumors connecting Markström to the Devils started in the 2023-24 season. Calgary traded Tyler Toffoli going into the year, then moved Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Nikita Zadorov during the season. Markström, who has a no-movement clause, did not end up getting traded in season. The Devils piqued his interest, though. His agent, Patrick Morris, told The Athletic over the summer that the goalie 'was fixated on New Jersey all last year.' Advertisement Markström got his wish when Fitzgerald acquired him in June. The Devils were counting on him to bring stability after none of Vitek Vaněček, Akira Schmid or Nico Daws emerged as a consistent enough starter in a disappointing 2023-24 season in which the team missed the playoffs. After the way Markström played against the Hurricanes, Fitzgerald can feel good about that decision. Speaking to the media in Raleigh, Hischier said he felt bad for Markström because of how hard he battled in Game 5. 'I know how much he wants to win,' he said. Next year will offer another chance. And given Markström's age, it's an important one — for him and the Devils.
New York Times
19-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Rangers fire coach Peter Laviolette a year after winning Presidents' Trophy
The New York Rangers announced Saturday that they have fired coach Peter Laviolette after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season. New York entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations following a run to the 2024 Eastern Conference final and Presidents' Trophy win but finished with a 39-36-7 record and did not have a multi-goal comeback all season until Monday, its first game after elimination. Advertisement Laviolette, who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, ends his time with the Rangers with a 94-59-11 record. The 60-year-old, who is seventh in NHL history with 846 coaching wins, came to New York with a reputation of early-tenure success before his teams faded as the years went on. Though he battled factors outside his control this season, that ended up being the case with the Rangers. New York's season was defined by drama and underperformance. Every key veteran on the team regressed from their 2023-24 performance, most notably Chris Kreider, who went from 39 goals and 75 points in 82 games in 2023-24 to 22 goals and 30 points in 67 games in 2024-25. Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière all had at least 10 fewer points than they did last season. The Rangers struggled to find defensive consistency — or consistency of any kind. They did not have a three-game win streak after November and gave up five or more goals on 23 occasions. Their goals against numbers could have been worse had the team not gotten strong goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, who finished the year sixth in the league in goals saved above expected, according to Evolving-Hockey. The team also faced its off-ice issues, not all of which were Laviolette's fault. General manager Chris Drury frustrated members of the locker room by putting Barclay Goodrow on waivers over the summer so the San Jose Sharks, a team on his no-trade list, could pick him up. Drury also traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, and Trouba said the Rangers threatened to put him on waivers if he did not accept a trade to a team on his no-trade list. The Trouba trade came on the heels of Drury sending a memo to the league's other 31 general managers saying he was open to trading roster players. He mentioned Trouba and Kreider by name. The memo came early in what became a 5-14-0 stretch. Advertisement The Rangers also had multiple players publicly question their role on the team. Kaapo Kakko said, 'I think it's easy to pick the young guy and put him out' after a scratch in December and was traded days later. Zac Jones and Jimmy Vesey both expressed frustration at consistent scratches in interviews with various publications. Most recently, Calvin de Haan said the way the Rangers have treated him has been 'f—ed' as he got on the ice for an optional morning skate. De Haan, acquired in a package for Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey, played his first three games with the Rangers, then was a scratch for the final 20 games of the season. Laviolette said Monday he communicated with de Haan throughout his time with the team. After its rocky stretch in November and December, New York stabilized a bit when the calendar flipped to 2025 and on multiple occasions pulled within a tie of the East's second wild-card spot. The Rangers were tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens as recently as April 2. But a Canadiens six-game win streak paired with New York going 4-4-0 in April ensured the Rangers would miss the playoffs. The Athletic also came out with a report Thursday, the day of the season finale, that Panarin and Madison Square Garden, the company that owns the team, 'paid financial settlements to a Rangers employee last year after she alleged that Panarin sexually assaulted her.' Asked for comment on the report, Laviolette deferred to the MSG statement that said, 'The matter has been resolved.' New York had plenty of turnover throughout the season. Drury shipped out Trouba and Kakko in December, then landed a J.T. Miller-centered package in January for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a conditional first-round pick. The Rangers decided to trade pending unrestricted free agents Lindgren, Vesey and Reilly Smith at the trade deadline but brought in NHLers Carson Soucy, de Haan and Juuso Pärssinen with eyes on still making the playoffs. Given the way the season went, Laviolette seemed to know a coaching change was possible. Advertisement 'I think everything gets looked at when a year is not good like this,' he said April 13 when asked about his job security. 'I'm not blind to anything. I love being here with these guys and the New York Rangers. It's a year where everything went right to a year where things didn't go right. When things don't go right, I'm sure everything gets looked at.' In 2024-25, the year in which Laviolette said everything went right, the Rangers set a single-season franchise record in wins (55) and points (114). New York fell to the Panthers in six games in the Eastern Conference final. The Rangers are now looking for their fourth coach since hiring David Quinn ahead of the 2018-19 season. Quinn served three seasons, then Gerard Gallant and Laviolette each lasted two despite each leading the Rangers to a conference final appearance. Assistant coaches Dan Muse and Michael Peca will have the opportunity to be on the next coaching staff, per a league source.
