Latest news with #NHL-level
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
William Nylander and David Kampf undergo quarter-final showdown at the IIHF World Championship
Image Via Twitter (The IIHF Men's World Championship quarter-finals are so much more intense with two familiar NHL names joining the fray: William Nylander and David Kampf) The IIHF Men's World Championship quarter-finals are so much more intense with two familiar NHL names joining the fray: William Nylander and David Kampf have returned to their respective national teams, Sweden and the Czech Republic, just days after their playoff elimination. With new energy and NHL-level experience, the two youngsters have stepped up to the international stage. As Sweden gears up to face Czech Republic, the game has now gained some added excitement with former teammates now locked in battle for national pride. William Nylander and David Kampf bring former NHL glory into Sweden-Czechia Quarter-Finals Sweden's squad was given some good reinforcement with the arrival of William Nylander, who had a great NHL season with 45 goals and 84 points. Carrying that fine form into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Nylander finished with 15 points in 13 games before Toronto was eliminated. This will be Nylander's fourth trip to international waters for the World Championship, having gold under his belt from 2017. A pivotal addition for Sweden, some manner of second group of six-1-0, their only loss coming against Canada. Nylander's offensive creativity and vision bring leadership to Sweden's attack. Earlier this year, he further showed his commitment to international hockey by taking part in the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he supplied two assists. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 180k traders trust IC Markets for CFD trading | Sign up today IC Markets Learn More Undo On the other hand, the Czechs have drafted David Kampf, a hard-working centre with an emphasis on defensive responsibility and faceoffs. Compared to Nylander, however, Kampf's NHL season was barely worth mentioning, scoring five goals and 13 points in 59 games; yet his role in Czechia's system can become crucial in negating Sweden's top lines. With just one playoff game under his belt, Kampf's knowledge and experience of Sweden's star could provide Czechia with a tactical advantage. Czechia finished in third place in Group B with just one loss in the group stage. They are an evenly combative side using their consistent form and structured gameplay, and the presence of Kampf lends them further strength down the middle. Also Read: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference final preview: Panthers vs. Hurricanes – Game 1 odds, controversial picks, and key player props Sweden and Czechia will meet in the quarter-finals on Thursday, with the focus turning toward William Nylander and David Kampf. This resurgence of pending rivalry on the international front offers Plot B for an already high-stakes encounter. Both teams casting their eyes on the semi-final berth translates into an intense, polished game with added NHL drama. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
New York Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How Canucks' top prospects fit on the NHL roster next season
The Abbotsford Canucks won again on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead over the Coachella Valley Firebirds in their second-round Calder Cup playoff series. Given the vacancy behind the Canucks bench, much of the conversation in the Vancouver market about Abbotsford has focused on head coach Manny Malhotra and whether he's ready to take over Rick Tocchet's old job at the NHL level. While there's no doubt Malhotra has excelled in his first season as a professional head coach, there are a variety of Canucks prospects powering Abbotsford's playoff run that are worth our focus and attention as well. Advertisement As the Canucks enter this offseason, a number of key players are expected to depart as unrestricted free agents. The club is desperate for depth, goals and a revamp to their forward mix. Even with the salary cap going up to $95.5 million, a pipeline of cost-controlled young talent is essential for any team pushing to make the playoffs. So which Canucks prospects are ready to break through? What can the club count on internally when planning for next season? Let's go player by player and break down what Vancouver's top prospects might reasonably be able to contribute to the NHL roster next season. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Drafted No. 15, 2022 5-foot-11, 172 pounds 36 GP, 19-9-28 Complications from dental surgery have limited Lekkerimäki to just three appearances for Abbotsford in the playoffs to this point. He returned to action on Wednesday and recorded a primary assist on the game-winning goal. The skilled, shoot-first winger flashed at the NHL level and was an excellent goal scorer in the AHL this past season, his first professional season in North America. It was an impressive campaign that has positioned Lekkerimäki very well to compete for a full-time NHL job at training camp this fall. Lekkerimäki's NHL-level tools — his shot, in particular — are evident. Like most exceptionally talented 20-year-old players aspiring to earn a full-time job in the NHL, however, Lekkerimäki has a fair bit of work to do to add strength to his frame and a step or two to his skating stride. While Lekkerimäki can be a dynamic puck carrier and often drives through the neutral zone, he's not NHL-level fast just yet, especially when adjusted for size. He likewise struggles at the NHL level to win puck battles and protect the puck below the hashmarks, despite maintaining a solid work rate. Advertisement If Lekkerimäki is going to be a middle-six mainstay for the Canucks in the NHL next season, he'll need to improve on those areas of his game this summer. And in both cases, they're directly connected to physical strength and preparedness. Lekkerimäki will require a big summer if he's going to level up to the point of being an impact NHL player next season. The production and skill level are there and showed up in flashes in his NHL appearances this season; he needs to graft professional-level functional strength onto his frame and he'll have a real opportunity to be a Matthew Coronato-type breakout contributor in Vancouver next season. Linus Karlsson, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Drafted No. 87, 2018 6-foot-1, 180 pounds 32 GP, 23-16-39 Now 25 years old, Karlsson was the standout performer among all of the Canucks' quadruple-A call-ups down the stretch this season. The slow-moving, hard-nosed winger has proven a dominant offensive force at the AHL level. Down the stretch, he also demonstrated the hockey IQ and tenacity to hang in a bottom-six role in the NHL. If Tocchet, who clearly admired Karlsson's stick-on-puck battle-winning, were returning to Vancouver, Karlsson would have an inside track to earn an everyday fourth-line spot in Vancouver's lineup. Will the next head coach feel similarly about Karlsson? Or might they prefer a player with more pace who provides more physical value? Earning the trust of the incoming bench boss will be the challenge, although the commitment the club has already made to him — Karlsson agreed to a one-year, one-way extension this past spring — speaks volumes about how the organization views him. Karlsson is clearly a player we should expect to make a strong case to break camp with the NHL team next fall in a fourth-line role. Aatu Räty, C, Abbotsford Canucks Drafted No. 52, 2020 6-foot-2, 190 pounds 43 GP, 17-23-40 Not only should Räty be expected to break camp with the Canucks at the NHL level next season, we shouldn't be surprised if the club actively carves out a bottom-six spot for him this summer — either by permitting Pius Suter to walk as an unrestricted free agent, gauging the trade market for Teddy Blueger or both. Advertisement Räty started his season with Vancouver last fall, was Abbotsford's best all-around forward at the AHL level and then performed exceptionally well down the stretch at the NHL level. He not only won draws at an excellent rate in the NHL, but he was also a productive five-on-five goal scorer and a decent two-way contributor, even if he still has room for improvement in that area. For all Räty achieved this season, he remains a 'feet are his fate' sort of player. As much progress as he made this season, for example, he still lacks the skating speed to project as a full-time top-nine NHL centreman. He'll need another stellar summer of work to really hit that level. Whether Räty can add enough quickness to his game to be a full-time NHL centre or not, it's clear he's going to be a long-term NHL player at this stage. His frame and skill level in traffic stand out, and his ability to win draws is relatively rare for a player his age. Those attributes will keep him around, even if his ultimate ceiling will be determined by whether his skating continues to improve at the same exceptional rate it did over the past 24 months. Tom Willander, RHD, Boston University Drafted No. 11, 2023 6-foot-1, 190 pounds 39 GP, 2-22-26 Despite the negotiating standoff the Boston University standout has found himself locked into with the Canucks over the past few weeks, Willander, the club's top pick at the 2023 draft, remains very much in the organization's NHL plans for next season. Provided an entry-level contract gets hammered out between the two sides at some point this offseason, Willander will be given every opportunity to break camp with the NHL team in his first professional season. In truth, the Canucks believe Willander would've been capable of logging third-pair minutes this past season. Willander's dynamic skating ability, defensive-mindedness and physical maturity will give him an opportunity to play a prescribed role immediately whenever he puts pen to paper and decides to turn pro. His puck skills and overall offensive game, however, remain at a developmental level and will need to improve significantly if he's going to hit his ceiling and compete for top-four minutes in the future. Advertisement Max Sasson, LW/C, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Signed as an undrafted NCAA free agent 6-foot-1, 181 pounds 41 GP, 13-19-32 Sasson appeared in 29 games for the Canucks this past season, meaning he's already a smash organizations success given he was brought in as an undrafted NCAA free agent. There's something there with Sasson, a well-spoken, clever, exceptionally quick forward who has produced at an auspicious level in his age-23 and 24 seasons in the AHL. Whether he can solidify himself as a full-time NHL player, however, remains to be seen. Despite having plus skating, Sasson lacks the size and faceoff ability to profile as a bottom-six centre at the NHL level, and the overall offensive pop — he is, so far, unproven as an NHL penalty killer — to profile as more than a 12th or 13th forward type. A pending restricted free agent, Sasson will require a new contract this summer. Assuming he's qualified, he should be in line for the sort of two-year, one-way deal the Canucks like to award players who have developed well and have a shot to break into full-time NHL duty. Sasson has put himself in that bucket, even if his NHL upside appears somewhat limited. Arshdeep Bains, LW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Signed as an undrafted CHL free agent 6 feet, 183 pounds 50 GP, 11-32-43 Bains' meteoric rise appeared to hit something of a plateau this season when the local product appeared in 13 NHL games early on in the season and then was passed on Vancouver's organizational depth chart by Sasson and Karlsson down the stretch. Despite struggling to cement himself as an NHL option down the stretch, Bains' heavy game, overall intelligence and playmaking ability give him an outside shot at cracking Vancouver's lineup full-time next season. He'll require a new contract, as Bains is a pending restricted free agent, and an exceptional summer of training to add an extra step to his skating stride, but his development curve is still pointing upward. His ability to win puck battles and distribute could still land him in an NHL bottom-six full time, even if the odds are long at this stage of his development. Advertisement Kirill Kudryavtsev, LHD, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Drafted No. 208, 2022 5-foot-11, 201 pounds 65 GP, 5-21-26 Kudryavtsev stood out at the Penticton Young Stars tournament this fall, earned praise from Tocchet during training camp, had a stellar first professional season in the AHL and made his NHL debut toward the tail end of the season. It was, all in all, an excellent first professional season for the defensive-minded, puck-moving blueliner. The key to Kudryavtsev's success to this point has been the detailed smoothness of his game. Though he's not especially dynamic offensively and lacks the size and physical edge to profile as a shutdown option in the NHL, his mobility and two-way IQ will give him an opportunity to play NHL games as a call-up option next season. The Canucks, certainly, think highly of his game. The issue for Kudryavtsev going forward is that it's difficult to carve out a full-time NHL niche as an undersized left-handed defender who isn't a dynamic point producer. The bar for him to leap over will be exceptionally high. Sawyer Mynio, LHD, Calgary Hitmen (WHL) Drafted No. 89, 2023 6-foot-1, 181 pounds 49 GP, 14-31-45 One of the top defencemen in the WHL this past season, Mynio has joined Abbotsford as a black ace for its playoff run. Organizationally speaking, he's a blue-line prospect the Canucks are excited about, even if the season he just put together — which included making Team Canada's World Junior Championship roster this past winter — could put him on the trade block as the club seeks significant forward upgrades this summer. It's not a trade the Canucks are eager to make. There's a lot of internal belief in Mynio's intelligence, physical upside and ability to contribute at the NHL level as a defence-first blueliner and penalty killer. Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Drafted No. 41, 2020 6-foot-2, 203 pounds 65 GP, 25-13-38 Advertisement Klimovich played the best hockey of his professional career down the stretch for Abbotsford, but it's telling that he wasn't given a cup of coffee in the NHL when the Canucks were playing out the season. It's telling, too, that Klimovich was scratched for Game 3 of Abbotsford's second-round series with Coachella Valley. At this point, you know Klimovich's deal. The Belarusian winger has a variety of NHL-level tools — including his size and violent, deceptive release — but is critically lacking in two-way hockey intelligence and competitive maturity. That's held him back, and as much as he's continued to chip away and improve his overall game, those flaws still linger. Klimovich isn't out of time to deliver on his immense potential just yet, but his improvement will have to be exponential across the next year if he's going to factor into Vancouver's plans at this stage. For now, he remains a year away from being a year away. Artūrs Šilovs, G, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Drafted No. 156, 2019 6-foot-4, 203 pounds 21 GP, 14-5-2, .908 SV% Šilovs started the first game of the regular season for Vancouver, struggled enormously in his NHL appearances, and was demoted back to the AHL. The Canucks' decision this spring to extend Kevin Lankinen to a long-term deal further clouds Šilovs' future, especially as the Latvian goaltender — a playoff hero for Vancouver in 2024 — will require waivers next fall. While Šilovs' NHL struggles were pronounced this past season, it's worth noting he's been sharp in the playoffs over the past week and change. The 24-year-old has managed to win four of his six starts, including one shutout, while stopping 129 of the 140 shots he's faced in the opening two rounds of Abbotsford's playoff run. Even if he was ultimately chased in one of his appearances, Šilovs has once again proved to have the nerve to raise his game at the most important time of year. Šilovs' future, at this point, is likely tied to what Vancouver does in net with its current tandem. Lankinen is set to be a long-term fixture and the club will hold extension talks with Thatcher Demko this season. If Demko extends, there won't be a job for Šilovs to compete for at training camp. (Top photo of Jonathan Lekkerimaki: John Jones / Imagn Images)
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'I was afraid, I was excited, I was emotional, I was crying at the end': rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes shone in Game 3 of the Montreal Canadiens
(Image via Getty: Jakub Dobes) The Washington Capitals came charged up in the first two Games of the best-of-seven series. What they didn't see coming was Sam Montembeault's exit due to injury and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes' entry. It shook their core. And what did Jakub Dobes do? He only allowed 1 goal from the Washington Capitals whilst his team, the Montreal Canadiens , had successfully scored 6 goals! 'You guys cannot imagine how a person feels. I was afraid. I was excited. I was emotional. I was crying at the end. I was a mess.' shared Dobes with Sportsnet. Just 16 games in the NHL and already a Stanley Cup playoff Game 3 winner in the NHL, rookie goalie Jakub Dobes is full of surprises by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fastest Selling Plots of Mysore from 40L | 40+ Amenities PurpleBrick Learn More Undo 'I know my routine. I know I'm a good goalie. I love these moments more than anything.' shared rookie goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens Jakub Dobes with Sportsnet. The 23-year-old Laval Rocket player played only 16 NHL games, wherein he won 7 games, had 1 shutout, accumulated 2.74 goals against average, and had a save percentage of .909! Sam Montembeault, the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, left in the second period of Game 3, and Jakub Dobes was called to fill in. Dobes recorded 28 minutes and 21 seconds on the ice. In Game 3 of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals, Jakub Dobes recorded a save percentage of .875, faced 8 shots of the Capitals, and only allowed 1 goal of the 3 goals made by the Capitals. Joshua Roy returned to the AHL just two days before the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Jakub Dobes stayed with the NHL for the playoffs Joshua Roy, an AHL player, was assigned to the Laval Rocket from the NHL's Montreal Canadiens on April 17, 2025, just two days before the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Additionally, another AHL player, Jakub Dobes, was called up from the AHL's Laval Rocket to the Montreal Canadiens on December 27, 2024. Thank goodness he stayed with the Canadiens. Because Dobes played his NHL-level best, sorry, Stanley Cup Playoff-level best, just when the Montreal Canadiens needed it most! Also Read: 'Benoit is all heart': Simon Benoit surprised everyone with his long shot that resulted in Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 OT win against the Ottawa Senators | NHL News - The Times of India
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jonathan Quick tremendous in net, J.T. Miller scores in Rangers' 4-0 win over Predators
The Rangers defeated the Nashville Predators 4-0 on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. - With Chris Kreider landing on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and Reilly Smith out for roster-related reasons ahead of the trade deadline, New York saw youngsters Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard jump into the lineup. Berard capped off an outstanding return to the NHL-level, finding the back of the net late in the third period off a nice feed from Sam Carrick. He finished with five shots on goal and three hits, while Othmann didn't make much of an impact offensively, but he did showcase his physicality with two hits of his own. - Speaking of physicality, Matt Rempe laid a tough hit along the boards just five minutes into the game. He received two minutes for elbowing and was forced to answer for the hit as Nashville's Andreas Englund dropped the gloves -- leaving Rempe bloodied in the process. - Both of the Rangers' new additions -- Calvin de Haan and Juuso Parssinen -- were in the starting lineup as expected and it didn't take long for one of them to reach the score sheet. De Haan picked up the secondary assist on Artemi Panarin's game-opening goal. The veteran d-man finished with two shots and four hits while Parssinen threw five hits of his own. - For Panarin, that marked his team-leading 24th goal -- and he picked up an assist later in the game to give him his 60th point of the season. He became just the eight player in franchise history to reach that mark in four consecutive seasons. The star winger finished with a game-high seven shots on goal on the night. - J.T. Miller continues to play tremendous hockey since being acquired from the Canucks. The big-bodied center found the back of the net off a beautiful feed from Panarin on the power play just a minute into the second period. He added an assist minutes later on a K'Andre Miller goal -- giving him six goals and six assists in 10 games since returning. - The addition of Miller has helped pick up the play of Mika Zibanejad. He picked up two more assists on the night on both the Miller's goals to help him extend his point streak to an impressive six games. Zibanejad now has 21 points in 24 games since the calendar flipped to 2025. He's been terrific over the last month in particular, producing a league-leading four goals and 11 assists in 10 games since the beginning of Feb. - Vintage Jonathan Quick was on full display in this one as he made the 800th start of his career. The veteran netminder was tremendous, stopping all 35 shots he faced to earn his third shutout and ninth win of the season. Perhaps his most impressive sequence came early in the third when he sprawled out and somehow made a twirling stick save on Nashville's Nick Blankenburg to keep them off the board. - With this win, the Rangers are now tied with the Senators and Bruins with 64 points -- which is just two behind the Red Wings and four behind the Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race. The 39-year-old backup continues stepping up whenever the Blueshirts call his number. Matt Rempe puts a big hit on Nick Blankenburg and then drops the gloves with Andreas Englund — Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2025 Artemi Panarin rifles it in 🚀 — Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2025 J.T. Miller doubles the Rangers' lead! — Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2025 It's Miller Time!K'Andre Miller makes it three! — Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2025 CLASSIC JONATHAN QUICK — Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2025 The Rangers have a quick turnaround as they host the crosstown rival Islanders on Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins Top Goaltending Prospect Sent Back To ECHL, Signals Need For Goaltending Shakeup
While the NHL season is on pause because of the 4 Nations Face-off, the AHL and ECHL seasons roll on. And there was some movement between the two down on the Pittsburgh Penguins farm on Thursday. Top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov - who went 6-0 with a whopping .934 save percentage and a 1.99 goals-against average in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - was reassigned to Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers. In a corresponding move, defenseman Isaac Belliveau - a fifth-round pick by the Penguins in 2021 - was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Defenseman Isaac Belliveau has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and goaltender Sergei Murashov has been reassigned to the @ — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 13, 2025 When looking at the sheer numbers, this is a tough break for Murashov, whose numbers at both levels this season have been outstanding. Named an ECHL All-Star this season, the 20-year-old Russian goaltender is 15-3-1 with a .919 save percentage at the ECHL level this season - and that is his lowest save percentage in any league and level of professional hockey since 2020-21, when he had a .909 save percentage as a 16-year-old in the MHL, Russia's junior league. What this likely means is that goaltender Filip Larsson - who is also enjoying a great AHL season and has been on injured reserve for more than a month - is ready to be activated from IR. The Penguins also recently flipped goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist, as they wanted to give Blomqvist some AHL games while the NHL is on hiatus for 4 Nations. The NHL club recalled Jarry - who was waived by the Penguins on Jan. 15 after going 8-8-4 with an .886 save percentage on the season - as a paper move in order to send Blomqvist back for the break. The Penguins have re-assigned forwards Emil Bemstrom and Vasily Ponomarev, as well as goaltender Joel Blomqvist to the @WBSPenguins (AHL). Goaltender Tristan Jarry has been recalled from WBS. — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 9, 2025 Regardless, burying Murashov in the ECHL - when he is clearly well above that level of competition - probably isn't what the Penguins want to be doing as an organization. The issue is that they have two NHL-level goaltenders in Alex Nedeljkovic and Jarry, who are blocking Larsson, Murashov, and Blomqvist from being fixtures at the level they're supposed to be at. Therefore, it would probably serve Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and the organization best to make a decision on one of their veteran NHL goaltenders sooner rather than later. Neither are going to be part of the Penguins' future - which is now the focus - and both guys at the AHL level - Blomqvist and Larsson - have earned NHL looks. And - at the end of the day - stunting the development of a premier goaltending prospect like Murashov is not in the Penguins' best interest, and that's exactly what they're doing by being forced to send him back to the ECHL after a stellar run in the higher-level AHL. It remains to be seen what the Penguins decide to do once the NHL season resumes. For now, this is a gut punch for, arguably, the Penguins best goaltending prospect. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
