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Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Could Mitch Marner join Nazem Kadri in the Stanley Cup-winning ex-Leafs club?
Former Toronto forward captured the Cup as part of the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Get the latest from Lance Hornby straight to your inbox Nazem Kadri of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2022 Stanley Cup final. Getty Images There are certainly more former Maple Leafs in the salary-cap era who've won the Stanley Cup — or been to the final — than there are title banners on Bay Street. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Among those who had an awkward exit but later lifted the trophy, Nazem Kadri had the most memorable quote. While in Toronto, his recklessness in the name of sticking up for teammates or sending foes a message each spring eventually resulted in a trade. 'For everyone who thought I was a liability in playoffs, you can kiss my ass,' the 2022 champion shouted as his Colorado Avalanche celebrated. Amid an NHL-worst 58-year drought, lack of success has been particularly hard to swallow for Leafs Nation loyalists who fawned over then fell out with several stars. Four years before Kadri, Phil Kessel celebrated his second Cup in Pittsburgh after relations soured with the team and fans, followed in 2019 by the highly regarded Tyler Bozak with the Blues and Kessel again with a small role for Vegas in '23. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Since 2021, Zach Hyman has done everything but win it after the beloved home-towner priced himself out of the Leafs budget. He moved from left wing with Auston Matthews to Connor McDavid's flank in Edmonton, where he scored 50 and helped the Oilers to two Stanley Cup finals. Now the concern is whether winger Mitch Marner will haunt the franchise. The fifth-highest scorer in franchise history preferred a deal sending him to the Golden Knights over an extended contract in Toronto, where his lack of playoff production has been under relentless scrutiny. 'It was his time to move on,' Kadri said of his ex-teammate during a chat with the Toronto Sun ahead of the Hockey Diversity Alliance's SummerFest event, taking place this Saturday. 'Maybe every player needs that fresh start. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Mitchy played a lot of good hockey here, a dynamic player to watch with the puck on his stick. Fans should be proud of what he did. 'I want him, all of them, to do well, but not because of (trying to prove fans wrong). It's because you've been in the trenches with them, how all that brought you together. We're still good buddies. I just mentioned to him to watch out because now we're in the same (Pacific) division.' Kadri revealed he was at a couple of the Toronto-Florida Panthers second-round playoff games. The Leafs have not made it to the third round of the playoffs since 2002. 'Sure, I was cheering for them as I always do, but they faced a really great team. I have lot of friends who are still big Leafs fans and I've tried to watch them on TV, too.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Now 34 years old and about to play his 1,000th regular-season game — potentially in November — Kadri continues to contribute, leading Calgary with 35 goals last season, though the Flames missed the playoffs. It's a reason why some Leafs fans still keep a torch burning for Kadri, especially when general manager Brad Treliving talked of improving the DNA after a rather meek exit to the meaner Panthers. A possible reunion became topical around the time Marner left in July, but Kadri has tried to pump the brakes. He has a seven-year, $49-million US deal that does not expire until 2028-29, though it was signed when Treliving was GM of the Flames. At present, the Leafs have two set centres in Auston Matthews and John Tavares along with the incoming Nicolas Roy. 'That (rumour) certainly picked up momentum,' Kadri said with a laugh. 'Everyone knows my connection with Tree and his family. 'But Calgary is a great city and I certainly enjoy it for the time being. No one knows what the future holds.' lhornby@ X: @sunhornby Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls World Columnists
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Could Mitch Marner join Nazem Kadri in the Stanley Cup-winning ex-Leafs club?
There are certainly more former Maple Leafs in the salary-cap era who've won the Stanley Cup — or been to the final — than there are title banners on Bay Street. Article content Among those who had an awkward exit but later lifted the trophy, Nazem Kadri had the most memorable quote. Article content While in Toronto, his recklessness in the name of sticking up for teammates or sending foes a message each spring eventually resulted in a trade. Article content Amid an NHL-worst 58-year drought, lack of success has been particularly hard to swallow for Leafs Nation loyalists who fawned over then fell out with several stars. Article content Four years before Kadri, Phil Kessel celebrated his second Cup in Pittsburgh after relations soured with the team and fans, followed in 2019 by the highly regarded Tyler Bozak with the Blues and Kessel again with a small role for Vegas in '23. Article content Since 2021, Zach Hyman has done everything but win it after the beloved home-towner priced himself out of the Leafs budget. He moved from left wing with Auston Matthews to Connor McDavid's flank in Edmonton, where he scored 50 and helped the Oilers to two Stanley Cup finals. Article content Article content Now the concern is whether winger Mitch Marner will haunt the franchise. The fifth-highest scorer in franchise history preferred a deal sending him to the Golden Knights over an extended contract in Toronto, where his lack of playoff production has been under relentless scrutiny. Article content Article content 'It was his time to move on,' Kadri said of his ex-teammate during a chat with the Toronto Sun ahead of the Hockey Diversity Alliance's SummerFest event, taking place this Saturday. 'Maybe every player needs that fresh start. Article content Article content 'Mitchy played a lot of good hockey here, a dynamic player to watch with the puck on his stick. Fans should be proud of what he did. Article content 'I want him, all of them, to do well, but not because of (trying to prove fans wrong). It's because you've been in the trenches with them, how all that brought you together. We're still good buddies. I just mentioned to him to watch out because now we're in the same (Pacific) division.' Article content Kadri revealed he was at a couple of the Toronto-Florida Panthers second-round playoff games. The Leafs have not made it to the third round of the playoffs since 2002. Article content 'Sure, I was cheering for them as I always do, but they faced a really great team. I have lot of friends who are still big Leafs fans and I've tried to watch them on TV, too.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers archrival finally parts ways with GM Lou Lamoriello after missing playoffs
Lou Lamoriello's legendary career as an NHL executive and New York Rangers nemesis may have come to an end Wednesday when the New York Islanders said in a statement that the 82-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer's contract as president and general manager would not be renewed. No replacement was announced. The Islanders said operating partner John Collins will lead a search to find the next GM. Advertisement 'The Islanders extend a heartfelt thank you to Lou Lamoriello for his extraordinary commitment over the past seven years,' the team said in a statement. 'His dedication to the team is in line with his Hall of Fame career.' The Islanders missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, finishing 35-35-12 while dealing with a host of injuries to key players. Their most dynamic forward, Mathew Barzal, was limited to 30 games and didn't play after sustaining a broken kneecap Feb. 1. The defense corps was so injury-riddled that the Islanders at times had three players (Tony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich and Adam Boqvist) on the blue line who weren't with the team for the first half of the season. They were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-3 shootout loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on April 12 and finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division. Special teams were a huge problem – the Islanders were 31st on both the power play (72.2 percent) and penalty kill (72.2 percent). Advertisement Notorious among Islanders fans for doubling down on his aging core, Lamoriello finally gave in a little this season, when he traded veteran center Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche and received highly-regard forward prospect Calum Ritchie and a conditional 2026 first-round draft pick in return. Related: Why GM Chris Drury deserves much blame for doomed Rangers season Rangers nemesis Lou Lamoriello out as Islanders GM The Islanders were a mess when they brought in Lamoriello to run the team on May 22, 2018. They finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of only the Rangers, and surrendered an NHL-worst 296 goals in 2017-18. Advertisement But Lamoriello quickly turned things around, hiring Barry Trotz as coach just weeks after Trotz led the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship. Despite losing star center John Tavares to free agency in July 2018, the Islanders made the playoffs in 2018-19 and swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round before being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. The Islanders then advanced to the Stanley Cup Semifinals in 2020 and 2021, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six and seven games, respectively. Their 1-0 loss to the Lightning in Game 7 during the 2021 postseason was the closest they came to returning to the Stanley Cup Final since their glory days in the early 1980s, when the Islanders won four consecutive championships before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Final. Andy Marlin-Imagn Images They missed the playoffs in 2021-22, partly because they were forced to begin the season with a 13-game road trip before opening UBS Arena, then made the postseason in 2022-23 and 2023-24, losing to Carolina in the first round each time. Advertisement Lamoriello's 1,470 wins as GM of the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Islanders are second in NHL history behind David Poile's 1,533. His 325 Stanley Cup Playoff games are the most by any NHL general manager, and he's second in postseason wins with 172, behind Glen Sather's 187. His success largely came at the Rangers expense since the each of his three teams also reside in the Eastern Conference, and the Devils and Islanders are bitter division rivals. Most of those playoff wins came during his tenure with the Devils, who won the Stanley Cup three times (1995, 2000, 2003) under Lamoriello after he became team president and GM in 1987. He helped build teams that reached 100 points 13 times, won nine division titles, qualified for the playoffs 21 times, made the Stanley Cup Final five times and won three titles. New Jersey qualified for the playoffs in 13 consecutive seasons from 1997-2010 and was 1,093-759-179 with 109 ties in the regular season and 136-116 in the playoffs during his time in New Jersey. Advertisement Lamoriello actually coached the Devils for 50 games in 2005-06 and again for the final three games of the 2006-07 season, with New Jersey qualifying for the playoffs each time. He left the Devils on July 23, 2015, and was named GM of the Maple Leafs the same day. His Toronto teams were 118-95-33 in three seasons and improved each year – winning the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery and using the No. 1 pick on Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs announced April 30, 2018, that Lamoriello would not return but he remained as a senior adviser before joining the Islanders. In addition, Lamoriello was GM of the United States team that won the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and played at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2009, and into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame three years later.
Indianapolis Star
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
NHL Playoffs: St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets odds, picks and predictions
The St. Louis Blues take on the Winnipeg Jets in Game 7 of this best-of-7 series in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Sunday. Puck drop from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is set for 7 p.m. ET (TBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Blues vs. Jets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions. Series: Tied 3-3, with the home team winning every game After looking like a shell of themselves in Winnipeg in Game 5, the Blues demoralized the Jets and chased likely Vezina Trophy-winning G Connor Hellebuyck for the third straight road game in a 5-2 finish in Game 6 Friday. From a stats perspective, the Blues really didn't dominate the way the score says. The Jets won 59% of the faceoffs, went 2-for-6 on the power play (the Blues were 0-for-6), the Jets outhit them 40-36, and the shots were close at 27-23 St. Louis. The difference was the Blues' toughness, the blue line and their fourth line. The Blues' fourth line, affectionately known as the "WTF" line for the last names of RW Nathan Walker, LW Alexei Toropchenko and C Radek Faksa, scored 5 points in Game 6. Walker and Toropchenko each had a goal, blue-liners Philip Broberg and Cam Fowler also had a goal, and captain C Brayden Schenn had the fifth score. G Jordan Binnington made some acrobatic saves while his counterpart shrunk in net yet again on the road. The Jets were missing C Mark Scheifele, but got RW Nikolaj Ehlers back, and he looked good with 3 shots on goal. Scheifele's absence was noticeable as the team got nothing at 5-on-5. LW Kyle Connor and C Cole Perfetti both scored on the power play. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. It really comes down to Hellebuyck, though, who was chased after 5 goals beat him on 23 shots in 2 periods. He is last in a lot of categories among goalies at 5-on-5. He has given up 18 goals at 5-on-5, which is 3 more than anyone else in the league. Yes, they've played 6 games in this series, but Hellebuyck has seen 30 minutes less of action than his counterpart due to being yanked 3 times. Hellebuyck's SV% at 5-on-5 is a paltry .814. He has stopped 16 of 26 high-danger chances at 5-on-5, which is an NHL-worst .615 SV%. Now he has been a different player at home, but in Game 7, all bets are off because the heat is on. Blues at Jets odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:34 a.m. ET. Blues at Jets projected goalies Jordan Binnington (28-22-5, 2.69 GAA, .900 SV%, 3 SO in regular season) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (47-12-3, 2.01 GAA, .925 SV%, 8 SO in regular season) Binner stopped 21 of 23 shots in Game 6. He has allowed 11 goals on 108 shots at 5-on-5 in this series, which is about middle of the pack. It's his work on high-danger chances that makes the difference. He has saved 26 of 34 high-danger chances at 5-on-5, and he's 12-for-14 on those in the last 2 games. All the talk is about the run he inspired this team to get on in 2019 when he was an unflappable rookie. And he has been the backbone of this squad. I outlined Hellebuyck's trials and tribulations already, but look. He's going to win the Vezina Trophy for the third time, and he's going to be in heavy consideration for the Hart Trophy. He has been OK at home in this series, stopping 51 of 58. That's still an .879 SV%, and when you factor in his disastrous games in The Lou, he has an .815 SV% these playoffs. If the defense can suffocate in front of him one more time, he will settle in. Blues at Jets picks and predictions Prediction Blues 4, Jets 2 Moneyline Scheifele is a game-time decision for this one, and that is a big factor here. But both of these teams are banged up. The Blues have been without 26-goal-scoring winger Dylan Holloway all series, and they lost another cog with D Tyler Tucker going out with a knee injury. I look for Scheifele to go, and I look for a heated game. So much heat that it gets the best of Winnipeg, who have been emotional all series in the media. The Blues have been playing with their backs against the wall for 2 1/2 months, and they seem to thrive on it. I look for them to punch Winnipeg in the mouth en route to punching their ticket to face Dallas. I'm taking the BLUES (+150). This has already gone up from +135 Sunday morning. Puck line/Against the spread Blues D Cam Fowler is tied for fourth in the NHL in points these playoffs and has a point in every game. Take CAM FOWLER OVER 0.5 POINTS (+105). I actually can't believe it's still at plus-money. Over/Under This series has gone Over every game except Game 2. Hellebuyck has given us no reason to expect a 2-1, 3-1 type of game. I could see a 3-2 final, but I'm expecting an empty-netter to find its way in with the desperation of a team keeping its season alive. I'll take the OVER 5 (-120). For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NY Rangers playoff odds: Where they stand in NHL Eastern Conference wild card race
Monday offered a rare reprieve from scoreboard watching for the New York Rangers and their fans. (Instead, they were able to focus on the excitement surrounding the signing of top prospect Gabe Perreault.) They've watched their playoff odds fluctuate for weeks, with the race for the Eastern Conference's second and final wild-card spot devolving into a jumble of flawed contenders. Advertisement With just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, five teams remain firmly in the hunt: Rangers, Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Islanders and Red Wings. None of them played Monday − and none are playing particularly well, with all five registering sub-.500 winning percentages across their last 10 games. Gabe Perreault: Rangers sign top prospect, who will join team immediately The floundering Rangers are among the primary culprits, having lost five of their previous six before Saturday's 6-1 win over the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks. One creative reader deemed it the "Hot Potato Race" − an appropriate moniker given the inability of any team to tighten its grip on the East's No. 8 position. Jan 19, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens right wing Joel Armia (40) during the first period at Bell Centre. The ever-changing odds for each of the jockeying clubs can be found on various sites, but here I've laid out my own analysis. The inexact calculations are based on a variety of factors, including remaining strength of schedule as determined by And they're listed in order of how I view their chances of getting in. Total points: 77 Advertisement Points percentage: .527 Remaining games: 9 Regulation wins: 25 Last 10 games: 4-3-3 Strength of remaining schedule: .520 (28th hardest) Analysis: The Habs had been sinking fast with five straight losses (0-3-2), but their surprising 4-2 win over the defending champion Panthers on Sunday was a major swing in their favor. That pushed them back into the lead based on points percentage, and with the easiest remaining schedule among the five competing teams, they're in the most advantageous position. Only four of their final nine games will come against teams currently in playoff position. Montreal is leaning on its 25-and-under core of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and captain Nick Suzuki up front and Calder Trophy candidate Lane Hutson on the back end. That comes with expected growing pains and mistakes, but allowing them to blossom in prominent roles has paid off in the second half. And with the hockey-crazed town rallying around them, it feels like the Canadiens have more forward momentum than most of teams on this list. Advertisement Odds: 31% New York Rangers (35-32-7) Total points: 77 PTS%: .520 Remaining games: 8 Regulation wins: 32 Last 10: 4-5-1 SOS: .579 (2nd) Thoughts: The Rangers have had a roller coaster of a season, with a brutal 4-15 slump from late-November through December putting last year's Presidents' Trophy winner in this precarious spot. They steadied for about two months to start the new year, but their problems reemerged in a big way in March. New York has lost nine of its last 13 (4-6-3), with some especially discouraging results along the way. The reality is they're a bad defensive team, with an average of 13.47 scoring chances allowed per game that ranks 30th in the league and last among the five wild-card hopefuls, according to Clear Sight Analytics. Those results are even worse when defending the rush, with the top transition teams giving them fits. And their possession numbers have taken a nosedive of late, leading to some alarmingly low shot totals. Advertisement It's put an inordinate amount of pressure on Igor Shesterkin, who's the best goalie among these contenders and primary reason to believe in the Rangers. The rest of the team's effort has come into question on several occasions this season, but they don't need to be world-beaters to outrun this mediocre field. The schedule is working against the Blueshirts because they have the fewest remaining games to collect points and the second-hardest path, with five of their final eight games coming against teams in playoff position. But they do hold the important first tiebreaker with six more regulation wins than the competition. Armed with Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin and other players who have experienced long playoff runs in recent years, there's at least a decent chance the Rangers sneak in before facing harsher realities this summer. Odds: 29% Total points: 75 Advertisement PTS%: .521 Remaining games: 10 Regulation wins: 23 Last 10: 3-6-1 SOS: .568 (tied for 7th) Thoughts: For a while it looked like the Blue Jackets had all the momentum, then they hit a wall. Following a rousing Stadium Series win over the Red Wings in the Mar. 1, Columbus fell into a 1-7-1 funk. It's been an emotional season for the upstart Jackets, and it all seemed to be catching up to them. Then they got a couple key forwards back from injury in Sean Monahan and Cole Sillinger, and they've begun to rally again. They snapped the losing streak with comeback wins over the Islanders and Canucks last week, which was enough to renew their hopes. Advertisement Columbus' defensive metrics are shaky at best and its goaltending has left much to be desired, but there's an exciting crop of young talent here, led by dynamic defenseman Zach Werenski, and a speedy, attacking style that can be a handful for opponents to deal with. The Jackets have two games in hand on the Rangers and a feel-good story that everyone can get behind following the tragic death of beloved star Johnny Gaudreau. At times it's felt like he's working his magic from hockey heaven. Odds: 25% Total points: 74 PTS%: .507 Remaining games: 9 Regulation wins: 25 Last 10: 3-4-3 Advertisement SOS: .568 (tied for 7th) Thoughts: I'm not sure many people expected the Islanders to still be in at this late juncture, yet here we are. Apologies to our friends on Long Island, but I remain highly skeptical. The Isles had a mini surge with three straight wins from Mar. 16-20, but they've gone back into the tank with four consecutive losses since. Their next three games are against current playoff teams, as well, so it won't get easier any time soon. It's hard to have much faith in a team with such little scoring punch. New York's average of 2.74 goals per game ranks 25th in the league and worst among the wild-card contenders. Bo Horvat leads the team with an underwhelming total of 51 points. Advertisement It's long felt like time for the Isles to tear down and start the rebuild process in earnest. Maybe missing the playoffs will push them to do just that. Odds: 10% Total points: 74 PTS%: .507 Remaining games: 9 Regulation wins: 26 Last 10: 4-6-0 SOS: .612 (1st) Thoughts: The Wings feel like the longest shot because they're already a few points back in the race and have the toughest remaining schedule in the NHL. Seven of their final nine games will come against playoff-bound clubs, with Detroit struggling against those types of quality teams all season. Odds: 5% Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers playoff odds: Where they stand in NHL wild card race
