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The Province
a day ago
- Sport
- The Province
Edmonton Oilers send Florida Panthers loud and clear message in Game 1 win
Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Evan Bouchard (2) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) celebrate Draisaitl's game winning overtime goal against the Florida Panthers during NHL Stanley Cup playoff action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Wednesday June 4, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia When somebody shows you who they are, believe them. 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. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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 It's an age-old truth that must be chilling the Florida Panthers to their core right now. The Panthers discovered Wednesday night in the 110-decibel circus at Rogers Place that what the Edmonton Oilers have been saying all along is true — this is a very different team than the one they beat last year. They're bigger, stronger, deeper, more mature and more determined. And this time they weren't going to be spooked by the enormity of the situation when the puck dropped in Game 1. This time the Oilers delivered a loud and clear message, showing their playoff mettle by overcoming a 3-1 deficit to force overtime and then winning it on Leon Draisaitl's goal at 19:29 to draw first blood in the Stanley Cup Final. 'We've done it all post-season,' Draisaitl said of the comeback win. 'We stick with it and we're never going to quit. It was a pretty evenly-played game but we got it done when it mattered most.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. 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. It's the first time an Oilers team held a series lead in the Final since 1990. They fell behind 3-0 last year and then 2-0 and 3-1 in 2006. This time they're in the driver's seat, three wins away from a championship. 'It's huge,' said Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. 'When you look back at it (last year), if we get one win right away it's a completely different story. The way that we showed up right from the get go, and continued to keep going even though we were down by two, it shows a lot of character by us.' The Panthers, making their third-straight appearance in a Stanley Cup Final, are trying to win their way into a dynasty conversation but the Oilers have their own idea of how history is going to remember this season and they got right to it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Oilers couldn't have asked for a better start, with Leon Draisaitl making it 1-0 just 66 seconds after the opening faceoff. From there, Edmonton controlled the rest of the period, hemming Florida in its own zone and outshooting them 14-7, with Florida's sixth and seventh shots coming in the final five seconds. Unfortunately for the Oilers, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky gave them nothing else and Florida came out of the period with a 2-1 lead on a controversial goal from Carter Verhaeghe at 10:49 and a power-play goal, made possible by Edmonton's unsuccessful goaltender interference challenge, from Brad Marchand at 12:30. Sam Bennett clearly interfered with Skinner on the first goal, but the referees ruled that he was tripped into the Oilers goaltender by defenceman Brett Kulak. A close call that could have gone either way went Florida's and resulted in a quick two-goal swing for the visitors. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'd challenge that any day,' said head coach Kris Knoblauch. 'If that play happened again I'd challenge it. From what I've seen from the NHL this year, I had a lot of confidence in challenging that.' After both teams scored early in the second period — Bennett giving Florida a 3-1 lead at 2:00 and Viktor Arvidsson closing it to 3-2 at 3:17 — Florida took over. They were outshooting Edmonton 17-4 late in the frame until an Oilers power play made it 17-8, and it was Skinner's turn to frustrate the shooters. Which he did. 'Great again,' Connor McDavid said of his goalie. 'He gave us a chance to win and that's all you can ask from your goaltender.' With the Panthers up 3-2 at the second intermission, Game 1 came down to 20 minutes. The Oilers, now 4-3 in the playoffs when trailing after two periods, needed just 3:33 to tie things up on Mattias Ekholm's goal. And then Game 1 came down to one shot. Draisaitl took it for his third overtime winner of the playoffs and the Oilers are up 1-0. 'I know these guys have it in them to come back like that,' Skinner said of his veteran teammates. 'The timing of it, too, a minute left. I've seen them do it many times. Hopefully I see them do it a lot more.' E-mail: rtychkowski@
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Edmonton Oilers send Florida Panthers loud and clear message in Game 1
Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Evan Bouchard (2) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) celebrate Draisaitl's game winning overtime goal against the Florida Panthers during NHL Stanley Cup playoff action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Wednesday June 4, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia When somebody shows you who they are, believe them. 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 It's an age-old truth that must be chilling the Florida Panthers to their core right now. The Panthers discovered Wednesday night in the 110-decibel circus at Rogers Place that what the Edmonton Oilers have been saying all along is true — this is a very different team than the one they beat last year. They're bigger, stronger, deeper, more mature and more determined. And this time they weren't going to be spooked by the enormity of the situation when the puck dropped in Game 1. This time the Oilers delivered a loud and clear message, showing their playoff mettle by overcoming a 3-1 deficit to force overtime and then winning it on Leon Draisaitl's goal at 19:29 to draw first blood in the Stanley Cup Final. 'We've done it all post-season,' Draisaitl said of the comeback win. 'We stick with it and we're never going to quit. It was a pretty evenly-played game but we got it done when it mattered most.' 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. It's the first time an Oilers team held a series lead in the Final since 1990. They fell behind 3-0 last year and then 2-0 and 3-1 in 2006. This time they're in the driver's seat, three wins away from a championship. 'It's huge,' said Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. 'When you look back at it (last year), if we get one win right away it's a completely different story. The way that we showed up right from the get go, and continued to keep going even though we were down by two, it shows a lot of character by us.' The Panthers, making their third-straight appearance in a Stanley Cup Final, are trying to win their way into a dynasty conversation but the Oilers have their own idea of how history is going to remember this season and they got right to it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Oilers couldn't have asked for a better start, with Leon Draisaitl making it 1-0 just 66 seconds after the opening faceoff. From there, Edmonton controlled the rest of the period, hemming Florida in its own zone and outshooting them 14-7, with Florida's sixth and seventh shots coming in the final five seconds. Unfortunately for the Oilers, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky gave them nothing else and Florida came out of the period with a 2-1 lead on a controversial goal from Carter Verhaeghe at 10:49 and a power-play goal, made possible by Edmonton's unsuccessful goaltender interference challenge, from Brad Marchand at 12:30. Sam Bennett clearly interfered with Skinner on the first goal, but the referees ruled that he was tripped into the Oilers goaltender by defenceman Brett Kulak. A close call that could have gone either way went Florida's and resulted in a quick two-goal swing for the visitors. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'd challenge that any day,' said head coach Kris Knoblauch. 'I saw him fall into (Skinner) and I didn't think he was tripped. From what I've seen from the NHL this year, I had a lot of confidence in challenging that.' After both teams scored early in the second period — Bennett giving Florida a 3-1 lead at 2:00 and Viktor Arvidsson closing it to 3-2 at 3:17 — Florida took over. They were outshooting Edmonton 17-4 late in the frame until an Oilers power play made it 17-8, and it was Skinner's turn to frustrate the shooters. Which he did. 'Great again,' Connor McDavid said of his goalie. 'He gave us a chance to win and that's all you can ask from your goaltender.' With the Panthers up 3-2 at the second intermission, Game 1 came down to 20 minutes. The Oilers, now 4-3 in the playoffs when trailing after two periods, needed just 3:33 to tie things up on Mattias Ekholm's goal. And then Game 1 came down to one shot. Draisaitl took it for his third overtime winner of the playoffs and the Oilers are up 1-0. 'I know these guys have it in them to come back like that,' Skinner said of his veteran teammates. 'The timing of it, too, a minute left. I've seen them do it many times. Hopefully I see them do it a lot more.' E-mail: rtychkowski@ Celebrity Canada Columnists Canada Toronto & GTA
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers endure uncharacteristic playoff collapse in losing Game 1 of Cup Final to Oilers
Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) is chased by Edmonton Oilers' Connor Brown (28) and Darnell Nurse (25) during the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (right) and Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) rough it up as Sam Reinhart (13) looks on during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) celebrates Brad Marchand's goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner as Brett Kulak (27) and Jake Walman (96) look on during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen (42) during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen, right, puts a shot wide of the net as Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky poke-checks him during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen, right, puts a shot wide of the net as Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky poke-checks him during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) is chased by Edmonton Oilers' Connor Brown (28) and Darnell Nurse (25) during the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (right) and Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) rough it up as Sam Reinhart (13) looks on during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) celebrates Brad Marchand's goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner as Brett Kulak (27) and Jake Walman (96) look on during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen (42) during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen, right, puts a shot wide of the net as Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky poke-checks him during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) For nearly three full years under coach Paul Maurice, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were unbeatable in the playoffs when holding a lead through either one or two periods. Until Wednesday night. Advertisement In a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers blamed themselves for playing too conservatively in allowing the Oilers to score three straight goals and squander a 3-2 lead entering the third period. 'Just not let up. Don't sit back,' said Sam Bennett, who scored twice, including his franchise single-postseason-record 12th. 'We've been really good all year at not sitting back with the lead, and for whatever reason we sat back tonight.' It was an uncharacteristic collapse for a Florida team that had won 31 consecutive playoff games under Maurice when holding the lead at the intermission break. Worse yet, the Panthers actually blew a two-goal lead in an outing Leon Draisaitl sealed by converting Connor McDavid's centering pass 19:29 into overtime. It came on the power play, and 1:12 after Tomas Nosek was penalized for delay of game after lifting the puck over the glass. Advertisement Maurice was more concerned with how the Panthers performed well before Nosek entered the penalty box in an outing they were outshot 24-8 from the beginning of the third period. 'I think we had some real good pressure. They get it back and then there were some plays we didn't compete,' he said. 'I thought we were a little safe with the puck.' Florida dropped to 8-3 on the road this postseason and trails a series for the first time since losing the first two games of its second-round meeting against Toronto, which the Panthers rallied to win in Game 7. Game 2 of the Cup Final series is in Edmonton on Friday night. ___ AP NHL:
Toronto Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Player-by-player final look at 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs' expectations in the playoffs fell short again, this time in the second round against the Florida Panthers. Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty (67) and teammates Auston Matthews (34), William Nylander (88) and Max Domi (11) look on in the final moments of third period NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action against the Florida Panthers, in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Photo by Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS For the 2024-25 Maple Leafs, the pain of losing yet again in the Stanley Cup playoffs and falling short of expectations is sure to linger through the summer. 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 We're taking a final look at the group as the players head off for the summer. Contracts are listed with remaining term and the players' salary cap hit. GOALIES Anthony Stolarz Remember when there didn't seem to be much available among goalies in free agency last summer? Stolarz established himself as a true starter after signing a two-year contract. He played in a career-high 34 games and led NHL goalies with a .926 save percentage during the regular season. Rare was the game Stolarz allowed a soft goal. A knee issue kept him out of the lineup for nearly two months, but he went 12-4-1 after returning on Feb. 6 and was the clear No. 1 when he suffered a concussion in Game 1 against Florida, ending his season. Contract: One year, $2.5 million This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Joseph Woll Like Stolarz, Woll didn't tire while hitting a career-high. For Woll, it was 42 games, and he had a .909 save percentage, 13th in the NHL and tied with his pal Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars. Woll had a good regular season on the whole, but couldn't overtake Stolarz, who simply was better. Woll would've had to have been close to perfect to match Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky in the second round and we know what happened. All things considered, expect Woll to take a good run at the starter's job when training camp opens in September. Contract: Three years, $3.66 million DEFENCEMEN Simon Benoit The 26-year-old developed into what a team should want out of a third-pairing defenceman: Few concerns, in general, when he's on the ice and a steady physical presence. Not only was the 6-foot-4, 211-pound Benoit a Game 3 overtime hero against Ottawa after he scored once in 79 regular-season games, he led Leafs D-men in the playoffs with 42 hits and led the team in blocks. Despite where he lands on the depth chart, Benoit should have no worries about trying to hang on to his job in camp. 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. Contract: Two years, $1.35 million Brandon Carlo In 20 games after he was acquired from the Boston Bruins, Carlo eventually settled into a pairing with Morgan Rielly, providing a presence on the right side that was influential in the defensive zone. Carlo probably didn't have as good of a performance in the playoffs that he would have liked, especially against the Panthers. Key with the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Carlo is that he wasn't a rental and has two years remaining on his contract. Starting fresh with the Leafs in camp should be a benefit. Contract: Two years, $3.48 million Oliver Ekman-Larsson There was a little bite to Ekman-Larsson's game after he signed a four-year pact with the Leafs in free agency. He'll turn 34 in July and, if you're among those who don't like that he has another three years, keep in mind the increasing salary cap will make his contract more digestible. Slotting in on the right side on the third pair with Benoit turned out to be the best spot for Ekman-Larsson. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract: Three years, $3.5 million Jake McCabe The 31-year-old is heading into his five-year extension coming off his best season in the NHL and it was no coincidence that McCabe's step forward came while paired with Chris Tanev. After leading the Leafs in ice time during the regular season, McCabe was second to Mitch Marner in the playoffs. Strong at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, McCabe's steadiness and awareness in his second full season with the Leafs, after he was acquired from Chicago in February 2023, were major positives for the group as a whole. Contract: Five years, $4.5 million Philippe Myers After some stops and starts — Myers played in only one game with the Leafs before December — the big right-handed shooter proved to be a respected depth piece. Does he become anything more than that going forward? Unlikely. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract: Two years, $850,000 Morgan Rielly The longest-serving current Leafs player continued to come under criticism for his defensive play, but that didn't penetrate the walls of the coach's office. True, for the first time since 2017-18 Rielly didn't lead the Leafs in ice time, but he played just eight seconds less on average than McCabe. After scoring seven goals in 82 games, Rielly had four in the 13 in the playoffs. A question next season: Can Rielly and Carlo find enough chemistry together that would allow the former to take better advantage of his offensive instincts? It's possible. Contract: Five years, $7.5 million Chris Tanev To sum up Tanev: He does his job. To further sum up Tanev: He does his job extremely well. In his first season after signing a six-year contract, Tanev's impact spread through the entire defence corps and the team was a lot better off for it. Positionally, there aren't a lot more NHL D-men who are better. When Tanev has the puck, more often than not a crisp breakout is the result. He absorbs hits and doesn't flinch. His shot-blocking ability tells just part of the story. Easily the Leafs' blue-line MVP, he couldn't have more respect in the room. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract: Five years, $4.5 million FORWARDS Max Domi After signing a four-year contract, his longest in the NHL, Domi struggled to live up to it. Domi didn't score until Dec. 15 — his 23rd game of the season — and had just six assists at that point. He finished with 33 points in 74 games, the second-lowest total in his 10 NHL seasons. In both of his seasons with Toronto, Domi has led the club in penalty minutes. Lack of discipline was an issue at times in the playoffs. Domi's ability to pass the puck is clear, but the question remains: Where does he fit best among Leafs forwards? Contract: Three years, $3.75 million Pontus Holmberg A full season with the Leafs — 68 games in the regular season and 12 in the playoffs — provided concrete evidence that Holmberg belongs in the bottom six. His defensive mind is fine, but providing offence is challenging and he was miscast whenever coach Craig Berube used him on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. The qualifying offer for Holmberg will be $866,250, but though he has arbitration rights, he's not worth much more than that. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract: Restricted free agent Calle Jarnkrok Jarnkrok didn't make his season debut until March 3 after he needed months of recovery following sports hernia/groin surgery. One goal and seven assists in 19 games came afterward; he had one assist in 12 playoff games. Perhaps a proper start out of camp and into the regular season will be good for the usually energetic Jarnkrok, though he will turn 34 in September. Either way, he's bottom-six material only. Contract status: One year, $2.1 million David Kampf Despite being cleared to play after recovering from an upper-body injury, Kampf was a healthy scratch for most of the playoffs and played only in Game 5 against Florida. Whether his impact has diminished isn't the point. He's a depth centre and a player of that ilk can easily be replaced (by, in this case, Scott Laughton). A mistake by GM Brad Treliving was signing Kampf to a four-year, $9.6-million pact in June 2023. It wasn't necessary. Per , the Leafs would be on the hook for $1.68 million for each of the next two years and approximately $358,000 in each of the two years afterward if Kampf is bought out from the final two years on his deal. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract status: Two years, $2.4 million Matthew Knies Knies has become the poster boy for anyone unconcerned about the Leafs' dearth of first-round picks in the next three years. You're not always going to get a player with this kind of impact in the second round, but did the Leafs ever get it right with Knies at 57th overall in 2021. Coming off a 29-goal season, Knies is on his way to being one of the top power forwards in the NHL. If he does get an offer sheet this summer, there are few, if any, reasons to think why the Leafs would not match. Re-signing Knies is a top-level priority. If Toronto can get longer term between $7 million and $8 million a year, great. Contract status: Restricted free agent Scott Laughton Something that came as a surprise after the Leafs acquired Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers: The 30-year-old veteran never got to a point where he was fully comfortable, certainly not during the regular season, when he had four points in 20 games after the trade. Laughton might have been a bit better in the playoffs, but providing a spark remained elusive. The Leafs will require much more from him in 2025-26. With the Flyers having retained 50% of his contract, he should be a bargain. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract status: One year, $1.5 million Steven Lorentz In our 25 years covering the Leafs, we don't recall a more genial player in Toronto. Lorentz was exactly what we thought he would be: An enthusiastic fourth-line winger (he led Leafs forwards with 199 hits) who contributed every so often and carried himself with confidence after winning the Stanley Cup with Florida. He made the NHL minimum $775,000 on a one-year deal signed in free agency and should get a bump in salary. The Leafs would be wise to re-sign him. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent For the fourth time in nine playoffs with the Leafs, Marner averaged at least one point a game (13 in 13). In the final four games against Florida, though, he had one assist, marking another failure on his part to make a true difference when it was absolutely required. There's no denying the wizardry and the production in the regular season and Marner finally reached 100 points in 2024-25. The post-season is where the true evaluation comes and Marner has not excelled. It's at the point where it will be surprising if he re-signs in Toronto. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent Auston Matthews Playing through an injury limited the first-year captain to 67 games, during which he scored 33 goals, his lowest amount in nine NHL seasons. He said he expects to be 100% when camp opens and, for the sake of both him and the Leafs, Matthews better be right. One goal and three assists in the seven-game series was all Matthews could muster. His secretive nature regarding his injury didn't endear him to many, but that shouldn't matter. What does is his production and, as one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, it wasn't good enough. Contract status: Three years, $13.25 million Bobby McMann A year ago, McMann didn't get a chance to suit up in the playoffs because he was hurt. This year, he played in the post-season and was a head-scratching disappointment. McMann didn't score one goal, finishing on a 24-game goalless skid, including the last 11 games of the regular season. That took shine off his first 20-goal year in the NHL. He maintained a physical presence in the playoffs, but much more was expected. McMann should be hugely motivated once camp rolls around. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract status: One year, $1.35 million William Nylander We respect Nylander's gift for flicking pressure away and, frankly, some of his teammates should take a hint. It might be more palatable, though, if Nylander came through when the spotlight shone most. Like Marner and Matthews, Nylander was not impactful in crunch time, as he had no points in Games 4-7 against Florida. The crushing ending came after Nylander scored a career-high 45 goals during the regular season and was the only Leafs forward to play in all 82 games. Nylander's talent for playing with the puck on the string in the offensive zone will be on display in Toronto for a while, as he is under contract until the end of the 2031-32 season. Contract status: Seven years, $11.5 million This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Max Pacorietty Are the Leafs going to miss an aging, injury-prone veteran who played in just 37 games in the regular season? We think so. When he was healthy, Pacioretty played with a physical zeal that put him directly on Berube's good side. In the playoffs, Pacorietty had eight points in 11 games as his savvy and knowledge guided him. He said he will need time to think about his playing future and, if he does retire, his brief time with the Leafs will be remembered. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent Nick Robertson Following an off-season trade request, Robertson played in 69 games, scoring 15 goals. Did he get the true chance that he sought when he figured life might have been better on another team? He averaged 12 minutes a game after averaging 11 minutes 23 seconds in 2023-24. Robertson is not in the mould of Berube-preferred wingers such as Knies and McMann, a factor that is not going to change. We'll be curious to see how Robertson's situation plays out this summer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Contract status: Restricted free agent John Tavares If Tavares has played his last game with the Leafs, his seven-year tenure in Toronto petered out. After Tavares scored a goal in Game 4 against Ottawa, in the nine games that came after, he scored two goals (in Game 3 against Florida) and had no assists. For a veteran second-line centre, those are harsh numbers. It was especially disappointing because Tavares had some zest in the regular season with 38 goals, tying his second-highest total in the NHL. If the Leafs re-sign him, though it might be best to thank him for his service and say goodbye, it can't be for more than three years. Two would even be better. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent tkoshan@ X: @koshtorontosun Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sports betting roundup: Game 7s and PGA Championship highlight weekend of sports
New York Knicks' Josh Hart (3) and Boston Celtics' Al Horford (42) fights for control of the ball during the first half of Game 6 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Friday, May 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Scottie Scheffler celebrates after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) CORRECTS PLAYER'S TEAM AND NAME - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) celebrates after sinking a basket in the first half of Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips) Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit (2) vie for control of the puck in front of Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey game in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit (2) vie for control of the puck in front of Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey game in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) New York Knicks' Josh Hart (3) and Boston Celtics' Al Horford (42) fights for control of the ball during the first half of Game 6 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Friday, May 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Scottie Scheffler celebrates after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) CORRECTS PLAYER'S TEAM AND NAME - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) celebrates after sinking a basket in the first half of Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips) Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit (2) vie for control of the puck in front of Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey game in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) The NBA and NHL playoffs are on to the conference finals after a pair of Game 7s on Sunday. And there was also the PGA Championship, where Scottie Scheffler won the third major of his career. Although he was briefly tied with Jon Rahm during the final round, Scheffler ran away from the rest of the field on the back nine, finishing at 11 under and winning by five shots. Advertisement Trends of the Week The Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in the NHL's Game 7. Florida was -140 on the moneyline at the BetMGM Sportsbook and took in 37% of the bets and 57% of the money. The over-under closed at five, and 62% of the bets and 51% of the money were on the under. In the NBA, despite trailing in the first half, Oklahoma City blew out Denver 125-93. The Thunder closed as 8.5-point favorites and only took in 25% of the bets and 52% of the money. At the PGA Championship, Scheffler opened with odds to be the outright winner at +450, and despite trailing by five strokes after the first round, he was +350 to win. After the second round, he improved to +200, and entering the final round with a three-shot lead, he was -400. Advertisement In the WNBA on Saturday, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were 8.5-point favorites over Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. The Fever easily covered, winning 93-58, and Clark recorded a triple-double. Indiana took in 69% of the bets and 83% of the money to cover the spread. Upset of the Week The New York Knicks blew out the Boston Celtics 119-81 in Friday's Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. New York was +1400 to win the series 4-2. Coming Up The NBA Western Conference finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder begins Tuesday, while the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indian Pacers begins Wednesday. Advertisement New York is -160 to win the series and is taking in 39% of the bets and 76% of the handle. Meanwhile, the Thunder are -350 and are taking in 18% of the bets and 42% of the handle. ___ This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook. ___ AP sports:
