Latest news with #StanleyCups
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wayne Gretzky Names Greatest NBA Player of All Time Without Hesitation
Wayne Gretzky Names Greatest NBA Player of All Time Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's little debate when it comes to who the greatest NHL player of all time is—Wayne Gretzky, famously known as 'The Great One,' remains the undisputed king of hockey with an unmatched résumé. And according to Gretzky, there's not much debate when it comes to basketball's "GOAT" either. Advertisement Gretzky holds an incredible 61 NHL records and won four Stanley Cups during his legendary career with the Edmonton Oilers, who are currently back in the Stanley Cup Finals in a rematch of last year's showdown with the Florida Panthers. With the NHL in full swing, Gretzky made a guest appearance last week on the New Heights podcast, hosted by NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce. During a segment where the brothers asked him to name the "GOATs" across different sports, Gretzky didn't hesitate when it came to the NBA. He confidently named Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever—choosing him over LeBron James, the hometown hero from Jason and Travis' native Ohio. 'Well, the NBA's easy—23. That one's pretty easy,' Gretzky said, confidently referring to Michael Jordan by his iconic jersey number. Gretzky also gave his picks for the greatest athletes in other major sports. In the NFL, he praised both Tom Brady and the Kelce brothers, acknowledging their dominance and cultural impact. For MLB, while recognizing legends like Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth, Gretzky threw a curveball by naming Kansas City Royals icon George Brett as his personal "GOAT." Wayne Gretzky speaks ahead of the NBA E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images When it came time to talk about the NHL—where many consider him the greatest of all time—Gretzky humbly deflected the title. Instead, he named two other hockey legends: Advertisement 'I've got Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe in hockey,' Gretzky said. 'Those are the two greatest hockey players to ever play.' Related: Wayne Gretzky Sends Strong Message About Caitlin Clark on 'New Heights' Podcast This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wayne Gretzky Didn't Hesitate to Name the Greatest NHL Player of All Time
Wayne Gretzky Didn't Hesitate to Name the Greatest NHL Player of All Time originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Whenever you ask a hockey fan who the greatest player to ever lace up skates and hit the ice is, most will give the same answer: Wayne Gretzky. Advertisement Gretzky holds an astounding 61 NHL records—and he hasn't played since 1999. Let that sink in: more than two decades after retiring, those records still stand. During his legendary career, he won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers over nine seasons. In total, he played 20 years in the NHL, suiting up for the Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. Despite his fame, accolades, and lasting impact on the sport, Gretzky remains remarkably humble—especially when it comes to those who came before him. During a recent appearance on the "New Heights" podcast, hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, he was asked who the greatest players of all time in each sport were. Without hesitation, Gretzky answered—and he didn't name himself when he came to the NHL. "I got Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe in hockey," Gretzky said. "Those are the two greatest players to ever play." Bobby Orr's career was cut short by injuries, but what he accomplished in his time on the ice was nothing short of remarkable. His revolutionary style of play redefined the role of a defenseman, and he dominated during a highly competitive era. Advertisement Orr played from 1966 to 1979, spending the majority of his career with the Boston Bruins before finishing his final two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the shortened career, he won two Stanley Cups, made nine All-Star appearances, and earned three Hart Trophies as league MVP. Wayne Gretzky at President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, Loeb-Pool via Imagn Images Gordie Howe, on the other hand, was the polar opposite in terms of longevity. He played an incredible 32 seasons across the NHL and WHA. Known as "Mr. Hockey," Howe was a four-time Stanley Cup champion, 21-time All-Star, six-time MVP, and also won two WHA championships during his storied career. Related: Wayne Gretzky Names Greatest NBA Player of All Time Without Hesitation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Why Paul Maurice says the Florida Panthers are ‘the best team I've ever coached'
Paul Maurice has been around the NHL for quite a bit. His 1,930 regular-season games coached are the second-most in NHL history. His 27 seasons behind the bench are tied for second-most. He has a chance to become the 20th coach in league history to win multiple Stanley Cups as he leads the Florida Panthers back to the Stanley Cup Final this season against the Edmonton Oilers. He has had multiple stops during his career — first the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, then the Toronto Maple Leafs, then back to Carolina and then the Winnipeg Jets before joining the Panthers ahead of the 2022-23 season that began a run of three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final. But there has been something about coaching this team, at this stage in his career, that had Maurice make a bold statement Saturday. 'I'm really careful and I'm not being disrespectful to the other teams I've coached, but the team here is just the best team I've ever coached,' Maurice said. 'It's not really that close.' Now, Maurice made sure to clarify that he's been 'lucky' that 'every team that I coached, they are a great bunch of guys' and that there is 'a great culture in our sport' overall. So what it is about this Panthers team that's different, that sets it above the rest? Maurice, a man who knows how to turn a phrase, still can't fully put it into words. 'My experience, from the time I started getting off the phone [for introductions after being hired] was 'This team is different and I can't explain it,'' Maurice said. 'Now, I'm three years in, and I'm starting to understand it a little bit. I do not feel responsible for it. I don't. It's been fun to observe. But that's why I don't talk about it because I don't think it's comparative. 'Oh, these guys are just a way better bunch of guys than I had before.' It's not that. These guys are different.' To Maurice, that starts with the veteran leadership in the room — the Aleksander Barkovs, Aaron Ekblads and Matthew Tkachuks — that not only set the standard for the team to follow but were willing to change their own ways to get the team to this point. Remember, Florida won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team in 2021-22 before getting swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs that year. That prompted general manager Bill Zito to make a change, bringing in Maurice to implement a defense-first system to overtake the high-flying offensive attack Florida had that worked in the regular season but fell flat in the postseason. The Panthers struggled out of the gate that first year and needing a strong finish in the regular season to sneak into the playoffs. But Florida has seen the move pay dividends, getting to the Stanley Cup Final in Year 1, winning the Cup in Year 2 and now being in a position to potentially win it again this year. 'It's so rare that you'll have a new coach come in after a Presidents' Trophy,' Maurice said. 'Now, you have coaches come in partway through the season because that team is underachieving their greatness and then they make a coaching change. You see that happen, but you rarely will see this. I got gifted a 122-point team and just shaved 30 points off of it in that first year with my high quality of coaching. So the drivers, the leaders, the core of this team are elite players. We've got a good team here. I'm just trying not to mess it up.' Safe to say that hasn't happened.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan leads London Knights to 2025 Memorial Cup Final rematch
Easton Cowan leads London Knights to 2025 Memorial Cup Final (Image via: Getty Images) Easton Cowan, a promising Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick, has been the driving force behind the London Knights' impressive journey to the 2025 Memorial Cup Final. With his standout performances, Cowan is not only leading his team but also showing NHL scouts why he's a talent to watch. The Knights now face a familiar foe in Medicine Hat. Cowan powers London Knights to Memorial Cup Final vs Medicine Hat After falling short in last year's Memorial Cup Final, the London Knights have returned stronger, fueled by a core of experienced players determined to claim the championship this time. Cowan, the 20-year-old phenom, has been central to this resurgence, combining skill and poise in high-pressure moments. Their dominant OHL playoff run and Cowan's leadership have made London a favorite heading into the 2025 Memorial Cup Final. With the eyes of the hockey world on him, Cowan's performance could be the key to securing the Knights' long-awaited championship. In the semi-final against the Moncton Wildcats, Cowan's two-point game was pivotal in the Knights' 5-2 victory. His precise assist to captain Denver Barkey gave London the crucial lead, and his empty-net goal in the final minutes secured the win. Cowan's six points have made him the tournament's leading scorer, underlining his critical role. Facing the undefeated Medicine Hat Tigers in the final will be no easy task. The Tigers dominated the round-robin stage and handed the Knights their only loss this tournament. However, the saying 'it's hard to beat the same team twice' adds a layer of hope for London. Cowan's exceptional postseason—39 points in 17 OHL playoff games combined with the Knights' relentless 16-1 playoff record, speaks to their championship pedigree. But the pressure is intense. With 13 players returning from last year's final loss, the Knights aren't just playing for a trophy; they're playing to erase a painful memory. Also Read: Sam Bennett's stunning revival is powering Panthers toward back-to-back Stanley Cups Sunday's game in Rimouski isn't just a match; it's a defining moment for Cowan, the London Knights, and the Maple Leafs organization watching closely as their prospect makes his mark on Canadian junior hockey's biggest stage.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
A player that epitomizes the Panthers' success? Look no further than Aleksander Barkov
In a span of eight seconds, Aleksander Barkov showcased just about everything that makes him one of the National Hockey League's top players and the epitome of the Florida Panthers' recent run of success. Barkov receives the puck from Sam Reinhart along the right wall and begins his magic. As he moves around the boards, going behind the net and looking for open space, Barkov muscles his way past Dmitry Orlov, stops and spins. With a couple taps of his stick, he eludes another defender in Eric Robinson and makes his way to the front of the net. And then, in one swift motion, he sends the puck across the goalmouth, just beyond the reach of Alexander Nikishin's stick, to Carter Verhaeghe, who roofs a tough-angle shot into the net for the Panthers' game-winning — and Eastern Conference final-clinch — goal against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. 'Such a great player,' Verhaeghe said. 'It was such a great play by him. It was all him.' Added Reinhart: 'He's got so much strength. Big players make big plays at the biggest moments when you need them, and he's certainly the leader of this team.' Barkov is as fitting of a player to fit that role. The Panthers are a team that preaches selflessness. Every player on the team — from Barkov and stars such as Matthew Tkachuk, Sergei Bobrovsky and Brad Marchand to players fighting for playing time in Uvis Balinskis, Jesper Boqvist and Nico Sturm — is treated equally. No one is bigger than anyone else in the dressing room. The camaraderie of the team's core along with the integration of newcomers to round out the roster each year has fed into Florida's success, which has the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive year and in a position to repeat as champions. It's a position Barkov longed to see. He was here during the team's lean years. Florida made the postseason just once in Barkov's first six seasons before things finally started to turn over the past half-dozen years. There were doubts Florida would ever consistently make the playoffs, let alone be annual Stanley Cup contenders. That's a thing of the past now. 'I think it was a long time coming,' Barkov said. 'Obviously, there's been a lot of work put in by this organization to become better and reach the level where we want to win Stanley Cups, we want to compete for Stanley Cups every single year. There are 31 other teams in the league, and it's hard every single year. They want to do that too, so it's not easy. But we've managed to do it three years in a row, which is, I think, an incredible achievement so far.' For that success to occur, the respect and trust has to be established from the top. There had to be a driving force inside the room to establish the foundation and keep the drive and hunger going. That is Aleksander Barkov. 'Sasha has almost become like a planet, with the energy that comes from him,' said Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito, who took over ahead of the 2020-21 season and has said multiple times how fortunate he was to already have Barkov as a franchise cornerstone. 'How caring he is as a human and a teammate — he forces you to want to be better. It cannot be overstated the grace of each of our guys. If you came into the meal room you wouldn't know who just scored the winning goal and who didn't play.' Barkov doesn't need the praise — and frankly, he doesn't want it. That's not how he operates. Ever since the Panthers selected him second overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Level Draft, the elite two-way center from Finland has done his best to make as much of an impact for the Panthers without making waves. Even after taking over as captain ahead of the 2018-19 season, Barkov didn't change his approach. Why would he? 'Just being myself,' Barkov said, 'and doing my job as good as possible.' That's more than enough to command the attention and respect of his teammates. Barkov owns basically every record of merit for a skater in Panthers franchise history — games played (804), goals (286), assists (496), points (782), power-play goals (84), game-winning goals (52), multipoint games (209), multigoal games (33), the list keeps going. He became the first Finnish-born player to captain his team to a Stanley Cup when Florida beat Edmonton in seven games last year. And through all the success, he remains humble. He's still one of the first on the ice every day at practice, a regular during optional workouts because he knows the example he sets by being on the ice. He twice has won the Selke Trophy given annually to the league's top defensive forward and is nominated for the award again this year. 'He's just trying to do everything right, by the book,' said defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, who is in his second stint with the Panthers and was on that 2013-14 roster when Barkov was a rookie. 'He doesn't cheat the the game. He's an honest player. He just works his bag off and obviously has a lot of skill to complement his hard work. When you see a guy like that, your captain, being the hardest working guy, that brings everybody with him.' Added Tkachuk: 'That's the stuff that fires us up the most is the little battles, the little stick lifts, the 1-on-1 wins, the little plays, the skills that maybe the average fan doesn't notice, but we definitely notice. He's the full package. I've seen it here for almost three years now. It's an honor to play with him, so lucky to share the ice with him.' Oops. There's more praise. Barkov would probably want that spread around to the rest of the team. There's good reason for that, especially on this current playoff run. Consider this: The Panthers enter the Stanley Cup Final with 19 players who have scored at least one goal and 10 players who have produced at least 11 points this postseason — with Barkov leading with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists). Florida's balance and depth has been its calling card all season, something that was only amplified at the trade deadline when the Panthers added Marchand and defenseman Seth Jones into the mix. That said, the success starts somewhere. It starts with the leader who makes everyone feel appreciated, the player who knows how to say a lot without really needing to say anything. It starts with Aleksander Barkov. 'We are getting contributions from everybody,' Tkachuk said, 'but he has definitely been been leading the charge, and we're so lucky to be able to follow him.'
