Latest news with #TheSheet
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Islanders know getting Cal Ritchie to NHL isn't ‘a race' — but training camp could change that plan
The Islanders should have the luxury of time with Cal Ritchie, and it appears they plan to use it. Ritchie, the 20-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, was the centerpiece of the Brock Nelson deal and, over the long term, projects as a top-six centerman for the Islanders. In the immediate, though, general manager Mathieu Darche doesn't sound ready to rush Ritchie to the NHL. 'Well, it's a process. I want them to have an NHL career, not play games,' Darche said this week in an appearance on The Sheet with Jeff Marek. 'It's not a race, whoever plays his first game or his first 20 games. Having said that, play at training camp. Yes, we have a lot of forwards, and if Cal comes to training camp and outplays everyone, I'll make room for him on the roster.'
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL accused of sabotaging offense after shocking 90% drop in power play chances
The NHL is under fire as power-play chances plummet to a record low in the 2024-25 season (Image via Reuters) The NHL is facing scrutiny over a significant 90% decline in power-play chances, reaching a historic low in the 2024-25 season. This reduction impacts overall power-play goals and raises questions about officiating and evolving game strategies, as teams prioritize even-strength scoring and aggressive penalty kills. Jason Gregor blasts NHL officials for ignoring blatant penalties amid record-low power play stats A notable hockey commentator recently highlighted a sharp drop in NHL power-play opportunities. This significant decline naturally impacts how many goals teams can score with a man advantage, limiting offensive output even for skilled units. This reduction has not gone unheeded by seasoned observers. One particular analyst, Jason Gregor, articulated his strong disapproval on social media, highlighting the magnitude of the shift by remarking, 'A massive drop. Call the damn rulebook." The raw figures highlight this point: in 2023, the league saw 8,058 power-play instances, which dipped to 7,917 in 2024, and then plummeted further to just 7,101 in 2025. This latter figure represents an unprecedented low in the sport's history, averaging merely 5.41 power-play opportunities per contest. This trend coincides with a period where the league's offensive flair has increasingly focused on scoring during even-strength play, potentially minimising the dependence on power plays. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo Teams are also adapting with more assertive penalty-killing units and superior goaltending, which might either dissuade officials from issuing penalties or simply diminish the effectiveness of power plays when they do occur. Shifting focus, the same analyst, Jason Gregor, also shared his perspective on the considerable expectations facing the Edmonton Oilers. His insights came after the team's consecutive defeats in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers. League sees steepest decline in power play opportunities as fans and analysts demand accountability Discussing the situation on 'The Sheet,' Gregor conveyed, "I'm actually going to go off the board here. I think the Oilers' organization right now is a very serious group. You can't win the cup in October, you can't win it in December. You can lose it by having a terrible run. They're such a serious group, and I think there's so much internal pressure to win now, because they've lost twice." Avoiding Arbitration ft. Jason Gregor & David Pagnotta | The Sheet with Jeff Marek He further elaborated on their primary hurdle, phrasing, "I would say the biggest issue for them is being able to exhale a little bit, and enjoy the process, rather than always, every decision you make, thinking that it's all about June." The Oilers are set to commence their 2025-26 campaign with a highly slated 'Battle of Alberta' clash against the Calgary Flames, scheduled for October 8 at Rogers Place. These shifts underscore a transformative period for the NHL, as evolving strategies and officiating standards redefine the game, while teams like the Oilers navigate intense pressure in their quest for a championship. Also Read: 'Dumbest things': Matthew Tkachuk faces fan backlash after taking Stanley Cup to jail in latest celebration stunt FAQs Q1: Why are power play goals decreasing in the NHL? Fewer penalty calls have led to a historic drop in power play opportunities, limiting scoring chances. Q2: What did Jason Gregor say about the NHL's officiating? He criticized the league, saying 'Call the damn rulebook' in response to the sharp decline in power plays. Q3: Which team led the NHL in power play goals last season? The New Jersey Devils led with 30 power play goals, topping the league in 2024–25. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Penguins' loyalty shattered? Sidney Crosby reportedly eyed for post-Olympics move to Montreal
Rumours persist about Sidney Crosby possibly leaving the Penguins, even though he's under contract. The chatter's gotten louder with Evgeni Malkin's deal ending soon and Greg Wyshynski suggesting Crosby might bail if the team struggles. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But here's the thing: insider Frank Seravalli says Crosby isn't actually looking to move. Sidney Crosby exit drama intensifies as Canadiens insiders predict blockbuster post-Olympics deal The hockey world is buzzing about Sidney Crosby's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Even though his contract runs through the 2026-27 season and he's expressed wanting to retire as a Penguin, recent rumors are fueling up. A big reason? Longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin's $24.4 million contract is in its final year, adding to the skepticism. Malkin himself had opined back in 2022, 'If this team wants new blood and young guys and they say to me to move on, we will see.' Adding to the discourse, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, contemplating the Penguins' potential performance in the upcoming season, ominously predicted on The Sheet, 'If the Penguins get off to the start that we assume they're going to get off to…I think he moves on before the end of the season, that's my prediction. ' Turns out, insider Frank Seravalli probed the brakes on the Crosby trade talks. He told Bleacher Report on July 15 that, 'I think there's been some teams, or a short list, Montreal, LA Kings, Avalanche, those are the teams have been talked about, but he hasn't shown any interest… in moving.' This fits Crosby's typical calm, as he said about retirement, 'I don't think about it a whole lot. I just try to prepare for the next one. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ' NHL insiders hint at ugly end to Penguins legend's era Some of the teams on Seravalli's list have really caught the eye of fans and analysts. The Colorado Avalanche, for illustration, seems like a strong fit because of Crosby's friendship with fellow national team member Nathan MacKinnon. Nevertheless, MacKinnon recently shot down those ideas, calling them 'fake news'. Still, ESPN's Wyshynski, always with a strong opinion, phrased on The Sheet, 'I've long believed he'll end his career in Montreal,' adding, 'I always assumed if it wasn't Pittsburgh, it was going to be Montreal, that's kind of where I'm at with it; the Colorado thing is sort of like a pipedream.' What's more, NHL insider Nick Kypreos went on record, telling Justin Bourne and Sam MacKee, 'Wait till they [Montreal Canadiens] get Sid Crosby after the [2026 Milan Cortina] Olympics. I'm liking the odds a little better than I did maybe a few weeks ago.' Despite these pervasive discussions, Crosby currently remains a Penguin, as Seravalli indicated. Also Read: Despite all the chatter and what some folks are predicting, it really seems like Sidney Crosby is set on staying right where he is with the Penguins, at least for now.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL Insider Floats Panthers Move for Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner
NHL Insider Floats Panthers Move for Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Toronto Maple Leafs and pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner seem to be ready to part ways after nine years together. Advertisement Marner is coming off a 102-point regular season but once again failed to elevate the Leafs in the playoffs, scoring 13 points in 13 games but crashing out in the second round. The winger enters free agency at age 28 and will most likely command a top-tier salary. Marner will hit the open market on July 1 with no shortage of suitors ready to pay for his services, but one team in particular has NHL insider Jeff Marek intrigued. Depending on how the Panthers play their cards, they may be able to offer Marner his desired salary, with Florida players Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad also entering free agency. Speaking on 'The Sheet,' Marek floated the back-to-back champions as a potential landing spot for the Maple Leafs star, citing Sam Bennett as one major factor. Advertisement "Something really interesting happened at the 4 Nations," Marek said. "Mitch Marner played with Sam Bennett, and he looked really different." Marek said Bennett's playing style brings out a more effective version of Marner compared to his longtime linemate in Toronto, Auston Matthews. "Matthews and Marner are more similar than they are different," Marek said. 'But Bennet and Marner — those are two distinct players, and I know it's a very, very small sample size, but I think there's something there." Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (16) defends Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63).Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Marek predicted the exit of two Panthers, thus opening enough cap space and roster room to sign Marner and making a potential reunion with Bennett possible, provided Bennett is re-signed to an extension himself. Advertisement 'And when you throw in the state tax situation,' Marek said, 'I don't know that it will be outlandish to speculate or wonder about, if the Florida Panthers don't bring back all three...' Marek finished by predicting Ekblad will sign with the Utah Mammoth and Marchand with the Dallas Stars, giving the Panthers the cap space they need to land Marner. Related: Panthers' Brad Marchand Addresses Future Immediately After Winning Stanley Cup Related: Matthew Tkachuk's Message to Free Agent Teammates Won't Please Panthers GM This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Vancouver Sun
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Victoria Royals lose two top players to NCAA's North Dakota — what's next for WHL?
Jeff Marek's Thursday podcast that broached the idea of junior teams finding sponsors to pay star players sounded a little over the top. A day later, it became less far fetched. On Friday, the news broke that Victoria Royals centre Cole Reschny, 18, and defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, 16, were both giving up multiple years of junior eligibility to join the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the fall. Reschny could winding up going in the first round of this summer's NHL Draft, while Verhoeff might be a top-five selection in 2026. The Royals won the WHL's B.C. Division this past season and looked to be continuing in the right direction. How they regroup after Friday's news is anyone's guess. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The NCAA announced in November that it was opening up scholarship opportunities to players from Major Junior leagues like the WHL for the coming season and the buzz around 17-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers making that move started up instantly. The Tigers play the London Knights for the Memorial Cup national title Sunday in Rimouski. McKenna could hoist the most prized trophy in junior hockey in this country, and moments later be asked in a media scrum about whether he's leaving for the American collegiate system. Various junior hockey people over the season have concurred that McKenna was in play to go to the NCAA, but they treated it as him being an outlier, the very tip of the top one per cent of players in the WHL. The thinking was that collegiate teams would want graduating 20-year-olds and the odd 19-year-old, in large part because they recruited players of that age when the Junior A ranks were their main feeder. Junior hockey's biggest selling point is the chance for fans to watch draft eligible players and world junior team candidates. Guess what? The NCAA isn't any different. There will be no better marketing for North Dakota than when Verhoeff is one of the first few names mentioned two drafts from now. And NCAA programs like North Dakota believe those high-end youngsters can compete against 22- and 23-year-olds. Reschny and Verhoeff would have been in the top-five per cent of WHL players this coming season. There have been other underage players declare for schools as well. How deep will the NCAA end up taking from when all is said and done? Ten per cent? Will it get to 20 per cent? I asked Cecchini how the CHL could keep players from going the college route and what I got from the QMJHL Commissioner was an answer I never considered. This new way of life for hockey development was a topic on Marek's The Sheet podcast earlier in the week, when QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini was a guest. Marek asked Cecchini point blank whether the teams in the QMJHL, WHL and OHL should consider paying players. 'Well, right now we have a student/athlete status, so we have to be very, very, very careful about that,' Cecchini said. 'But there are sponsoring possibilities. So the teams right now, as we speak, cannot pay them directly, but can a local automotive dealer sponsor a player directly? That's doable and that's possible. That's within the framework that we live in. That's where we may want to turn our hats. 'It's probably one player per team at most. Call them a franchise player, for example, for a term that we know well in sports.' The irony is that they'd have to get it approved by the NCAA so that players can keep their college eligibility. You would think the NCAA would oblige, considering that they're doing exactly that with their Name Image Likeness (NIL) program. For hockey, this a major rethink, and hockey rarely has been one for major rethinks, and that includes in junior. The WHL went from 72-game regular seasons for its teams to 68-game ones in 2018-19 and that proved a much debated endeavour. For decades, the pitch to players from teams in the WHL was that they had a schedule similar to an NHL one, and that got you ready for the next level. The thinking is different now. Fewer games means more time to work on your skills, more time to work on your body in the gym. The Boston University Terriers, with Vancouver Canucks defence prospect Tom Willander helping to lead the way, went to the NCAA championship game as part of their 40 total games this season. Medicine Hat's showdown with London Sunday will mark their 90th game of the campaign. There's also the matter of facilities. North Dakota's Ralph Engelstad Arena features a 1,400 square foot altitude chamber added to its weight room arena in 2021. That's an extreme, but it gives you an idea of what the WHL teams are now competing against. They'll need to find a way. Junior-aged CHLers who have committed to the NCAA for next season: • Malcolm Spence (2025) • Cole Reschny (2025) • Kristian Epperson (2025) • Lev Katzin (2025) • Luke Misa (CGY) • Henry Mews (CGY) • Clarke Caswell (SEA) And the flood gates haven't even opened yet. 'For me, North Dakota was top-of-the-line,' Verhoeff told the Grand Forks Gazette. 'It's professional in every aspect of the training, the day-to-day, and the opportunity I was given there was too good to pass up. 'I checked out a couple of other schools. After looking at all the other great programs and schools, North Dakota is the one that spoke to me and I felt at home there.' Verhoeff, who turns 17 in June, is a 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-handed shot and had 21 goals and 45 points in 63 regular season games with the Royals. He finished his high school commitments early. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler had him at No. 5 in a 2026 mock draft he did in April. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound, left-shot Reschny put up 26 goals and 92 points in 62 regular season games with Victoria. Elite Prospects has him at No 22 in its consolidated rankings for this year's draft, led by a No. 13 from TSN's Craig Button. Left-shot McKenna, who's 6-foot and 165 pounds, tallied 41 times and recorded 129 points in 56 regular season games with the Tigers. He then supplied nine goals and 38 points in 16 regular season games. He's, of course, the consensus projected No. 1 pick for 2026. One-time Canucks forward Byron Ritchie is McKenna's family adviser. He told Postmedia back in March that the NCAA was definitely an option, explaining how he worried about McKenna jumping from the WHL to the NHL after next season, which is what is expected. 'Going from playing 2009s, 2008s and 2007s (16- to 18-year-olds) if he stays, to playing the following year against men who are trying to feed their families and where every puck battle is life or death,' Ritchie said. 'It's a massive step from the Western League to the NHL. Can you ease that transition by having him playing next year against 22- and 23-year-olds?' @SteveEwen SEwen@
