Latest news with #VezinaTrophy
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Comparing Rangers, Devils, Islanders Starting Goalies
You'll have to agree – but you don't have to if you don't really want to – that goaltending will go a long way toward determining whether the Rangers, Islanders and Devils make the playoffs. (Don't ask me to pick a winner now; it's still July.) This past year only the Devils gained the postseason while both the Isles and Blueshirts missed. Next fall all three of the clubs will retain their top goalkeepers Jacob Markstrom in Newark, Igor Shesterkin in Manhattan and Ilya Sorokin on the Island. To understate the issue, they bear watching. Markstrom, obtained from Calgary, did what he was supposed to do; he gave the Devils just enough de luxe stopping to get them into the real season, alias the playoffs. Shesterkin disappointed. Period: Sorokin was overworked and too often injured to be a positive factor. A Few Things You Should Know About Rangers And Other NHL Friends THE GERARD GALLANT MYSTERY: The Maven is not sure about You, but I still can't figure out why Chris Drury ever fired Gerard Gallant. I liked the guy as player, as coach and as an individual. I bring him up now because Double G has signed on in the KHL – believe it or not – with the Kunlun team in China which plays in the K. (Thank You, Jim Cerny of Forever Blueshirts.) What can we expect going forward? For the answer to that The Maven imported my Vice President In Charge Of Goalie Knowledge, the eminent Mel Melzer. Take it away, Mel: "All three Met goalies are in remarkably similar situations," Melzer says. "We're talking about elite talents, but who have yet to truly cement their legacies in the postseason. Shesterkin already claimed a Vezina Trophy which meant that for one year at least he was the league's best. Ditto for Markstrom. But that's ancient history. "Even though Sorokin has no Vezina to brag about ,he has been consistently elite. He was hobbled by a team weakened by injuries all season. Still, his performances have shown that he's on the Markstrom-Shesterkin level." What's missing in each case? Melzer: "What ties them together is not just raw ability but the need to evolve from being 'great goalies' into the guy who wins when it matters most. Playoff greatness still eludes them. It's not a matter of skill, it's a mindset shift that's necessary. "Until that shift happens, we're left with tantalizing potential that hasn't translated into springtime success." Because of the natural New York-New York rivalry between the Rangers and Islanders, "Who's Better?" debates rage on between the respective fan bases. With that in mind, The Maven asked Mel to pick a winner. "Stylistically, Shesterkin and Sorokin mirror one another. Each is instinctive, agile and technically sound; not to mention emotionally composed. Watching Igor or Ilya in peak form is like a master class in modern goaltending." (Hmmm. No winner here.) What about Markstrom? Is he better than the two Russians? "The Swede brings a different flavor," Mel explains. "He has that towering frame and an authoritative presence. When he's on, he can look utterly unbeatable." The issue here is that he has not been "on" enough. "Let's face it," Mel concludes, "potential only gets you so far. It didn't the Rangers into the playoffs nor the Islanders and the Devils were gone faster than you can say 'Stop the puckl, Jake!'" Then, a pause: "The pressure on all three is mounting. The 2025-26 season – especially the playoffs – will be a defining chapter for all three!"
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Corey Perry And Brent Burns Carry The Torch For 2003 NHL Draft Class
Now in their 40s, Brent Burns and Corey Perry will be continuing their NHL careers with new ... More teams in 2025-26. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) Twenty-two years ago in Nashville, the 2003 NHL draft started off with a bang. With the first selection, the Pittsburgh Penguins made the rare move of selecting a goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury. As it turns out, they weren't wrong. Fleury helped bring three Stanley Cups to Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016 and 2017 and by the time he hung up his pads after playing out his 21st year with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25, he was widely renowned as one of the best-loved characters in the game and a future Hall of Famer. The numbers don't lie. Fleury sits second all-time among goaltenders in both games played (1,055) and wins (behind only Martin Brodeur). As an original 'Golden Misfit' with the Vegas Golden Knights, he reached the Stanley Cup final in 2017, then won the Vezina Trophy and shared the William Jennings Trophy with Robin Lehner in 2021. Marc-Andre Fleury acknowledges the crowd after his final playoff game in 2025. (Photo by Ellen ...) After a farewell tour around the league last season, Fleury officially announced his retirement on May 6, after the Wild's first-round playoff loss to those same Golden Knights. And while defenseman Ryan Suter has reportedly not yet closed the door on a 21st season of his own after spending last season with the St. Louis Blues, two other stars from the 2003 draft class have signed one-year contracts to chase a championship in new locales. Corey Perry reached the Stanley Cup final with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 and 2025. (Photo by Steph ...) On July 1, 40-year-old Corey Perry inked a one-year free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Kings. Per PuckPedia, it carries a $2 million base salary and $2 million in potential bonuses based on games played and playoff outcomes. Originally drafted 28th overall by the Kings' geographic rivals, the Anaheim Ducks, Perry won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim in his second NHL season, in 2007. In 2011, he scored 50 goals to win the Rocket Richard trophy and was named the Hart Trophy winner as league MVP. Since Perry was bought out by the rebuilding Ducks in 2019, he has made a name for himself as a bit of a playoff mercenary, signing short-term deals with contending teams in hopes of adding another championship to his trophy case. That hasn't happened yet, but he has come consistently close. In six years since leaving Anaheim, Perry has been to the Stanley Cup final five times with four different teams: the Dallas Stars in 2020, the Montreal Canadiens in 2021, the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022 and the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 and 2025. After the Oilers eliminated the Kings in the first round of each of the last three post-seasons, Perry will now see if he can bring his magic to the other side. His latest contract offer came from the same man who originally signed him in Edmonton, new Los Angeles GM Ken Holland. Among his 2003 draft class, Perry now sits third in regular-season games played (1,392) and goals (448) and first in penalty minutes (1,487). His playoff numbers are even more impressive. After his latest run to the final, Perry's 236 playoff games rank him third all-time behind only Chris Chelios (266) and Nicklas Lidstrom (263). These last six years, he has cemented himself as one of hockey's playoff traditions. After winning the 2017 Norris Trophy with the San Jose Sharks, Brent Burns returns to the Western ... More Conference in 2025-26, with the Colorado Avalanche. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) Then there's Brent Burns, who the Minnesota Wild originally selected as a right winger with the 20th overall pick in 2003. Burns played 36 games with the Wild as an 18-year-old in 2003-04. With Fleury's retirement, he is now the only active player to have played NHL games before the salary cap was instituted following the 2004-05 lockout. Burns made the official switch to defense in 2006. And while he went on to play a handful of additonal games at forward through his career, his blue-line skills blossomed. Between 2016 and 2019, he was named a Norris Trophy finalist three times in four years, and won in 2017. Though he's a big body at 6-foot-5 and 229 pounds, Burns has also proven to be extremely durable. He hasn't missed a game since November of 2013 and is currently the NHL's reigning ironman at 925 consecutive games played — fourth all-time and 139 games behind current record holder Phil Kessel. After signing a new one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 2, Burns will become the 22nd player in NHL history to play in 22 seasons when he hits the ice for his first game this fall. His latest deal carries a $1 million base salary and $4 million in potential bonuses. The first is an easily-attainable $3 million bonus for 10 games played, per PuckPedia — a mechanism that will allow the cap-strapped Avalanche to defer that $3 million to their 2026-27 budget if needed, with the NHL cap ceiling continuing to rise dramatically. The second bonus is $1 million if Burns appears in more than 70 games in 2025-26, and averages more than 23 minutes of ice time. That may seem like a big ask for a 40-year-old, but Burns doesn't miss games and the ice time is just slightly above his career average of 22:22 a night. Assignments of 23+ minutes aren't very far in the rearview mirror, either: he played 23:13 with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022-23. Though Burns doesn't have any specific playoff bonuses in his contract, his new deal with Colorado puts him in a good spot to take another significant run at the Stanley Cup. If Suter doesn't return this fall, Burns will be the longest-tenured active player in the league not to have won. He has reached the Final just once, with the San Jose Sharks in 2016. The 2003 NHL draft has been widely regarded as one of the deepest of all time. Burns and Perry fell to the bottom half of the first round, yet were both selected well ahead of many other terrific talents. That list includes newly enshrined Hall of Famer Shea Weber and longtime Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, who were both second-round picks. And in the seventh round in 2003, the Sharks selected Joe Pavelski at No. 205. Pavelski also never won a Cup. But when he hung up his skates after the 2024 season, he did it with the most goals (476) and points (1,068) in the entire 2003 NHL draft class. Also an elite golfer, Pavelski had an opportunity to kiss a trophy on Sunday, when he was presented with a crystal chalice after a walk-off eagle gave him first place at the 2025 American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Steve Staios' Top Five Trades (So Far) As Ottawa Senators GM
Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios has been on the job since November 1, 2023. He and owner Michael Andlauer had only been running the Senators for a few weeks before it became clear they didn't like what they were seeing under Pierre Dorion. The club opened the 2023–24 season jammed up against the salary cap, so much so that they played the season opener a man short. Shane Pinto was suspended 41 games for violating the NHL's gambling rules. Then the team was penalized a first-round draft pick for its role in the bungled Evgenii Dadonov trade to Vegas. Advertisement That's a pretty tough first month, and as they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Dorion was dismissed, and Staios, also the President of Hockey Operations, became the ninth general manager in Senators history. Is Carter Yakemchuk In The Ottawa Senators' NHL Plans For This Fall? Dissecting The Senators' Intriguing New Right-Shot Defensive Depth Chart Claude Giroux Reveals Why He Signed Back In Ottawa Staios took a patient approach, watching and evaluating his roster for eight months before making any serious changes. The only trade he made in that time was unloading winger Vladimir Tarasenko at the 2024 trade deadline for what turned out to be two third-round picks. Tarasenko's contract was about to expire, and with his no-movement clause, he was able to broker a trade to the Florida Panthers. Staios had to take what he could get for a player who wasn't in the team's plans. If the last two offseasons are any indication, where the Senators didn't make a single hockey trade between July and the March deadline, things are likely to go quiet now for some cottage and golf time. Staios all but confirmed that eight days ago, saying the Senators were "most likely" done making NHL additions this summer. Advertisement So we thought we'd look back at Staios' top five trades so far as he took on this 'fixer-upper.' June 24, 2024: Fixing the Goaltending The Senators acquired Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round pick (#25). Not only did Staios manage to secure the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, he convinced the Bruins to take on Korpisalo's contract, which still had four years and $16 million remaining. The Senators agreed to retain $4 million of that. Unfortunately, Ullmark battled injuries throughout the season, which likely affected his overall performance, which ran hot and cold. He will begin a four-year contract this fall worth $8.25 million per season, and the Senators will need him to better next season. But in terms of value and potential impact, this stands as Staios' best trade so far. Trade Grade: A March 7, 2025: Trading a Core Piece The Senators traded fan favourite Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a 2026 second-round pick. Advertisement Norris was long considered a key piece of Ottawa's future, but his repeated injuries changed that. He's set to make $7.95 million annually for the next five years, and even when healthy, his production and impact haven't justified that price tag in the past couple of seasons. You could make a similar case for Cozens, whose remaining deal ($7.1 million AAV) runs just as long, but he offers more durability. Both players need to return to form, but the safer bet will always be the one who isn't constantly out with a bad shoulder. Trade Grade: A June 28, 2025: Picks for Spence, Sens the Richer The Senators acquired Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2025 third-round pick (#67) and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Advertisement Spence will be in the mix at training camp, competing with the right-shot incumbents, Nick Jensen, Artem Zub, and Nikolas Matinpalo, not to mention former first-rounders Carter Yakemchuk and Lassi Thomson. But any time you can get a useful NHL player for next to nothing, it's a win. What makes this deal more impressive is that Staios acquired the #67 pick by sliding down just two spots in the draft. So, effectively, Spence cost the Sens a sixth-rounder. What his impact will be remains to be seen, but it was a slick move to help shore up depth on the right side. Trade Grade: B+ March 7, 2025: Shark Week The Senators acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 second-round pick. Advertisement Zetterlund is another player Staios is counting on to rebound. Two seasons ago, he led the Sharks with 24 goals and was tracking for a similar total when the trade went down. But after arriving in Ottawa, he went ice-cold with zero goals in his first 15 games. He finished with five points in 20 games and then signed a three-year deal worth $4.25 million annually. Still only 25, his underlying numbers were solid, and he created chances even if the puck didn't go in for him. Besides, given what Ottawa gave up, it's not a huge risk. As a side bonus, if the Zamboni breaks down this winter, the muscle-bound Zetterlund can step in and carry it off the ice. That's a nice intangible. Trade Grade: B+ July 1, 2024: Rebalancing Act The Senators traded Jakob Chychrun to the Washington Capitals for Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. Advertisement By the end of the 2023–24 season, Chychrun sounded noncommittal about signing an extension with Ottawa. Even if both sides had wanted to make it work, having three puck-moving defencemen on the left side, all making north of $8 million wouldn't be ideal. Washington needed one, eventually handing Chychrun an eight-year deal worth $9 million per season. With Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot already on the left side, the Sens desperately needed a shutdown righty. Enter Jensen – he's not flashy, but he's exactly what was needed, and he also helped Chabot have one of his best seasons in years. But straight-up, not many would rank Jensen as a better D than Chychrun, so it's hard to be a fan of the Sens having to throw in a third-rounder in the deal. Trade Grade: B There it is. Your top five Steve Staios trades so far. Let's see if they pay off this fall. Advertisement By Steve Warne The Hockey News/Ottawa More Sens Headlines: Senators Bid Farewell To Six UFAs: Where Did They End Up? Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Marc-André Fleury gets five offers to un-retire as NHL faces goalie shortage
NHL teams call retired Fleury as goalie shortage worsens (Image via: getty Images) The 2025 NHL free agency kicked off with a surprising twist, teams are racing for goaltenders amid a sudden shortage. With top NHL goalies off the market and limited free agents available, desperate franchises are now eyeing even retired legends like Marc-André Fleury. The unexpected goalie crisis has quickly become the biggest storyline of this year's NHL offseason. Goaltender shortage sparks NHL panic as teams reach out to retired Marc-André Fleury Goaltenders have become one of the hottest commodities in the 2025 NHL offseason. With the Florida Panthers lifting their second straight Stanley Cup, teams quickly turned to free agency to stay competitive. However, the limited number of experienced goaltenders available has sparked desperation across the league. According to the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno, fewer than a dozen goalies from the 2024-25 season were available in free agency. That's alarmingly low for a league with 32 teams all needing depth between the pipes. The shortage became even more evident when Marc-André Fleury's agent, Allan Walsh, revealed that five teams reached out on July 1 asking if the retired goaltender would consider returning. Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Vezina Trophy winner, retired after the 2024-25 season with the Minnesota Wild. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Despite a first-round playoff exit against the Vegas Golden Knights, his career ended with immense respect. Yet, the fact that teams were willing to offer him one-year deals days after retirement highlights just how desperate the market has become. While Fleury has no intention of returning, his brief stint with Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship likely added to speculation. Teams saw an opening and took their shot—but were ultimately turned down. In the meantime, goalie movement across the NHL has been rapid. John Gibson was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, while Dan Vladar signed with the Flyers and David Rittich joined the Islanders. The Devils extended Jake Allen on a five-year, $9 million contract, and the Canucks kept Thatcher Demko. Also Read: Patrik Laine breaks tradition with bold pink suit at glamorous Palm beach wedding to Jordan Leigh The Edmonton Oilers, despite back-to-back Eastern Conference Final appearances, remain a cautionary tale. Stuart Skinner's playoff inconsistency, especially his six-goal Game 1 collapse against the Kings exposed their goaltending vulnerability. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Vancouver Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canucks: Alexei Medvedev sure seems like the goalie of the future
Comparisons of prospects with previous hockey greats should not be made lightly. The smarter hockey bosses know this. But from the moment Alexei Medvedev became the latest Vancouver Canucks goalie prospect — picked in the second round of last week's NHL entry draft — you took notice how quickly people who ave watched him develop over the past 18 months move to make big-time comparisons. 'There's Tuukka Rask vibes here,' said Canucks goalie coach Marko Torenius. 'He's calm and composed.' 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. And then there's another comparison: Andrei Vasilevskiy. 'The way he uses his edges,' Torenius explained further. That's heady company. Both are Vezina Trophy winners. Both have been big-time playoff performers. 'Of course, it's long journeys for both those guys,' Torenius cautions. Nothing is certain when it comes to prospects, and especially with goalie prospects. But with Medvedev there's lots to like already that can be projected forward. After a seven-inch growth spurt over the past two years, he is standing 6-foot-3, and when you speak with him, you are well aware of just how long his arms and legs are, the kind of stature modern goalies need. The athleticism is there — and that's not just Torenius' assessment. That is how multiple NHL scouts see him too. He is athletic and already dialled in on his technique. That's the calmness that Torenius sees. There is some polishing yet to be done with his skills, but more than anything the biggest focus for him is going to be training his eyes and his brain to read the game as it gets faster as he progresses toward the NHL from junior hockey. Medevdev's energy and enthusiasm is evident from the moment you first speak with him. His eyes light up, his smile broadens when he was told the names that Torenius brought up. His grin didn't change when he shifted to talking about his first week as a Vancouver Canuck, about what he and Torenius had spoken about. 'I feel like I have a lot of stuff that he talked about me (needing) already in my game,' Medvedev said Thursday, following an energetic scrimmage at the University of B.C. to close this week's development camp. 'I love the way he coaches.' Being a goalie is just about all Medvedev has ever wanted to be. He has been a goalie since he was nine years old. Goalies, as we know, are a unique, self-selecting breed. 'I just just saw the equipment. And watched some games on TV. I just loved the way goalies look. So I got a set of gloves and went from there,' he said. He moved from St. Petersburg, Russia, his hometown, to suburban Toronto in 2021, aged just 13. His uncle lives there and he saw his future in hockey. The chances to progress toward the NHL would be higher if he moved over to Canada. That proved to be a great choice. He played for the Vaughan Kings in the Greater Toronto Hockey League's U16 AAA division, as tough as it gets for that age group in Canada, as just a 15 year old. He drew notice then, and jumped to Junior B with the St. Thomas Stars. Last season he landed with the London Knights, the famed Ontario major junior hockey factory. He is going to be the starter for London this coming season, then who knows what comes next. He's still just 17 — his birthday is Sept. 10 — another thing that excites Torenius and the Canucks. He's still got plenty of physical maturing yet to do. He names Igor Shesterkin, another elite NHL goalie, as the guy he has tried to model his own game after. He got a first-hand view of Shesterkin playing for SKA St. Petersburg. He shies away from the elite comparisons. That's who he wants to be, after all. 'I got so much knowledge in these five days, it's been great,' he said of how he is going to become one of the Canucks' NHL goalies three or four seasons from now. 'Just being a leader, I feel like that's a big part of it. I'm going to be an older guy next (season), so I want to lead my team, to be that guy who can support the guys, maybe share my experience and stuff like that. Just keep working, getting better. Just looking at this level, there's a lot of work to be done, and I really want to play here. So I'm really motivated.' pjohnston@
