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Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk Avoids Suspension

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Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will not face any supplemental discipline for his late-game hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel in game three. Despite Tkachuk receiving a five-minute major for interference on the hit, the NHL has determined no additional punishment is justified. As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes, the reasons could be related to several factors, including there being no head contact and that Guentzel did touch the puck prior to the hit.

The hit comes one game after Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel received a one-game suspension for leveling Aleksander Barkov. Similar to Tkachuk, Hagel received a five-minute major for interference. As Friedman notes, the force of the hit Tkachuk delivered on Guentzel may not be considered as impactful as the one Hagel delivered to Barkov. And as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period adds, Barkov never played the puck prior to being hit. It can also be noted that Barkov exited game two and did not return, although he did suit up in game three.

Tkachuk’s hit drew the ire of multiple Lightning players, including captain Victor Hedman. He told reporters following the game, including Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, that the timing of the hit was also questionable, as the Lightning were in the process of scoring an empty net goal to make the score 5-1. Hedman added that the team can’t control what actions are or are not worthy of suspension.

With Hagel set to return for game four on Monday, it will be interesting to see if tensions remain high. Either way, Tkachuk remaining available for game four and beyond is clearly welcomed news for the defending champs. Tkachuk was a key factor in the team’s run last season, registering 22 points in 24 playoff games, and he is off to a fast start in three games so far this year, securing three goals and an assist thus far. Florida currently leads the series 2-1.

Meanwhile, Guentzel, who appears fine and ready to go for game four, continues to build upon his impressive playoff history. As Benjamin Pierce points out on the team’s website, the 30-year-old is tied with Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl for the seventh-highest goals-per-game average in NHL playoff history.

Canucks And Prospect Tom Willander Remain In Contract Dispute

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Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander remains in contract limbo and is currently wondering what his future holds, per Cam Robinson of eliteprospects.com.

Willander, a 20-year-old defenseman from Stockholm, Sweden, was drafted 11th overall by the Canucks in the 2023 NHL Draft. He spent the last two seasons at Boston University and has developed into one of the top two-way defensive prospects thanks to his combination of speed and high hockey IQ. In his sophomore season, he recorded 21 points (2 goals, 19 assists) and a plus-16 rating in 33 games. In two seasons at Boston University, he has registered 51 points and a plus-47 rating.

However, as Robinson points out, Willander and the Canucks remain in the dispute over the bonuses he should receive in his entry-level contract (reportedly thought to be approximately $200,000). On Friday, Willander said he has simply asked the team to include the bonuses in his entry-level deal and that no other stipulations have been requested (such as a demand to start in the NHL). Willander also noted that he held off on joining the Swedish National Team, per the Canucks’ request, at least until negotiations continued to stall. Willander eventually decided to join the team in hopes of participating at the 2025 IIHF World Championships.

“They asked us earlier in the season. The Canucks didn’t want us to play there,” Willander said.  “But then as time moved on, it became viable so we decided ‘okay, it could be fun to play games with really good players.”

There were also conflicting reports between the player the team regarding where he’ll play next season. As recent as last week, the Canucks stated in a press conference that Willander would be returning to college for another season. However, as Willander told Robinson, he believes he’s ready to move on from college hockey, noting that it’s no longer the “perfect spot” for him.

Through it all, Willander said he’s trying to stay objective through the process and noted that his goal is to still to play in the NHL with Vancouver. He said that he likes the players and people he has met throughout the organization. It’s just a matter of if a deal can be reached at this point. And as Willander added, “I haven’t even thought about it hypothetically because it’s not close to being a done deal.”

 

 

 

Ducks Interviewed Joel Quenneville For Head Coach Vacancy

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Longtime NHL head coach Joel Quenneville was interviewed by the Ducks for their vacant head coach position, ESPN’s John Buccigross implied. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff confirmed the report, adding he’s being considered but isn’t necessarily a finalist yet.

Quenneville has not coached since resigning as the Panthers’ bench boss early in the 2021-22 season. He was subsequently suspended from working in the league “as a result of [his] inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Blackhawks’ Player, Kyle Beach, had been assaulted by the Club’s video coach.” Quenneville, along with former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and VP of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, had their suspensions lifted by the league last July. Bowman quickly returned to work as GM of the Oilers, but MacIsaac and Quenneville have yet to work another job in the league or for one of its member clubs.

Only one coaching vacancy was open last summer by the time Quenneville was reinstated. That was the Blue Jackets, and they never approached him for an interview. Other teams had interest in his services earlier in the 2024 offseason, but were told by the league he was unavailable for hire.

Quenneville, who coached the Blackhawks to Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, 2015, and won as an assistant with the Avalanche in 1996, is the first name linked to Anaheim’s coaching vacancy. They fired Greg Cronin earlier this month with one season left on his contract. Cronin recently expressed interest in moving cross-country to fill the Bruins’ vacancy.

These NHL Free Agents Will Get Overpaid This Summer

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July 1 is often when an NHL general manager makes moves that they will regret later, and frequently, they spend years trying to correct them. This summer is no different, as teams will overpay many unrestricted free agents. There is perhaps no better recent example of this than Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, who has done tremendous work the past two years but hasn’t been able to undo the series of poor moves he made on July 1, 2023, when he signed Tristan Jarry, Ryan Graves and Noel Acciari to long-term deals. Signings such as these can alter the direction of a franchise and hitch the team to financial commitments that haunt them long-term. Last summer’s big free-agent winner was the Nashville Predators, but they quickly discovered that winning in July doesn’t always translate to winning during the season.

This is the first year in some time that there has been a significant increase in the salary cap, with agents and UFAs salivating at the potential dollars they can rein in this summer. The days of skilled veterans settling for one-year deals just above league minimum may become a thing of the past, leading to more free agents signing contracts they could never live up to. Let’s look at the players who will likely get overpaid this summer using AFP Analytics’ projections for 2025-26 cap hits based on next year’s $95.5MM upper limit.

In combing through AFP’s work, a number that jumps out is the projection for Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser. AFP is projecting a seven-year deal worth $9.05MM per year for the 28-year-old, which looks pretty optimistic for a player who has topped 30 goals in a season just once and has only topped the 60-point plateau once. Boeser is not a player who can drive a line by himself; he is a shooter and can also go into slumps at 5-on-5. A cap hit north of $9MM for Boeser would almost certainly become a future buyout like Jeff Skinner’s contract was. Boeser may not get $9MM per, but teams are always in search of scoring, and someone will step up and overpay for his services.

No disrespect to Sam Bennett; he is a terrific player who has become an essential piece of a perennial Stanley Cup contender. But he will likely be overpaid this summer if he decides to leave the Florida Panthers. AFP’s projection is a six-year deal for $6.3MM per season, which seems a little light for Bennett unless he signs in a state with a more favorable income tax structure, such as Florida. Even at that projection, Bennett might live up to his AAV for the first two or three years of the deal. Still, beyond that, his style of play will likely catch up to him, making the final years of his deal difficult to deal with. Bennett will be 29 in June, and a six-year deal will take him until he’s 35, at which point it’s hard to know what his game will look like.

Mikael Granlund’s value is hard to gauge because fit is essential to his production. He was a terrible fit with the Penguins when he was acquired two years ago at the trade deadline and produced just five points in 21 games. That trade for a second-round pick was ultimately the final straw for the Penguins as they fired general manager Ron Hextall shortly after he made the move. Granlund was then dealt to San Jose, where he produced top-six numbers and was one of their top scorers before another trade to Dallas in February. Granlund has been a decent fit with the Stars, scoring 21 points in 31 games. The knock on Granlund is that he doesn’t do much away from the puck and can’t drive a line alone despite good playmaking abilities. He is a terrific passer, but aside from that, his game is limited. He isn’t slow, but he is an average skater at best.

Despite all of this, he puts up numbers, and he will surely find an NHL GM who will look at that and pay up. He won’t get a four-year deal, but he may secure a three-year contract around his current cap hit of $5MM. AFP’s projection for Granlund is a two-year deal at $4.6MM per season, which looks pretty realistic, if not a bit on the lighter side, given the rising salary cap. Whoever signs Granlund needs to play him on the power play and in the top six; otherwise, they will wind up like the Penguins in 2023 and searching for a salary dump.

Blue Jackets forward Luke Kunin is next on our list and is projected by AFP to wind up on a two-year deal for $2.1MM per season. Kunin can hit, and that’s about it. His game impact is minimal, and $2.1MM is a wild number for a player as limited as he is. Kunin doesn’t put up points and has played mainly on the fourth line, getting caved in on the possession front while doing so. He hasn’t been helped by his deployment, starting his shifts in the defensive zone 56.8% of the time this year at even strength, but that has a negligible impact on his overall numbers. Signing Kunin to that deal won’t break a team, but it certainly won’t help a contending team build a competent bottom six.

Jonathan Drouin has had two straight solid seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and should receive a significant raise this summer from the $2.5MM he played for this year. Since joining the Avalanche, the 30-year-old has posted 30 goals and 63 assists in 122 games while playing 15:23 a game. Drouin has been a good fit with Colorado and is projected by AFP to get a contract in the four-year range with a cap hit of $5.87MM.

Drouin had to settle for a one-year deal last summer and should have multi-year offers this year. While he has recaptured his game, he has dressed just 43 times this season and has been inconsistent throughout his career. Any team paying him nearly $6MM a season for four years would take a massive gamble that could be a contract to buy out in a few seasons. Teams were cautious with Drouin last summer, and it’s not hard to imagine teams capping their offers at two or three years, but all it takes is one team that is desperate for scoring to get to Drouin’s projected contract numbers.

Finally, on the back end, one defenseman is primed to be overpaid again on the free agent market: Cody Ceci of the Dallas Stars. Ceci is in the final year of a four-year deal he signed in 2021 with a $3.25MM cap hit. That contract was initially projected to be a problem, and it became an issue for the Oilers last summer when they dealt the 31-year-old to San Jose in a salary cap-fueled move.

Ceci’s next deal could turn out to be even more problematic. The Ottawa, Ontario, native is projected by AFP to earn $11MM on a three-year contract, which is quite the price for a depth defenseman who needs to be sheltered to be effective. Ceci was okay with the Oilers when they moved him away from Nurse, but he should not be counted on for anything more than depth minutes in a No. 5-6 role.

In the net, goaltending will be challenging in the free-agent market as the options include reclamation projects, career backups, and Jake Allen. Allen figures to get a chunk of change in free agency, but will not see starter’s money despite having a great year in New Jersey. Beyond that, it’s hard to imagine any team committing significant dollars to the available netminders.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Cronin Interested In Bruins Head Coaching Job

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Former Ducks head coach Greg Cronin would enthusiastically pick up the phone if considered for the Bruins’ head coaching opening, he told the Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont.

“Hey, I’m a coach, right?” Cronin told Dupont. “All these openings, I’ll throw my hat in and see what comes back. I mean, heck, I’d be doing handsprings and jumping over rainbows if I got the Bruins’ job. I’m a Boston guy, and for a Boston guy, that’s hitting the lottery times 10!”

Cronin was one of the finalists for Boston’s vacancy in the 2022 offseason when he was the head coach of the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate. General manager Don Sweeney ended up passing him over for eventual 2023 Jack Adams winner Jim Montgomery, whom the Bruins ended up firing in November. Boston finished the 2024-25 campaign with interim head coach Joe Sacco, who is still a candidate to take over the full-time role, Sweeney said last week.

After not landing the Bruins’ job, Cronin only needed to wait one more year to land his first NHL coaching gig. The Ducks signed him to a three-year deal in the 2023 offseason to replace Dallas Eakins, but fired him earlier this month with one year left on his contract. Cronin had a 67-82-15 (.424) record behind the Anaheim bench, although the Ducks’ finish this season was their best since the 2018-19 campaign.

While Cronin may have an interest in the vacancy, it is unlikely that Boston’s interest will be mutual. When discussing their next coaching hire, Sweeney emphasized an improved offense as their top priority for the offseason. Nothing Cronin did in Anaheim suggests he’ll fit that mold. During Cronin’s tenure, the Ducks’ 2.56 goals per game ranked 31st out of 33 teams (the Coyotes and Utah were counted separately), while their 27.2 shots per game ranked 28th. Their 14.9% success rate on the power play ranked 32nd.

Outside of Sacco, it remains unclear who Boston plans to interview as a full-time hire.

Canadiens Recall Cayden Primeau

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The Montreal Canadiens have recalled goaltender Cayden Primeau in the wake of an injury to starter Sam Montembeault. Montembeault left Game 3 during a second-period TV-timeout, after a conversation with Montreal’s director of sports medicine and performance, Jim Ramsay. He has been listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, did not practice on Sunday, and will formally be questionable for Game 4 – head coach Martin St. Louis shared with NHL.com. Montreal will start rookie Jakub Dobes in their next matchup, and now have Primeau as a potential backup option.

Primeau has had a near-perfect season in the minor leagues. He’s posted a dazzling 21-2-2 record, .927 save percentage, and 1.96 goals-against average. In turn, Primeau recorded the fewest losses, the third-highest save percentage, and the highest goals-against average of all qualified AHL goalies. It was a true breakout performance after Primeau posted a .909 save percentage, and varying surrounding stats, in each of the last four AHL seasons.

Primeau was the de facto starter any time he was in the AHL, though he fell three games shy of the Laval Rocket’s lead in games played after spending two months on the NHL roster to start the season. He stepped into 11 games over that tenure and managed a far less encouraging 2-3-1 record, .836 save percentage, and 4.70 goals-against-average. It continued what’s been a string of underwhelming NHL performances for Primeau, who sits with a 13-24-7 record and .884 save percentage through 55 career games. Those numbers were boosted slightly by a .910 save percentage in 23 games last year – numbers that Montreal will hope he can recreate after a flawless season in the minor leagues.

Capitals’ Aliaksei Protas, Logan Thompson To Be Game-Time Decisions

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Sunday’s morning skate was more than encouraging for the Washington Capitals. Starting goaltender Logan Thompson took the ice and practiced in full just two days after sustained a knee injury in the waning minutes of Game 3. Thompson seemed down for the count after an awkward collision with teammate Dylan Strome, and Washington seemed set to turn towards backup Charlie Lindgren for the remainder of the First Round. But after Sunday’s practice, both Thompson and forward Aliaksei Protas – who has missed nine games due to a laceration on his foot – will be game-time decisions for Game 4, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen.

The Capitals will be thrilled at the prospect of getting their hard-nosed starter back. Backup Lindgren has performed well enough when called upon this season, with a 20-14-3 record and .894 save percentage. But his performances have paled in comparison to the breakout season that Thompson managed. He recorded a dazzling 31-6-6 record and .910 save percentage in 43 starts this season. That save percentage ranks as the 11th-highest from any Capitals starter since 2000. He’s ranked behind four Braden Holtby seasons; one season from each of Olaf Kolzig, Tomas Vokoun, and Jose Theodore; and sprinkles of breakout years from Lindgren and Michal Neuvirth.

But Thompson’s seemed to shine just as bright, if not brighter, in the spotlight than many of his predecessors. He’s recorded a .917 save percentage through three playoff games this year – even despite allowing five goals in his last outing – and managed a .921 in four games of the Vegas Golden Knights’ run last season. Holding onto that level of play in the starter’s crease could be pivotal as Washington looks to buck a Game 3 loss and wrap up their first round series.

Protas will be just as dramatic of an addition. The 24-year-old forward had his own breakout campaign this year, scoring a career-high 30 goals and 66 points in 76 games – more than a full lap over the six goals and 29 points he scored in 78 games last season. Protas was the perfect fit in Washington’s top-six, offering a lumbering frame and quick cuts in the middle lane to compliment the fast-moving Connor McMichael or heavy-shooting Alex Ovechkin on the flanks. He will step straight into Washington’s top-six should he return for Game 4, likely bumping Taylor Raddysh or Brandon Duhaime out of the lineup in the process.

Oilers Recall Six Black Aces

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With the season officially over for their AHL affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers have boosted their NHL roster by calling up six black aces. The full list of recalls includes forwards Matthew Savoie, Noah Philp, and James Hamblin; defensemen Cam Dineen and Philip Kemp; and goaltender Olivier Rodrigue – per Bob Stauffer of 880 CHED. Stauffer adds that all seven black aces took part in the Oilers’ team skate on Saturday.

The most notable member of this group is undoubtedly Savoie, who stands as one of Edmonton’s top prospects and ranked second on the Bakersfield Condors in scoring with 19 goals and 54 points in 66 games this season. It was a statement rookie season for the young winger, after he showed a glimmer of strong pro play with five points in six AHL games last year. Savoie appeared in four NHL games earlier this season. He recorded one assist and a minus-four. But he was renowned for his playoff performances throughout three years in the WHL – where he combined for 65 points in 48 postseason games, capped off with a WHL championship.

While Savoie could offer a home run swing, Edmonton will also receiver quainter NHL impact from Philp, Rodrigue, and Dineen. Philp appeared in the first 15 games of his NHL career this season, recording two assists and a plus-one. He coupled those modest numbers with 19 goals and 35 points in 55 AHL games – matching his goal-scoring and falling two shy of his point totals from 70 AHL games last season. Dineen appeared in four NHL games and Rodrigue in two – both to quiet effect – but they were major pieces of the AHL lineup all season long. Dineen led all Condors defensemen in scoring with 43 points in 59 games. Rodrigue handled the AHL starting role and managed an 18-16-7 record and .897 save percentage in 41 games. All three players will offer clear bottom-of-the-lineup translatability should Edmonton be forced to lean on their depth.

The group of call-ups is rounded out by Hamblin and Kemp, who each received NHL minutes last season but spent the entirety of this year in the minors. Hamblin managed an encouraging 45 points in 51 games while rotating through a top-line wing role, while Kemp found himself down the lineup and only managed 12 points in 56 games. Both will likely be the last Black Ace tapped on, should Edmonton need to turn towards any of them.

Central Notes: Johansson, Heiskanen, Back, Colton

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Minnesota Wild winger Marcus Johansson was not in the lineup for today’s 4-3 overtime loss against the Golden Knights, the team announced prior to the game. Johansson left in the third period of game three with an undisclosed injury and did not return to the contest. Prior to today’s game, head coach John Hynes did not provide an update on his injury or a potential timeline for his return.

With Johansson out, veteran Vinnie Hinostroza was added to the lineup and recorded 11:57 of total ice time. Johansson, a fixture in the Wild’s top six, registered 34 points in 72 games on the season. The 34-year-old also brings a wealth of playoff experience to the table, playing in 112 career playoff games with 46 points. His return would be big for the Wild as the series is now tied 2-2.

Elsewhere in the Central Division:

  • Dallas Stars defender Miro Heiskanen will not play in tonight’s game four matchup against the Avalanche, per Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas News. Heiskanen recently rejoined practice first time since sustaining his knee injury in late January, and Friday’s practice was the closest he’s been to a full participant, Assimakopoulos notes. In 50 games on the season, the 25-year-old scored five goals and 25 points from the point. He’s also showcased an ability to elevate his game in the playoffs, including last season where he produced six goals and 16 points in 19 games. Coach Pete DeBoer also noted that forward Oskar Back will be a game-time decision after suffering an injury in game three. If he is unable to go, the door will be open for Mavrik Bourque to slot back into the lineup.
  • Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed that forward Ross Colton is making progress with his lower body injury, but that Colton will remain out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports. Colton sustained his injury in game one of the series and has not been able to dress since. In 61 regular season games this season, Colton produced 16 goals in 29 points.

Eastern Notes: Montembeault, Protas, Korpi

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Montreal Canadiens starting goalie Samuel Montembeault is being evaluated after leaving Friday’s game three victory over the Capitals, per NHL.com reporter Dan Rosen.

Head coach Martin St. Louis noted that Montembeault’s status for game four remains uncertain. The 28-year-old left during second period, appearing to be favoring his leg, and did not return. At the time, the game was tied 2-2, although the Habs were able to secure a 6-3 victory to pull closer in the series. In his place, Jakub Dobes was able to stop seven of eight shots he faced down the stretch. The 23-year-old finished the regular season with a 7-4-3 record to go along with an impressive .909 save percentage, which was actually eight percentage points higher than Montembeault’s regular season mark.

While St. Louis said he had “no idea” whether or not Montembeault would be ready for game four, he did discuss the confidence he has in his rookie netminder if he’s needed.

“I think what he did for us this year, he came in and had an incredible start, then he had a bit of a tougher stretch for a young goaltender but he finished strong,” said St. Louis of Dobes. “The last two games he played when you think about it, we needed those points, he played and he delivered good performances.”

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:

  • Washington’s Aliaksei Protas could return to action in tomorrow’s pivotal game four matchup against the Habs, per Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post. Coach Spencer Carbery said Protas was a full participate at practice and was able to take full contact. He added that the team will see how the forward responds tomorrow, but it looks promising that he will return to the lineup. Protas has been out of the lineup since April 4th after being cut on his foot by a skate. He burst onto the scene this season, scoring 30 goals and 66 points in 75 games. What’s more, he’s accomplished all these lofty totals while only registering one point on the power play. His 60 even-strength points at the time of his injury tied him with Mitch Marner for eighth place in the NHL.
  • The Boston Bruins are turning their attention to next season and have invited goaltending prospect Cameron Korpi to their developmental camp, per
    Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal. Korpi recently transferred from the University of Michigan to Union College. In one year at Michigan, the rising sophomore had a 7-6-1 record with a .901 save percentage. The 20-year-old is a native of Michigan and has played for various teams, including the Tri-City Storm in the USHL, the Oklahoma Warriors in the NAHL, and the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL.

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