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Free Agent Focus: Boston Bruins

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Free agency is just over a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Boston Bruins.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Mason Lohrei – Lohrei has been a revelation for the Boston Bruins. Only 24 years old, the Louisiana native managed to cement himself into the lineup this season on the back of 33 points in 77 games. His minus-43 plus-minus is the worst the team has seen in at least a decade – though he’s joined at the bottom of the leaderboard by three other players from this year’s squad. The statline paints what seems to be a fitting picture of Lohrei: flashy and successful at his best, and woefully out-of-place at his worst. But as time goes on, those bright spots are shining through more-and-more. Lohrei just managed three points and a plus-four in five games of Team USA’s Gold Medal run a the World Championship, and will enter the summer as the clear-cut top RFA for Boston. With 46 points and 118 games of NHL experience, Lohrei is likely to sign a sort of bridge deal that can carry him to a top line role within a few years.

F Morgan Geekie – Geekie holds a strong bid for surprise of the 2024-25 season. He broke out in a big way, recording a career-high 33 goals and 57 points – second to only David Pastrnak in team scoring. That was largely helped along by a 22-percent shooting percentage – nearly nine-percent more than the 13.1 percent that led Geekie to 17 goals and 39 points last season. Still, Boston has struggled to find scoring outside of perennial superstar Pastrnak. Geekie’s 30-goal season makes him just the third Bruin to hit the mark in the last four seasons – alongside Pastrnak and now-Florida Panther Brad Marchand. That’s upside worth locking in, even if signs point towards Geekie coming back down to Earth next season. Boston will need to walk a tightrope to land a value deal amid a rising salary cap and poor free agent market.

F Oliver Wahlstrom – The Bruins claimed Wahlstrom off of waivers from the Islanders in mid-December. He joined the squad for two months of action but could only muster two points and 28 penalty minutes in 16 games before Boston had seen enough. They waived Wahlstrom and assigned him to the minors in late-February. But then he thrived in the AHL, netting nine goals and 15 points in just 19 games – the highest scoring pace of his professional career at any level (save for a 10-game stint in Sweden in 2020-21). Wahlstrom is a hard bet after spending the last six seasons trying, and failing, to secure an NHL role. But a wave of strong play could be exactly what the doctor ordered. A cheap, two-way deal this summer could set Boston up to be the beneficiary of any resurgence next year.

F John Beecher – Beecher spent the full season on the NHL roster for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, the promotion didn’t spark any one part of his game. He ended the year with just 11 points in 78 games – just one more point than he was able to score in 52 games last season. Beecher carries first round precedent, having heard his name 30th-overall in the 2019 class. But now a few years removed, Boston should have a reasonable glimpse at what he brings to the lineup. If they’re looking for a big-body to continue holding down the fourth line, Beecher should come at little cost. But the open market may have more productive options to shore up Boston’s depth.

F Marat Khusnutdinov – Khusnutdinov joined the Bruins in the waning moments of the Trade Deadline. Boston seemed to have a carved-out role in the bottom-six for the Russian youngster, and he rewarded them with five points in 18 appearances. That may be moot, but it’s just two points shy of his totals in 57 games last year. The 22-year-old Khusnutdinov seemed to catch a spark in the Bruins’ system. He’ll offer the team a glimmer of upside on a new deal – but it could be tough to narrow down the price point of a former second-round pick with 91 games of experience but just 16 points.

F Jakub Lauko – Lauko joined Khusnutdinov in the late-Deadline move. He had spent the last two seasons in the Bruins organization, but traveled West for 38 games with the Minnesota Wild at the start of this season. Through the move, Lauko’s emposing physical presence continued to shine through – even as he ran into persistent injury issues with the Wild. Combined between Minnesota and Boston, Lauko finished the year with 11 points, 47 penalty minutes, and a minus-13 in 56 appearances. Those numbers don’t jump off the paper, but his continued bruiser role and Boston’s desire to re-acquire him this season both point towards a new deal coming soon.

Other RFAs: F John Farinacci, F Trevor Kuntar, F Georgii Merkulov, F Jaxon Nelson, D Ian Mitchell, D Daniil Misyul, D Drew Bavaro

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Henri Jokiharju – Jokiharju rounds out the trio of Trade Deadline acquisitions. He scored the lowest of the bunch – netting four assists in 18 games, one point fewer than either forward. But that number shouldn’t be the highlight of Jokiharju’s first stint in Boston. Despite low-scoring, the 25-year-old defender looked plenty comfortable on the Bruins’ blue-line – and played upwards of 24 minutes a night while filling in for Brandon Carlo’s second-pair vacancy. Boston needed help on the backend and Jokiharju supplied it en masse. He scored 20 points in 74 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season – a mark that could look mighty fine with a continued minutes in Boston. Jokiharju will be one of the Bruins’ pricier re-signings – albeit among a cheap bunch – but the shimmer potential he has as a top-six lock will make the deal worth it.

F Cole Koepke – Boston led with a quiet bottom-six all season long – and Koepke’s role on the fourth-line highlighted the group. He scored just 17 points in 73 games on the season, but never looked too terribly out of place with the big club. Koepke entered the year with just 26 games of NHL experience under his belt, all coming with the Tampa Bay Lightning over the last two seasons. He had otherwise been a productive minor-leaguer, with flashes of goal-scoring upside and two-way play. Those attributes could still shine through as he becomes more adjusted to the top flight. Boston will be left with the question of whether that upside is worth buying into, or if they’ll be able to find a better depth-winger on the open market… or in their prospect pool.

D Parker Wotherspoon – Wotherspoon operated as Boston’s true bottom defenseman this season, with his 18 minutes of average ice time the lowest of any blue-liner to spend the bulk of their year with the NHL club. He recorded seven points, 10 penalty minutes, and a minus-10 in 55 games to show for the role, falling one point shy of his career-high eight points from 41 games last season. Wotherspoon will be 28 years old by the time the 2025-26 season begins, and could be better suited for a return to the minors after platooning between leagues over the last two seasons. If not a demotion, Wotherspoon will likely continue on in a low-depth role for the Bruins – offering a low-cost, but low-upside option.

G Michael DiPietro – The Bruins will lose both of their minor-league goaltender to free agency this season. Both carry fantastic cases to be re-signed after effectively splitting starts this season. DiPietro performed best in the spotlight, though – ending the year with a .927 save percentage and 26-8-5 record through 40 games. He was once a top goalie prospect for the Vancouver Canucks, before injuries and lack of opportunity sent him on a spiral through the minors. DiPietro finally seems to be on the other side of those struggles, and could find a push back to the NHL on whatever new deal Boston can construct. That will make him worth a long look this summer, even if backup Brandon Bussi offers a plenty suitable replacement.

Other UFAs: F Tyler Pitlick, F Riley Tufte, F Vinni Lettieri, D Michael Callahan (Group-6), G Brandon Bussi

Projected Cap Space

The Bruins will enter the summer with a projected $26.27MM in cap space. That should be plenty of space to not only re-sign their top options entering free agency, but also take runs at aggressive free agent singings or summer trades. The Bruins missed the postseason for the first time in eight years – and just the third time since 2007-08 – this year. That’s an unacceptable result for the fixture of summer hockey. Ample signing room, strong candidates for re-signing, and open lineup spots should all give freshly re-signed general manager Don Sweeney a chance to show he can still build a playoff contender.

 Photo courtesy of Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

NHL Won’t Open Expansion Process, Open To Right Bids

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Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addressed a range of topics in an interview with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, including ongoing expansion talks, updates on a potential collective bargaining agreement extension, and his thoughts on the current playoff format.

LeBrun’s first question focused on the CBA, which the league and NHLPA began discussing in April. While the current CBA doesn’t expire until September 2026, Daly was asked if progress was being made on a possible extension. Daly acknowledged that discussions are ongoing and progressing well, with both sides actively exchanging proposals and continuing the dialogue.

“I don’t have any timetable for you, but I would like to think that we’ll have a successful conclusion at some point in the not-too-distant future,” said Daly.

Daly added that as part of the CBA talks, both sides are discussing solutions to the current LTIR regulations and the lack of a salary cap during the playoffs. As Daly said, “Nothing’s done until it’s done, but I would tell you that I think we’ve made progress toward getting to a good resolution on that issue.”

With rumors swirling about potential expansion teams in Atlanta (for a third time) or Houston, LeBrun asked Daly whether it would be fair to say the league is actively engaged in the expansion process. While Daly said the answer depends on how one defines “expansion process,” he emphasized that the league is always open to the idea if the right opportunity presents itself.

As Daly noted, “I think what Gary (Bettman) is clear about is, there is no current intention to open up a formal expansion process and invite bids. It’s much more of a one-on-one conversation and relationship we have with various potential owners.”

Daly added that he doesn’t believe additional expansion teams would ’water down’ the league, noting that the global pool of elite talent is strong enough to support more NHL clubs. Daly said he shared in those concerns when four expansion teams were added in the late 1990s but added that the hockey world has changed dramatically over the last 25 years, with more elite players are coming from the United States and overseas than ever before.

Daly also touched on the current playoff format, which as LeBrun notes, allows for key matchups like Colorado against Dallas in the first round. Daly acknowledged that, like any topic, the NHL is open to discussing playoff format alternatives with the NHLPA as part of the CBA process but noted that no such discussions have taken place yet.

Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis Healthy, Sean Walker Questionable For Game 3

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The Carolina Hurricanes received a hint of good news of Friday. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour shared that forward Seth Jarvis is expected to play in Game 3 despite leaving Game 2 early with an apparent injury, per Sportsnet’s Eric Engels. Brind’Amour added that defenseman Sean Walker, who also left Game 2 early, will be “iffy” for Saturday’s matchup.

Walker exited Game 2 after his first shift in the second period following a big hit from Florida’s A.J. Greer. He was in the dressing room for 11 minutes of gametime but managed to return for a few more shifts in the period, before ultimately being pulled for good during the second intermission. Top forward Jarvis then left the game halfway through the third period after a hit from Niko Mikkola seemed to knock his head into the ice. Jarvis played one more shift after the big hit, but seemed to be off-balance and stumbling.

Hurricanes can breath a sigh of relief knowing that Jarvis will stick in the lineup. The 23-year-old currently leads the Hurricanes in playoff scoring with 12 points in 12 games. He’s also recorded the highest plus-minus, and second-most ice time average ice time, of any of Carolina’s forwards. Somehow Jarvis has found a way to earn an even bigger role in the postseason, after establishing himself as a summer-hockey star last year with nine points and 20:35 in average ice time through 11 playoff games. Jarvis should continue in his top-line role with a bill of good – or, good enough – health.

Walker’s injury could pose problems for Carolina, though. The Hurricanes are already without third-pair defenseman Jalen Chatfield, who’s been day-to-day with an undisclosed injury through the team’s last three games.  Carolina has turned to Scott Morrow in Chatfield’s absence, but the rookie defender has seem clearly outmatched by the pace of late-playoff hockey. Walker could open another hole in the lineup – though Carolina can find a thin silver lining in having star prospect Alexander Nikishin as their top healthy scratch. Nikishin made his NHL debut this postseason and managed two hits and two shots on net despite just 10:33 in ice time. He’s lauded as one of the world’s best U23 players after posting 46 points in 61 KHL games this season. Carolina may need to lean on that Russian expertise – and someone playing on their off-hand – should Walker be forced out of the Game 3 lineup.

Snapshots: Ylönen, Lipinski, Concussion Protocol

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Former Montreal Canadiens winger Jesse Ylönen is reportedly considering signing a deal in the SHL this summer, per Johan Svensson of Swedish news site Expressen (subscription required). Svensson didn’t specify what club the Finnish wing could be headed to. Nonetheless, the potential for a move seems high after Ylönen spent a full season in the AHL for the first time in his four-year career in North America. His minor-league stint was split between the Syracuse Crunch and Milwaukee Admirals, sparked by a late-February trade that swapped Ylönen and fellow minor-leaguer Anthony Angello.

Ylönen was slightly less productive in the Midwest – netting 14 points in 26 games for Milwaukee, including playoffs, after totaling 25 points in 47 games with Syracuse. The full-year total of 39 points in 73 games is far below the scoring pace Ylönen managed through his first two seasons in the AHL in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He spent both seasons with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, and scored 36 points in 52 games and 32 points in 39 games respectively. That latter hot streak earned Ylönen his NHL rookie year during the 2022-23 season – and he managed a modest 16 points in 37 games to show for it. Montreal responded to positive numbers by keeping Ylönen all the lineup for the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign – but the upside bet didn’t pan out. Ylönen managed just eight points in 59 NHL games last season, and landed in the Lightning organization after Montreal declined a qualifying offer at the start of last summer.

Ylönen could be a proper match in Sweden. He grew up in Finland’s youth hockey program and played pro games in each of the country’s top two leagues. That includes totaling a combined 56 points in 127 games across three seasons in the Liiga, before he came over to North America. The SHL has certainly risen above its peers this season, but Ylönen could be well equipped for the challenge after finding, and then losing, his scoring touch in the NHL and AHL.

Other quick notes from around the league:

  • Calgary Flames prospect Jaden Lipinski is headed to the University of Maine next season, per the club’s Instagram. Lipinski will be one of the very few NCAA players with pro hockey experience – after playing one game at the end of the 2023-24 season, and two games this season, in the AHL. He recorded no notable stat changes. Lipinski is still eligible to attend college because all three games were played on an amateur try-out with the Calgary Wranglers, which kept him from earning any compensation for the matchups. NCAA revokes collegiate eligibility once players accept payment, or promise of payment, from a pro sports league. Since he didn’t, Lipinski will enter the league as a junior player who played up one year, akin to Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander, who played two SHL games before joining Boston University last season. The Maine Black Bears will get a hardy addition with this news. Lipinski scored 58 points in 59 WHL games this season, and seemed to improve his ability to play physical and productive hockey. Those are the hallmarks of Maine’s style, and should create a golden stage for the Flames prospect to continue growing.
  • NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly shared that the league is satisfied with how the concussion protocol has performed this season in an interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. Daly shared that the league has embedded due diligence into the process, even when players don’t formally enter the protocol. He shared that, with an additional layer of consideration, he feels the league has been able to properly answer any open questions about the process. Rates of concussions have risen and fallen in the NHL over time, but concerns around long-term effects of head injuries continues to ring louder. News site NPR published an op-ed on the link between lengthy hockey careers and CTE in December, sparking newfound debate over the effectiveness of the NHL’s concussion spotting.

Jets Notes: Lowry, Ehlers, Vilardi

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The Winnipeg Jets are holding their final interviews of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, offering a chance for many players to share insight on their futures with the club. The first up was team captain Adam Lowry, who will be eligible for an extension on July 1st and set to hit free agency next summer. Lowry emphasized to reporters that he’ll be ready to sign a deal as soon as the Jets are, and that he wants to stick with the club through the end of his career, per Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press.

Lowry was named Winnipeg’s captain at the start of the 2023-24 season, after wearing an ’A’ in the year prior. The title rewarded Lowry’s career-long commitment to supporting Winnipeg’s bottom-six. He was originally drafted in the third-round of the 2011 NHL Draft, and made his NHL debut three seasons later in 2014-15. Lowry carved out a gritty role in the depth of Winnipeg’s lineup right away, recording 24 points and 46 penalty minutes in 80 games as an NHL rookie. He was full time in the league within two seasons, and quickly found a knack for tenacious plays, full-ice impacts, and routine 20-point seasons.

But he’s started to blossom in his later years, recording a career-high 36 points in the 2022-23 season – followed up by 35 points last year and 34 this year. He also scored a career-high 16 goals this season – all while continuing to operate from a strong role on Winnipeg’s second and third lines. Lowry will flirt with free agency throughout the 2025-26 season, but it’s hard to envision Winnipeg letting such a carved-out piece of their lineup walk away.

The same can be said for winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who will face the pressures of free agency this summer rather than next. Ehlers is another lifetime Jet, having spent the last decade with the club and totaling 520 points in 674 career games. that includes a dazzling 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games this season. That’s the highest scoring pace of Ehlers’ career, though it falls one point shy of his career-high total set in the 2016-17 season. Like Lowry, Ehlers has dedicated significant time to finding the lineup role that works for him.

With his deal set to expire this summer, Ehlers’ teammates have made sure to know how much they like having him around. Cole Perfetti called Ehlers a “joy to life” to reporters, and shared that he both hopes and knows that Ehlers feels how much the Jets franchise appreciates him – shares Murat Ates of The Athletic. Perfetti and Ehlers rotated as wing partners throughout the season, and outscored opponents 25-to-18 at even-strength in their minutes together. It was a career year for both players, and with his public words of encouragement – Perfetti could give Ehlers yet another reason to find a deal that works this summer.

Forward Gabriel Vilardi has also expressed interest in re-signing with the Jets when he hits restricted-free agency this summer, per Ates. Vilardi added that he hasn’t yet thought about if he wants a short-term or long-term deal, though. Either option could be a sensible bet, after Vilardi broke out with 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games this season. Both marks were new career-highs, confidently lapping the 23 goals and 41 points he scored in 63 games of the 2022-23 season. Vilardi’s rise in scoring coincided with a rise in ice time and lineup trust. He performed well with added responsibility, though only managed four points in nine postseason games.

71 games of this season is the most Vilardi has ever played in a single year. Those signs of newfound health could go a long way in solidifying Vilardi’s projection as a staple of the second-line. Winnipeg will have a chance to put a price to that faith in exclusive negotiations this summer.

William Nylander Joins Team Sweden At World Championship

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Team Sweden has announced that winger William Nylander will be headed overseas to join their push for the 2025 World Championship Gold. This is the first time since 2022 that Nylander has been able to participate in the off-season tournament. He’ll join Sweden just in time for the knockout rounds, which begin with a matchup against Czechia on Tuesday.

Nylander has been a strong pillar of Sweden’s international lineups dating back to his U17 year. He posted 10 points in six games of the World U17 Hockey Challenge and three points in five games of the U18 World Championship in 2013; then returned to the latter tournament with a dominant 16 points in seven games in his draft season of 2014. Nylander was scooped up by the Toronto Maple Leafs at eighth-overall, and made both his AHL debut and World Juniors debut in the following season. He potted 10 points in seven games of the junior tournament and, two years later, joined Sweden for his first World Championship in 2017.

Nylander’s first World Championship run continued what was a true breakout year for the Swedish winger. He scored 14 points, split evenly, in 10 games – a nice compliment to the 22 goals and 61 points he posted in 81 NHL games that year. That season marked a switch in Nylander’s path, and he’s continued to dominate both NHL and international scoring at every opportunity since. The 29-year-old has totaled 37 points in 21 games across four career appearances at Worlds, while also tallying 612 points in 685 games and 10 seasons in the NHL. He’s a superstar addition this late into tournament action, and should be a hardy boost for a Swedish club that currently ranks sixth in tournament scoring.

Nick Bonino Re-Signs In IceHL

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins centerman Nick Bonino has re-signed with the IceHL’s HK Olimpija Ljubljana, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports. Bonino originally signed with the Slovenian club last November, after being released from his contract with the New York Rangers earlier in the year.

Bonino only appeared in half of the Olimpija Dragons’ season thanks to the mid-season signing. But he still managed a successful season, finishing the year with 17 points in 22 games and the highest point-per-game pace (0.77) on his team. It was a refreshing surge in scoring after he scored just five points in 45 games with the New York Rangers last season. Bonino hasn’t scored more than 20 points since the 2021-22 season, when he tallied 16 goals and 26 points in 80 games with the San Jose Sharks.

One more year in the IceHL will give Bonino a chance to play a full year, and cross the 20 point threshold, with his new club. At 37 years old, it seems unlikely the centerman entertains a return to North American pros at any point. Until he proves that sentiment wrong, Bonino’s NHL career will sit at 159 goals, 199 assists, and 251 penalty minutes in 868 games. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups when he served as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ third-line center from 2015 to 2017.

Islanders Hold Second Interviews With Marc Bergevin, Mathieu Darche

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The New York Islanders have reportedly held second interviews with two general manager candidates. The first is former Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. The second is Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Mathieu Darche, per Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. Seravalli went on to add that Bergevin and Darche are expected to be the final two horses in the race for New York’s GM role.

Little has come out about the Islanders’ search for a new GM, but the final picture of the race features two very different candidates. Bergevin is among the most tenured front office staff in the hockey world, headed for the 20th anniversary of his first hockey management role this summer. Meanwhile Darche was hired in Tampa Bay just six seasons ago, and has only served as assistant general manager for the last three years.

That imbalance helps Bergevin’s resume look particularly bolded. He served 10 years as the Canadiens’ GM from the start of 2012-13 to the end of 2021-22. His tenure was headlined by six postseason appearances, including a flash-in-the-pan run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. Bergevin managed the careers of iconic Canadiens players like Carey Price, Max Pacioretty, Shea Weber and P.K. Subban – including the shocking trade that swapped the latter two in 2016. He also managed the draft warrooms that selected Artturi Lehkonen (2013), Mikhail Sergachev (2016), and Cole Caufield (2019).

Bergevin’s management of his stars, and his control over Montreal’s heap of draft picks each year, earned criticism as Montreal dragged into a decade with little significant postseason success. But his extended tenure, and recent advisor role with the emerging Los Angeles Kings, could entice the Islanders as they look to change GMs for the first time since 2018.

If the Islanders are willing to be a bit more flexible with their job requirements, they could find a candidate-with-upside in Darche. The 48-year-old has already won two Stanley Cups in his young managerial career, serving as Director of Hockey Operations while the Lightning won back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021. Darche was promoted to assistant general manager one year later, and has quickly built a reputation for lucrative contract management and negotiations. That could be invaluable expertise as he eyes an Islanders roster with three contracts north of $8MM.

The Islanders missed the postseason for just the second time since 2019-20 this season. Their GM hire will be quickly tasked with reversing those fortunes, with a roster that wields stars Mathew Barzal, Ilya Sorokin, and Bo Horvat; as well as the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Both candidates have plenty of postseason experience, though their management careers are a competition of quality versus quantity.

Lightning Sign Harrison Meneghin To Entry-Level Contract

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Harrison Meneghin to a three-year, entry-level contract. Meneghin won the WHL Championship with the Medicine Hat Tigers just days ago. He was awarded the WHL Playoffs MVP for his 14-1-0 record and .906 save percentage through the postseason.

Meneghin becomes just the third player from the seventh-round, and the fourth goalie overall, to sign his entry-level contract after the 2024 NHL Draft. He was originally drafted out of the Lethbridge Hurricanes lineup, where he posted a 27-20-5 record and .919 Sv% last season. Meneghin seemed headed back to Lethbridge’s starting role this season, but was instead traded to the goalie-needy Medicine Hat just one game into the year. He quickly became the Tigers’ de facto starter, and continued to perform at a top-level behind an all-gas, no-breaks lineup. Meneghin finished this season with a 23-9-2 record, .901 Sv%, and three shutouts in 35 games. He shined through as an athletic and technical goalie, who leans into the advantage of a six-foot-four frame.

Meneghin will have one more chance to flash his potential before his CHL career ends. The Medicine Hat Tigers are headed to the Memorial Cup this weekend, where they face off against the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic and Moncton Wildcats. But even if his season ends on a sour note, Tampa Bay has recognized Meneghin’s title-winning year. He’ll join the Lightning’s minor-league ranks next season, and likely compete with Brandon Halverson for minutes. Halverson posted a 22-11-8 record and .915 Sv% in 43 games as Syracuse’s starter this season and is signed for one more year.

Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies To Play Game 7

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May 18: Knies took line rushes at morning skate in his usual spot alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and is thus expected to remain in the lineup for Game 7 tonight, per Johnston. Head coach Craig Berube later confirmed he’ll be in the lineup with no restrictions, per Kristen Shilton of ESPN.

May 17: The Toronto Maple Leafs could be without a top-line winger in their must-win matchup against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Matthew Knies has been dubbed questionable with an undisclosed injury, per Chris Johnston of The Athletic, after playing just 13 minutes in Friday night’s win. Knies didn’t play in the final seven minutes of Game 6 and seemed to be nursing his shoulder through his final few shifts.

Losing Knies would be a significant blow for the Maple Leafs at the worst time. The 22-year-old winger has locked in a role on Toronto’s top line and powerplay unit over the year’s second half. He’s tied for second on the team with five goals and ranks third among Leafs forwards in average ice time in 12 games this postseason.

The performance has come on the heels of a breakout year during the regular season. Knies scored 58 points, split evenly, in 78 games this season, while converting on 19.1 percent of his shots. He also ranked second among Toronto forwards with 182 hits. The performance was a significant stride forward from the 15 goals and 35 points he managed last year, and earned Knies as much as 24 minutes of ice time through points in the year.

Filling Knies’ shoes would have to be a group effort for Toronto. His absence would likely push Nicholas Robertson back into the team’s bottom-six, after he served as a healthy scratch for Game 6, despite scoring the Leafs’ sole goal in Game 5. It’d also push Max Pacioretty further up the lineup and into an upgraded powerplay role, rewarding his eight points in 10 postseason appearances. But in a must-win game, boosting two slight-frame wingers likely wouldn’t make up for Knies’ imposing physical presence.

That could spark more ice time for a bruiser like Steven Lorentz, or push Toronto to lean heavier on the hard-nosed play of a star like William Nylander. The shift in strategy and approach with those moves will make Knies’ match readiness one of the league’s top storylines as Monday’s decisive matchup looms.

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