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Maple Leafs Notes: Marner, Tavares, Berube, Game 7 Offense

May 19, 2025 at 9:03 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 22 Comments

With yet another Game 7 loss in the books, there’s little doubt that Mitch Marner’s future lies somewhere other than Toronto, writes Chris Johnston of The Athletic. After his first 100-point regular-season performance, Marner didn’t record a point in last night’s season-ending loss and saw only 18:43 of ice time, his lowest of the 2025 playoffs. He recorded eight points in six games against the Senators in the first round but had just one point and a minus-three rating in Games 4 through 7 against Florida.

As Johnston wrote following the Leafs’ Game 5 loss to put them on the brink of elimination, Marner testing the unrestricted free agent market this summer is nearly a given. In his media availability following last night’s loss, he referred to his Toronto tenure in the past tense:

“It meant everything. (They) took maybe a risky pick on a small kid from Toronto and I’ve been forever grateful to be able to wear this Maple Leaf, and be a part of some of the great legends here and be able to wear this jersey.”

Letting Marner walk will, of course, free up all of his $10.9MM cap hit to spend elsewhere on the roster. Retaining him on a long-term deal would have likely cost them an additional $2MM per season, if not more – TSN’s Darren Dreger said last night that an eight-year, $13.5MM AAV offer was on the table at some point (via Nick Barden of The Hockey News). Whether that flexibility is spent wisely will determine how quickly Toronto can execute a retool without their top scorer.

There’s more on the Leafs:

  • Former captain John Tavares, also a pending unrestricted free agent, had a much different tone last night. He made it clear in no uncertain terms that he wants to come to terms on an extension to continue his career in Toronto (via TSN), although it’ll need to be at a considerable discount from his expiring $11MM cap hit. There were some extension talks during the season, but it’s not clear how close the two sides got to an agreement. The 34-year-old managed nearly a point per game in the regular season but only had a 5-2–7 scoring line in 13 postseason games, including a four-game point drought to end the playoffs.
  • While last summer’s coaching change did help propel the Leafs out of the first round for the second time in three years, it didn’t get them to the Conference Finals for the first time in the salary cap era. “I think this team has fire,” bench boss Craig Berube told James Mirtle of The Athletic. “I can’t explain (what happened) right now, nor do I want to, (with Game) 5 and (Game) 7 at home. Obviously (there are) things that we have to look at and talk about as an organization.”
  • The Maple Leafs’ powerhouse offense cocooning, not necessarily defensive missteps, have been what’s cost them in past Game 7s. That trend continued in 2025, with Max Domi’s early third-period goal registering as Toronto’s only output for the night. As The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel points out, Toronto has now been limited to just one goal in a remarkable five straight Game 7s.

Toronto Maple Leafs Craig Berube| John Tavares| Mitch Marner

22 comments

Goaltending Questions Loom For The Penguins

May 18, 2025 at 8:46 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 6 Comments

Despite a difficult season that included two demotions to the AHL, Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry has done enough to retain the starting job heading into next year, Seth Rorabaugh of triblive.com believes.

As Rorabaugh notes, the 30-year-old Jarry posted less-than-stellar numbers on the season but showed improvement after returning from being waived and then demoted to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. All told, Jarry appeared in 36 NHL games, with a 16-12-6 record, 3.12 goals against average, and .893 save percentage. However, in his final 14 games, Jarry had an 8-4-2 record, .904 save percentage, and two shutouts. It’s also important to note that much of the criticism surrounding the Penguins has focused on their defensive play in front of their goaltenders, including the play of big contract players like Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves.

Still, Jarry’s performance over the past few seasons has been deeply disappointing for a Penguins team caught between trying to stay competitive and facing the growing need to begin a rebuild. His late-season improvements were likely enough to justify keeping him as the starter next season, but not enough for GM Kyle Dubas to generate trade interest from teams in need of goaltending who believe that Jarry is back to his all-star form.

And as Rorabaugh points out, Dubas indicated in his year-end press conference that he expects Jarry to be in an open competition with the club’s other goaltenders coming into training camp, making a potential buyout sound unlikely. Also under contract is Alex Nedeljkovic, whom the team views as a reliable NHL backup, but not a viable starting option. Like Jarry, Nedeljkovic struggled last season behind an inconsistent defense, finishing with a 14-15-5 record and a .894 save percentage.

The Penguins’ system is stocked with polished prospects, but it remains unclear whether any have the experience to handle a significant NHL workload. That group includes Sergei Murashov, who performed well in both the ECHL and AHL this past season, though it was his first year playing in North America. Joel Blomqvist also impressed at the AHL level but struggled during his first taste of NHL action. Murashov, 21, the Penguins’ fourth-round selection in the 2022 draft, posted a .913 save percentage in 16 games in the AHL after posting even better numbers in the ECHL. He also broke a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record by winning his first 10 games. While his continued development is something to closely monitor, the Russian is unlikely to push Jarry or Nedeljkovic for playing time to start the season.

All things considered, Jarry appears to have a path to retaining the starting job next season, even if it may not be the team’s ideal scenario.

Pittsburgh Penguins Alex Nedeljkovic| Sergei Murashov| Tristan Jarry

6 comments

Jets’ Morrissey Injury “Not Good,” Says Coach Scott Arniel

May 18, 2025 at 6:39 pm CDT | by Paul Griser Leave a Comment

The Winnipeg Jets not only lost Game 6 against the Dallas Stars, ending their season, but they also lost key defender Josh Morrissey to a potentially significant injury, per a TSN report.

Morrissey was injured in the second period of Game 6 after getting tangled up with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. His knee appeared to twist awkwardly, and after struggling to get to the bench, Morrissey was helped to the locker room and did not return. Following the game, head coach Scott Arniel said the injury is “not good,” but that the team would learn more upon returning to Canada. Arniel noted that Morrissey’s injury was among a series of obstacles the team had to face against the Stars.

“Again, losing Josh tonight was a big blow. Just a lot of circumstances that happened. Our leadership within our group kept grinding everybody and pushing everybody. It’s growth. It hurts a lot. But we lost to a great team,” Arniel said.

Morrissey enjoyed a fantastic regular season, recording his third consecutive campaign with over 60 points. Typically a model of durability — with at least 78 games played in each of the last four seasons — Morrissey wasn’t as fortunate in the playoffs, where he sustained two separate injuries that forced him to miss time. He was also injured in Game 7 of the first round against the St. Louis Blues after being hit by Oskar Sundqvist, which caused him to miss Game 1 against the Stars.

It remains unclear whether the injury Morrissey suffered against the Stars is related to his earlier ailment, and the full extent has yet to be revealed. If the injury proves to be serious, he’ll have the entire offseason to recover with the goal of being ready for the start of the 2025–26 campaign.

Injury| Winnipeg Jets Josh Morrissey

0 comments

Poll: Who Will Win The Western Conference Finals?

May 18, 2025 at 5:13 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 11 Comments

The Western Conference finals are set, as the defending conference champion Edmonton Oilers will take on the Dallas Stars, led by the phenomenal play of Mikko Rantanen. It’s a rematch from last season’s conference final, where the Oilers came out on top in six games.

The Oilers have been on a heater since starting round one with a 2-0 series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings. Since then, the Oilers have lost just one game, winning four in a row against the Kings before taking down the Golden Knights in five games. Unsurprisingly, the team is being led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who have combined for 33 points in 11 games. The Oilers lead all teams with 43 playoff goals, averaging nearly 4 goals per game.

The Oilers have also benefited from standout play by defenseman Evan Bouchard, who leads the team with 26:24 of ice time per game in the playoffs, while contributing 12 points and a team-high 13 takeaways. This continues Bouchard’s tremendous playoff run from last season, when he recorded 32 points and a plus-14 rating, helping the Oilers reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

An intriguing storyline for the Oilers heading into the Western Conference Final is the performance of their goaltenders. Despite the team cruising through two rounds, Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner have combined for just an .886 save percentage, which doesn’t inspire much confidence during a playoff run. At some point, it stands to reason that the Oilers may struggle to sustain their momentum with that level of goaltending. That said, Pickard has been perfect since stepping in as the starter, posting a 6-0 record and providing timely saves when needed.

The Stars are being carried by Rantanen, whose league-leading 19 playoff points have been nothing short of spectacular. However, offensive support from the rest of the roster has been inconsistent. Wyatt Johnston, who tallied 71 points during the regular season, has managed just eight in the playoffs and carries a troubling minus-13 rating. Veterans Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have struggled to make an impact, while 20-goal scorers Evgenii Dadonov and Mikael Granlund have failed to replicate their regular-season production. Despite Rantanen’s heroics, Dallas enters the Western Conference Final with a minus-four goal differential.

That also includes the exceptional goaltending of Jake Oettinger, who has posted a .919 save percentage through 13 playoff games. The 26-year-old has been a consistently reliable performer in the postseason, carrying a .913 save percentage over 60 career appearances. His steady presence in the net will be critical as Dallas prepares to face Edmonton’s high-powered offense.

So, what will win out: the Oilers’ explosive offense, or the Stars’ stout goaltending and the heroics of Rantanen? It’s a clash of strengths that could define the rematch. Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thinking!

Dallas Stars| Edmonton Oilers| Polls Calvin Pickard| Connor McDavid| Evan Bouchard| Jake Oettinger| Jamie Benn| Leon Draisaitl| Mikko Rantanen| Stuart Skinner| Tyler Seguin| Wyatt Johnston

11 comments

Snapshots: Tocchet, Stolarz, Stars

May 18, 2025 at 1:32 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 2 Comments

Rick Tocchet landed with the Flyers for his next head coaching gig as many expected, but they weren’t the only team with interest in hiring him after he departed the Canucks organization. One club linked to him was the Bruins, who have yet to fill their vacancy.

After his brief stint on the free agent market came to a close, it appears that having some long-term front office stability was a priority for Tocchet as he decided which clubs to have mutual interest with, according to RG’s James Murphy. With Boston general manager Don Sweeney entering the final season of his contract and the team in a precarious, retooling position, that was enough for Tocchet to essentially withdraw himself from consideration for the role.

“He was concerned for two reasons – Sweeney’s status and Sweeney’s track record with his head coaches,” a source told Murphy. Boston has fired Bruce Cassidy and Jim Montgomery in the last three years, both of whom have gone on to either win a Stanley Cup or vastly improve their team’s outlook in their new roles in Vegas and St. Louis.

As Murphy points out, if true, Sweeney may have spoken too soon when discussing his confidence in landing his preferred candidate during his end-of-season media availability. “I’ll call you up and let you know if somebody turns it down, the invitation to interview for one of the most historic jobs in the National Hockey League,” Sweeney said at the time.

More from around the NHL:

  • After a Game 6 shutout to keep his team alive, Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is getting the start again in tonight’s Game 7. Even if Anthony Stolarz, who was Toronto’s starter to begin the postseason but hasn’t played since leaving Game 1 with apparent concussion symptoms, was available to play, he’d likely go, but that’s not the case. Stolarz did not practice this morning and will not dress, according to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. Veteran Matt Murray, who entered Game 5 in relief of Woll for his first playoff action in five years, will again dress as Woll’s backup.
  • The Stars’ in-season moves are arguably the biggest reason they’ve advanced to the Western Conference Final in three straight years, Nicholas J. Cotsonika writes for NHL.com. Aside from Mikko Rantanen re-emerging as a superstar after his roller-coaster regular season that saw him arrive in Dallas from Colorado by way of Carolina, their depth has stepped up in considerable fashion with top defenseman Miro Heiskanen and top left-winger Jason Robertson – the latter of whom only has one point in five games – missing the majority of their postseason slate thus far.

Boston Bruins| Dallas Stars| Philadelphia Flyers| Snapshots| Toronto Maple Leafs| Uncategorized Anthony Stolarz| Rick Tocchet

2 comments

Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues Likely To Return For Game 7

May 18, 2025 at 11:26 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

Panthers winger Evan Rodrigues will be back in the lineup for tonight’s Game 7 after missing the last two contests with an undisclosed injury, relays Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. He’ll replace Jesper Boqvist, who had directly filled Rodrigues’ spot on the top line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart in his absence.

Florida’s offense is back at full strength to counter the Maple Leafs’ top unit of Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner, who are collectively coming off their best performance of the series in Game 6 while facing elimination. Knies was questionable for tonight’s do-or-die contest after getting banged up in the first period, but Toronto head coach Craig Berube confirmed this morning he’ll be in the lineup without any minutes restrictions.

Even before exiting the lineup, Rodrigues’ minutes were limited at times earlier in the series. He played a season-low 8:48 in Game 2 after a hit from behind by Toronto forward Scott Laughton that earned him a controversial embellishment call, and he left the Cats’ Game 4 win in the third period after a hard hit from Leafs defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Rodrigues has two points in four games in the series, both in Florida’s Game 3 overtime win. He combined with linemates Barkov and Reinhart to assist on the Panthers’ first two goals of the game and logged nearly 19 minutes of ice time, his most of any game so far in the playoffs.

The 31-year-old only has three assists in nine postseason outings this year but was an indispensable depth piece in the Panthers’ Cup win last year, scoring 7-8–15 in 24 games – including four goals and seven points in seven Stanley Cup Final games. The versatile top-nine forward hit 30 points for the fourth year in a row in the regular season, mostly playing a supporting role on Florida’s top two lines.

Florida Panthers Evan Rodrigues| Jesper Boqvist

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Offseason Checklist: New York Rangers

May 18, 2025 at 10:03 am CDT | by Brian La Rose 10 Comments

The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs plus those already eliminated through the first couple of rounds.  Accordingly, it’s time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months.  Next up is a look at the Rangers.

What a difference a year makes.  In 2023-24, the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy with a 114-point effort and made it to the Eastern Conference Final.  With the bulk of the core intact heading into this season, expectations were high and they were a popular Stanley Cup pick.  Instead, things went off the rails early and they never recovered.  GM Chris Drury has already made one big change with Mike Sullivan taking over behind the bench for Peter Laviolette but he has several other things to address in the coming weeks and months.

Make First-Round Pick Decision

As part of the trade to bring center J.T. Miller in for his second stint with the team, the Rangers parted with a first-round pick to get him.  While the expectation and hope was that they’d be a playoff team, Drury was able to get some light lottery protection on the selection before making the swap.  That turned out to be prudent as, of course, New York wound up missing the playoffs.

The protection on the pick was if it fell in the top 13.  While the Rangers weren’t one of the big winners in the draft lottery, their selection wound up 12th, meaning New York still has control of it.

Drury now has two options.  He can elect to keep this pick but doing so means that their 2026 pick would be moved instead without any protection on it.  Alternatively, even though this year’s pick fell into the protected range, the Rangers can still choose to convey it this year but that means handing a top-12 pick to a division rival as Pittsburgh now holds the selection after acquiring it from Vancouver soon after the Miller swap was made.

It’s not necessarily an easy call to make.  If Drury truly believes the Rangers can turn things around under Sullivan with the bulk of the core intact, it’s a question of weighing the 12th pick this year against something in the high-teens or early-20s next year.  Using that framework, keeping the pick and dealing next year’s pick would make sense.  But if there’s any uncertainty about their status as a playoff team for 2025-26, letting an unprotected pick go to a division rival would be risky.  Either way, a call on this will need to be made in the near future.

Create Cap Space

While the Rangers got rid of Barclay Goodrow last summer and former captain Jacob Trouba early in the year to create cap space for next season, that money was spent quite quickly on Miller’s addition and long-term extensions given to Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafreniere.  As a result, they enter the cap space with less than $9MM in cap space, per PuckPedia, and their RFA class (more on some of them shortly) alone will eat that up.  Accordingly, if Drury wants to add to his roster, he’s going to have to open up some cap room first.

Early in the season, the Rangers made it known that veteran winger Chris Kreider was available but in the midst of a down year that saw him miss time with injury, suitors weren’t lining up for his services.  He has two years left on a deal that carries a $6.5MM price tag and a 15-team no-trade clause that could limit New York’s options.  It’s unlikely he’d yield a high-quality return but it’s possible that there’s a move out there that could bring a player back and open up at least a bit of cap flexibility.

The other veteran who found himself in trade speculation in-season was center Mika Zibanejad.  With Miller being signed through 2030 and Vincent Trocheck through 2029, some have wondered if Zibanejad could be expendable.  But he’s also coming off a quiet year (though he still managed 20 goals and 62 points) and is signed at $8.5MM per season through 2030.  He’s also 32 with a full no-move clause which takes the threat of waivers off the table.  It’s possible that there could be some interest from teams not looking to get into the free agent market or from some who struck out on that front.  Again, assuming there’s a move he would approve, the Rangers probably wouldn’t clear the full salary but would likely get a player or two back and at least some cap relief.

On a smaller-scale front, defenseman Carson Soucy also feels like a possible candidate.  Just acquired before the trade deadline, he’s now on an expiring deal worth $3.25MM and his trade protection drops to just 12 teams in July.  If New York wants to do something else on the back end and there’s a team looking for just a short-term addition, a move could be made there as well.

Drury has shown he’s willing to be aggressive in moving players out to open up salary cap flexibility.  He’s going to have to be similarly aggressive to do so again in the weeks ahead.

Make A Decision On Miller

Let’s talk about one of those restricted free agents now, defenseman K’Andre Miller.  Two years ago, New York’s cap situation forced them to only focus on a bridge contract with the belief that, like Lafreniere, a long-term deal would await him at the end of it.

However, his output dipped last year after his breakout effort in 2022-23 and it dropped again this season to seven goals and 20 assists in 74 games although he did average a career-high-tying 21:57 per night of ice time.  He also had more than his fair share of defensive struggles.

Miller has two years of team control left, both of which are arbitration-eligible.  He’s also owed a $4.646MM qualifying offer, one that matches his salary from this season but represents a jump of nearly $800K on his cap hit.

Do they look to do another bridge deal, one that could very well be trying to get him to accept his qualifying offer?  That would help the most from a salary cap standpoint this season but would also put him a year away from UFA eligibility where if he wanted to test the market, he could simply file for arbitration next summer, take the award, and hit free agency.  Generally speaking, teams try to avoid that scenario.  A two-year bridge would cost more and walk him right to UFA eligibility so that’s probably out of the question while a three-year pact would cost even more but could be more palatable from a longer-term perspective.

Or, if Drury wants to be aggressive, he could take Miller to arbitration where he could ask for a 20% drop on the qualifying offer which means they could offer $3.72MM on a one-year deal.  That has its risks as well, however, as Miller would then be eligible to ask for a two-year award, taking him right to UFA eligibility.  Plus, such a move could sour relations between the two sides.  But Drury has been ruthless before so this option should at least be noted.

The other two alternatives would be a long-term deal, one that would probably push past $6MM per season and require a cost-cutting move.  The other one would be cutting bait altogether and trading him outright.  Given that Miller is a key cog on the back end, that doesn’t feel like a probable outcome but their hand could be forced if they their cap situation necessitates such a move.  Suffice it to say, Miller’s contract is a key domino this summer.

Sign Cuylle Quickly

With the big increases coming to the Upper Limit of the salary cap, there has been more speculation about an uptick in offer sheets.  There remains some skepticism about that notion but one thing St. Louis showed with their successful offers to Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg is that teams can be leveraged with their cap situation.  Based on the above sections, the Rangers are a team who could be leveraged on the offer sheet front.

They also have a young player exiting his entry-level deal, just like Broberg and Holloway last year.  That would be winger Will Cuylle whose sophomore year was a good one.  The 23-year-old finished sixth in the team in points after notching 20 goals and 25 assists along with a whopping 301 hits, good for a tie for third overall in the league in that category.  While it won’t directly affect negotiations, he’s also off to a solid start at the Worlds for Canada.

Power forwards are always in high demand.  A chance to get a still young one who has now shown that he can score at the NHL level is going to be appealing for teams to kick the tires on.  Speculatively, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a team go as high as the top of the second-round tier, a $4.68MM offer on a short-term deal.  Going higher on a longer-term deal (a $7.02MM offer would cost a first-round pick and a third-rounder) is also a possibility but a short-term route to try to follow what St. Louis did is the likelier outcome.

Drury needs to ensure he has some leftover cap flexibility into mid-July to try to reduce that potential leverage.  By then, Miller’s RFA situation could be settled or it could be arbitration-bound and still in flux for a little while longer.

To guard against that, it might be worth Drury prioritizing Cuylle’s RFA case and get him signed before restricted free agency opens up.  That might require them to take a leap of faith that they can free things up cap-wise later on but it might be worth that to take any chance of an offer sheet off the table.  Oftentimes, restricted free agents without arbitration rights can be delayed with other cases getting the priority.  Here, it could very well be the opposite if they have concerns about an offer sheet coming their way.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wild-Imagn Images.

New York Rangers| Offseason Checklist 2025| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

10 comments

Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies To Play Game 7

May 18, 2025 at 9:44 am CDT | by Gabriel Foley 9 Comments

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.

Injury| NHL| Newsstand| Toronto Maple Leafs Matthew Knies

9 comments

Max Comtois Receiving NHL Interest

May 18, 2025 at 8:53 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 4 Comments

A return to the NHL is on the horizon for winger Max Comtois. The 26-year-old has received “several NHL offers,” including from the Red Wings, after spending this season in Russia with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League, according to Daria Tuboltseva of RG.

The big-bodied Comtois (6’2″, 210 lbs) was a second-round pick of the Ducks in 2017. In a few years’ time, it looked like he was one of the league’s brighter young power forwards. After turning pro in 2018 and splitting his first two seasons between Anaheim and AHL San Diego, he landed a full-time role with the Ducks in the shortened 2021 season and did so with a bang. He managed to lead the league’s worst offensive club in scoring with a 16-17–33 scoring line in 55 games, averaging 15:28 per game while ranking fourth on the team in plus/minus (+3) and hits (93).

Injuries and shooting regression meant the following years haven’t been nearly as successful for Comtois. He hasn’t touched double-digit goals or the 20-point mark in a single season since and wasn’t extended a qualifying offer by the Ducks when he became a free agent in 2023. He didn’t even land an NHL contract that summer, settling for an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves and only receiving an NHL contract at the 2024 trade deadline from the Hurricanes to make him eligible for recalls down the stretch (he did play one game for Carolina). He did well enough in the minors, finishing third on the Wolves in scoring with 44 points in 65 games (and 109 PIMs).

That wasn’t enough to put him back on NHL teams’ radars, though – aside from a failed PTO with the Golden Knights – and he headed overseas for the first time in his career. It was a prudent move for the Quebec native, who emerged as a star in the Russian capital. Alongside other former NHLers like Nikita Gusev, Cédric Paquette, and Jordan Weal, Comtois posted a 21-29–50 scoring line in 62 regular-season games before leading Dynamo with 13 points in 15 Gagarin Cup Playoff games.

“I’ve always said I want to return to the NHL, and this season I did everything possible to make that happen,” Comtois said (relayed by Tuboltseva). “Hockey had become just a job for me in North America, but here, it became my passion again.”

If he lands with Detroit or any other NHL team, it’ll presumably be on a two-way deal. There will be an opening for him to capture a bottom-six role with the Wings, with veterans Tyler Motte and Craig Smith headed for unrestricted free agency this summer.

Detroit Red Wings| KHL Max Comtois

4 comments

Pacific Notes: Golden Knights, Canucks, Sharks

May 17, 2025 at 8:05 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 6 Comments

The Golden Knights’ 2025 postseason came to a swift end in the second round at the hands of the Oilers. They were without winger Brandon Saad for most of that series and also had Mark Stone and Brayden McNabb carry injury designations at times, the former missing the series-clinching Game 5.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters today that none of them will require offseason surgery and there are no injury concerns entering 2025-26 among players signed through next year, per SinBin.vegas. Saad would have been out for the longest period of time had Vegas avoided elimination, while McNabb’s upper-body injury was the most significant of the bunch. Stone and McNabb will be back next year – the latter signed an extension mid-season – but Saad may have played his last game as a Knight after signing a one-year, $1.5MM contract in Vegas in January.

As for McNabb, the 34-year-old will get some needed recovery time after arguably the best season of his 13-year career. The shutdown defender recorded 20 points and played in all 82 games for the third straight season, leading the team and finishing second in the league with a +42 rating. He led Vegas with 167 blocks and led Knights defensemen with 131 hits.

More from the Pacific Division:

  • The Canucks have $16.72MM in cap space to burn this summer and no notable free agents to retain outside of forwards Brock Boeser and Pius Suter, both of whom are unrestricted. The former appears set on testing the market despite Vancouver’s desire to talk extension, meaning Vancouver will have a decent amount of flexibility to improve their stagnant offense this offseason. Speaking on Canucks Central today, president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford told Dan Riccio and Satiar Shah that “we’re going to be in the free agent market if we still have cap space at that time – but we may get our work done before then.” Reading between the tea leaves – expect some trade rumors from Vancouver this summer.
  • The Sharks have called the SAP Center home since their third year of existence in 1993-94, and that won’t change anytime soon. They’re close to finalizing a 25-year lease extension with the City of San Jose that will keep them at the downtown arena through 2050, per Curtis Pashelka and Devan Patel of The Mercury News. Local government will be putting funds toward renovating the arena, the fifth-oldest in the league, as part of the contract.

San Jose Sharks| Vancouver Canucks| Vegas Golden Knights Brandon Saad| Brayden McNabb| Mark Stone

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