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Five Key Stories: 3/24/25 – 3/30/25

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The final full week in March is in the books and it was an eventful one around the NHL with a pair of big events drawing plenty of attention.  Those are among the headlines in our key stories.

Done For The Year: This hasn’t been a great year for Wild blueliner David Jiricek.  Mired in a limited role in Columbus, he was acquired by Minnesota at the end of November and the thought was that he’d be up with the big club after that.  Instead, he wound up being a frequent scratch with the Wild sending him down recently to get some more playing time.  However, those plans are out the window as the 21-year-old suffered a lacerated spleen upon his return, ending his season prematurely.  He finished up the year with just a dozen NHL appearances split between Columbus and Minnesota while he struggled in Iowa, notching just seven assists in 27 games with them.  All in all, a tough finish to a tough season for the prospect.

Back In The Lineup: The Golden Knights welcomed back a key part of their back end when they activated defenseman Shea Theodore off LTIR.  Theodore was expected to be a key player for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off but his tournament action was short-lived as he suffered an arm injury in the opener, causing him to miss more than a month of games.  Despite missing 15 games this season, Theodore still sits in the top ten for points by a defenseman, tallying seven goals and 44 assists through 58 appearances while logging nearly 22 minutes a night.  Returning now gives him plenty of time to get back into top form heading into the playoffs.

Big Change In Philadelphia: The Flyers were in the midst of their worst stretch of the season, losing 11 of 12 games since early March with some frustration happening behind the scenes as well.  That resulted in GM Daniel Briere electing to make a coaching change, dismissing John Tortorella while elevating associate coach Brad Shaw to the interim head coaching role for the rest of the season.  Tortorella was in his 23rd season running an NHL bench and his third with Philadelphia; he had one year left on his contract.  Teams looking for an experienced head coach this spring may look his way or Tortorella might opt to call it a career.  Meanwhile, this is Shaw’s second time stewarding an NHL team as he previously served as an interim head coach for 40 games with the Islanders back in 2005-06 when he took over for Steve Stirling.

First Contracts For First Rounders: With college seasons coming to an end, several prominent first-round prospects have turned pro, inking deals that start this year, allowing them to play for their respective clubs down the stretch.  The Blues got a deal done with 2022 first-rounder (20th overall) Jimmy Snuggerud, signing him away from the University of Minnesota.  That same school lost three other first-rounders, as Matthew Wood (15th overall in 2023) signed with Nashville and Sam Rinzel (25th overall in 2022) inked a deal with Chicago.  Rinzel wasn’t the only Blackhawks prospect to sign, as they also signed Oliver Moore (19th overall in 2023).  Suffice it to say, the Golden Gophers won’t be anywhere near as strong on paper next season.  All four players have either already made their NHL debuts or will do so in the near future.

Staying In Washington: One of the more prominent pending unrestricted free agents is off the market early after the Capitals signed defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year, $72MM contract extension.  The $9MM AAV nearly doubles the $4.6MM cap charge he has been playing on since the 2019-20 campaign, one that has become quite a bargain.  The 26-year-old has fit in quite well after being acquired from Ottawa last summer as Chychrun already has new career-highs in goals (18) and points (44) while logging just shy of 21 minutes a night of playing time.  With John Carlson already 35 and likely nearing the finish line on his career, Chychrun appears to be well-positioned to move into the top role when the veteran hangs up his skates.

Photo courtesy of James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images.

2025 College Free Agency Preview: Forwards

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With the NCAA tournament in full force, we’ve seen an influx of collegiate signings in recent days which is likely to continue over the next couple of weeks.  Generally speaking, college free agents are rarely coming in as impact prospects with high NHL ceilings but it’s an opportunity for teams to add some depth pieces that are further along in their development compared to players coming out of major junior.

We’re changing things up a bit in our annual preview this time around.  Earlier this week, Gabriel Foley took a closer look at the most prominent players from this year’s class.  Meanwhile, we’ll break down the rest of the class in two separate columns, one for forwards and one for goaltenders and defensemen.  We’ll start with the forwards.

As always, note that not all of these players will sign entry-level contracts as some will ultimately elect to return to college for another season (or more) while quite a few others not on this list will sign NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks.

Dalton Bancroft (Cornell)

A player who was on this list last year, Bancroft’s stock has dipped a bit this season after a much-improved sophomore season.  Even so, he finished second on the Big Red in scoring while setting a new career-best in goals with 15.  Bancroft’s size and skill set profile him as a physical fourth liner and with him having some power play success in the past, he should have some interest from teams looking to add some extra depth.

Josh Eernisse (Michigan)

It’s believed Eernisse had some NHL interest last year but he opted to return to the Wolverines with the hope that he could land a bigger role and have a better season.  That didn’t happen as he wound up scoring just once in 36 games.  Nonetheless, his size, physicality, and speed will make him appealing to teams looking to add a fourth-line energy player.  That said, coming off a down year, he might be better off going back for his senior season and trying to boost his stock.

Christian Fitzgerald (Wisconsin)

Like Eernisse, Fitzgerald transferred to a more prominent program after his freshman year and has seen his production decline since then.  Nonetheless, a 16-goal showing two years ago should have him on the radar for some teams but at this point, an AHL deal might be all he could land, making him a realistic candidate to return to the Badgers next season.

T.J. Hughes (Michigan)

Hughes has been a prominent scorer over his three years with the Wolverines, averaging more than a point per game over that stretch.  Even with a bit of a quieter effort this season, he still led Michigan in scoring with 38 points in 36 games.  Hughes is a top-six player but can he be that in the NHL?  There might be some hesitance on that one but even if he’s viewed as a possible impactful AHL piece, that should generate some strong interest.

Carter King (Denver)

The Flames are among the teams known to be interested in King who is one of the top-scoring players in this year’s free agent class.  He played a prominent role last season en route to the NCAA championship and he’s playing a bigger one this season.  King is a bit undersized and is already 23 but as a two-way forward – he’s a nominee for NCHC Defensive Player of the Year – he can fit in enough roles that he should have strong interest.

Joey Larson (Michigan State)

It was a bit of a quieter year for Larson compared to last season where his performance landed him a bit of NHL interest and a spot on this list.  Still, he often played with new Flyers prospect Karsen Dorwart which means he has been seen by plenty of scouts.  Larson has been at NHL development camps for the last three seasons and should be at a fourth but this time as a full-fledged NHL prospect.

Josh Nadeau (Maine)

Not surprisingly, the departure of his brother Bradly to Carolina hurt Nadeau’s production this season after being a high-scoring freshman in 2023-24.  Still, the 21-year-old finished second on the team in assists and third in points which will have him on the radar.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see him return for his junior year to see if he can boost his stock but there should be some teams kicking the tires at least.

Rhett Pitlick (Minnesota State Mankato)

The former Canadiens prospect became a free agent last summer when he briefly entered free agency before turning to the transfer portal.  He set new personal bests in assists (27) and points (40) this season, eclipsing the point-per-game mark for the first time.  Will that be enough to earn an NHL deal or will he have to settle for an AHL pact?  That’s what we’ll find out in the coming weeks.

Ondrej Psenicka (Cornell)

Psenicka drew some NHL interest after a strong 21-point freshman season in 2021-22.  However, his output never improved much over the past three seasons with his best year being this season, a 22-point showing.  But at 6’6, he can be a grinding winger on the boards and could fit on a fourth line down the road, even with limited upside.  Now that his eligibility is exhausted, he’ll be signing somewhere but will it be an NHL or an AHL deal?

Harrison Scott (Maine)

While Nadeau saw his numbers drop following the departure of his brother, his teammate in Scott saw his improve in his senior year, leading the Black Bears in scoring with 35 points in 38 games.  Already 24, there may not be a ton of developmental runway left but he fits the profile of a bottom-six energy forward who has shown a bit of scoring touch in his two seasons at Maine.

Jack Stockfish (Holy Cross)

He’s 6’4 and a right-shot center, both attributes that will catch the attention of scouts.  On top of that, Stockfish has had two solid college seasons so far, including a 15-goal, 27-point effort this year.  At 22, he’s one of the younger players on this list and while he has two years of eligibility left, this might be the right time to make the jump if some NHL entry-level offers present themselves.

Riley Thompson (Ohio State)

Thompson is one of the more intriguing players out of this group.  He transferred from Alaska-Anchorage for this season, a move that worked out well as he finished second on the Buckeyes in scoring with 17 goals and 16 assists.  He’s also a 6’4 center which will intrigue several teams.  It appears that there’s enough interest for him to land an NHL deal now but would he be better suited going back for another year to hone his game and then look to turn pro with an even stronger market?

Zach Urdahl (Nebraska-Omaha)

After two quiet years at Wisconsin, Urdahl reached the double-digit goal mark in each of the last two seasons while finishing fourth on the team in scoring.  His speed will help attract some attention, making him another player who profiles as a bottom-six piece if all goes well.  With his eligibility now exhausted, someone will be signing him in the coming weeks.

Lightning Sign Connor Kurth

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A breakout season at the University of Minnesota has landed Connor Kurth his first professional contract.  The Lightning announced that they’ve signed the forward to a two-year, entry-level deal that begins next season; financial terms were not disclosed.

The 21-year-old was selected in the sixth round (192nd overall) back in 2022 out of USHL Dubuque.  With them, Kurth put up 50 goals and 72 assists in 114 games over two seasons but offensive production was much harder to come by when he made the jump to the college level.

Over his first two seasons with the Golden Gophers, Kurth picked up 14 goals combined, seven in each campaign.  But this year was by far his best as he notched 18 goals along with 21 assists in 40 games, putting him in a tie for second in team scoring with Nashville first-rounder Matthew Wood, who signed his entry-level deal on Saturday.  That performance was good enough to secure a contract and forego his final season of eligibility.

Even though his contract doesn’t start until 2025-26, Kurth will get a taste of the pros this season as he has signed a tryout deal with AHL Syracuse and will be eligible to suit up for them down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Lightning Acquire And Sign Lucas Mercuri

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Earlier this month, Lucas Mercuri informed the Hurricanes that he wouldn’t be signing with them.  It didn’t take Carolina long to find a team that the center was amenable to joining, as the Lightning announced that they acquired the prospect for a 2025 sixth-round pick and signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract.  Financial terms of the deal, which begins next season, were not disclosed.

The 23-year-old was a sixth-round pick by the Hurricanes back in 2020, going 159th overall.  In essence, they’re going to land a pick that’s somewhat close to what they originally used on him which isn’t the worst return for a player who doesn’t want to sign with a team.  It wasn’t disclosed why Mercuri didn’t want to sign with Carolina.

Mercuri just wrapped up his college career with UMass, saving his best season for last.  In 40 games for the Minutemen this season, he notched 10 goals and 21 assists, both personal bests while finishing fifth on the team in scoring.  Over his four-year career with them, he recorded 28 goals and 57 assists in 148 games.

While Mercuri’s contract won’t start until next season, he will be able to get a head start on his professional career.  As part of the acquisition announcement, the Lightning revealed that he has signed a tryout deal with AHL Syracuse and will play with them for the rest of the season.

West Notes: Seguin, Ralph, Hoskin

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Dallas Stars’ forward Tyler Seguin returned to practice yesterday prior to their 5-1 win against Seattle and head coach Peter DeBoer noted the star “looks good,” per an NHL release.

DeBoer added that the next step in the process is simply for Seguin to get his legs and cardio back into game shape. This could also lead to a potential conditioning assignment in the AHL, but DeBoer’s quotes serve a positive development in the status of one of the team’s best players. Seguin’s season was derailed by a left hip injury that occurred in December and required two surgeries. Prior to the injury, the 33-year-old recorded 9 goals and 20 points and a plus-14 rating in 19 games.

While he isn’t expected to return until at least mid-April, Seguin’s eventual return should support Dallas’ Stanley Cup aspirations, especially with the additions of Mikael Granlund and Mikko Rantanen. Seguin, who remains on long term injured reserve, still has two years remaining on his deal with a $9.85MM cap hit. He has recorded 808 points in 988 career games.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference:

  • Blues’ 2024 second round selection Colin Ralph has entered the transfer portal, ending his time at St. Cloud State University. The 6’5, 225-pound defender spent one season at St. Cloud before opting to enter the portal. In 35 games this season, Ralph, 19, recorded eight points and minus-four rating. Touted for his strong defensive play and size, Ralph will look for a new opportunity in the NCAA. He is among a plethora of defensive prospects in the Blues organization, including Quinton Burns and Matthew Mayich (both currently in the OHL), Lukas Fischer, Hunter Skinner and Samuel Johannesson (all currently in the AHL), and William McIssac (WHL).
  • Flames prospect Trevor Hoskin has also entered the portal, per Grand Folks Hearld reporter Brad Elliott Schlossman. The 20-year-old forward spent one season at Niagara University and recorded 12 goals and 39 points in 36 games. Despite tying for first in points this season for the Purple Eagles, Hoskin will look for another collegiate opportunity. In three seasons in the OJHL, he recorded 190 points, including 100 points in his last season. The 6’1, 175 pounder was Calgary’s 2024 fourth round selection.

Colton Sissons Sustains Injury, Potentially Opening Door For Matthew Wood

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Nashville Predators’ forward Colton Sissons sustained what appeared to be a serious leg injury in last night’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and the injury could result in a lengthy absence, per Alex Daughtery of the Nashville Tennessean.

With less than five minutes left in the first period, Sissons was hit by Vegas forward Brett Howden and landed hard on his left leg. He needed to be helped off the ice and was unable to put weight on his leg. If leaving the arena in crutches wasn’t a big enough indicator, post-game comments made by teammates and coaches led to speculation surrounding the serious nature of the injury. As an example, defenseman Nick Blankenburg asked for everyone to keep Sissons “in their prayers,” while Head coach Andrew Brunette added that Sissons is a “heart and soul guy” and that the team was a little “shocked” by the injury, per team reporter Brooks Bratten.

The 31-year-old Sissons has spent his entire career in Nashville and has experienced the highs and lows of the franchise along the way. This includes the team’s run to the Stanley Cup finals during the 2016-17 season (where Sissons posted 12 points in 22 games), as well as the struggles of this season, where the team has already been eliminated from post-season contention. On the year, Sissons has posted 21 points and a minus-12 in 72 games.

While Sissons’ injury may result in the end of his season, Predators reporter Nick Kieser wonders if his misfortune could result in an early opportunity for recently signed Matthew Wood. The 20-year-old, the 15th overall selection in the 2023 draft, was signed to a three-year, entry-level deal that was announced just yesterday by GM Barry Trotz. Wood played at the University of Minnesota and just wrapped up his junior season that saw him record 17 goals and 39 points in 39 games. Wood was already set to report to the Predators in the coming days, but with Sissons on the shelf, he may see his first NHL action sooner than anticipated.

Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek Full Participants At Practice

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Minnesota Wild forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek were both full participants in practice today, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic. While their participation doesn’t necessarily mean the two stars are close to a return, their continued progress should serve as an encouraging sign for their playoff availability. The two returned to skating prior to practice just three days ago.

Kaprizov continues to work his way back from what is believed to have been groin surgery, while Eriksson Ek has been out since late February with a lower body injury. While the Wild started the season off hot and find themselves in the first wild card spot in the west, their offense has been inconsistent for much of the year. They are currently the only team in a playoff spot with a negative goal differential (202 goals for, 211 goals against). Their 202 goals on the season are also eighth lowest league-wide. During their absences, players like Matt Boldy, Frédérick Gaudreau, Marco Rossi, and Mats Zuccarello have shouldered the load offensively. However, as Russo also noted, Zuccarello left practice early today, with Kaprizov taking his spot on the top line. No reason for his departure was given.

Kaprizov had be dealing with lingering injury concerns throughout the season before his latest absence but was still making a massive impact for the Wild on the scoresheet. He has 23 goals and 52 points in just 37 games on the season. A return to form for the playoffs could provide the type of spark the Wild’s offense would need for a potential deep run. In his short career, the 27-year-old has shown he can make an impact in the playoffs with 10 goals in 17 career contests.

Veteran Eriksson Ek’s return would give the Wild their top defensive forward back. Eriksson Ek, who has finished top 10 in Selke voting each of the past four years, also provides a great depth scoring option. Despite contributing just 24 points in 42 games on the season, he is coming off of the best season of his career, posting his first career 30-goal season along with a career-high 64 points last season.

As Russo notes, both players are expected to join the team for their three-game road trip, but neither are expected to play this week. However, Kaprizov is expected to meet with his surgeon, and clearance from his medical staff could be the final hurdle to clear towards a return to the lineup.

Eriksson Ek is on standard IR, while Kaprizov is on LTIR. If Minnesota were to have Kaprizov available before the end of the regular season, they’d need to clear roughly $550K in cap space to activate him.

Utah Activates Robert Bortuzzo, Olli Määttä Game-Time Decision

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The Utah Hockey Club has activated defenseman Robert Bortuzzo off of injured reserve. Bortuzzo sustained a lower-body injury in December 10th’s game against the Minnesota Wild. He returned for eight minutes of ice time in Utah’s January 2nd win over Calgary, but wasn’t back to full health and had to step back out of the lineup. Bortuzzo missed 44 games of action in total with this injury and will now return with just nine games left in Utah’s season.

Bortuzzo played in 14 games before falling to injury. He recorded two assists, 22 penalty minutes, and a minus-two, while averaging just 11 minutes of ice time. After years of a dwindling role, Bortuzzo has fallen firmly into the role of seventh defenseman after signing a one-year, two-way, league-minimum contract with Utah this summer. The end of the season will be his chance to finally affirm that contract, though the signs of retirement could be shining for the 36-year-old defender.

If Bortuzzo does hang up his skates at the end of the year, he’ll leave behind a strong 14-year career in the NHL. His career began with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2011-12 season, but he spent the vast majority of it with the St. Louis Blues after a trade in the 2014-15 season swapped him for fellow veteran defender Ian Cole. Bortuzzo went on to record 424 games with the Blues – routinely serving in a depth role and never managing more than 13 points in a single season. Still, his gritty physicality and veteran depth helped support St. Louis to a Stanley Cup in 2019 – and made him a valuable addition for the injury-riddled New York Islanders blue-line last season.

Bortuzzo could quickly find his way back into Utah’s lineup on Sunday, with vet Olli Määttä designated as a game-time decision for the matchup per Cole Bagley of KSL Sports. Määttä left Utah’s Friday game early with a lower-body injury. If he can’t go, the Hockey Club will be pushed to decide between Bortuzzo and current extra defender Nick DeSimone. Määttä has been an oft-used member of Utah’s blue-line. He’s averaging a career-high 20 minutes of ice time in Salt Lake City and has so far scored 15 points in 63 games. But Määttä is also in the rut of a cold-streak, with no scoring and a minus-three over his last nine games. A spot absence could be a chance for Määttä to make sure the mental and physical are both on the right track – as he prepares to serve a confident top-four role while Utah clings on to their playoff hopes.

Ryan Kirwan Signs Two-Year Deal With Marlies

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The Toronto organizations got a little deeper Saturday evening, when the AHL’s Toronto Marlies agreed to a two-year contract with Arizona State University senior Ryan Kirwan. The deal will officially begin in the 2025-26 season, with Kirwan finishing out this year on a professional try-out with the Marlies.

Kirwan was the top scorer for the Sun Devils this season, leading the team with 26 goals and 39 points in 37 games. It was a true breakout performance for the six-foot-two, 200-pound winger who had spent his last three seasons at Penn State University. He couldn’t find the same scoring groove at with the Nittay Lions – twice netting 13 goals and 26 points in 36 games; split by one season of just 17 points in 28 games. He was in need of a change of scenery, and found a proper fit with the ever-burgeoning Arizona State.

Kirwan was a top youth hockey prospect. He made the Avon Old Farms prep roster directly out of AA in his 15U season, and managed a dazzling 101 points in 71 games with Little Caesers in his 16U campaign. Those performances earned him a first-round selection in the 2018 USHL Futures Draft. He was immediately impactful in the junior league – netting 25 goals and 41 points in 50 games as a rookie, and 21 goals and 37 points in year two. Kirwan benefited from a physical profile that was a step more mature than his peers – and it’s likely that difference that made college a challenging scene. But he got his feet under him this season – while holding on to strong goal-scoring throughout. Kirwan will bring a stalky build, glued-on puck control, and a hard shot to the Marlies lineup starting in April.

West Notes: Draisaitl, Heiskanen, Trouba, Stephenson, Sissons

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A familiar face will return for the ’Battle of Alberta’ tonight. According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, the Edmonton Oilers will welcome back superstar Leon Draisaitl after he missed he last four games with an undisclosed injury.

His presence in the Oilers’ lineup can’t be understated. Draisaitl is having an MVP-caliber season, leading Edmonton in scoring with 49 goals and 101 points in 68 games. Most notably, Draisaitl leads the entire NHL in goals, even strength goals (34), and game-winning goals (10).

The team has faced challenges without him and his teammate, Connor McDavid. The Oilers own a 1-2-1 record in the four games without the duo, averaging 3.00 GF/G while allowing a ghastly 4.50 GA/G to their opponents. Edmonton is battling with the Los Angeles Kings in the standings for the second spot in the Pacific Division, and they’ll want to avoid hobbling into the playoffs due to injuries.

Other notes from the Western Conference:

  • In a positive update for the Dallas Stars, independent writer Robert Tiffin reported earlier that defenseman Miro Heiskanen had officially resumed skating. Recent reporting indicated that Dallas wasn’t expecting Heiskanen back for their first-round matchup in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. However, with more than three weeks remaining in the regular season, Heiskanen’s return to skating may mean he’ll return earlier than expected from his knee surgery.
  • According to Derek Lee of The Hockey News, the Anaheim Ducks avoided a worst-case scenario with defenseman Jacob Trouba. Trouba suffered a scary injury in last night’s contest against the New York Rangers when he ran into former teammate Igor Shesterkin’s stick, causing Trouba to crash into the boards at a high velocity. Despite not joining the team for practice today, Trouba’s recovery timeline is only considered day-to-day, and he could feature for Anaheim in their upcoming contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • Chandler Stephenson may return to the Seattle Kraken tonight after missing three games due to a lower-body injury. Earlier today, Seattle’s broadcast analyst Alison Lukan reported that Stephenson has been upgraded to a game-time decision. His return would be significant for the Kraken, as he is the team’s second-leading scorer with 11 goals and 48 points in 69 games.
  • Lastly, the Nashville Predators lost a bottom-six forward partway through tonight’s loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. Nashville shared that forward Colton Sissons wouldn’t return to tonight’s action due to a lower-body injury. Further information should come out tomorrow regarding Sissons’ status moving forward. He’s only missed one of Nashville’s 73 games this season.

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