NHL Atlantic Division Auston Matthews Steven Stamkos Patrice Bergeron

Boston Bruins

How the Bruins Stack Up in the Atlantic Division After Free Agency
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The dust has finally settled and the dog days of summer are in full swing. With free agent frenzy wrapped up and the market being thinned out, the pieces for each team has fallen into place.  There have been teams deemed offseason winners. Some that come to mind are the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators. Another team that made waves is the Boston Bruins. They managed to sign Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, which bolstered the depth at center and on defense. Also, the team traded goalie Linus Ullmark and receiver Joonas Korpisalo and a first-round draft pick. The…

Bruins’ Marchand on Cusp of Historic 1,000-Point Milestone
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The Boston Bruins are an Original Six franchise with four players in the 1,000-point club, three of them former captains, including Ray Bourque (1,506), Johnny Bucyk (1,436), Patrice Bergeron (1,294), and Phil Esposito (1,012). As of 2024, only Bergeron played his entire career in black and gold, giving him a higher distinction over the other Hockey Hall of Famers. However, in 2024-25, suppose current captain Brad Marchand can maintain the 1.11 points-per-game average he has over the past eight seasons. In that case, he’s got a chance to become the fifth member in Bruins history to collect 1,000 points, making…

Today in Hockey History: July 24
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On this date, the Los Angeles Kings brought back one of the great players in their franchise’s history for the third time. Also, a dramatic coaching move was finally made official. Plus, some talented Stanley Cup winners are celebrating birthdays today. Let’s begin our daily trip back in time to relive all the best memories July 24 has given us. Robitaille Returns to Hollywood…Again The Kings signed free-agent forward Luc Robitaille on July 24, 2003. This marked the third time Robitaille wore a Kings sweater. He was originally one of the best draft picks in franchise history when he was…

Buffalo Sabres 

Sabres Sign Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to 5-Year Deal
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The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have signed goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a five-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $4.75 million. Luukkonen took a big step in his development last season and took over as the starting goaltender for the Sabres. After some uncertainty about his position with the club, Luukkonen emerged as their best option and played 54 games for the club last season. Luukkonen’s Break-Out Year At the beginning of the 2023-24 season, the expectation was that Luukkonen would be the third-string goaltender for the club as they had Devon Levi and Eric Comrie…

Buffalo Sabres’ Worst Trades Ever
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Last week we looked at some of the best trades the Buffalo Sabres have made in their history, and while the list was impressive, it raises the question – what about the ones that didn’t go so well? After all, every team has made bad trades in its history, it’s simply an inevitable part of sports. Unfortunately for the Sabres, they have even more examples in that category. Whether the deal aged poorly or looked troublesome from the outset, Buffalo has made some truly puzzling transactions throughout its 52-plus-year history. Keeping this list brief was difficult. Let’s go back in…

3 Buffalo Sabres That Need to Step up in 2024-25
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Now that free agent frenzy and the NHL Draft have come and gone, there is nothing left but to look to the season ahead. Though we are in the dog days of summer, the start of training camp will be here before we know it. Related: 9 NHL Teams That Missed in Free Agency For the Buffalo Sabres, the NHL Draft and free agency provided disappointment when the fan base had been looking for an impact. The ink has dried, and we have a fair idea of what to expect out of the lineup for the coming season under new/old…

Detroit Red Wings

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Red Wings, Flyers
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In today’s NHL rumors rundown, another rumored candidate for the GM position in Edmonton has emerged. But, is that candidate being promoted by another team? Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings are looking to get deals done for both Lucas Raymond and Mortiz Seider. Finally, Matvei Michkov showed up in Philadelphia today and the Flyers shared his arrival on social media. Jason Botterill a GM Candidate in Edmonton? David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cited a conversation between Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff and Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer, noting that the Edmonton Oilers might have sought permission from the Seattle…

Today in Hockey History: July 23
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A pair of “Original ”6 National Hockey League rivals made a one-sided trade on this date. Also, July 23 saw a long-time executive take a new job, the face of a franchise get traded to a new team and a rare NHL Entry Draft take place. The THW time machine has plenty of fuel to take us back through the decades to relive all the memories. Blackhawks Acquire Two Legends The Detroit Red Wings made a deal on July 23, 1957, that they went on to regret. They traded forward Ted Lindsay and goaltender Glenn Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks…

Today in Hockey History: July 22
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This date in National Hockey League history has not been the most eventful by any means, but it has still provided some interesting tidbits. One veteran player got traded twice on the same day, Matthew Tkachuk got dealt to the Florida Panthers, and the birth of a Hall of Fame defenseman are three of the biggest July 22 memories. Sillinger’s Busy Day July 22, 2003, is a day that Mike Sillinger will never forget as he was a member of three different teams within a span of a couple of hours. The veteran started the day on the Columbus Blue…

Florida Panthers

Today in Hockey History: July 22
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This date in National Hockey League history has not been the most eventful by any means, but it has still provided some interesting tidbits. One veteran player got traded twice on the same day, Matthew Tkachuk got dealt to the Florida Panthers, and the birth of a Hall of Fame defenseman are three of the biggest July 22 memories. Sillinger’s Busy Day July 22, 2003, is a day that Mike Sillinger will never forget as he was a member of three different teams within a span of a couple of hours. The veteran started the day on the Columbus Blue…

Top Contenders for 2025 Calder Trophy
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If you thought the race for the Calder Trophy was a fun one last season, the battle for the award in 2024-25 could be even better. With numerous of the NHL’s best prospects entering the league, who are the top contenders to be crowned as the best rookie this season? In order to be eligible for the award, the guidelines are that “A player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. Beginning in 1990-91, a player must…

Panthers Fill Spot With Adam Boqvist Signing
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The Florida Panthers have entered the 2024 offseason as Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history. They look to build the roster back up to run it back this season for a chance to retain their title. As with most free agency periods, there were Panthers pieces that were lost in the process. Specifically on defense, they have parted ways with Brandon Montour, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and a prospect in Lucas Carlsson. On the bright side, they made moves to make up for the losses. This includes bringing in Nate Schmidt and Tomas Nosek. But one move that…

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Could Benefit From New KHL Rules and Get Demidov Early
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The Montreal Canadiens waited almost a year to draft the player they wanted. Luckily, Ivan Demiodov was available at the fifth overall position in this year’s draft, or all the waiting would’ve been for naught. There was mass excitement from Canadiens’ management and the fans, as Demidov represents the potential for the Habs to have a top-notch scorer shortly. Canadiens’ Demidov Still Has a Year Left on His Contract Canadiens’ general manager (GM) Kent Hughes couldn’t wait to get to the podium and have Quebec icon Celine Dion announce the fifth overall selection. Once they realized Demidov was there, the…

Canadiens Can’t Guarantee Barre-Boulet 2024-25 Roster Spot
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No one knows what went on exactly in negotiations between the Montreal Canadiens and recent-signee Alex Barre-Boulet. Maybe general manager Kent Hughes opened the door for the ex-member of the Tampa Bay Lightning to make the Habs roster out of training camp for 2024-25, maybe not. If Hughes did though, he’s got a lot more room to make this offseason. No Room for Barre-Boulet The Canadiens simply don’t have room up front as their roster currently stands for an undersized 5-foot-10 (178 pounds) 27-year-old, with only 68 games of NHL experience (294 in the American Hockey League). Regardless of where he…

Ottawa Senators

Senators’ Goaltending Depth After Free Agency
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Now that we have looked at the depth chart for the left-wing, right-wing, center, and defense for the Ottawa Senators, it is time to move to the crease and look at the goaltending. Now that the draft, the first wave of free agency, and the development camp are over, the depth chart is taking shape and we have an idea of what the roster will look like. Related: Senators Have Been a Goaltending Carousel Since Anderson With the goaltending, it has been the biggest issue in Ottawa throughout the duration of the rebuild. With a significant amount of turnover, failed projects, and…

Senators News & Rumors: Tkachuk Denies Trade Rumors & More
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With speculation surrounding a Brady Tkachuk trade request from multiple sources, they have all been shut down by Steve Staios, and now Tkachuk himself says that there is he is committed to bringing a Stanley Cup to Ottawa. In the latest episode of the Locked On Senators Podcast, Ross Levitan and Brandon Piller were joined by the Senators’ captain who talked about his offseason, his personal and team expectations, and shutting down the rumors of the aforementioned trade request. Tkachuk Excited About New Additions Tkachuk talked about the fact that bringing in some players with playoff experience who can help…

Jake Chiasson: Everything to Know About Senators’ New Acquisition
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The Ottawa Senators have been active this offseason, trying to become contenders sooner rather than later. They recently traded for forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Roby Jarventie and a fourth-round pick. While this deal doesn’t move the needle for either team to become champions, it does offer each player a fresh start as they seemed to have fallen out of favour with their respective teams. While the Senators will be looking to continue their rebuild, bolstering their prospect pool with two new players is a smart move considering it seemed as though…

Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Brayden Point’s Elite Shooting Percentage Is Sustainable
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Shooting percentage (SH%) is one of the most fascinating statistics in the NHL. The rate is dividing the shots on goal that go in the net by the total shots on goal. Often, shooting percentage helps predict future goal-scoring outcomes. Plus, it measures things like luck or shooting talent. When a player consistently posts a high shooting percentage, this typically means they are a talented shooter not driven by luck. However, players who experience outlier seasons in their shooting percentage often have a career year, then regress to the mean the following season. Related: Lightning Should Bring Back Tyler Johnson…

4 Things Patrick Roy Can Learn From Jon Cooper & Mike Sullivan
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Patrick Roy’s head coaching tenure with the New York Islanders is filled with promise and upside. He took over halfway through the 2023-24 season and willed the team to the playoffs by leading them to a 20-12-5 record down the stretch. Now, the hope is that Roy, with a full offseason to prepare, can help the Islanders take a big step forward and finish near the top of the Eastern Conference in 2024-25. Related: Ranking Patrick Roy Among NHL’s 2023-24 Midseason Coach Hirings He’s not like other coaches as he brings an energy and passion behind the bench unmatched by…

Lightning Should Bring Back Tyler Johnson
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This offseason got off to a tough start for Tampa Bay Lightning fans as they watched the face of the franchise, Steven Stamkos, sign with the Nashville Predators and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev traded to Utah. They did have a chance to get excited when defenseman Ryan McDonagh was reacquired back in May. Perhaps another reunion could help boost the morale further. A potential reunion that could also help the Lightning would be bringing back forward Tyler Johnson. It’s clear he’s not staying in Chicago. Toward the end of the season, he spoke of his time there, and it wasn’t flattering….

Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Should Keep Murray as Third Goaltender
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It’s evident that the goaltending duo in the crease for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season is going to be Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Woll received an extension and Stolarz was brought in for more reassurance, stability and the potential to steal the starter role. Both goaltenders are going to form a tandem that could potentially be tough to beat.  However, there’s still one more thing to consider when looking at the goaltending position for the 2024-25 season. The return of veteran goaltender Matt Murray, who signed a one-year, $875,000 deal.  Murray is definitely going to be battling to…

Flames & Maple Leafs Trade History Revisited
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The Calgary Flames joined the NHL as the Atlanta Flames in 1972 before moving to Alberta for the start of the 1980 season, becoming the seventh team located north of the border. Over in Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs were the only team in the province. They had a built-in rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens from Quebec since both franchises were part of the Original Six era and professional hockey never expanded to the west until the 1960s. Related: Flames & Canadiens Trade History Revisited Calgary and Toronto have never faced each other in the playoffs or had memorable regular-season…

3 Players the Maple Leafs Could Target on a PTO
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Well, it’s official – we have entered the dog days of summer. At this time of year, the sole genuine hockey news focuses on the business aspects of the sport, while NHL insiders are enjoying their well-earned break. For the Toronto Maple Leafs fan, most of us turn to the Toronto Blue Jays, but unfortunately, they are doing awful this season, so now the attention turns back to the NHL club and fans wonder what the roster could look like next season. Personally, I don’t think the roster that appears on PuckPedia or CapWages is the opening night roster. There…