A Coyotes finale of all finales? The final matchup of the season between the Canucks and Yotes takes on new meaning with multiple reports of their impending move to Salt Lake City for next season. But it’s also a newsy day for the Canucks, as Matt and Blake take a look at a lineup that likely includes Elias Lindholm, who had missed seven games, and another start for Arturs Silovs as well! The guys also go over the prospect of a Demko start on the weekend, as the Canucks number one goaltender practiced again. 

Frank Corrado stops by with his thoughts on the progress of the Canucks ahead of the playoffs, and whether the dressing room is starting to show its personality and how that benefits the team on the ice. 

The Daily Hive’s Rob Williams has the latest on the Canucks in the black skate jersey for the playoffs, and post-season watch parties. Plus, The Masters edition of The Golf Report, brought to you by Whistler Golf! Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli won't play in Columbus' final three games of the season, the club confirmed to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

Fantilli suffered a calf laceration from a skate blade Jan. 28 and was projected to miss eight weeks, meaning there was a chance he could've returned in April.

The 2023 No. 3 pick finishes his rookie campaign with 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games.

The Blue Jackets project to have another high selection in the 2024 draft, as they currently sit 29th in league standings.

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Three NHL games are scheduled for Wednesday night, but only one pops off the page.

Let's look at how we're attacking the day's marquee matchup.

Golden Knights (-105) @ Oilers (-115)

The Oilers could be playing without superstar Connor McDavid in what might well be a playoff preview for the opening round. That'd be a problem.

Edmonton played without its captain for two games earlier this season, dropping both contests and being outscored by six on aggregate.

Life without McDavid has never really been kind to the Oilers. Dating back a few seasons, they've dropped six of the last seven without him, and the offense dried up as they scored more than three goals just once.

While this could be the best version of Edmonton we've seen, I still expect the struggles without McDavid to continue against the Golden Knights if he's unable to play.

Vegas sits tied for sixth in five-on-five goal share over the past 10 games, and its lineup is seemingly getting better by the day. Tomas Hertl made his highly anticipated team debut Monday and found the scoresheet while logging over 20 minutes of ice time.

Hertl gives an already-quality club another impact player who can raise the floor and ceiling nightly.

I think the Golden Knights are better than the McDavid-less Oilers. They're also jockeying for seeding and coming off a pair of losses. Look for a hungry Vegas team to earn two points in this one.

Bet: Golden Knights (+100)

Jack Eichel: Over 3.5 shots

We've consistently targeted Eichel in recent weeks, and there's no reason to get away from that Wednesday.

Eichel recorded at least four shots in 15 of the past 19 games and posted three in each exception. He's shooting the puck a ton.

Vegas ranks fourth in five-on-five pace over the last 10 contests and should create a healthy shooting environment for Eichel in an enticing matchup.

The Oilers have also conceded 11.10 shots per game to centers during that span, tied for eighth most in the NHL.

With Edmonton playing high-event hockey and struggling to slow opposing centers, Eichel is primed to continue his shooting success.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Evander Kane: Over 2.5 shots

Kane has slowed down lately, but a few things are working in his favor here.

He's consistently fared well on home ice, generating three shots or more at a 62% clip this season and 67% over the last two years.

Kane is also coming off three days of rest, which has served him well both times this campaign. Over two such instances, Kane posted 11 shots on 21 attempts.

And McDavid's potential absence opens the door for more offensive opportunities. Kane is skating in the top six and could be on the No. 1 power-play unit, which he's usually not a part of.

Kane recorded at least three shots in both games McDavid missed earlier in the season despite difficult matchups against the Rangers and Wild. I expect him to do the same against the Golden Knights.

Odds: +103 (playable to -125)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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The Arizona Coyotes could move to Salt Lake City as soon as next season, ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski report.

The NHL has prepared an option that would see the team sold to Smith Entertainment Group, owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz, and relocated to Salt Lake City, sources told Kaplan and Wyshynski.

The three parties have made significant progress on a framework agreement, and the NHL sent a memo to the board of governors updating the situation Wednesday, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wouldn't divulge details when asked about the reports.

"The league is continuing to work on a solution to what has been a challenging and difficult situation," Daly told TSN's Pierre LeBrun. "But we are not in a position to comment beyond that."

The league still believes a team should be in Arizona but is skeptical about the Coyotes' newest arena plans, per ESPN.

The Coyotes announced last week their commitment to winning a land auction in the Phoenix area and building a privately funded arena and entertainment district on the 110-acre plot. However, Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega slammed the plans Monday, calling the concept "not feasible or welcome."

Winning the June 27 auction could allow the Coyotes to remain in Arizona long term. But the franchise could be based in another state by that date, as an announcement of the sale and relocation could come as early as April 18, the day after the Coyotes' final regular-season game, Seravalli adds.

Two versions of the NHL's 2024-25 league schedule are being drafted with the potential of the Arizona Coyotes relocating to Salt Lake City, Seravalli reported earlier Wednesday.

One schedule sees the Coyotes remain in Arizona for another season, and the other features the franchise playing at Utah's Delta Center.

Ryan Smith, owner of the Jazz, added to the speculation the franchise could be on the move last week when he asked fans on X for their opinion on a name for a Utah-based NHL team.

Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo selling control of the franchise would cost an interested buyer north of $1.2 billion, which includes the NHL's relocation fees, per Seravalli.

The Coyotes posted a video on X reiterating their commitment to remaining in Phoenix.

The Atlanta Thrashers are the last NHL franchise to relocate, moving to Winnipeg in 2011. That sale and relocation was announced on May 31, and the team played in Winnipeg the following campaign.

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The Buffalo Sabres were officially eliminated from playoff contention after losing 3-2 to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, extending their NHL-record postseason drought to 13 seasons.

Buffalo is the youngest team in the NHL, but defenseman Rasmus Dahlin doesn't think that justifies the dubious mark.

"We're a young team, but that shouldn't be an excuse anymore," Dahlin said postgame. "We are looking at ourselves in the mirror and we have to be better."

Dahlin has been with the Sabres for the last six of those 13 years. He's committed to the club for the long haul after signing an eight-year, $88-million extension in October.

"It sucks. We have to get better. We got to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said. "We got some work to do and the group is all-in for it."

Dahlin is tied for the team lead in points with 58 and fifth with 20 goals. Only the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks employ leading scorers with fewer point totals.

Buffalo ranks 13th in goals against per game but 22nd in goals for per contest. It was completely different a year ago when the Sabres owned the league's No. 3 offense but the No. 26 defense and missed the playoffs by a point.

Forward Alex Tuch, who co-leads the Sabres in points, believes there are multiple issues with the team.

"Power play could've been better. PK could've been better. We could've won more than two-to-three games in a row at a time. We could've played better shift after shift. We could've done a lot of things better, honestly," Tuch said.

Special teams have been a problem, as the Sabres rank 29th with the man advantage and 15th on the penalty kill. Their longest win streak of the season is three games.

"We've gotta look upon ourselves. There was no one else besides the guys in this room that put us in the position that we're in now," Tuch continued. "Myself definitely included."

Despite the disappointing season, Buffalo's future could be bright. In addition to having a young roster anchored by two former No. 1 picks on the back end in Dahlin and Owen Power, the Sabres have arguably the NHL's top farm system. They're on the cusp.

"We want to do something special in Buffalo," Dahlin said.

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The 2023-24 NCAA men's hockey season culminates this week in St. Paul, Minnesota, with Boston College, Boston University, Denver, and Michigan challenging for the Frozen Four title.

The No. 1 ranked Eagles take on the No. 10 underdogs from Ann Arbor in one semifinal, and No. 2 BU faces No. 3 Denver in a battle of two top seeds from the regional bracket in the other.

Here are 10 prospects to keep an eye on ahead of the tournament's action Thursday and Saturday.

BC's fab freshmen

When Boston College recruited the U.S. NTDP's entire first line from its 2005 age group, many expected the trio to be successful in the NCAA before long.

But the freshmen line of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Gabe Perreault hasn't just been successful; They've arguably been the best line in all of college hockey.

Smith, drafted fourth overall last summer by the San Jose Sharks, leads the nation in scoring with 23 goals and 69 points in 39 games. Leonard (eighth by the Washington Capitals) and Perreault (23rd by the New York Rangers) aren't far behind.

Leonard has been a beast in the postseason. He scored two goals in each of the Eagles' regional wins and has recorded seven points in three games going back to the Hockey East final.

By the way, Smith casually bagged four goals and five points in the Hockey East final.

The trio has obliterated every level they've played at. The USHL, Under-18s, World Juniors, and now the NCAA have all been brushed aside by the three of them as if it were supposed to be this easy.

With NHL contracts on the horizon, this weekend is likely the last time we see the dominant trio together for a number of years, if not ever. Enjoy the show before it leaves town.

The most hated man in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Flyers surprised the hockey world when they traded Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in January.

The revelation that Gauthier refused to sign in Philadelphia only made the situation more shocking.

That saga has impacted a lot of people's opinion of Gauthier. But let's make one thing abundantly clear: The Boston College winger is a helluva hockey player.

Gauthier could be the best-drafted prospect who's not currently in the NHL. He led all American players with seven goals at the 2023 Worlds, paced Team USA in points at the world juniors, and is gunning for the best goal-scoring season in college hockey since the turn of the millennium.

Gauthier ticks every box a general manager could want in a prospect. He's got a pro frame at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. The 20-year-old also plays a physical game and has a cannon of a shot, not to mention the puck-handling skills to go with it all. Gauthier can make a no-look assist like this appear simple:

And despite the success of his aforementioned freshmen teammates, those skills are why Gauthier is the Eagles player nominated for the Hobey Baker Award.

You'll get a taste of what we'll see for years to come on the Ducks' first line this weekend.

2024 draft prospects on display

Macklin Celebrini entered the season as the favorite to go first overall in June but had competitors for the top spot.

However, he's gapped the field with a remarkable freshman campaign at Boston University to firmly establish himself as the No. 1 prospect in the class. We've seen great NCAA campaigns from draft-eligible prospects like Adam Fantilli and Jack Eichel, but Celebrini's age differentiates him.

Fantilli and Eichel turned 18 in October of their draft seasons. Celebrini celebrates his birthday in June.

Celebrini broke Craig Simpson's 39-year-old NCAA record for goals by a 17-year-old with a tally against RIT in Boston University's tournament opener. He also became the youngest player ever to be a top-three finalist for the Hobey Baker, and there's a good chance he'll become the youngest to win the award.

The Vancouver native drives play in so many ways, whether with his prowess in transition, high-end skill and lethal shot in the offensive zone, or competitiveness and hard work in the defensive zone.

Come on, what is this wizardry?

He's not the generational prospect that Connor Bedard was, but he still projects to be an elite, star-caliber first-line center.

Celebrini isn't the only 2024 prospect on display, as Denver's Zeev Buium is expected to go in the top 12 this summer.

Buium is more of the typical NCAA draft prospect as a December birthday, but that doesn't diminish anything he's done on the ice this season. The left-shot blue-liner has 49 points in 40 games, making him the most productive draft-eligible defenseman in NCAA history.

Although Buium's defensive game needs to improve, his skating, ability in transition, and offensive zone prowess make him an electrifying player, especially at the college level.

Hutson's last hurrah

It can't be overstated how impressive Lane Hutson's last two seasons have been.

Not taken until the end of the second round in 2022 amid concerns over his size, Hutson immediately became a dominant offensive defenseman with Boston University as a freshman.

Hutson's put up a nearly identical stat line as a sophomore with 15 goals and 49 points in 37 contests, and he enters the Frozen Four on a seven-game point streak.

He's ridiculously good at the NCAA level with the puck on his stick. Hutson was the No. 1 college defender in primary assists and offensive zone entries (among other stats) this season, per SportLogiq. He also paced all NCAA players in completed passes to the slot.

Hutson will likely turn pro and sign with the Montreal Canadiens after this weekend. The matchup against Denver and a potential Frozen Four final will be his last hurrah as a collegiate player before taking on his next challenge in the NHL.

Michigan's crew looks to play spoiler

Three of the four No. 1 seeds made it to the Frozen Four. The exception was Michigan State, who were upset by their rivals from Ann Arbor.

Michigan has weathered the losses of Adam Fantilli, Luke Hughes, and Mackie Samoskevich with internal progression.

Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Gavin Brindley took a huge step to become the Big Ten's best player. Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Rutger McGroarty has flourished in a bigger role.

But no player has taken a bigger step than Frank Nazar. The Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick had an underwhelming freshman season after returning from hip surgery, posting two goals and seven points in 13 games.

With 17 goals and 41 points in 40 contests this time around, it's been sophomore success for the Detroit native.

Nazar bagged two goals in the Big Ten final against Michigan State and helped sewer the rivals from East Lansing in the NCAA Tournament regional final with a remarkable between-the-legs assist.

Almost 50 NHL-affiliated prospects will compete in Thursday's semis across the four teams. Whether you're cheering for one of the schools or simply a fan looking to get a glimpse of the next generation before they arrive in the NHL, you won't want to miss what's sure to be an electrifying ending to the NCAA season.

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