The Hockey News Big Show is back to discuss some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics
This Is Canada’s Best Chance At Ending The Stanley Cup Drought In Years by The Big ShowundefinedHere’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:
3:01: The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are locked in for a first-round matchup. Here’s what to expect and the series prediction.
7:48: The Winnipeg Jets clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the regular-season champions. Since 1986, only eight of the 37 Presidents' Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup. Do you believe in the curse?
11:01: What has impressed you most about Winnipeg's season, and more importantly, can they continue it in the playoffs?
13:55: For the first time in NHL history, the Bruins, Penguins and Rangers have all missed the playoffs. Which team will make it back into the playoffs? What moves do they need to make to get there?
17:14: This year's Stanley Cup playoffs could likely feature five of the seven Canadian teams. It would be the first time five Canadian teams have made it since 2017. Is this the year since 1993 we see the Stanley Cup brought back to Canada?
21:08: Which team has a better chance of winning the Cup between Toronto and Winnipeg?
21:59: We've got a few new faces making it into the playoffs this year. Which player who has never been in the playoffs are you most excited to see get their first taste of playoff hockey?
24:12: Which player is a bigger loss for their team heading into the playoffs: Mattias Ekholm for the Oilers or Oliver Bjorkstrand for the Lightning?
28:07: Reports out of Boston indicate that no changes are expected in the Bruins’ front office, so it looks like Don Sweeney and Cam Neely are here to stay. Is this good or bad for Boston? Could we see any other team making changes at the top and firing a GM?
32:19: Ivan Demidov had an impressive NHL debut, with one goal and one assist. Could he be the next Guy Lafleur?
34:52: Logan Couture is not expected to continue his NHL playing career. He played 15 years, all for the San Jose Sharks. Where does he rank among all-time Sharks greats?
36:37: The NHLPA Player Poll was released today – 630 players were asked to name the league's most complete player. Sidney Crosby finished slightly ahead of Aleksander Barkov. Agree or disagree?
39:29: What’s your favorite NHL Stanley Cup playoff tradition?
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The Montreal Canadiens and their fans are big Philadelphia Flyers fans today, especially Matvei Michkov, you know, that other Russian star prospect. The Columbus Blue Jackets are rolling into Philadelphia tonight to play a team that wants to finish the season strong. On a high note and they have been playing better hockey.
The Flyers are 5-3-2 in their last 10 and the Jackets are 6-4. The difference here could be goaltending. The Flyers will likely go with Sam Ersson, who is good and played fine in their last overtime loss. Will he play his best game, I think so, but even his best games mean one or two goals you wonder if he could have played differently or better.
The Jackets are going with the hot hand. Jet Greaves who has won three in a row. He was in the AHL and now he’s back in the NHL and he seems different. At 24, he’s only played 19 games in the NHL.
I’ve seen the Flyers pull out some weird wins before. They’ve played strong games against the Capitals and Stars in losses. They could do it because they’re trying to finish strong and interim coach Brad Shaw has been a breath of fresh air for the players. Never think something is all sewn up. This is sports and this is why they play the games.
I think the Blue Jackets will win and so does Brendan Gallagher
On the help the Philadelphia Flyers could provide, Brendan Gallagher says: “I won’t turn it down, but we’re expecting (the Blue Jackets) to win. That’s what they’ve been doing. They’ve been playing desperate hockey and playing their best hockey of the year. More likely than not,…
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) April 15, 2025
It is a storyline that writes itself.
After being acquired by the New Jersey Devils from the Boston Bruins at the NHL Trade Deadline, Marc McLaughlin will make his Devils debut at TD Garden, where he made his NHL debut in 2022.
Per the team's morning skate, he will start the game with Nolan Foote and Nathan Bastian.
The former Bruins forward debuted at TD Garden against New Jersey on March 31, 2022, and scored his team's seventh goal in their 8-1 victory over the Devils.
McLaughlin is a native of North Billerica, Massachusetts, 35 minutes north of Boston. He played hockey for four seasons at Boston College before turning pro.
It is no surprise that when MSG Networks play-by-play announcer Bill Spaulding asked if McLaughlin would have family in attendance, the center smiled and said, "A lot of family and friends. Super excited to get out there."
The puck will drop between the Devils and Bruins at 7:00 pm. Fans can watch on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
Hischier's Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He's Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'
The NHL Players Association's annual player poll is back to show everyone what the athletes think.
The poll shines a light on players’ opinions on a bunch of topics, whether it’s about the top players by positions, the most stylish person, the best ice and more.
After this year’s player poll was released Tuesday, three observations in particular were surprising. Let’s look at those surprises more closely.
1. Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews, Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl Not Top Five Forwards
Toronto Maple Leafs center Matthews is having a down year – at least, for him – with 31 goals and 75 points in 65 games.
That relative slump was reflected in player voting for the “best overall forward” category.
Five other players – overwhelming first-place finisher Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov – comprised the top vote-getters in this category.
Interestingly enough, Matthews did appear in the “most complete player” category, finishing fifth behind category-winner Crosby, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, MacKinnon and McDavid. So there is a respect NHL players still have for Matthews. But clearly, Matthews’ inability to stay healthy and his drop-off in goals from a career-high 69 goals last season contributed to missing out on the top five forwards category.
Hart Trophy front-runner Leon Draisaitl also finished out of the top five in the “best overall forward” category, even though he leads the NHL in goals with 52 and ranks third in points with 106. He also has a 54.4 faceoff win percentage but didn’t make it on the “best face-off taker” list. He earned 6.83 percent of the vote for the NHL’s best playmaker question, but that was it.
Is Oilers' Leon Draisaitl A Better Goal-Scorer Than Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews? Not QuiteAt the moment, there are only two active NHL players with three or more 50-plus-goal seasons: Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin and…wait, you were expecting us to say Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, weren’t you?
2. Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby Finishes First In Three Categories
Crosby is now 37 years old, but he’s got 30 goals – the fourth-straight season he’s scored at least 32 – and 89 points in 79 games. The respect Crosby’s fellow NHLers have for him can be seen in his handful of top-five finishes in the player poll.
Crosby finished first as the most complete player, first as the smartest overall player, first as the best faceoff-taker, fifth as the best playmaker and tied for fourth as the best overall forward.
Crosby’s overall dominance continues to resonate, and given that he’s showing no signs of slowing down, you should bank on him getting more love in next year’s NHL player poll. He’s still as incredible as they come.
3. Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck Ranks Third For Best Overall Goalie
Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, and all he’s done since then is put up career-best numbers in wins (46) and goals-against average (2.02) while matching his career high in save percentage (.924).
It’s hard to think of what more the 31-year-old goalie could’ve done for the Jets, but somehow, NHL players picked him only third overall in the best overall goalie category. Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy finished first with 31.13 percent of the 636 votes, while New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin received 23.58 percent of the votes. Hellebuyck received 15.57 percent of the love.
NHL Playoffs: Five Veterans With A Lot To ProveEvery NHL player has a lot to prove in the playoffs, but a handful of experienced post-season players have even more at stake this time around.
In some regards, you can see why NHL players voted for Vasilevskiy, who has a 2.20 GAA and .921 SP this year on top of winning two Stanley Cups and a Vezina in his career. Shesterkin finishing second, however, was more surprising. He has had a subpar season by his standards on an underperforming Rangers squad, with a 2.91 GAA and .903 SP. It feels like Shesterkin got votes from players based more on his reputation than his performance this season.
In any case, the 31-year-old Hellebuyck has been so outstanding, he’s a front-runner for the Hart Trophy – and with due respect to Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck should’ve been the players’ pick as best overall netminder.
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Seattle Kraken defenseman Ville Ottavainen will make his NHL debut tonight as the Kraken host the Los Angeles Kings in their final game of the season, HC Dan Bylsma confirms.
The Kraken recalled the 22-year-old from the Coachella Valley Firebirds yesterday on an emergency basis. All six Kraken defensemen were with the team at their optional practice so it's unclear who will be out of the lineup tonight in place of Ottavainen.
In 66 AHL games this season, Ottavainen has scored three goals and 14 points. His 6'5, 216 lbs frame should allow him to feel comfortable with the physicality in the NHL.
The Kraken will become the first team with five picks from the 2021 draft to play in the NHL, those being Matty Beniers, Ryker Evans, Ryan Winterton, Ottavainen and Jacob Melanson.
The Kings are locked into second place in the Pacific Division, securing home-ice advantage against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. The Kings also played last night against the Oilers, and it wouldn't be too surprising to see them rest multiple players tonight.
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Kraken Recall Defenseman On Emergency BasisThe Seattle Kraken have recalled defenseman Ville Ottavainen from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on an emergency basis.
Kraken Place Cale Fleury and John Hayden On WaiversThe Seattle Kraken have placed Cale Fleury and John Hayden on waivers.