Professional sports are one of the most competitive fields in the world.

Athletes are paid millions of dollars to entertain the masses for a living.

The Detroit Red Wings players are a good example of these professionals. Sometimes, these professionals need to know when they are done.

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And in no uncertain terms do I say this, but the Red Wings are done.

Kaput.

Painful 4–1 Loss in Montreal Costs Red Wings Their Playoff HopesOn Tuesday night at the Bell Center in Montreal, not long before 10 pm local time, whatever remained of the Detroit Red Wings' playoff aspirations shriveled in upon itself in a 4–1 loss to the Canadiens. 

Their best opportunity to have a sniff, hope, and a prayer of making the playoffs drifted away when the final buzzer rang on Tuesday night. A 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens punched their card to the fairways for (yet) another season.

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However, there are reasons for optimism. Lucas Raymond has been the most consistent offensive producer all season. Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson have been spectacular rookies on the blueline. 

Elmer Soderblom and Marco Kasper didn’t start the season with the Red Wings, but both have been incredibly solid since being called up. They have showcased their skill and have done everything asked of them to stay in the lineup.

Their goaltending needs some work, and the position was further complicated with the acquisition of Petr Mrazek.

Red Wings Trade For Mrazek Doesn't Add Up NowSometimes, it’s better not to make a move than to make a move that hurts your team.

At this point in time, the Red Wings would need a miracle to make the playoffs. They would need to win every game remaining with the Canadiens losing every game. The Red Wings would also need the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and Columbus Blue Jackets to win less games than them.

It’s a tough way to go for the Red Wings, but that’s just how the cookie crumbled this year.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have named goaltender Ivan Fedotov their nominee for the 2024 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player “who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”

Fedotov’s journey to the NHL has been nothing short of extraordinary. Drafted by the Flyers in the seventh round (188th overall) in 2015, the 6-foot-7 Russian netminder spent years developing in the KHL, becoming one of the league’s top goaltenders. In May 2022, he signed a one-year entry-level deal with Philadelphia, poised to make the leap to North America.

But Fedotov’s path took an unexpected and harrowing turn when he was detained by Russian authorities and forced to fulfill mandatory military service, delaying his NHL debut by more than a year. Despite the setback, Fedotov remained committed to his dream, rejoining the Flyers organization and finally making his NHL debut at the end of the 2023-24 season.

vs NY Rangers 11/29/2024 pic.twitter.com/NfHkTViDb9

— brig 🐦‍🔥ᵕ̈ (@82erssy) December 1, 2024

“Just hearing his story, it’s pretty crazy,” Flyers captain Sean Couturier said of Fedotov’s nomination (Couturier was nominated for the award in the 2023-24 season). “It’d be hard for anyone to really come back and play at this level…There’s been a lot of things thrown at him and he’s had some unfair criticisms at times. But he’s always tried to just work through it.

“There’s a few times it almost seemed like [former head coach John Tortorella] quit on him, and a couple weeks later, [Fedotov] comes in the net and gets us a big win or keeps us in a big game that we shouldn’t have been in. He’s been through some ups and downs, but he’s always trying to work through it and be ready when his name is called.”

His perseverance through geopolitical turmoil, personal uncertainty, and professional delay speaks to his deep dedication to the game. 

His nomination honors not just his resilience, but the quiet strength and grace with which he’s navigated his journey.

“It’s a good feeling,” Fedotov said when asked about his nomination.

In the locker room after practice on Tuesday, after teammate Travis Konecny walked by and congratulated him by saying, “Feddy! Woo!” (To which Fedotov replied, “Woo!” back), the goaltender also spoke of what it meant to him to finally be in the NHL.

“It’s been my dream my whole life,” he said. “Every kid growing up dreams of playing in the best league in the world. It was a long road for me…I had a lot of extra steps! But most importantly, I got what I wanted, and it’s a new page for me.”

The annual Bill Masterton Trophy nominees are out.

Every season, each of the 32 local chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association selects the Masterton nominees.

The Bill Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the player who for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game of hockey.

This season, the Florida chapter of the PHWA selected Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist as their nominee.

After spending time in both the NHL with the Boston Bruins and AHL in Providence last season, Boqvist signed a one-year prove-it deal with Florida during the offseason.

Arriving on a new team with no guarantees for a roster spot, Boqvist got to work showing that he could be a valuable piece to Florida’s lineup.

“Right from day one, everyone was so nice and welcoming,” said Boqvist. “Obviously it takes some time to get used to everything, but I feel like off the ice it was pretty much right away, and then obviously still working stuff on the ice, right? So it takes time, but it's been a lot of fun.”

He’s played in all situations for Florida, on the left and the right, and shown that he can hold his own regardless of where he lines up.

It was simply a matter of showing what he could do, but as Boqvist explains, he had to get the consistency down.

“I feel like every player's road to where they're at is different, and for me, it's always try to stay patient and believe in myself,” he said. “I think I've shown in the past what I can bring to the team, but not long enough.”

With a steady role in Florida’s high-speed, physical, defensive systems, Boqvist was able to show the Panthers coaching staff and front office how valuable he could be for the team.

That’s why, almost eight months to the day after Boqvist signed his initial contract with the Panthers, Florida offered the young forward a two-year extension for double the average annual value of his first deal.

He’s played 74 games with the Cats so far this season, putting up a career high 12 goals and matching his career high with 23 points.

It may not have been the kind of success he envisioned back when he initially signed with Florida, but the belief in himself was always there.

“I want to say yes, but obviously you don't want to jump too, too far ahead, right?” said Boqvist. “I just tried to take it day by day, game by game, but obviously it was something you were hoping for. I always had that hope to take steps, so I think I've done that so far, but I have more in me and it's going to be a lot of fun here down the stretch.”

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Minten scores first Bruins goal, gives fans hope amid tough season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2024-25 NHL season hasn’t been a fun one for Boston Bruins fans. In fact, it’s been brutal at times.

But it’s not all bad, though. One positive for fans to be excited about is Frasen Minten, the prospect acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Brandon Carlo trade just prior to the March 7 NHL trade deadline.

Minten started his career in the Bruins organization down in Providence, where he scored a hat trick for the P-Bruins on March 16 and tallied seven points in 10 AHL games before making his Boston debut last Saturday versus the Carolina Hurricanes.

Minten scored his first goal with the Bruins in a 7-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

“That was an awesome feeling,” Minten told reporters postgame. “Fun to be able to contribute to a good game like that.”

“Each game feels more and more comfortable. The more you get reps, touch the puck and make plays you just feel like you can make (things happen).”

The best-case scenario in the short term for Minten is that he ends the season strong, improves in the summer, shines in training camp and makes a strong case to be the No. 3 center on Opening Night in October.

Minten has an improving offensive game, and it’s possible he could become a 20-goal scorer at some point. But he’s more of a two-way forward who is responsible defensively, kills penalties, plays the right way, etc. Kind of in the Charlie Coyle mold — good offense, trustworthy on defense, a high hockey IQ and hard on the puck.

And the Bruins need help at center, which makes Minten’s development so important to the short- and long-term health of the franchise.

The 2022 second-round pick might not turn into a star, but he has all the tools to be a very good, dependable player for a long time. And that’s exactly what the Bruins need as they continue to build around their core of David Pastrnak (age 28), Charlie McAvoy (age 27), and Jeremy Swayman (age 26).