The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect channeled his inner Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Toronto Marlies' practice facility Thursday morning, doing his countryman proud by booting one over the ice surface.
The Florida Panthers didn't expect to be this good this soon.
Dale Tallon was hopeful at the start of his sixth season as Florida's general manager, but even he didn't anticipate the Panthers leading the Atlantic Division with the second-best...
The Florida Panthers didn't expect to be this good this soon.
Dale Tallon was hopeful at the start of his sixth season as Florida's general manager, but even he didn't anticipate the Panthers leading the Atlantic Division with the second-best...
Ladd's a pending unrestricted free agent who carries a cap hit of $4.4 million. The Jets captain has improved his trade value lately, scoring four goals over the past three games.
“We are pleased to have Shawn return for another season,” Panthers chairman Vinnie Viola wrote in a release Thursday.
“Shawn is the embodiment of the selfless, team-first culture we are trying to create on and off the ice with the Florida Panthers and has made himself an important part of the South Florida community. We look forward to having this man of character as a leader within our organization for many years to come.”
The 38-year-old winger was a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $1.2 million in 2015-16.
Thornton has three points and 50 penalty minutes in his second campaign with the Panthers after spending seven seasons with the Boston Bruins.
"Shawn is a highly respected and hardworking member of our hockey club, both on and off the ice,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. “His experience and leadership have made a positive impact on our locker room and on our young players as they continue their development.”
Thornton spent his first three NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and one more with the Anaheim Ducks before joining the Bruins.
Joni Pitkanen's comeback bid has apparently been shelved.
The former NHL defenseman won't play again this season after suffering a foot injury in his third game with Oulun Karpat in Finland, according to Finnish reporter Pasi Tuominen.
"The foot simply did not cope," Pitkanen told Tuominen. "It's likely I will never play again."
Earlier this month, the 32-year-old blue-liner made his return to Karpat, where he spent the first three seasons of his career before being selected fourth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2002 draft.
Last week, while playing in only his second pro game since 2013, Pitkanen scored a goal and was named the first star in a 3-2 victory.
"Joni Pitkanen proved he's still a top-level player," Karpat sports chief Harri Aho told Tuominen on Thursday.
Pitkanen's NHL career ended abruptly in April 2013 when, as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, he crashed into the boards in a race for the puck and suffered a gruesome heel injury.
He played five seasons for the Hurricanes, one for the Edmonton Oilers, and spent four campaigns with the Flyers, notching 282 points in 535 NHL games.
There will be self-satisfaction experienced Monday afternoon when 30 NHL executive teams dangerously hopped up on caffeine close the phone lines and sit back in leather chairs.
In time, delight will live to be regret inside many of those war rooms, but for legitimate Stanley Cup contenders like the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks, inaction over the next several days might be the only thing they rue.
Here are three deals that could launch contenders over the top:
Weise to Washington
As is, the Capitals roster is operating in near-perfect harmony.
Washington's top six is dynamic, balanced, seemingly coated with kevlar, and is backed by youngsters of similar likeness. Its defense now runs eight-men deep and is healthier than it's been all year. And while the multi-use bottom-six functions quite effectively, why not add another component to the Swiss Army knife?
In theory, Dale Weise would be the depth added up front akin to Mike Weber on defense, but he can provide so much more than that. And at just a shade over $1 million, and speaking solely to contributions on the dollar, he might be the most valuable asset on the rental market.
There's no obvious place to slot Weise, but he can fill in on wing up and down the lower nine, providing energy and defensive contributions in a quality scheme (ahem, Trotz). And with career-best totals on the horizon, he's proven to be of value offensively.
Hamhuis to Los Angeles
Los Angeles is still tilting the ice, repressing shots with the best of them. But despite their steadiness this season, and sheer dominance, frankly, on most nights, the Kings' defense is inadequate from the second pair down.
Hamhuis is in the twilight of his career, and is amid a season interrupted by having his jaw jigsawed by an arrant shot, but quiet effectiveness remains into his 12th season, and his high-level contributions represent a massive, massive upgrade on Schenn.
He'll need convincing, as Hamhuis owns both a no-trade clause and strong affinity for Vancouver. But the lure of a possible championship, a possibility made very real with himself in the fold, would be difficult to pass up.
Ladd to Anaheim
Andrew Ladd is a captain coming off career-best numbers and a Stanley Cup champion to boot. So we know the major players will attend his auction, but who has most to offer?
The path of least resistance points to Anaheim, which has ample cap room, a surplus of defensive prospects (or players as good as gold on the open market), and an obvious need.
Anaheim has filled the net in its ascent of the Pacific Division, but remain thin in terms of capable scoring wingers behind Corey Perry. Ladd, a big body with a nose for goal and a contributor at 200 feet, would thrive in the lockdown scheme that's turned around the Ducks' season.
What's more, his acquisition would keep him out of Chicago.
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - Adam Brooks and Austin Wagner both scored in a seven-round shootout as the Regina Pats edged the Lethbridge Hurricanes 9-8 on Wednesday night in Western Hockey League action.
Lane Zablocki had a hat trick — including the g...
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Frederik Andersen made 26 saves in his fourth career shutout, Sami Vatanen scored on a power play in the second period and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 on Wednesday night for their season-best sixth straight vi...
DES MOINES, Iowa - Maxime Fortunus scored near the midway point of the third period as the Iowa Wild edged the Manitoba Moose 2-1 on Wednesday in American Hockey League action.
Zack Mitchell also scored for Iowa (18-30-7) toward the end of th...
