The Hockey News Big Show is back to discuss more of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Are The Maple Leafs Cup Front-Runners Or Not? by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest co-host Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

0:46: We have a new top eight Cup contenders list to dive into this week, as Steve Warne fills in for Ryan Kennedy. Let's kick off with his list and his defense of his choices. 

2:26: Michael defends his latest Cup contenders list.

4:08: Steve doesn't have the Toronto Maple Leafs on his Cup contenders list, but Michael does. Steve explains his reasoning behind the decision. 

5:29: Is there a team that didn’t make the Cup contenders list but could have if it had an easier path in the playoffs?

9:22: Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green says captain Brady Tkachuk is out "day-to-day" with an upper body injury. He's missed two games so far, so how concerned should Senators fans be? 

12:43: Maple Leafs center Scott Laughton has had just two points and a minus-5 rating, the worst on the team since trading for him. How has he played during this stretch? Is he a fit for the Leafs?

16:12: Which trade deadline acquisition has had the best impact with their new team?

19:15: The NHL and Rogers Communications agreed to a 12-year deal worth $7.7 billion. Thoughts on this massive deal?

24:09: Will the St. Louis Blues finish in the first wild-card spot in the West ahead of the Minnesota Wild? Is it over for the Calgary Flames? 

28:48: Patrick Roy ripped Anthony Duclair following the New York Islanders’ sixth straight loss on Tuesday night. Was Roy out of line with his comments? Are the Isles' struggles more player problems or coaching problems?

32:47: Which building will be the toughest to win a playoff game in?

34:59: Jalen Chatfield pulled a UFC move to throw Connor McMichael to the ice during a fight. Chatfield received no discipline from the NHL's Department of Player Safety. Agree or disagree with the decision?

37:56: Cale Makar became the first D-man since Mike Green to score 30 goals. Who will be the next defenseman to achieve this lofty goal?

40:33: Ovechkin is three goals away from breaking Gretzky's all-time goals record. He has two games to break the record and tie Gretzky in the number of games needed. Can he do it?

Watch the full episode here.   

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Weekend's Way Back When heads back to April 4, 2004, when one player's league debut had special significance.

Brad Fast played the only NHL game of his career for the Carolina Hurricanes. He played over 20 minutes in a goals fest against the Florida Panthers.

No other NHL game ended this way since that match, when Brad Fast got on the scoreboard.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.     

The anticipated rise in the NHL’s salary cap to $95.5 million for next season might encourage some teams to pursue a rival club's leading RFA with an offer sheet. 

A GM might draw inspiration from the St. Louis Blues' bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg last summer from the Edmonton Oilers. Both players have been key contributors to the Blues' second-half surge into a Western Conference wild-card spot.

Buffalo Sabres left winger JJ Peterka could an RFA to watch. The 23-year-old is completing his entry-level contract and has reached a career-best 60 points in 69 games.

The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote that Peterka often plays with Tage Thompson on the top line, but he’s been eligible for a contract extension since last July, and his name even surfaced in trade speculation around the deadline. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton believe Peterka could be a prime offer-sheet candidate.

The Sabres have a projected cap space of $23.2 million with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. They have plenty of room to match an offer for Peterka, but they must also ensure they have sufficient cap room to re-sign other RFAs, such as Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers' firing of coach John Tortorella last week prompted some observers to speculate about Peter Laviolette's future as the New York Rangers' bench boss. After guiding the Blueshirts to the Presidents' Trophy last season, Laviolette has struggled to keep his club in the playoff race in a season of uncertainty amid frequent roster shakeups.

The Hockey News’ Stan Fischler believes the Rangers should replace Laviolette with Tortorella immediately to wake up the underachievers.

Arthur Staple of The Athletic recently examined the pros and cons of replacing Laviolette. If management decides to make a coaching change, they're unlikely to bring in someone lacking NHL experience, like Denver University's David Carle or Cam Abbott of the AHL's Chicago Wolves. 

Staple observed that Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins was on their shortlist of coaching candidates two years ago. However, Sullivan doesn't appear interested in leaving Pittsburgh, and the Penguins wouldn't want to risk him being hired by a division rival.

NHL Rumor Roundup: What Will The New York Rangers Do This Summer?The New York Rangers continue to jockey for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, their off-season plans remain the subject of media speculation.

Turning to the Seattle Kraken, Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times believes they'll be busy during the off-season attempting to bolster their roster following another disappointing campaign. 

Shefte observed the Kraken's offense has improved this season, but their goals-against increased while their special teams were among the league's bottom third. She noted they're set to land a top-five first-round draft pick and have the cap space and trade bait to add to their lineup this summer.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

New York Islanders left winger Anthony Duclair is taking some time off two days after coach Patrick Roy called him out in a press conference.

Roy told reporters Thursday that he and Duclair had a positive conversation, and he granted the player’s request to take some time away and reflect, according to The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner.

This week’s news is a reminder that coaching NHL players is still an inexact science, and sometimes, the “old school” way of confronting players is still used. But it is tough to see the benefit in Roy’s comments on Tuesday night.

“He was god-awful. He was god-awful. He had a bad game," Roy said of Duclair’s play in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. "That's why I didn't play him a lot. And he's lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that's how I feel…He's not skating, he's not competing, he's not moving his feet. He's not playing up to what we expect from him."

To be fair, Duclair is under pressure to produce. He’s in the first season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, and the 29-year-old only has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 44 games. Duclair also has a full no-trade clause until 2026, so he’s in control of his on-ice future to a degree.

However, is it really a good idea for Roy to call out one of his players the way he did with Duclair? Roy isn’t exactly John Tortorella-ish in his mannerisms and approaches to his job, but it’s hard to see how naming and shaming Duclair will lead to a guaranteed turnaround in his on-ice performance.

Perhaps the fact the Islanders are on a six-game winless skid that’s essentially taken them out of a playoff position caused some general frustration. It wouldn’t be the first time a coach has taken out their frustration with his team by scapegoating a player. 

While Duclair must own his role in the Isles’ struggles, there must be a solution that keeps him under the team’s umbrella, if that’s even in doubt in the first place.

Anthony Duclair Stepping Away From Islanders; Matt Martin To Play vs. WildEAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders will be making a lineup change out of necessity on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. 

The Islanders are the ninth team Duclair has played for in his NHL career, and the longest he’s been with one team is the two-and-a-half seasons he played for the Florida Panthers from 2020 to 2022. 

Having that job security with the Isles was no doubt a big factor in him signing with the team last summer, but Duclair even said Roy was a factor. His former QMJHL coach called him before he decided to join the Islanders.

That said, if Roy is calling out players like this, it’s either tough love that will end with Duclair improving, or it’s a huge mistake. In any case, Duclair’s play under Roy will now be under the microscope until further notice.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Goaltending has always been a major talking point when the NHL playoffs arrive. 

The great debate is about how strong a team’s goaltending needs to be to win the Stanley Cup. Part of that conversation concerns whether a strong tandem makes all the difference or if one solid starter is enough.

A look at the last 10 Cup champions suggests that while depth in goal can be helpful, it often doesn’t matter much in the quest for the NHL’s top prize. Teams with a goalie rotation during the regular season, such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, must keep that in mind when it comes time to pick a starter.

In most cases, the team that hoists the Cup doesn’t have to worry about who to start in net. A primary goaltender shoulders the load. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (2020, 2021), Florida Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (2024), and St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Binnington (2019) all played at least 23 post-season games en route to their championships. While Bobrovsky had a .906 save percentage in 2024, he had the third-best goals-against average among goalies who played at least 10 games. Vasilevskiy and Binnington had save percentages of .914 or better.

When a team has a strong No. 1 leading the way, the backup is just there for insurance or injury.

That was the case in 2022 when Pavel Francouz backstopped the Colorado Avalanche during the Western Conference final as Darcy Kuemper recovered from an upper-body injury. He did record a shutout and a satisfactory .906 save percentage in seven games, but the Avalanche’s offense took matters into their own hands and scored at least four goals in each of Francouz’s starts.

In the Washington Capitals’ win in 2018, Philipp Grubauer had a better save percentage and goals-against average during the regular season, but Braden Holtby played 54 games and was the starter for most of the campaign. Grubauer started the first two playoff games before being replaced, and Holtby had a .922 save percentage in 23 games en route to winning it all.

Vegas’ 2023 Cup Win: The Exception?

The 2023 Vegas Golden Knights stand out as an anomaly in recent history. 

Adin Hill emerged as the team's post-season hero, posting a .932 save percentage in 16 playoff games. This came after the Golden Knights played five different goalies during the regular season. 

Logan Thompson was the go-to guy throughout the year. However, Laurent Brossoit began the playoffs in net before an injury forced Vegas to turn to Hill. Hill had only played 27 regular-season games, and his .915 SP and 2.50 GAA were solid but not outstanding. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins also took advantage of two strong goalies in 2017. Marc-Andre Fleury played 15 games before Matt Murray took over and backstopped them to the championship with a .937 save percentage in 11 appearances.

The Case For Anthony Stolarz To Be The Maple Leafs' Playoff Starter In NetAs the end of the NHL’s 2024-25 regular season draws to a close, teams are going to decide which goalie they're going to start in the Stanley Cup playoffs. For many, if not most teams, the choice is going to be easy: Connor Hellebuyck will be starting for the Winnipeg Jets, and Sergei Bobrovsky will be the starter for the Florida Panthers. But for a few teams, the choice of a starting goalie isn’t so clear.

A Strong Starter Matters Most, But A Good Backup Doesn’t Hurt

In any series, good goalies can be outmatched by their opposing netminder who seemingly comes out of nowhere. The Oilers’ Stuart Skinner outplayed Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger and put a scare into Bobrovsky last season, while Arturs Silovs made a name for himself in Vancouver when Thatcher Demko suffered an injury.

While having a competent backup is useful – particularly if injuries arise – the last decade has shown that teams usually win with a clear-cut No. 1 goalie and not with a rotation. Frankly, a hot goaltender remains one of the most important factors in winning a Stanley Cup.

That makes things interesting for the Leafs, Hurricanes and Oilers, which have often split the starts in net when their top two goaltenders are healthy.

Since Carolina’s Frederik Andersen returned from injury on Jan. 20, he and Pyotr Kochetkov have 14 games each. The Leafs’ Joseph Woll has 39 games to Anthony Stolarz’s 30, but the latter has a better goals-against average and save percentage. And the Oilers play Skinner more than Calvin Pickard, but not by much since Jan. 1 – Skinner’s had 24 appearances, while Pickard played 18 games.

A tandem can help manage the load during the regular season, but when the playoffs arrive, it’ll be time for those clubs to choose their No. 1.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire discussions are what The Hockey News' Wraparound Show is all about.

Will Canadiens' Lane Hutson Contend For The Norris Trophy Next Season? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: What should the Boston Bruins look to add at the NHL draft?

3:27: Does Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green deserve more consideration for the Jack Adams award?

5:34: Could Patrick Roy’s criticism of Anthony Duclair affect his future with the New York Islanders?

9:12: Which NHL team will most likely hang on to their current interim coach?

11:49: Is Zayne Parekh the best defenseman who is not in the NHL?

14:25: Should Niko Mikkola have been suspended for his actions against the Montreal Canadiens?

16:24: Do the Vegas Golden Knights have a sustainable style of management?

19:03: Which playoff team has the most questionable goaltending situation heading into the post-season?

24:22: Could Lane Hutson contend for the Norris Trophy as early as next season?

26:12: Which team that has clinched a playoff spot is most likely to be upset in the first round?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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In both style and substance, the St. Louis Blues look a lot like a team that was pretty successful six years ago.

Since the NHL broke for the 4 Nations Face-Off almost two months ago, the Blues have transformed themselves from hapless deadline seller to legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Going 16-2-2 since the break, the Blues have not only made up an eight-point gap to find themselves comfortably in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they've also morphed into a team nobody in the NHL wants anything to do with in the first round of the playoffs.

Blues' Jordan Binnington Rewarded For Stellar MonthSt. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has been named the NHL's Third Star of the Month for March. 

Imagine you're the Winnipeg Jets.

You put together an incredible campaign with all kinds of individual and franchise bests and your reward is to face the Blues in the first round. Or you win the Pacific Division, as the Vegas Golden Knights almost certainly will, only to have to face the Blues.

That's not exactly a reward. If anything, it's a punishment.

Here's more in today's video column:

Brad Marchand has no goals and one assist since joining the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. But coach Paul Maurice said he is not worried about the lack of production — or lack of chemistry — from the 36-year-old.

After all, it’s been just four games. Let's talk after four rounds.

That's why the Panthers were willing to give up a first-round pick for Marchand. Not because he was going to help them in the final weeks of the regular season. But because of what he could do in the post-season, where the Panthers are trying to win back-to-back championships and reach the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive year.

Before that happens, Maurice must decide where Marchand fits best.

"I’m going to try to play him with as many people," said Maurice.

Prior to coming to Florida, Marchand had played 1,090 games with the Boston Bruins.  During that span, he had won a Stanley Cup and reached the final another two times. That's quite the resume. It's also quite a long time to spend with one team.

In other words, it’s natural to assume that there is going to be an adjustment period, where Marchand not only gets used to playing with new teammates, but also for fans to get used to seeing him in a jersey that is not black-and-yellow.

So far, there's still a feeling out process.

“I feel exactly about where he’s at is where Vladimir Tarasenko was last year kind of when he came in with those six weeks and I played him with everybody,” Maurice told The Hockey News following a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

“We’re going to be a little patient with it.”

Five Teams Brad Marchand Could Play For Next SeasonNHL star left winger Brad Marchand made his debut with the Florida Panthers Friday night, but his contract status – that makes him a UFA at the end of this season – has already started speculation as to where he could wind up playing next year and beyond.

Like Marchand, Tarasenko had pretty much spent his entire career with the St. Louis Blues before going to Ottawa and then getting moved to Florida at last year's deadline. In the process, he went from being a top-line scorer to someone who played more of a depth role.

At his age in his career, Marchand may have to undergo a similar transition. But with Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov both missing from the lineup due to injuries, Maurice has an opportunity to experiment playing Marchand in a variety of line combinations.

“We’re really excited about a (power play) unit potentially with him Sam Bennett and maybe Carter (Verhaeghe),” said Maurice, who played Marchand on a line with Bennett and Evan Rodrigues against the Leafs. “We’ve got some moving parts here right now with players out of our lineup, so I think that continues until we get to hopefully to the playoffs and then we just make a decision and then go.”

Brad Marchand Gunning For First Cup In 14 Years – No Wonder He's With The PanthersBrad Marchand is on the verge of making his debut with the Florida Panthers.

Aside from his linemates, one of the biggest changes for Marchand has so far come in the ice time department. In his final games in Boston, he was logging more than 22 minutes. In four games with the Panthers, his time has been cut by about four minutes.

However, he's been getting increased responsibility as his comfort level continues to grow.

“He’s fit in seamlessly,” said Rodrigues. “It’s always hard when you play for one team for 17 years or whatever it was. There’s obviously going to be a transition period, but I think he’s done a great job. He’ll continue to get better and he’ll continue to get comfortable.

“He’ll get to a point where he’s not thinking about systems or anything like that. The play will just come naturally to him.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the cusp of standing alone with the longest active NHL playoff streak.

Toronto clinched a playoff spot for the ninth straight season on Wednesday night, while it’s a matter of time before the Eastern Conference’s last place team, the Boston Bruins, are eliminated from contention. Both clubs were tied for the longest streak at eight seasons.

In the most important sense, the Leafs’ streak of playoff appearances doesn’t mean much besides the fact that the pressure to win at least a couple of rounds is higher than ever. They’ve only won one playoff round in eight seasons. 

Not only that, but since 2016-17, the Leafs have the 15th-most playoff wins and the 15th-most playoff games played. This is a stark reminder of how many chances the Buds have blown.

Toronto’s active playoff streak is an emotional double-edged sword for Leafs fans. Most of them remember the lean years, when the Buds didn’t make the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons beginning in 2005-06. So, having playoff games for what will be nine straight years now is far preferable to the alternative of no playoff games.

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Logs More PK Minutes, But At What Cost?Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews hasn’t scored as many goals this year, but he has a significant career high elsewhere.

However, if the Maple Leafs do get eliminated in the first or second round of this year’s post-season – or even if they win two playoff series and then get unceremoniously swept in the Eastern final – there will be no moral victories.

There won’t be any more excuses that will satisfy Leafs fans if they don’t excel in the playoffs under all that pressure. There will be no more press conferences where Leafs brass talks about patience and the learning process. Those days are long over. 

The only thing Leafs fans will want is turnover. If that means saying goodbye to pending Leafs UFAs Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Leafs fans may say, “so be it.” This should be the team's last chance at running it back with the same core in hopes that things eventually improve because they already changed the coach, and they changed the GM two years ago.

It’s no wonder that the stakes are sky-high for the Buds this spring. They may win the highly competitive Atlantic Division, but imagine the fallout if they follow up with a first-round loss to the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens. Or imagine the blowback if the Leafs get out of Round 1, only to be demolished by the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2. The mushroom cloud of anger and frustration that could envelop the franchise will return bigger than usual.

So, while it will be a slight moral victory if the Leafs extend the longest active playoff streak and win the division for the first 82-game season since the 1999-2000 campaign, it won’t matter one iota if Toronto doesn’t reward its customers with a serious playoff run. 

They’ve shown encouraging signs of grinding out wins and playing playoff-style hockey this season, so it’s about time they take advantage of it in the post-season. Otherwise, all these years of getting into the playoffs will amount to a Blue-And-White hill of beans.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

With fewer than 10 games to go, the playoff picture doesn’t look that much clearer.

While the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals remain first and second in the NHL standings, the Dallas Stars have now joined the century club thanks to a six-game winning streak. 

Speaking of winning streaks, there is no team hotter right now than the St. Louis Blues. With Cam Fowler’s overtime-winner Tuesday, the Blues have now won 10 straight games. Much credit goes to Jobu, the mysterious voodoo doll bobblehead from Major League that’s suddenly brough all the good vibes to their dressing room.

Upcoming key matchups with major playoff implications include Lightning at Senators on Thursday; Oilers at Kings, Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs on Saturday; Panthers at Red Wings on Sunday; and also the Golden Knights’ back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday against the Flames and Canucks, respectively. 

The great chase – for playoff positioning and also Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record – is at full attention. 

1. Winnipeg Jets (51-20-4, +80. Previous: 1)

A 4-1 loss to the Kings was the only blemish for the NHL’s only 50-win team (so far). Winning the Presidents’ Trophy will mean a lot to this organization despite its history of not being a good indicator of future playoff success. 

2. Dallas Stars (49-21-4, +65. Previous: 5)

The Stars’ six-game winning streak – even if the matchups were pretty easy – finally knocks the Jets and Capitals off the top two spots. The Robertson-Hintz-Rantanen line looks like it might be the best in the NHL, amassing 24 points over their past six games.

3. Washington Capitals (48-17-9, +71. Previous: 2)

A tough stretch for the Capitals allowing 12 goals in two games following an overtime loss to the Jets, and narrowly beating the horrific Bruins after blowing a 2-0 first-period lead. However, the good vibes keep coming; Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of tying Gretzky’s record and top prospect Ryan Leonard has joined the club.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (45-24-4, +42. Previous: 4)

The Hurricanes finished March with the best record in the East (11-3-0) despite having the seventh-worst power play. They’re an excellent team nonetheless and seemed locked into a first-round matchup against the Devils, which they will likely win. Maybe they'll advance one more round before it all falls apart, right?

5. Colorado Avalanche (45-26-4, +40. Previous: 3)

A big 4-0 win over the Kings followed a 2-1 loss to the Blues and then a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames where they blew a 2-0 lead. It’s not often you see the Avs score so few goals. Good thing, though, the Hawks and Jackets are coming up, which are allowing the second-most and sixth-most goals per game, respectively. 

6. Edmonton Oilers (43-26-5, +22. Previous: 8)

Leon Draisaitl’s spectacular performance against the Flames and being a virtual lock to win the Rocket Richard is just more resume padding to be the league MVP. The Oilers will be the only team to have two different winners of the Rocket Richard since the award was introduced, following Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos for the Lightning.

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?

7. Vegas Golden Knights (45-21-8, +54. Previous: 7)

Despite the loss to the Oilers, the Knights become the first team in the Pacific to clinch a playoff spot. They’ll likely be able to decide who gets the final wild-card spot, too, with two games each against the Flames and Canucks to finish the season. 

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (45-25-4, +23. Previous: 11)

I don’t think the Maple Leafs are getting enough credit for grinding out games. They have the best points percentage (.692) in one-goal games, the second-best winning percentage (.885) when leading after one period, the sixth-best (.939) when leading after two and the most wins (eight) when trailing after two. They’ve improved in each of these categories significantly from last season. 

9. Los Angeles Kings (42-23-9, +32. Previous: 6)

Despite losing to the Avalanche and Leafs, wins over San Jose and Winnipeg keep the Kings second in the Pacific. They currently hold home-ice advantage against the Oilers in the first round if the playoffs started today. That said, L.A. is 2-6 against Edmonton at home in the last three playoff series, compared to 4-6 on the road.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-25-5, +72. Previous: 9)

The Lightning could have as many as five (!) 30-goal scorers this season – Anthony Cirelli is four away from 30 – which has not been done since the 1992-93 season. Their lineup feels deeper and like a legit contender for the first time in three seasons.

11. St. Louis Blues (41-28-7, +18. Previous: 12)

There are the NHL’s hottest team with shades of 2019, but instead of "Gloria!" it’s the mysterious Jobu and his voodoo magic. The Blues are doing this without a bona fide superstar, which is perhaps the most amazing thing about their run.

Five First-Year Coaches Having Strong Impacts On Their NHL TeamsIf we’re going to talk about new NHL coaches doing good things this season, we probably shouldn’t look past our newest candidate. 

12. Montreal Canadiens (35-30-9, -25. Previous: 13)

We need playoff games at the Bell Centre. The hockey gods demand it.

13. Florida Panthers (44-26-4, +34. Previous: 10)

Consecutive losses to the Canadiens and zero regulations wins (!) over the past two weeks drop the Panthers into the worst slump of their season since mid-November when they went 1-6-0. There’s no panic with this club, but having home ice in Game 7 in the opening round of the Atlantic Division matchup – there’s no way it doesn’t go seven – would be huge.

14. New Jersey Devils (40-29-7, +26. Previous: 17)

The Devils are limping into the post-season, virtually a lock for the third seed in the Metro with a first-round matchup against the Canes. Since the season-ending injury to Jack Hughes, the Devils are barely over .500 at 7-6-1. 

15. Minnesota Wild (41-28-6, -10. Previous: 15)

The good news is Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov are getting closer to returning. The bad news is, if the Wild slip any more, they could slip out of a playoff spot. The Flames and Canucks each have one game in hand, and the Wild face both of them on the road in a back-to-back next Friday and Saturday.

16. Ottawa Senators (39-29-6, -1. Previous: 14)

They secured a key win against the Jackets but somehow scored zero – zero! – goals against the Pens and lost to the Sabres for the fourth straight time. While the Sens’ playoff hopes have likely been sealed, they do have tough matchups coming up, including a home-and-home series against the suddenly red-hot Jackets.

Almost There: Ottawa Senators Set To End Playoff Drought Before Red Wings, SabresThe Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings all had the same goal this season.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-30-9, -4. Previous: 21)

How wonderful to see the Jackets’ offense get back on track following a stretch where they scored just one goal in four games. The returns of Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner have provided a huge boost, and despite some close shaves, the Jackets have now won three of their past four with 21 goals scored. 

18. Utah Hockey Club (34-29-12, -17. Previous: 18)

It’s likely too little, too late for Utah, whose win against the Flames on Tuesday moved them two points closer. The losing streaks in December and January ultimately did them in, and despite playing the Preds twice in their final seven games, they have a tough schedule to finish the season.

19. Calgary Flames (35-27-12, -25. Previous: 16)

An impressive four-game winning streak but then only three points out of eight possible points against conference foes. The Flames are really close, but they’ll need to win – good thing they face the Ducks and Sharks in three of their next four – and the Wild to keep stumbling. 

20. Vancouver Canucks (34-27-13, -16. Previous: 20)

That the Canucks managed to stay in the playoff race despite battling so many injuries and internal strife is a testament to this team’s potential. But it’s been just one thing after another, and now contract talks with coach Rick Tocchet further threaten the continuity of this team. 

21. Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8, -28. Previous: 27)

It’s not talked about enough how the Ducks have really improved from last season, though they’re likely next to be eliminated from the playoff race in the West. The Ducks have had plenty of losing streaks over the past few seasons but since Jan. 21 have not lost more than two games in a row. 

22. New York Rangers (35-32-7, +2. Previous: 19)

The sea change that Chris Drury is probably still in process because not a whole lot has changed with the Rangers. They have only three regulation wins since March 5 and face a gauntlet of Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay to finish the season.

23. Buffalo Sabres (32-36-6, -19. Previous: 24)

Trust the Sabres to win games when it no long really matters. They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10, the best record outside of the East’s top six teams, including wins over the Jets and Caps. They’re doing this with James friggin’ Reimer in net. The Sabres have the talent but only ever seem to win when it doesn’t really matter.

24. Detroit Red Wings (34-33-7, -23. Previous: 23)

Since March 1, the Wings have the second-worst record in the league (4-10-1) and lost key points to the Sens. Now, they face the daunting task of facing teams that are higher in the standings for the rest of the season. At this point, I’m not sure if this is a sabotage of the Yzerplan or another massive miss.

25. New York Islanders (32-32-10, -26. Previous: 22)

Patrick Roy had some choice words for Anthony Duclair, and he’s probably the most entertaining soundbite since the Flyers fired John Tortorella. They’ve lost six in a row and now fall five points back of a wild-card spot. The Isles can’t score, but this is inevitably what happens when you fill your roster with a few top six players and a bunch of bottom six ones.

26. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-34-11, -56. Previous: 25)

Tristan Jarry looked so promising – as did the Pens’ playoff hopes, however slim – but then they imploded once again, and now find themselves basically on the outside looking in again. While Sidney Crosby’s Pens had much more success earlier in his career, the contrast between them and Alex Ovechkin’s Caps has been really stark. 

27. Seattle Kraken (31-38-6, -21. Previous: 26)

With one win in their past six games and no playoffs yet again, you wonder how the Kraken can pull themselves out of mediocrity. Will they take some big swings again, as they did this off-season, or patiently wait until Matty Beniers and Shane Wright are top-tier NHL players? 

28. Philadelphia Flyers (31-36-9, -46. Previous: 32)

The coaching bump under Brad Shaw seems to be real, and at least the Flyers are scoring again. Let’s face it, though – no coach could’ve coaxed much out of this lineup, and John Tortorella’s patience finally ran out, not that he had a wealth of it to begin with.

29. Nashville Predators (27-40-8, -55. Previous: 28)

Juuse Saros was pulled Tuesday against the Jackets in an 8-4 loss. Never mind the disappointing offense; when their best player isn’t their best player, they have zero chance. The key question is if Barry Trotz makes big moves again in the summer or steps back and hopes this team can resolve its problems itself.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Trade Stamkos? Go Young? What's Next For The Predators?A season that began with high expectations for the Nashville Predators after a summer of notable free-agent signings will end in disappointment. 

30. San Jose Sharks (20-44-10, -89. Previous: 29)

Even when Macklin Celebrini’s car gets hit by the opposition’s team bus – intentional or not, who knows – and despite sitting last in the standings, the Sharks have this aura about them that good things really going to come. They’re a really entertaining team. They’re dynamic on offense, while their defense and goaltending is worth watching for all the wrong reasons.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (21-44-9, -68. Previous: 31)

Yes, the Hawks have won consecutive games just once since Dec. 19, but things keep getting better, if only slightly. We’ll overlook Spencer Knight’s numbers because the team in front of him isn’t very good, but he’s shown flashes of a potential future No. 1, and top prospects Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel recently signed. The question for them, and the NHL’s marketing team, is when we can see Connor Bedard in the playoffs. 

32. Boston Bruins (30-36-9, -52. Previous: 30)

Ranking the Bruins third-last last week felt a little strange and somewhat insulting for a team that had been dominant for nearly two decades, but that crash you hear with that nine-game winless streak is the sound of this Bruins era catastrophically collapsing.

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