NHL Rumor Mill – March 17, 2025

by | Mar 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 17, 2025

Check out the latest Mitch Marner speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons reports Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner didn’t immediately respond when asked about waiving his no-movement clause to go to the Carolina Hurricanes. Instead, he slept on it before declining the invitation to be dealt to the Hurricanes in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

Simmons believes this is indicative that Marner’s actions don’t match his words about wanting to remain a Maple Leaf. The 28-year-old winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1 but has declined to discuss extending his contract during this season. That’s why the Leafs explored the possibility of acquiring Rantanen when the opportunity presented itself.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Simmons also believes the Hurricanes leaked the story that they and the Leafs were discussing a Marner-Rantanen swap before the trade deadline. He also cited a hockey insider claiming Marner is tired of being the public pinata of the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I forewarned everyone that we’d start seeing more speculation about Marner’s future after Rantanen was traded to Dallas, where the latter signed an eight-year contract extension. That made the Leafs winger the biggest name in this summer’s free-agent market.

It was reported the Leafs told Marner their priority was signing him when they approached him about the Hurricanes’ offer. If he was uncertain about signing, they let him know there was an opportunity to go to Carolina.

Marner and his agent are the only ones who know what he intends to do and they’re keeping silent on the matter as is their right. Rejecting the chance to go to Carolina suggests he wants to remain in Toronto. Then again, maybe they weren’t the right fit.

Whether Marner remains a Leaf beyond this season depends on two things: the club’s performance in the upcoming playoffs, and how much it’ll cost to keep him in Toronto. Everything else is irrelevant.

THE ATHLETIC: A reader asked Josh Yohe if the Pittsburgh Penguins will attempt to sign Marner if he tests the free-agent market on July 1.

Yohe acknowledged the connection between Marner and Penguins general manager (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ plentiful cap space next season, the winger’s friendship with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and how Marner would fit into the Pens’ desire to add younger talent to their aging roster.

However, Yohe doesn’t see Marner coming to Pittsburgh. He cites sources suggesting Dubas doesn’t intend to make a major move until next summer. It’s also unlikely that Marner will want to sign with a rebuilding team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stranger things have happened, but Yohe is correct in his assessment that it is unlikely that Marner will end up with the Penguins this summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa suggested Marner could be an ideal candidate to fill the No. 2 right-wing position on the Boston Bruins. He also suggested Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets would be the ideal candidate for the left-wing position on their second line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins probably have a better chance of landing Ehlers than Marner, who’ll likely want to join a playoff contender where he’ll see first-line minutes, something he won’t get on the Bruins with David Pastrnak in that role.

Besides, the Bruins would have to pay Marner more than what they’re paying Pastrnak ($11.25 million), and we know they’re not doing that for a second-line right wing.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 17, 2025

by | Mar 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 17, 2025

The Avalanche spoil Mikko Rantanen’s homecoming, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl extends his points streak, plus the latest on Auston Matthews, Travis Konecny and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche spoiled Mikko Rantanen’s return with a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Cale Makar scored in overtime and collected two assists while teammates Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin each had a goal and an assist. Rantanen collected an assist on Jason Robertson’s game-opening goal while teammates Mavrik Bourque and Matt Duchene scored in the third period to force the extra frame.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen received a standing ovation from the Colorado fans during his video tribute. He spent nearly 10 seasons with the Avalanche.

The Avalanche are 8-0-1 in their last nine games, gaining ground on Dallas in the Central Division standings. They sit two points behind the Stars in third place with 85 points. Dallas has dropped three of their last four contests.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl had an assist to extend his points streak to 18 games as his club downed the New York Rangers 3-1. Connor McDavid scored and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins collected three assists as the Oilers (82 points) moved one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings into second place in the Pacific Division. Will Cuylle replied for the Rangers as they cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Zach Hyman missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek made 18 saves to shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0. Albert Johansson, Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper scored for the Wings as they picked up their second win in their last nine games. The victory moves within two points of the Rangers in the wild-card race. The Golden Knights sit first in the Pacific Division with 86 points but have dropped four of their last five games.

The St. Louis Blues cruised to a 7-2 drubbing of the Anaheim Ducks. Jordan Kyrou collected three assists while Dylan Holloway and Jake Neighbours each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are tied with the Vancouver Canucks with 73 points. Cutter Gauthier and Mason McTavish each had two points for the Ducks.

Speaking of the Canucks, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Utah Hockey Club. Logan Cooley snapped a 1-1 tie and Clayton Keller put the game away with an empty-net goal as Utah sits two points behind the Blues and Canucks. Quinn Hughes scored for Vancouver, who hold the final Western wild-card spot with a game in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The race for the final Western wild card is heating up. For a while, it was just the Canucks and the Calgary Flames jockeying for that spot, but the Blues and Utah have surged over the past couple of weeks to make this interesting.

Canucks center Filip Chytil missed this game as he’s in concussion protocol following an unpenalized blindside hit by Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club announced that a lower-body injury has sidelined forward Liam O’Brien for the next four weeks.

The New York Islanders kept their playoff hopes alive by doubling up the Florida Panthers 4-2. Marc Gatcomb, Maxim Tsyplakov, Noah Dobson and Simon Holmstrom scored four unanswered third-period goals for the Isles (68 points), putting them four points behind the Rangers. Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 85 points but have dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly returned to action after undergoing surgery in November for an abnormality in his heart, skating over 14 minutes and collecting an assist. Teammate Adam Pelech missed this game with a lower-body injury. Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews continues to be hampered by an undisclosed injury that has affected his scoring. Nevertheless, he’s determined to remain in the lineup as the Leafs jockey for playoff positioning with 16 games left in the regular season.

THE ATHLETIC: Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny is mired in a goal-scoring slump with one goal in his last 21 games. He’s also dealing with the departures of friends and former teammates Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee this season.

ROTOBALLER: Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich is in concussion protocol following a hit by Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden on Saturday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Sunday’s PWHL game between the Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens drew 14, 288 to Detroit’s Little Caesar’s Arena, setting the US attendance record for women’s hockey. The Sirens defeated the Frost 4-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The PWHL has drawn 1 million fans in just two seasons.

RG.ORG: Former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk officially announced his retirement last week. The first-overall pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2001 NHL Draft, Kovalchuk spent 13 seasons in the league with the Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. Winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2003-04, he finished with 443 goals and 433 assists for 876 points, and 11 goals and 28 points in 40 playoff games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kovalchuk was among the league’s most dazzling goal-scorers in his prime, He exceeded the 40-goal plateau six times between 2003-04 and 2009-10, including two 52-goal seasons.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 16, 2025

by | Mar 16, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 16, 2025

Recent updates regarding this summer’s top unrestricted free agents in this Sunday’s NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently examined the status of this summer’s top unrestricted free agents

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner tops the list. If he goes to market, he could become the highest-paid player in the league. The 28-year-old winger has previously expressed a desire to re-sign with the Leafs but has rebuffed the club’s attempts to negotiate during the season.

Fox noted that the Carolina Hurricanes offered Mikko Rantanen for Marner before the trade deadline. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving took the idea to Marner, who declined to waive his no-movement clause.

“So, here we are: A team unsure if its star wants to stay, and an in-demand talent who holds all the power over his future.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The longer Marner remains unsigned, the more his future will be the subject of growing media speculation leading up to July 1.

All is quiet regarding contract talks between the Winnipeg Jets and Nikolaj Ehlers. The 29-year-old winger was the subject of trade speculation last summer, with one report suggesting he’d welcome a change of scenery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers popped up a few times in the rumor mill this season as some pundits speculated whether the Jets would move him before the trade deadline. Don’t expect to hear anything more about his contract situation until after the Jets’ playoff run is over.

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun has been a good fit with the Washington Capitals since his acquisition last summer from the Ottawa Senators. Both sides are reportedly willing to keep the relationship going.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be surprising if the 27-year-old Chychrun doesn’t re-sign with the Capitals. He’s recently bounced around a bit and is keen to settle down with a winning club.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (NHL Images).

The Maple Leafs have had preliminary contract discussions with John Tavares. The 34-year-old center wants to stay in Toronto, but the Leafs are letting things play out for now because they’re focused on other priorities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tavares knows he must accept a pay cut, but there might not be enough cap space left after they’ve addressed their “other priorities” (Marner). The cost of keeping him will be determined by the cost of re-signing Marner or replacing him.

Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito has been working hard to get Sam Bennett signed to a contract extension. Fox believes it’ll come down to whether the 29-year-old center prefers life in South Florida over earning top dollar.

Fox’s colleague Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Zito has re-opened contract extension talks with the Bennett camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have $19 million in projected cap space for 2025-26. They must re-sign or replace Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, Nate Schmidt and Vitek Vanecek. They have enough to re-sign Bennett, but how much of a raise he seeks will determine whether he has a future in Florida beyond this season.

The Vancouver Canucks tried and failed to trade Brock Boeser for a decent return. The Carolina Hurricanes were one club with a measure of interest in the 28-year-old winger. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin claimed the offers he received were underwhelming.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks could bend and re-sign Boeser, but he seems destined to depart as a UFA on July 1.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is the second-longest-serving Florida Panther player. However, the recent addition of right-shot blueliner Seth Jones raises an eyebrow. Fox also wondered if the recent 20-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy could affect the 29-year-old Ekblad’s efforts to remain with the Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding Jones provides more right-side depth on the Panthers’ blueline. He’s also an insurance policy if Ekblad heads to market on July 1.

Brad Marchand’s future with the Panthers appears to be in wait-and-see mode. They acquired the 36-year-old winger from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline. “How does Marchand fit? And how far can Florida’s repeat bid go?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This seems like a rental situation. The Panthers had the opportunity to bolster their roster with Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the regular season. Marchand will likely end up as a UFA on July 1, even if he helps the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

The Colorado Avalanche acquired Brock Nelson at the trade deadline. The 33-year-old’s future with the club could depend on how well he fits as their second-line center over the remainder of this season and into the playoffs. The Avs have the cap space to extend him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Nelson’s age, he’ll have to accept a short-term deal for around his current AAV ($6 million) to stay with the Avalanche.

There is no indication of contract extension talks between the Jets and defenseman Neal Pionk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The latter expressed little concern about that situation, recently telling Daily Faceoff he was comfortable with how things were going. The Jets could end up re-signing the 29-year-old blueliner.

Matt Duchene is completing his second straight one-year, $3 million contract with the Dallas Stars. Given how well he fits with them, the 34-year-old center could accept another one-year deal to stay in Dallas.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 16, 2025

by | Mar 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 16, 2025

Alex Ovechkin is within eight goals of breaking the all-time goals record, Sidney Crosby reaches another milestone, the Rangers regain a playoff spot, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 887th regular-season goal in a 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. Ovechkin also collected an assist while teammates Tom Wilson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Lars Eller each had two assists. Macklin Celebrini replied for the Sharks.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals are tied with the Winnipeg Jets with 96 points but the latter holds first place in the overall standings with 46 wins.

The Pittsburgh Penguins extended their winning streak to four games by defeating the New Jersey Devils 7-3. Connor Dewar scored two goals and Philip Tomasino had a goal and an assist for the Penguins. Jesper Bratt had three assists for the Devils, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected an assist to tie Wayne Gretzky for fourth place for most points with one franchise with 1,669. Gordie Howe leads the pack with 1,809, Steve Yzerman is second with 1,755, and Mario Lemieux is third with 1,723.

The Ottawa Senators collected their sixth straight win by doubling up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2, handing the latter their fifth loss in their last six games. Three answered goals by David Perron, Claude Giroux and Michael Amadio gave the Senators the win. William Nylander and Auston Matthews scored for the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs slipped to third place in the Atlantic Division with 81 points, with the Senators (77 points) only four points behind, holding the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli scored two goals in a 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Victor Hedman, Nick Paul and Darren Raddysh each had a goal and an assist as the Lightning tied the Leafs with 81 points. Elias Lindholm and Marat Khusnutdinov scored for the Bruins (68), who sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning holds second place in the Atlantic Division with 33 regulation wins, while the Leafs have 31.

Speaking of the final Eastern wild card, the New York Rangers (72 points) took sole possession of that position by blanking the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0, knocking the Jackets (70 points) out of that spot. Igor Shesterkin had a 21-save shutout,t while Vincent Trocheck scored twice. The Blue Jackets have dropped five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox collected an assist in his return from an eight-game absence with an upper-body injury. The Blue Jackets have been this season’s feel-good story by exceeding expectations to contend for a playoff berth. However, they’ve been wobbling over the past half-dozen games and are in danger of falling further behind the Rangers and Canadiens.

The Montreal Canadiens kept pace with the Rangers with a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist and Sam Montembeault made 21 saves as the Canadiens sit one point behind the Rangers and one point ahead of the Blue Jackets.

Speaking of wild-card races, the Vancouver Canucks (73 points) hold a two-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western berth following a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Elias Pettersson, Conor Garland and Pius Suter each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Ryan Donato had two assists for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks center Filip Chytil left the game after being hit from behind into the boards by Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson, who was not penalized. There was no postgame update on his condition. Blackhawks star Connor Bedard received his second straight 10-minute misconduct following a scuffle late in the third period.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou tallied a hat trick to lead his club past the Minnesota Wild 5-1. Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are 8-2-2 in their last dozen games and sit two points behind the Canucks. Jake Middelton scored for the Wild, who hold the first wild-card spot with 79 points but have only three wins in their last 10 contests.

The Los Angeles Kings nipped the Nashville Predators 1-0 on an overtime goal by Quentin Byfield, extending his goal streak to six games. Darcy Kuemper turned in a 24-save shutout as the Kings (81 points) moved one point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers into second place in the Pacific Division. Justus Annunen turned aside 20 shots for the Predators.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves to blank the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0. Mark Jankowski tallied twice while Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who won six straight games and hold second place in the Metro Division with 86 points. The Flyers have lost six of their last seven games.

The Buffalo Sabres upset the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on a shootout goal by Alex Tuch. Rasmus Dahlin scored the tying goal with 14 seconds remaining in the third period. Adin Hill stopped 37 shots for the Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 86 points.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 15, 2025

by | Mar 15, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 15, 2025

Updates on the Rangers and Jets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh recently looked ahead at possible offseason moves by the New York Rangers.

The Rangers have a projected $84 million invested in 17 active roster players for 2025-26, leaving them with less than $11 million in cap space. With restricted free agents K’Andre Miller and Will Cuylle due for new contracts, it won’t leave much room to take a big swing in the free-agent market this summer.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Baugh believes the Rangers must move players out if they’re going to make substantial roster changes this summer. Chris Kreider is the obvious trade candidate, though moving his $6.5 million cap hit won’t be easy given his 15-team no-trade list and disappointing performance this season.

The Rangers could trade Miller if he proves too expensive to re-sign, but that would risk letting a high-upside player get away. Trading Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin would free up even more cap space, but they have full no-movement clauses.

Baugh also wondered if a rival club with plentiful cap space, like the Chicago Blackhawks, might attempt to sign away someone like Cuylle with an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin might draw more interest than Kreider or Zibanejad because he has a year left on his contract. He has a hefty $11.6 million AAV but will earn $8 million in actual salary next season, with $7 million of that a signing bonus.

Panarin’s production is down compared to the last three seasons but he has 69 points in 64 games. He could be of interest to a Cup contender seeking additional scoring punch. Still, he’d have to agree to a trade and the Rangers would probably have to retain part of his cap hit.

So, what say you, Rangers fans? What moves should your team make to free up cap space for meaningful change? Let us know in the comments section below.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Athletic’s Murat Ates discussed Neal Pionk’s future with the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible this summer with 37 points in 65 games this season. His production cooled off lately before he was sidelined by a lower-body injury.

Ates said Pionk is comfortable with the state of negotiations between his agent and Jets management. He expects the Jets want to retain him to keep their second-pairing defense core intact. Pionk skates alongside Dylan Samberg, who’s a restricted free agent this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pionk is completing a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.875 million. It could cost around $7.5 million annually to keep him in Winnipeg. As a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman, he could draw lots of interest if he tests the free-agent market on July 1.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2025

by | Mar 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2025

Oilers star Leon Draisaitl reaches 100 points, the Jets take sole possession of first overall, the Golden Knights re-sign Adin Hill, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl scored twice in a 2-1 overtime victory over the New York Islanders. Draisaitl became the second player this season to reach 100 points and is one goal away from becoming the first this season to score 50 goals. Bo Horvat replied for the Islanders, who got a 33-save performance from Ilya Sorokin.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl sits two points behind league leader Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche in the point races. The Oilers vaulted one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings into second place in the Pacific Division with 80 points. With 66 points, the Islanders are four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Speaking of Nathan MacKinnon, he was held scoreless as his Colorado Avalanche doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Parker Kelly tallied twice and Scott Wedgewood stopped 22 shots for the Avalanche, who sit third in the Central Division with 83 points. Blake Coleman and Jonathan Huberdeau replied for the Flames, who cling to the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 71 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have dropped six of their last eight games. They are tied in points with the Vancouver Canucks but hold that wild card with 24 regulation wins. Flames captain Mikael Backlund missed this game as he’s week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor scored two goals and Mark Scheifele collected three assists in a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars. The Jets regained sole possession of first place in the overall standings with 96 points. Mason Marchment scored for the Stars, who sit 10 points behind the Jets in second place in the Central Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Neal Pionk missed this game as he’s week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes held off the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 to pick up their sixth straight win. Jack Roslovic had a goal and an assist and Frederik Andersen made 24 saves for the Hurricanes, who are second in the Metropolitan Division with 84 points. Alex DeBrincat and Michael Rasmussen scored for the Wings, who’ve lost seven of their last eight games to sit two points out of the final Eastern wild card with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Just like this point last year, the Red Wings are slumping at the wrong time. With five other clubs jockeying for that final wild card, they’re in danger of extending their franchise-record playoff drought to nine years.

Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen scored two goals and collected an assist in a 4-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Kaapo Kakko snapped a 2-2 tie and Philipp Grubauer turned aside 23 shots for the win. Nick Schmaltz and Kevin Stenlund scored for Utah (69 points), who remain two points behind the Flames in the Western wild-card race.

The Anaheim Ducks nipped the Nashville Predators 2-1. Lukas Dostal got the win with a 28-save performance while Troy Terry and Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks (65 points), who are six points out of the final Western wild card. Jakub Vrana replied for the Predators.

HEADLINES

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights signed goaltender Adin Hill to a six-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $6.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hill has established himself as the Golden Knights’ starting goalie. He has a record of 24-11-4 with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney met with his team’s veteran core twice during this season, warning them that changes would be coming to the roster if things didn’t change on the ice. Three of those players (Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle and Brandon Carlo) were shipped out by the March 7 trade deadline.

DAILY FACEOFF: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is unavailable for personal reasons. They recalled Jet Greaves from their AHL affiliate in Cleveland.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tkachuk missed the final minutes of the Senators’ 6-3 win over the Bruins on Thursday due to a hip issue.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres forward Josh Norris is dealing with an undisclosed injury unrelated to his surgically-repaired shoulder. Acquired from the Senators last Friday, he has a goal and an assist in three games with the Sabres.