NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2024

by | Aug 10, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2024

An early look at next summer’s top potential unrestricted free agents in today’s NHL Rumor Mill. 

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl topped Carol Schram’s recent list of next summer’s top potential NHL unrestricted free agents. She considered it inevitable that they would re-sign with their respective clubs

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Since Schram’s list was published on Aug. 1, Crosby and the Penguins are reportedly close to an agreement on a contract extension. Meanwhile, talks between Draisaitl and the Oilers are in the preliminary stage but look positive thus far. 

Turning to the 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, Aaron Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett could face uncertain futures. Verhaeghe and Bennett could price themselves out of Florida. Schram wouldn’t be surprised if the 29-year-old Ekblad is traded this season. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers speculate Ekblad might re-sign with the Panthers if his value in the UFA market is lower than expected. Others think he could be moved while Verhaeghe and Bennett are re-signed. 

Turning to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the cone of silence has dropped on Mitch Marner. “Extend? Get traded? Leave in free agency? All three options still seem like very real possibilities,” writes Schram. She also considers it “highly possible” that Leafs captain John Tavares moves on next summer. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner’s no-movement clause ensures he’ll finish this season with the Leafs unless he changes his mind about a trade. Signing an extension or departing next July as a UFA seems the more likely. As for Tavares, some observers suggested that they might keep him if he’s willing to accept a big pay cut on a short-term deal. 

Schram believes the Colorado Avalanche intends to re-sign winger Mikko Rantanen but must determine what the future holds for sidelined captain Gabriel Landeskog and suspended winger Valeri Nichushkin. 

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser finally realized his potential last season with a 40-goal campaign. However, he could be headed to a change of scenery if he seeks more than the Canucks are willing to pay. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche will find a way to sign Rantanen and keep their Stanley Cup window open. It will become easier if Landeskog and his $7 million annual cap hit remain on long-term injury reserve. Meanwhile, Boeser’s situation will be interesting to monitor. Another 40-goal campaign could price him out of Vancouver’s market. Then again, it seemed almost certain he was going to be traded two years ago and the Canucks held onto him. 

Jamie Benn’s days of averaging $9.5 million annually are ending. However, the Dallas Stars could hang onto their 35-year-old captain with a series of one-year, bonus-laden contracts. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benn likely wants to stay in Dallas and lead the Stars to the Stanley Cup. They’ll want to keep him around. 

Schram also noted there’s a decent crop of UFA defensemen. They included Ryan Lindgren of the New York Rangers, Jake McCabe of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jakob Chychrun of the Washington Capitals, Neal Pionk of the Winnipeg Jets, Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights, Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings, and Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad is the most notable name among next summer’s top UFAs but it’s clear that next summer’s UFA market is much deeper in big-name forwards. Schram expects some will be re-signed before July 1 and some retained by their teams as “own-rentals” for the 2025 playoffs. 

The most likely to be moved could be Chychrun, Gavrikov, and Provorov if their respective teams are out of playoff contention by the March trade deadline. 

Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers tops Schram’s list of the notable UFA goaltenders. He’s likely to be re-signed but could be seeking a record-breaking salary for a netminder. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed Shesterkin could get around $12.5 million annually. If the Rangers won’t pay it, another club will happily do so via free agency. I’ll be shocked if he ends up signing elsewhere on July 1. 

Linus Ullmark could set himself up for a big payday if he replicates his 2023 Vezina Trophy form with the Ottawa Senators. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What Ullmark does in that scenario will be interesting to observe. Will he stay with the Senators if they meet his asking price? Does he spurn them regardless and hit the open market? Most will assume the latter but you never know.

Joey Daccord of the Seattle Kraken rose to prominence after all but stealing the starter’s job from Philipp Grubauer. Schram wondered if the Kraken could tempt him to stay. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daccord carries a $1.2 million cap hit. A decent raise on a four or five-year contract and the opportunity to be the Kraken’s starting goalie could be all the enticement he’d need.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 9, 2024

by | Aug 9, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 9, 2024

How much could Canucks winger Brock Boeser get on his next contract? Could the Sabres pursue Flyers forward Joel Farabee? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston looked at what Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser could get on his next contract.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser, 27, is coming off the best season of his NHL career, with 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games. He’s in the final season of his three-year contract with a cap hit of $6.65 million, putting him in a strong negotiating position if he repeats last season’s performance.

Johnston argues that Boeser isn’t in the range of the top wingers despite his solid two-way play.

He noted the four players ahead of Boeser on the salary table (Anaheim’s Troy Terry, Minnesota’s Matt Boldy, the New York Islanders’ Anders Lee, and Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog) each carry an average annual value of $7 million.

The next three above them are Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor ($7.142 million), Utah’s Clayton Keller ($7.15 million), and Dallas’ Jason Robertson ($7.75 million).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston believes Boeser will get a raise on his next contract but it could be difficult to determine how much it’ll be.

It could come in between $7 million and $8 million annually on a seven or eight-year deal. However, another 40-goal season ensures it’ll be pushed into the $9 million range for the Canucks and even higher if he tests the open market.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: During a recent mailbag segment, Lance Lysowski was asked if there was a chance the Sabres remain interested in Philadelphia Flyers forward Joel Farabee.

Lysowksi noted the Sabres have $8.4 million in cap space, of which some will go to re-signing forward Peyton Krebs. However, he believes there’s enough left to add an impact player. He suggested packaging defenseman Connor Clifton in a trade for Farabee or Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

Farabee also underwent the same artificial disk replacement surgery as former Sabre Jack Eichel, which could concern Sabres owner Terry Pegula.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres could add another forward but their signing of Jason Zucker last month could be all they do for now. They’ll likely assess their roster during training camp and preseason but any further additions could come from within.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 22, 2024

by | Jul 22, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 22, 2024

A look ahead at the UFA class of 2025 in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked ahead at next summer’s class of unrestricted free agents.

He excluded Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand, and New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, assuming they’ll sign contract extensions with their current clubs.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner tops Dixon’s list. He notes the 27-year-old winger holds all the cards with his full no-movement clause this season. Marner could play out this season with the Leafs and see what free agency holds next summer. The Leafs could try to re-sign him but Dixon doesn’t expect they’ll come up with a sufficiently high number that’s entice Marner to forego free agency.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner could re-sign with the Leafs if the average annual value is between William Nylander’s $11.5 million and Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million, preferably closer to the latter. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he tests the market.

Dixon also pondered the possibility of the Leafs bringing back captain John Tavares for half his current $11 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs Nation could prefer Tavares accept much less than that. He could get half of his current AAV on the open market. That’ll depend on his performance this season. The decline in his production in 2023-24 was noticeable. A further drop means he won’t get anything close to $5.5 million annually on his next contract from the Leafs or on the open market.

The Ottawa Senators will be keen to sign Linus Ullmark to an extension if his goaltending sparks a turnaround in their fortunes. However, the 30-year-old netminder could wait and see how things unfold this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark will likely stay patient and wait until the end of the season before making a decision.

Dixon noted the Vegas Golden Knights are always up against the salary cap, which could affect efforts to re-sign Shea Theodore. He noted they signed Noah Hanifin to an eight-year contract with an AAV of $7.4 million and wondered if a similar deal could get it done for Theodore.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Theodore seems destined to follow Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson out of Vegas via free agency. They have Hanifin and Alex Pietrangelo carrying AAVs of over $7 million. They can’t afford a third blueliner with that cap hit.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser enjoyed a career-best 40-goal performance last season. A strong start in 2024-25 could see him and the club hammer out an in-season agreement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser will be an expensive re-signing. His current AAV is $6.65 million and he could seek over $9 million on his next deal.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny’s robust play will draw lots of interest if he goes to market next summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Konecny loves being a Flyer and management thinks highly of him. Nevertheless, his future in Philadelphia will depend on the club’s performance this season. If they falter, they could move him at the trade deadline for pieces that will help them rebuild.

It’s believed the Winnipeg Jets could trade Nikolaj Ehlers this summer. However, the Jets surprised us before by re-signing Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele last summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck and Scheifele are the Jets’ franchise players. Ehlers is a complementary winger. If they don’t trade him this summer, he could be moved at the March trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then. Otherwise, they’ll hang onto Ehlers if they’re in the thick of the playoff race and watch him walk next summer.

The Florida Panthers have Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad eligible for UFA status next summer. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to retain all three of them. They could part ways with Ekblad, but that could further weaken their defense corps.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers general manager Bill Zito has shown he can make bold moves to improve his club. For example, he could be proactive before free agency begins on July 1 by acquiring a replacement for Ekblad.

Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill could be the top goalie in next summer’s UFA market if he has a strong performance this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think that honor will belong to Ullmark. Hill plays well when healthy but he’s battled lower-body injuries for several seasons.

Dixon believes Jamie Benn could accept a contract with a lower cap figure to remain with the Dallas Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t see the 35-year-old Benn leaving a Cup contender to chase another lucrative deal. He’s made his big money with his current deal paying him an AAV of $9.5 million. He could accept half that on a short-term deal to stay put.

A strong start to this season might prompt Patrick Kane and the Detroit Red Wings to discuss an extension.

Claude Giroux could stay in Ottawa if the Senators improve this season.

Jakob Chychrun could be anxious to get a long-term deal and plant roots with one team after bouncing among three clubs since 2022. Whether it’s with the Washington Capitals or another club remains to be seen.

The other notables include the Stars’ Esa Lindell, Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, Gustav Nyquist of the Nashville Predators, Adam Larsson of the Seattle Kraken, Neal Pionk of the Jets, Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks, Dmitry Orlov of the Carolina Hurricanes, Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings, Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Taylor Hall of the Chicago Blackhawks.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2024

by | Jul 18, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2024

A look at some notable trade and free-agent rumors facing several Western Conference clubs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently examined lingering offseason questions facing the NHL’s Western Conference teams. Among them were some notable trade and free-agent speculation.

Dixon wondered if the Anaheim Ducks would trade Trevor Zegras. Trade speculation started last fall during their contentious contract negotiations. The 23-year-old was limited to 31 games by injuries last season. He’s an imperfect player but his offensive skills continue to draw interest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has consistently denied the trade rumors, claiming he hasn’t shopped Zegras nor received any trade offers. He’s under no pressure to move the young winger, who has two seasons remaining on his contract. Zegras will remain with the Ducks this season.

The Calgary Flames are now rebuilding their roster. Dixon wondered if they might take on a bloated contract or two from a cap-strapped club in return for a draft pick or a prospect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With over $20 million in cap space and 22 active roster players under contract, the Flames are well-positioned to make that type of deal. Whether they want to is another matter. The earliest we could see such a move is in September or early October as teams with limited cap space or over the $88 million cap look to shed salary before the start of the season.

Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Dixon wonders if the two sides will hammer out a contract extension this summer.

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been quiet on the Rantanen front. The Avalanche faces some short and long-term salary cap uncertainty given Gabriel Landeskog’s attempt at a comeback from knee injuries and Valeri Nichushkin’s returning to the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Both are on long-term contracts. The Avs could be waiting for cap clarification before opening extension talks with Rantanen.

Dixon wondered if the Dallas Stars might scour the trade market for a defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keep an eye on this situation. The depth among the Stars’ right-shot defensemen drops sharply behind Miro Heiskanen with free-agent additions Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba signed to fill those gaps.

Arthur Kaliyev’s future with the Los Angeles Kings could be coming to an end. He’s been on the outs with the club and is a restricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaliyev is coming off an entry-level contract and has been the subject of frequent trade speculation. Don’t be surprised if he ends up traded before the start of the season.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson could be a trade candidate after the Minnesota Wild re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury and promising Jesper Wallstedt waiting in the wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gustavsson surfaced in the rumor mill during the spring but trade speculation about him dried up weeks ago. The Wild could retain him for another season and send Wallstedt back to the minors. 

Dixon pondered the possibility of the Nashville Predators trading goalie Yaroslav Askarov after they signed Juuse Saros to a contract extension and signed free-agent backup Scott Wedgewood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators GM Barry Trotz will set a high asking price for Askarov, who has potential as an NHL starter. Trotz can afford to be patient as he waits for a club seeking goaltending depth to come calling, which could lead to Askarov starting this season with their AHL affiliate.

The Utah Hockey Club made some significant additions to their blueline by acquiring Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino and Ian Cole. Flush with cap space, draft picks and prospects, they might not be done making additions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah GM Bill Armstrong prioritized improving his defense corps this summer. Having addressed that issue, he could shift his focus to other roster areas. Still, he could also keep his powder dry and see what unfolds during this season.

Dixon also wondered if the Vancouver Canucks will work out an extension with winger Brock Boeser.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser made it clear he wants to play for the Canucks despite being the subject of trade rumors leading up to last season. He’s the only core player due for a new contract by next summer.

The Canucks have over $12 million in projected cap space based on a cap of $88 million, but it’s projected it could rise to $92 million for 2025-26. That will give them plenty of room to re-sign Boeser. However, his injury history could have management adopt a wait-and-see approach to this season.

The Vegas Golden Knights have limited cap space for 2024-25. Nevertheless, Dixon wonders if they might have a crafty move up their sleeve to bolster their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas’ depth chart took a beating this summer with the departures of Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, Logan Thompson, Alec Martinez, William Carrier, Michael Amadio and Anthony Mantha. They brought in Victor Olofsson, Alexander Holtz, Ilya Samsonov and Akira Schmid.

The Golden Knights are over the cap by $3.6 million but they’ll get cap relief with Robin Lehner and his $5 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve. They lack room to make a significant addition unless they ship out a salaried player in return.

Recent trade history indicates sleeping on the Golden Knights isn’t wise. However, they will struggle to pull off a major deal this summer.

Dixon concludes by wondering when the Winnipeg Jets intend to trade winger Nikolaj Ehlers and prospect forward Rutger McGroarty. They still have some roster holes to fill and either player could fetch a suitable return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers has a year left on his contract while the Jets still hold McGroarty’s rights. They won’t be in any rush to move either player this summer but one or both could be moved as we get closer to the start of the season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 24, 2024

by | May 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 24, 2024

The Oilers win Game 1 of the Western Conference Final in double overtime, the GM of the Year finalists are announced, the Hurricanes allow GM Don Waddell to speak to other teams, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored in double overtime to lift his club to a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

The Oilers jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, but Dallas winger Tyler Seguin scored twice to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Stars had a golden opportunity to win it early in the first overtime when McDavid was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking Matt Duchene but his teammates successfully killed it.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner got the win with 31 saves. Stars netminder Jake Oettinger turned aside 33 shots, including an impressive stick save on McDavid and a strong pad save on a Dylan Holloway breakaway.

McDavid and Draisaitl each finished the game with two points, with Draisaitl extending his playoff points streak to 13 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dallas keeps having difficulty winning the opening game of a postseason series. Their previous one was in 2020 and their last series-opening home win was in 2016.

The Stars were supposed to have the depth advantage over Edmonton but it wasn’t apparent in this game. They couldn’t keep most of the Oilers’ top scorers (McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman and defenseman Evan Bouchard) off the score sheet in Game 1. The Stars managed to contain the Oilers’ lethal power play but struggled against their penalty killers. Edmonton has the best penalty-killing percentage (92.5) in this postseason thus far.

Dallas center Roope Hintz remains sidelined with an upper-body injury. Oilers forward Adam Henrique remains out with a nagging ankle injury.

Game 2 of this series is in Dallas on Saturday, May 25, at 9 pm EDT.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

NEW YORK POST: Adam Fox’s health remains a concern for the Rangers heading into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday against the Florida Panthers. The former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman has struggled since a knee-on-knee collision with Washington’s Nick Jensen in the first round. Fox has been held pointless in his last five games.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Matthew Tkachuk continues to come up big for the Panthers in postseason play. He scored the winning goal in his club’s 3-0 series-opening win against the Rangers. Tkachuk has scored goals in each Game 1 of his club’s previous two series and is the first player in NHL history with four game-winning goals in his first five conference final games.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks, Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars, and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers are the finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

This is the fourth time Nill has been a finalist for the award, winning it last season. It’s Zito’s third time as a finalist and Allvin’s first.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the three finalists for their fine work with their respective teams this season.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell’s contract will soon expire. Reports from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicate Waddell has been granted permission to speak to other teams. He was interviewed on Thursday for the open GM position with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Waddell has been in his current position since 2018. He played a big role in turning the Hurricanes into a perennial playoff contender and one of the top teams in the NHL. Waddell was a finalist for the GM of the Year award in 2018-19.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This comes at an awkward time for the Hurricanes. Nine of their players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, including Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce.

LeBrun reported the Hurricanes are serious about signing Guentzel but Waddell’s interviewing with other clubs could affect those negotiations. His potential departure could leave them scrambling to find a replacement but they could swiftly address that by promoting assistant GM Eric Tulsky.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said he has no plans to retire and hopes to return to action next season. Knee surgeries have sidelined him for the past two years. Landeskog didn’t indicate when he expects to be back. “Mid-September and star of April, I feel pretty good about,” he joked.

THE DENVER POST: Landeskog and Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland expressed their support for Valeri Nichushkin. He is serving a six-month suspension after being forced back into the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for the third time in 13 months. However, they both stated that it’s up to Nichushkin regarding his future with the Avalanche once his treatment is completed.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson revealed he played with a nagging knee injury since January. “The longer it went, the more pain I felt,” he said. Pettersson indicated that it won’t require surgery but needs time to heal. Head coach Rick Tocchet said Pettersson was dealing with “tendonitis”, adding the Canucks brass and medical staff felt “it was fine to keep going…We didn’t feel we had to shut him down.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Pettersson’s play was obvious as the second half of the season unfolded, especially in the playoffs when he managed six points in 13 games.

The Canucks frequently denied Pettersson was playing hurt, with Tocchet suggesting more than once that he had to play harder. It did Pettersson no favors, creating the perception that he wasn’t elevating his game in the playoffs, making him the subject of some unwarranted criticism.

Meanwhile, Canucks winger Brock Boeser was crushed that a blood-clotting issue sidelined him from Game 7 of their second-round series with the Oilers. “I asked if I could play and tried to push them, but the risks were too big. I had to protect my future,” said Boeser.

The non-life-threatening blood clot was the result of a bruised leg suffered in Game 1 of that second-round series. Boeser is on blood thinners and will be able to train during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks medical staff made the right decision here. Boeser’s desire to return to action is admirable but it could’ve put him at risk of serious medical consequences.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2024

by | May 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2024

Brock Boeser is expected to miss Game 7 of Canucks-Oilers series, plus the latest on Blake Wheeler, Seth Jarvis, Jake DeBrusk and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE PROVINCE: Brock Boeser is expected to be out of the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup for Game 7 of their second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday with a blood-clotting issue.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser’s status remains unclear if the Canucks advance to the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening. Boeser’s agent declined to comment but a source claimed the 27-year-old winger “is going to be OK.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a big blow for the Canucks ahead of the biggest game of their season. They’ll miss Boeser’s production on the ice. He’s tied for fourth with Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston and the New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider among playoff scorers with seven goals and tied with J.T. Miller for the lead among Canucks scorers with 12 points.

This must be personally devastating for Boeser’s teammates. Sportsnet’s Courtney Jacobsen observed the Canucks have relied on their resilience to reach this stage of the playoffs. They’ll need it more than ever now.

SPORTSNET: Oilers forward Adam Henrique remains sidelined for Game 7 against the Canucks. An ankle injury has limited him to just one game in this series.

TSN: Blake Wheeler and Filip Chytil participated in the New York Rangers’ optional skate on Sunday. Both forwards skated without non-contact jerseys. Defensemen Adam Fox and K’Andre Miller did not take part in the skate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wheeler told reporters he’s ready to play when the Rangers face the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 1 is on Wednesday, May 22 at 8 pm EDT in New York.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis suffered a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder 15 games into this season. “I just kind of dealt with it, slipping in and out a lot,” he said.

Jarvis, 22, played 81 games in the regular season, enjoying a career-high performance with 33 goals and 34 assists for 67 points. He had a team-high 13 power-play goals. Jarvis also suffered a broken finger during the Hurricanes’ first-round series against the New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarvis hopes that his shoulder won’t require surgery. The team doctor might have something to say about that.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk told reporters he suffered a broken hand during the final months of the regular season. He recovered when the playoffs began, leading the Bruins with five goals and 11 points in 13 games.

THE ATHLETIC’s Fluto Shinzawa reported Bruins winger David Pastrnak played through recurring groin trouble this season. He also reported defenseman Matt Grzelcyk suffered a torn oblique.

DAILY FACEOFF: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau surpassed Patrick Kane as USA Hockey’s all-time leading scorer at the IIHF World Championships with 43 points in 38 games.

Team Canada defenseman Bowen Byram received a one-game suspension for slashing Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi.