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Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
If Jonathan Toews Falters, Will The Jets Have A Plan B? Cap Space Says Yes
When the Winnipeg Jets announced that longtime NHL star center Jonathan Toews would be returning to hockey's top league playing for his hometown Jets, you couldn't have asked for a better human-interest story. Toews had been out of the NHL for the past two seasons, dealing with a host of health issues. But agreeing to a one-year contract with Winnipeg could allow the 37-year-old Toews to push the Jets far deeper in the Stanley Cup playoffs – and maybe, just maybe, win a championship at the sport's highest level. All that is the best possible outcome for Toews and the Jets. But the question has to be asked – what if things don't turn out as planned for the three-time Cup-winner? What if Toews can't get back to speed and he can't fulfill the duties associated with a second-line center? Well, for one thing, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has hedged his bet on Toews, giving him a performance-bonus deal that has a $2-million salary cap hit with bonuses that could boost the cap hit to $7 million if Winnipeg wins next year's Cup. Winnipeg will happily pay that money to Toews if everything goes right, but let's be pessimistic for a moment and assume that Toews' comeback attempt falls short. What can the Jets do to stay in Cup contention in a world without Toews playing well for them? In that regard, here's what is clear thus far: Cheveldayoff has managed his cap situation very well, as the Jets currently have $19.89 million in cap space. Winnipeg may spend some of that money on an upgrade for the Jets' group of forwards. But even if Winnipeg uses some of that cap space, Cheveldayoff has given himself insurance of sorts to deal with what could turn out to be a hole in the team's second-line center spot. For instance, let's say that the Anaheim Ducks don't perform very well out of the gate next year. There might be a circumstance in which newly signed Ducks center Mikael Granlund wants to play for a Cup contender. And while Granlund now has a full no-trade clause in his new deal with Anaheim, playing on a Jets team that was the top regular-season team in the league last season could appeal to Granlund. And Granlund's $7-million per-season contract, which runs for next season and an additional two years, could easily fit under Winnipeg's current salary structure. On the other hand, Toews' situation could pan out very well – and if that's what turns out to be the case, Cheveldayoff will be able to use his remaining cap space on high-end wingers to give the Jets incredible depth throughout their lineup. But that money doesn't necessarily have to be spent anytime soon. And being careful with Toews means that there needs to be a Plan B if things don't work out as hoped with the longtime Chicago Blackhawks superstar. Every talented NHL executive always has to plot out different scenarios as it pertains to their team's potential for success. And that's what we're seeing from Cheveldayoff in regard to Toews. The investment Winnipeg has made in Toews could be one of the final pieces of a championship puzzle for the Jets, but if it doesn't, thanks to his expert cap management, Cheveldayoff will have other solid options to get the job done. 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 Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Toronto Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Some young Maple Leafs prospects already know that championship feeling
London Knights' Easton Cowan is defended by Medicine Hat Tigers' Jonas Woo while attacking the net during the first period of the Memorial Cup final in Rimouski, Que., Sunday, June 1, 2025. Photo by Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS Too many Maple Leafs have been on the losing end of a handshake line, versus raising a title trophy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account For a few players at development camp this week, the thrill of victory has already trumped the agony of defeat, which is great if you believe that winning is contagious. Easton Cowan's London Knights came back from a crushing loss in the 2024 Memorial Cup final to hoist it in June, along with camp invites Landon Sim and Andoni Fimis. Cowan, Toronto's coveted first round pick in 2023, netted the Cup-winner against Medicine Hat. And there's Owen Michaels, whose double-overtime goal put his home state Western Michigan Broncos into the NCAA title game where he scored twice in the 6-2 final against Boston University. 'When you win, go through that grind of playoffs, that's something you can't teach,' said Hayley Wickenheiser, Leafs assistant general manager, player development and a women's world and Olympic gold medalist. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I've never been through seven games repeated, but in the Olympics, the grind of getting there, being able to win and take it over the top like that, those are things that stick with you as an athlete and as a person forever. 'So, whenever we get people in here who've won, we know that's a quality we can't just give them. They have an advantage over everyone else.' Cowan is still basking in the Cup and the leadership role it provided, making him the big man on campus at this camp of 48 prospects. 'When the games got bigger, I got better,' Cowan said. 'There are a lot of people watching and high stakes. 'It's awesome. The experience of winning helps so much — and to do it with that group, that team.' He was just as thrilled to get congratulatory texts from Leafs captains Auston Matthews and John Tavares, who remembered him battling hard for a job at the last two NHL training camps and sure to again in September. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It means a lot that they're still keeping tabs on me,' Cowan said. Michaels, a 6-foot-2 right winger, was off the draft radar as he didn't start at Western Michigan until age 21, after playing junior in the U.S. Midwest. But his 36 points in 42 games last season sparked conversations with the Leafs around December and his Frozen Four heroics sealed the invite. 'I'm super appreciative of management inviting me here,' Michaels said. 'I feel I've earned this chance.' The NCCA's presentation trophy is new every year, compared to the 106-year-old Memorial Cup, not that Michaels are his teammates minded. 'Winning it was awesome, an unbelievable chance to share that with a special group of my brothers, tied together forever as national champions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We definitely had our fun with the trophy and celebrated properly back at school (where his father was once a Broncos' pitcher/infielder) with all the people in Kalamazoo. It was really cool to bring it back to town and get a nice reception. 'It's still there in the locker room. You walk by and make sure to get a close look at it and embrace it.' Read More That's what Wickenheiser was referencing. A closer-to-home example for the Leafs would be the many players from the 2018 Calder Cup champion Marlies who went on to the Leafs and NHL. 'Winning is 90 per cent metal because everybody is pretty equal physically,' she added. 'It's the ability to grind day after day after day and be able to have that performance on demand when it matters the most. 'That's really hard to do and people (watching the Leafs) see it every day. When you can get over the hump, winning breeds more winning. You see that with Florida (the Leafs added three Panthers last season and 2019 Stanley Cup coach Craig Berube) and you see that with any sport.' Lhornby@ X: @sunhornby RECOMMENDED VIDEO Crime Canada Ontario Canada Other Sports
Edmonton Journal
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Some young Maple Leafs prospects already know that championship feeling
Too many Maple Leafs have been on the losing end of a handshake line, versus raising a title trophy. Article content For a few players at development camp this week, the thrill of victory has already trumped the agony of defeat, which is great if you believe that winning is contagious. Article content Article content Easton Cowan's London Knights came back from a crushing loss in the 2024 Memorial Cup final to hoist it in June, along with camp invites Landon Sim and Andoni Fimis. Cowan, Toronto's coveted first round pick in 2023, netted the Cup-winner against Medicine Hat. Article content Article content And there's Owen Michaels, whose double-overtime goal put his home state Western Michigan Broncos into the NCAA title game where he scored twice in the 6-2 final against Boston University. Article content Article content 'When you win, go through that grind of playoffs, that's something you can't teach,' said Hayley Wickenheiser, Leafs assistant general manager, player development and a women's world and Olympic gold medalist. 'I've never been through seven games repeated, but in the Olympics, the grind of getting there, being able to win and take it over the top like that, those are things that stick with you as an athlete and as a person forever. Article content 'So, whenever we get people in here who've won, we know that's a quality we can't just give them. They have an advantage over everyone else.' Article content Cowan is still basking in the Cup and the leadership role it provided, making him the big man on campus at this camp of 48 prospects. Article content Article content 'When the games got bigger, I got better,' Cowan said. 'There are a lot of people watching and high stakes. Article content Article content 'It's awesome. The experience of winning helps so much — and to do it with that group, that team.' Article content He was just as thrilled to get congratulatory texts from Leafs captains Auston Matthews and John Tavares, who remembered him battling hard for a job at the last two NHL training camps and sure to again in September. Article content 'It means a lot that they're still keeping tabs on me,' Cowan said. Article content Michaels, a 6-foot-2 right winger, was off the draft radar as he didn't start at Western Michigan until age 21, after playing junior in the U.S. Midwest. But his 36 points in 42 games last season sparked conversations with the Leafs around December and his Frozen Four heroics sealed the invite. Article content 'I'm super appreciative of management inviting me here,' Michaels said. 'I feel I've earned this chance.'
Toronto Star
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Oilers vs. Panthers: Brad Marchand makes another memory with double OT winner for Florida in Game 2 of Stanley Cup final
Brad Marchand: Florida Panthers Stanley Cup finals hero. Putting those words together would have sounded crazy until March when the lifelong Bruin allowed himself to be traded to one of Boston's biggest playoff and divisional rivals. Now Marchand – the in-your-face player with an ability to score big goals — is a big reason the Panthers head home to Florida with a split in the first two games of the Stanley Cup final in Edmonton. Marchand scored shorthanded on a breakaway in the third period and scored in the second overtime – also on a breakaway – as the Panthers, espousing a bend-but-don't-break brand of hockey, got back in the final with a 5-4 overtime win over the Oilers on Friday night. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'These are the opportunities you dream of as a kid, and the moments you wish you could hold on to forever,' Marchand told Sportsnet. 'These are memories that you have the rest your life, not just for yourself, but for your family. We're all enjoying the journey right now.' BRAD MARCHAND PLAYS HERO FOR THE CATS 🐀 The Panthers even the #StanleyCup Final on Marchand's Subway Canada OT winner 🚨 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 7, 2025 Marchand is 37, 14 years removed from a Stanley Cup he won as a Bruin 2011. He has 10 goals in his career in Stanley Cup final series, the most among active players. Right there with him is Edmonton's Corey Perry, 40, a Cup-winner in 2007. He has nine goals all-time in the Stanley Cup finals, including his goal in the last minute that forced overtime to give Edmonton a chance at taking a stranglehold on the series. 'They're a good team,' said Perry. 'They're going to push us to the max. We're going to push them to the max.' Marchand has been buddy-buddy this spring with players he once went to war against. They love each other now. 'He's really skilled, hard on pucks, wants the puck,' said Florida's Matthew Tkachuk. 'His anticipation, just being in the right spots, his hockey sense, it's unbelievable. You saw it tonight. Two breakaway goals. He's sees the play and he's gone. I saw it a ton when he was in Boston. Way better seeing it now. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Unreal player. Unreal competitor. If you think about it, he's scored two of our biggest goals in the playoffs so far.' Sam Bennett, Seth Jones, Dmitri Kulikov and also scored for Florida. Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane also scored for Edmonton. 'It was exciting,' said Marchand. 'It's a very intense series. They compete extremely hard. They gave a good push. I love our resilience. We didn't get down. I really liked our game.' History says It's the 30th time a best-of-seven final has been tied at a game apiece. And the Panthers are 9-3 as visitors this post-season, a franchise record for road wins in one playoff year. The Oilers, though, have history on their side. Even though the Panthers now have home-ice advantage, teams that open at home have won 20 of the 30 finals that started 1-1. The first two games haven't disappointed in this Stanley Cup final rematch and fans can probably expect much of the same in Game 3 Monday in Florida. 'Every game is tight at this time of year,' said Draisaitl. 'Two really good teams. It's never going to be easy. Regroup and get ready for Game 3.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Bennett vs. Skinner It was a first period for the ages, with something for everyone — from goals to fisticuffs to big hits and big plays. Bennett did what he does best: scoring while also getting under Skinner's skin. Bennett opened the scoring with his playoff-leading 13th goal, just 2:07 into the game. Canada 'Forget about the past': Fans weigh in on criticism of Wayne Gretzky over Trump ties EDMONTON - It wasn't long ago that some Canadians were up in arms about hockey legend Wayne … The Oilers, however, haven't been letting Florida hold a lead for long, with Kane and Bouchard scoring 1:40 apart to make it 2-1 Edmonton. Jones tied it, taking a pass Eetu Luostarinen while Edmonton's defensive zone play broke down. The big moment of the period was still to come. Bennett fell into Skinner in the first game and got credit for a goal. But he didn't get away with it in Game 2 after brushing Mattias Ekholm and falling into the goalie, who seemed to be in pain with a twisted leg. Skinner would eventually get up, but not before Matthew Tkachuk and Trent Frederic got into it. Bennett got the extra two minutes, joined by Tkachuk in the box. Tkachuk patted Bennett on the shoulder, as if to say: good job falling on the goalie. On the ensuing power play, Connor McDavid made them pay. He dipsied around Selke winner Aleksander Barkov, doodled past Aaron Ekblad and passed the puck past Anton Lundell to a waiting Draisaitl for a 3-2 Edmonton lead. 'Only one player in the world can make that play,' said Draisaitl. 'We've definitely developed a sense of understanding what the other one's thinking in any given moment. Leon and I have a great understanding of each other,' said McDavid. 'Sometimes all it takes is a look.' Panthers pounce Panthers coach Paul Maurice said he wasn't going to change his lineup, or ask players to do anything differently in Game 2, because he thought they played a decent Game 1 in defeat. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'We do think there's a few things that we can do a little bit better,' he said before the game. Nhl Analysis Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers: Everything you need to know about the Stanley Cup final From Connor McDavid and Brad Marchand being X-factors all the way to the coaching matchup, One of those things was forechecking. And they were much better in the second period, playing more of a Panthers style. They were rewarded with two goals and a 15-8 shots advantage. The Oilers had no answer for Florida's physicality as the Panthers won puck battle after puck battle. Finally, Kulikov scored from the point, off Bouchard and past Skinner to tie the game. The referees were busy in the first period with 11 minor penalties called; less so in the second, with three. One was against Florida's Niko Mikkola, but even that didn't give the Oilers relief. Marchand managed a short-handed breakaway and gave Florida a 4-3 lead. It was Marchand's second career short-hander in a Cup final, exactly 14 years after the first against the Vancouver Canucks. Cup notables Before Marchand, defenceman Larry Robinson (Games 1 and 2 in 1989) was the only player 37 or older to score in each of the first two games of a Cup final. Bennett's game-opening goal was his 12th on the road in these playoffs, an NHL record. His five-game road goal streak is a Panthers best, breaking his own mark.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SportsWorks - 5-25-25 -- Dan talks Tigers, upcoming Detroit Grand Prix, Lions & NHL with Mike Stone & Pat Caputo
Nine Seasons, No Playoffs: GM Steve Yzerman Under Pressure To Deliver In Detroit Imagine you're a Detroit Red Wings fan. For a quarter-century, your team was a lock to make the Stanley Cup playoffs and a four-time Cup-winner. In short, your Wings were the NHL's gold standard franchise – and if, at any point in that span of time, someone had told you Detroit would miss out on post-season action for nine straight seasons, you would've laughed at them. 2:24 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
