Latest news with #NHL-caliber
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Washington Capitals stun NHL Draft with bold trade for 6'4" German winger Maxim Schafer
Image via Instagram/schafer_maxim71 The Washington Capitals took a calculated swing on Saturday at the NHL Draft in Las Vegas, moving down in the third round to grab a big-bodied German winger they hope can grow into an NHL-caliber forward. Maxim Schafer, just 18 years old, was their target. The Caps sent Ottawa their No. 93 pick and added a 2027 seventh-rounder in the deal, then used their new spot to grab Schafer—a move that says as much about their draft strategy as it does about the player himself. Washington Capitals trade down in NHL Draft to grab 6'4" German forward Maxim Schafer Maxim Schafer's numbers in Germany's top league don't jump off the page: three points in 31 games for Eisbären Berlin last season. But it's not easy for teenagers to break into pro lineups there at all. What the Capitals liked was the experience against older competition and how he produced when given the chance at the junior level—35 points in 15 games for Berlin's U20 squad. 'He's a big kid who's played meaningful minutes in a men's league already,' one Capitals scout said Saturday in Vegas. 'You watch him with his own age group and you see a completely different player, really confident with the puck.' Internationally, Schafer wore an 'A' for Germany at the Under-18 Worlds and scored three goals in five games. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ready to Live in 3 & 4 BHK from ₹4.65 Cr* in Sec 22 Ambience Creacions, Gurugram Learn More Undo He also got a taste of the Under-20 World Juniors, adding three points in five games while playing up an age group. That combination of leadership and versatility caught the team's eye. 'He handled the U18 captaincy well,' the scout added. 'He's the type of player who rises to the level you ask of him.' How Washington Capitals' NHL Draft plan focuses on European talent and future picks This pick is Washington's third forward and second winger of this draft class, underlining a clear plan to add size and depth up front. NHL Central Scouting had Schafer ranked 102nd among international skaters, making him a bit of a project but with clear upside. By trading back to get him—and picking up an extra late-round pick for the future—the Capitals showed they're thinking long-term. It's also their first German draft pick since Haakon Hanelt in 2021, continuing a pattern of scouting hard in Europe for skill and character. For Washington, Schafer is exactly the kind of swing you take in the middle rounds. He's big, has leadership experience, and if his scoring translates, they'll look back on this trade as one worth making. Also Read: Meredith Gaudreau's emotional NHL Draft speech honoring late husband Johnny moves fans to tears Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Boston Globe
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
James Hagens, Václav Nestrašil, Sascha Boumedienne carry flag for Hockey East in first round of NHL Draft
The NHL Draft will resume Saturday at noon, with more than a dozen New England natives and local college players expected to be selected in Rounds 2-7. Aside from Hagens, here is a closer look at the two prospects with local ties selected Friday: Advertisement Václav Nestrašil, forward, Blackhawks, first round (No. 25 overall) Nestrašil is the second-highest draft pick in UMass history, behind only Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Nestrašil, a 6-foot-5-inch, 190-pound forward from Czechia, was projected as a second-round pick for most of the year, but his stock shot up with a strong close to his USHL season. Though still a raw prospect and growing into his lanky frame, the NHL upside is easy to see: Nestrašil is a fluid skater with slick puck skills and playmaking ability, with potential to develop into a two-way power forward as he fills out. Nestrašil played this past season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, registering 19 goals and 42 points during the regular season. His production spiked in the Clark Cup Playoffs, tallying seven goals and six assists in 13 games. Advertisement Nestrašil committed to UMass in January 2024 and will suit up for the Minutemen next season. He will immediately be among the largest forwards in Hockey East, along with Boston College forward (and Bruins 2024 first-rounder) Dean Letourneau. Boston University's Sacha Boumedienne, taken in the first round of the NHL Draft by Winnipeg on Friday, was youngest player in college hockey last season. Gregory Payan/Associated Press Sascha Boumedienne, defenseman, Jets, first round (No. 28 overall) Boumedienne, a 6-2, 183-pound defenseman from Stockholm, was the youngest player in college hockey last season. He acclimated well against veteran competition, tallying three goals and 10 assists while logging 18 minutes per game on a BU squad that reached the national title game. Boumedienne's selection marks the third straight year a BU player has gone in the first round, following Though Boumedienne does not project as a major offensive contributor, he is a well-rounded and skilled defenseman who has already displayed NHL-caliber skating ability. Though it took him a couple months to settle in, Boumedienne secured a top-four role on BU's blue line in the second semester. On top of that, just weeks after wrapping up the college season, Boumedienne represented Sweden in the Under-18 World Championships and set the tournament record for points by a defenseman, with 14 in seven games. Boumedienne is expected to be a key piece on the BU blue line next season and should take a leap as one of the league's most complete defensemen. Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Brady Martin's grit and skill make him a true NHL Draft prospect gem
Brady Martin (via Getty Images) Few prospects have climbed draft boards as rapidly with the approach of the 2025 NHL Draft as Brady Martin. With modest rankings by Central Scouting and some consensus lists early this season, Brady Martin's stock has skyrocketed on the strength of a standout OHL season and equally impressive performance at the NHL Scouting Combine. Brady Martin's snapshot: An NHL power forward An unusual combination of power, leadership, and NHL-caliber competitiveness, Brady Martin is the type of two-way center general managers desire and one that several top-10 clubs are now examining more heavily. Brady Martin, 6'1", 195-pound right-handed center, patterns his game after physically inclined forwards such as Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, and Matthew Knies—the three featuring a reputation for being gritty and determined in big games. Brady Martin, however, is more than a wrecking ball on blades. NHL Draft Prospects: Brady Martin He excelled at the junior international level as well, with 11 points in 7 games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup to lead Canada to gold. He has leadership skills as well: he had an 'A' for both Team Canada and for the Soo Greyhounds, showing how mature and composed he is on and off the ice. With Matvei Michkov as their emerging offensive sensation, the Philadelphia Flyers may complement their rebuild with Martin's hard-nosed, blue-collar approach—a perfect match for a Rick Tocchet-coached squad. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 혈압 안정화를 돕는 블러디션 배합 성분 메디셜 더 읽기 Undo BRADY MARTIN – A Nightmare to Play Against | 2025 NHL Draft Highlights & Scouting Report The Boston Bruins invited Martin out to dinner at the combine—a possible indicator of legitimate interest. With a fairly thin prospect pool and a Bergeron-era closeout underway, Boston may need to rely on a tough-minded center like Martin to construct around him. He would immediately become their best forward prospect. If Martin bypasses the top 10, GM Kyle Dubas, who is Soo Greyhounds-connected, might strike. The Pittsburgh Penguins require future center depth to ultimately replace Crosby and Malkin. Martin's resilience, leadership, and ceiling render him perfect for their next era. Also read: Martin Necas' uncertain future sparks big questions for Hurricanes and Avalanche Brady Martin is more than a generic safe two-way forward. He's a tone-setting, pro-level center with the attitude and equipment to play NHL minutes earlier than most in the 2025 class. When teams consider upside against readiness, Martin could be the unusual pick who delivers both.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Revisiting GM Danny Briere's First Flyers Trade, 2 Years Later
Flyers prospect Helge Grans is expected to make a big impact in 2025. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere has seen and done it all during his brief time in charge of his former team, and his first piece of business is looking like his best so far. On June 6, 2023, two years ago yesterday, Briere made his first trade as the general manager of the Flyers, sending Ivan Provorov and Hayden Hodgson to the Los Angeles Kings (and then the Columbus Blue Jackets) in exchange for what would become Oliver Bonk, Helge Grans, the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Cal Petersen, and Carson Bjarnason. Advertisement Petersen's albatross contract has, of course, expired, leaving the Flyers with just the good stuff: a great goalie prospect in Bjarnason, an NHL-caliber defenseman with an elite toolkit in Grans, a promising potential top-four defender in Bonk, and a first-round pick that became much higher than expected as the fruits of the Sean Walker trade. In the last two years, Briere has swung his fair share of deals, like the Cutter Gauthier one that yielded Jamie Drysdale, and the other that offloaded Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost for diminishing returns. Bringing in Grans, Walker, and other draft picks has proven to be one of Briere's best moves so far, if not the very best. Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Can Complete His Staff with This NHL Legend Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Can Complete His Staff with This NHL Legend New Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has made the first two additions to his coaching staff, but he still needs one more. How about an NHL legend who just left the Vancouver Canucks? Advertisement The 22nd pick in this year's draft, whether used on a prospect or traded for future-facing roster player, will assuredly aid the Flyers in taking the next step. With an extended opportunity at the start of the upcoming season, Grans, 23, could replace the older, more expensive, and oft-injured Rasmus Ristolainen, though he'll have to earn his place on the NHL roster. The same is true of Bonk, a back-to-back OHL champion and Memorial Cup winner who will be starting his professional career in the Flyers organization this fall. Provorov, since leaving Philadelphia, has scored a total of 65 points in Columbus while playing in all 82 regular season games two years in a row. Despite that, the Flyers' former top draft pick and his Blue Jackets have yet to make the playoffs. Advertisement For Briere, this trade was an easy win at the time and is looking even better with the time that has already passed. The future will decide what happens next, but the Flyers have all the pieces in place to take multiple successful steps forward on the backs of the assets they acquired in Briere's first deal as Flyers GM.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Rick Tocchet, Flyers are a natural fit, but not for the reasons you might assume
It's an established pattern in the NHL — teams rotating through the same inventory of coaches over and over, in the hopes that the experience they have gained in their previous stops will help them to immediately get off on the right foot in their new locales. Rick Tocchet, 61, is now firmly one of them. The Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday became the fourth organization to employ him as a head coach, after he previously paced behind the benches of the Tampa Bay Lightning for nearly two full seasons, the Arizona Coyotes for four seasons and the Vancouver Canucks for two and a half seasons. Advertisement The standard complaints about a team recycling a coach are predictable, and may even have some merit. Tocchet has never made it out of the second round of the playoffs, and some questions need to be asked about how the Canucks went from one of the league's best teams in 2023-24 under Tocchet to missing the playoffs this season. Still, it always felt like Tocchet and the Flyers were a natural fit. That's not because he once played for the team, something that is still an immediate turn-off for a portion of the fan base. The fact is, even if Tocchet had never been drafted by or skated for the Flyers, he would have been a strong contender for the job. Such is the respect he has around the league, both as a coach and a man, including from Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones. There's a reason he reportedly also was pursued by teams such as the Boston Bruins and Seattle Kraken for their coaching vacancies. No, this is a fit for another reason entirely: It brings more stability to both the Flyers franchise, and to Tocchet himself. From a franchise perspective, the Flyers' attempt at reestablishing themselves as one of the league's premier teams is still an ongoing process. The past two seasons under general manager Daniel Briere have been about setting a certain standard and culture, while also attempting to build for the future by dealing away popular and still effective players. They're two years into what was always going to be a three-year process. But Briere also has said that being in the mix for a playoff spot in 2025-26 should be the aim. That will be no easy task after the Flyers finished with the fourth-worst record in the NHL this season, although Briere has also said he doesn't believe the team was as poor as that record would indicate. Perhaps there's some merit there — if the Flyers hadn't routinely played two backup goalies that weren't anything close to NHL-caliber, had kept their roster intact rather than trading key pieces away, and had a coaching staff that knew what it was doing on the power play — something Tocchet excels at — they probably would have had at least 10 or 12 more points in the standings. Advertisement Still, while it's likely that the Flyers will make at least one or two notable moves this offseason, the 2026 offseason is shaping up as the more important one. By this time next year, the Flyers will be free of most of the dead money they're carrying on the salary cap, and will look to start adding big-name, big-money players in free agency, or in trades for players who might have trade protection. If they're going to accomplish that, it's going to take more than just having salary-cap space and being prepared to write a massive check or two. They're going to have to be viewed as a franchise that's again on the upswing, and, therefore, as a desirable place to play. In other words, stable. And Tocchet, as the most experienced coach still available, gives the Flyers the best chance to achieve that stability. Not only will he be instantly respected in the Flyers' dressing room, but some of the game's biggest stars that have been coached by him, have high praise for him. Sidney Crosby, who had Tocchet as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh during two Stanley Cup-winning seasons, is one, as is Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes. No doubt other star-level players know that, too — perhaps even a few who might be looking for new homes in less than 14 months. Jones said in a statement: 'We are thrilled to have Rick lead our team into the future. What is impressive about Rick is that players gravitate towards him and develop a strong relationship in the process. There is a genuine trust that he will do everything he can to bring success to the team.' On some levels, Tocchet and former coach John Tortorella have a few similarities. They are both viewed as more 'old school' in their approaches, whether that's a defense-first mentality, which brings with it the risk of stifling offensive players, or, perhaps, being a bit too demanding and rigid in their instructions. But that isn't something that would be a turnoff for the Flyers' brass. Yes, it was an ugly ending to the Tortorella marriage in March. But prior to those final few weeks, it was evident in the moves that Briere made that he respected Tortorella's decisions with the roster, including the way that the coach handled rookie Matvei Michkov. Advertisement In terms of evaluating Tocchet, some young players, such as Clayton Keller in Arizona and Elias Pettersson in Vancouver, are two high-end talents who perhaps didn't respond to the coach's methods. But what Tocchet will inevitably do better than Tortorella is communicate with his players when issues arise. There aren't likely to be any situations like there were with Sean Couturier and Cam York telling reporters they had no idea why they were getting healthy-scratched by Tortorella, for example. Tocchet, it's been reported, wasn't necessarily looking to jump back into coaching right away after parting ways with the Canucks last month. When he popped up on the TNT panel again last week, there was speculation he'd be back there on a full-time basis again soon, trading playful barbs with Liam McHugh and Paul Bissonnette. But the Flyers' job offers him the sort of stability he hasn't had in the past. His first job as a head coach, in Tampa Bay, came before that team was purchased by Jeff Vinik. He replaced Barry Melrose after just 16 games, and was let go after the ownership change resulted in an entirely new regime. The Coyotes, of course, were never a stable franchise, and finally relocated to Utah about a year ago. When Tocchet was in charge, they were still routinely trading for dead money just to reach the salary-cap floor. It's tough to offer a fair evaluation of a head coach in those circumstances. Vancouver probably seemed like a good situation at first, with a talented roster in a rabid, Canadian hockey market. But after one successful season, 2024-25 devolved into a dysfunctional mess, including a rift between Pettersson and J.T. Miller that resulted in the trade of the latter to the New York Rangers. How much blame Tocchet bears for what went down there this season is difficult to ascertain, but the Canucks were hoping to keep him around before there was an amicable split. Surely, Briere, Jones and team governor Dan Hilferty all convinced Tocchet that the Flyers of now aren't the same as the Flyers of five years ago, when Chuck Fletcher, Dave Scott and Valerie Camillo were running things into the ground, and when Tocchet interviewed for the job that eventually went to Tortorella. There is a now clear direction and a plan in place, along with Comcast's deep pockets. Advertisement Whether the franchise is being steered in the correct way is something that Tocchet will now help to determine. But at the very least, his hiring, and the level of comfort it likely brings everyone involved, allows the organization to continue down the path it has already set without veering off in an entirely different direction.
