Latest news with #StanleyCup-caliber
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mitch Marner traded to Golden Knights in $96 Million deal ahead of NHL free agency
Marner signs $96M deal with Vegas after trade from Maple Leafs (Image via: Getty Images) Mitch Marner, the top unrestricted free agent of 2025, was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights just one day before NHL free agency began. The Golden Knights immediately signed Marner to an eight-year, $96 million contract, making him one of the highest-paid wingers in the league and reshaping their roster ahead of the season. Golden Knights commit to Mitch Marner with long-term $96M contract The Vegas Golden Knights wasted no time securing their new star. Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million extension with Vegas—an average annual value of $12 million. The deal makes him one of the highest-paid wingers in NHL history and solidifies the Golden Knights' forward group for years to come. Marner, 28, is coming off a career-best season, registering 100 points while showcasing elite two-way play and versatility. His offensive production, leadership, and ability to perform in high-pressure situations made him the most sought-after name this offseason. On "NHL on TNT," insider Elliotte Friedman praised the fit, noting, 'It's a great fit for Vegas and Marner.' Maple Leafs receive center Nicolas Roy in return As part of the sign-and-trade, the Maple Leafs acquired forward Nicolas Roy from Vegas. The 27-year-old center recorded 31 points in 71 games last season and brings defensive responsibility and depth down the middle. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Roy is under contract for two more seasons with a manageable $3 million cap hit, giving Toronto flexibility as they retool. While Roy doesn't match Marner's offensive ceiling, his addition offers lineup stability and opens up cap space for Toronto to address other needs, including blue-line upgrades or goaltending depth. Mitch Marner's legacy in Toronto ends after nine seasons Selected fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Marner became one of the faces of the franchise. He leaves Toronto with 741 points in 750 games, ranking among the top scorers in team history. Known for his vision, passing, and creativity, Marner helped elevate the Leafs to consistent playoff contention, though the team never advanced past the second round during his tenure. Also Read: Mitch Marner expected to ask $14M per year as Maple Leafs eye major trade ahead of July 1 deadline Now, as he joins a Stanley Cup-caliber roster in Vegas, Marner enters a new chapter, chasing the championship that eluded him in Toronto. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
NHL trade news twist hints Mitch Marner exit as Vegas Golden Knights block Maple Leafs' final hope
NHL trade news twist hints Mitch Marner exit as Vegas Golden Knights block Maple Leafs' final hope (Credit: Getty Images) The Vegas Golden Knights stirred NHL trade speculation when they were linked to a sign-and-trade deal involving Mitch Marner. Defenseman Nic Hague was expected to head to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the package. However, that possibility died on Sunday when the Vegas Golden Knights traded Hague to the Nashville Predators, as confirmed by multiple reports. Leafs May Accuse Golden Knights of Tampering If Sign & Trade Can't Be Reached with Mitch Marner Mitch Marner departure leaves Maple Leafs exposed Toronto was already in a tight spot with Mitch Marner, who has been hesitant about returning amid the franchise's uncertain direction. Now, losing the Vegas trade path deepens that uncertainty. General manager Brad Treliving hoped to manage the situation with some return, especially given the salary cap benefits that moving Marner could offer. Vegas, meanwhile, can afford to wait. Their Stanley Cup-caliber core and history of pulling off major moves suggest they are simply setting the stage to bring Marner in directly. It's a setback for Toronto and a clear sign of control from Vegas in NHL trade circles. Vegas remains prime free agency landing for Marner Although the deal structure collapsed, the original endgame remains intact. Mitch Marner may still land in Las Vegas just through unrestricted free agency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo That path would allow the Golden Knights to offer a seven-year contract, one year shorter than what Toronto could have negotiated in a sign-and-trade, but perhaps just as enticing for the player. The Golden Knights' culture, championship DNA, and top-line needs make them a natural fit. Marner's playmaking, especially on the power play and in transition, would complement Vegas' style and scoring depth. Meanwhile, Toronto is left waiting powerless, unless a new trade partner emerges suddenly. At this stage, the Mitch Marner situation may no longer be about where he's going. It's now about how little the Maple Leafs will get back when he does. And thanks to Vegas' latest trade move, the answer may be: nothing at all. Also Read: From Connor McDavid's decade of dominance to Matthew Schaefer's tearful tribute, the 2025 NHL Draft night captured hockey's full circle Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
No one is to blame for the Penguins-Mike Sullivan split. It's just time
A couple of months ago, Mike Sullivan was fuming about something he heard on the radio. Sully won't play the kids. Nothing irritated the now-former coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins more than that. Standing in a hallway at the team's practice facility, a very animated Sullivan pointed toward replica Stanley Cup banners and said, 'They don't ever take those banners down.' Advertisement The message was simple: We haven't had any good, young players in years because we traded prospects and draft picks in the name of winning more of those banners. Then, his mind went back to what he had heard on the radio. 'Did I not play Jake Guentzel? How about Bryan Rust? How about Conor Sheary? Did he not go straight to Sidney Crosby's line?' He did play them, of course. He won championships with them. He's the most accomplished coach in Penguins history and maybe the best. He saved Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang from being one-hit wonders. He'll be able to name his next job. Only three men in Pittsburgh sports history have coached teams to more than one professional championship: Chuck Noll (Steelers), Danny Murtaugh (Pirates) and Sullivan. He's a giant in Penguins history and always will be. It was also probably time. Both can be true. When people speak of the Sullivan era in Pittsburgh many years from now, they'll say he was a wildly successful coach but that he stayed for too long. They said the same thing about Noll because the Steelers won nothing in the 1980s. This is always what we say when a team endures a championship drought after a period of unrivaled success. Did he stay too long? Maybe. You can hardly suggest the Penguins have looked like a well-coached team over the past few seasons. I would argue that the Penguins' biggest problem in recent seasons has been roster construction. Who would have coached this season's Penguins to success? Look at that roster. Seriously. Scotty Bowman wouldn't have won with that group. The Penguins are rebuilding, and it's going to take a while longer. That much is clear. Sullivan looked me in the eye in March and told me that he wanted to be the coach who oversaw the rebuild, that he wanted to still be the coach when 'we get great again.' Advertisement I believed him then, and I believe him now. Something clearly changed between then and now, and that's OK. Things change. Approaches change. My sense, and this is also essentially what Kyle Dubas said last week, is that the Penguins aren't going to rush their way back into the postseason. Dubas won't patch up the roster well enough just to get the Penguins back into the playoffs. Rather, it's going to be a slow build that Dubas hopes leads to a Stanley Cup-caliber team for many years. It's not that Sullivan didn't want to coach a Stanley Cup-caliber team for many years. Who wouldn't want that? However, there likely was a discrepancy between the two men in terms of just how long this will take. Dubas is in it for the long haul. Meanwhile, Sullivan wants to win right now, because that's what he always wants. I've covered many coaches over the years, but I've never witnessed one who takes losing harder than Sullivan. It kills him. The last three years have been torture. You may think he's part of the problem, and perhaps that's true. Perhaps Sullivan wasn't at his best in recent seasons. However, Sullivan had grown frustrated by what he has viewed as an insufficient roster. So yeah, it was time. Sullivan showed up in Pittsburgh and did precisely what he was hired to do. He couldn't finish the end game of pushing Crosby and his teammates to the top of the mountain again. It's not a crime. It's hockey. It's hard to win. Nobody failed here — not Sullivan, not Crosby, not Dubas. Winning the Stanley Cup every year isn't a birthright. There are positives here for everyone involved. The Penguins could use a breath of fresh air, a coach to usher in a future generation while also working seamlessly with Crosby in his final years. That will be a tricky situation, but it can be done. Despite Sullivan's great success as a coach, it's hard to kick the reality that things with the Penguins feel stale. Advertisement Sullivan will be a breath of fresh air wherever he lands, whether it be with the Rangers, Islanders, Bruins or elsewhere. Give him the ingredients, and he's one hell of a chef. The ingredients were no longer plentiful in Pittsburgh, and it probably didn't make sense for him to keep cooking here. In retrospect, when general manager Jim Rutherford stunned the Penguins by leaving in 2021, it was the beginning of the end for Sullivan. The next GM, Ron Hextall, never saw eye to eye with Sullivan, and the Penguins' roster declined rapidly on Hextall's watch. While Sullivan likes Dubas and has long been impressed by his intellect, Dubas has to trust his vision of the Penguins' future. Neither did anything wrong. Sometimes hockey happens. Sometimes the timing for a good relationship is no longer there. The last time Sullivan stood behind the bench during a Penguins playoff game was in 2022, when his team fell to the Rangers in overtime of Game 7. The night before that game, Rutherford reached out to me, more than a year after he'd resigned as Penguins GM. He asked whom I thought would win Game 7. I responded that I didn't have a clue. Rutherford was at his home in Raleigh, and the winner of the Penguins-Rangers series would play Carolina next. 'I'll see you next week in Raleigh,' he said. 'Sid and Sully will find a way.' If Rutherford were still in Pittsburgh, the Penguins never would have started a rebuild. Not yet, at least. And Sullivan would still be the head coach. Rutherford's faith in him was unlike anything I've seen. They'd still be trying to replicate 2016 and 2017. There is something admirable about that. But Rutherford is long gone, and it is probably best, at this point, that Sullivan has followed. On Sullivan's final night behind the bench, his Penguins fittingly beat the Washington Capitals. When you think of those Stanley Cup runs, you can't help but envision peak Crosby and peak Alex Ovechkin going at it in three consecutive, magical springs. Finally, Ovechkin and the Capitals beat the Penguins in the final chapter. Sullivan and Crosby finally lost that battle, but they still won the war. Advertisement I'd suggest viewing Sullivan's tenure as Penguins coach through that same lens. It's all the cycle of life, really. Nothing bad happened here. No one is to blame. It was just time. When Crosby made his Pittsburgh debut on Oct. 8, 2005, scoring his first NHL goal in his official introduction to the city he'd someday own, Mike Sullivan was the coach on the other bench for the Boston Bruins. I think the cosmos always intended for them to be together and to win together. It would have been a grand conclusion for Sullivan to still be behind the bench for Crosby's final game in Pittsburgh, whenever that time comes. What a nice story it would have been. Happy endings, though, are often left for Hollywood, not the NHL. And that's OK. They don't ever take those banners down.
New York Times
03-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL Stanley Cup 2024-25 contender checklist: Eastern Conference edition
A playoff hopeful can't reinvent itself at the trade deadline. Instead, it's an in-season opportunity to find missing pieces to solidify a team. Some teams have already sprung into action with early deals, giving management more runway to assess new fits and what else may be needed before the deadline. But most have yet to make a change. Advertisement What teams have holes to address? With the deadline just days away, that's what we're going to look at using the Stanley Cup Checklist. The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn created the Cup Checklist in 2020 to find common elements essential to a team's success between a decade of champions. It has since been updated to include all champions from the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks to the 2024 Florida Panthers. The Checklist has an average value for each element, based on those past champs, with a range of one standard deviation in each direction. The Checklist relies on two sets of numbers: a player's actual Game Score Value Added based on this season, and their projected value, which uses three years of data weighed for recency and adjusted for age. All data was collected before the games on March 1. Since the East is still somewhat in flux, teams featured have at least 15 percent playoff odds. Something to keep in mind throughout this exercise is that the Checklist is not the be-all, end-all. It doesn't account for playing style, coaching or chemistry. Even the best teams can't check off every box, and most fall below average in one area or another. The strongest teams usually find ways to make up for it in other ways. There are a number of ways to build (and analyze) a contender. That's why the game is played and different teams surprise each year. The Checklist can be a jumping-off point for that analysis. Today, it's a vibe check for the teams in the playoff picture. Red X: Falls below the range entirely Gray checkmark: Passable, but below the average champion Black checkmark: Above average relative to the average Cup winner Gold checkmark: Exceeds the range entirely One of the biggest keys to the Capitals' success is how many players have outperformed expectations. Reclamation projects Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun are both successfully rebounding in Washington, and a healthy Tom Wilson is hitting his stride after a tough last season. Up-and-coming players like Aliaksei Protas, Connor McMichael and Rasmus Sandin have taken major steps forward, and that's helped revitalize Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson. Advertisement Dylan Strome and Ovechkin, despite having strong seasons, may not fit the mold of a Stanley Cup-caliber team on paper. But Washington has strength in numbers behind them, and while the argument could be made that those two could be swapped with Dubois and Wilson to earn this team more checkmarks, role and average ice time determined the slotting for every team. After a very active 2024 offseason, the Capitals shouldn't have to take massive swings at the deadline and will likely make more low-key moves to bolster their depth. The biggest concern for the Canes tends to be whether they have enough oomph to do damage in the postseason. Adding Mikko Rantanen should accomplish that, granted the team doesn't make any other drastic changes. While he isn't popping off the scoresheet yet, the positive signs are there, and he is a proven playoff performer. GO DEEPER Is Mikko Rantanen a bad fit in Carolina? Only if you're not paying attention Maybe most importantly, he knocks the rest of the wingers down into more fitting roles. Andrei Svechnikov hasn't proved he can be the guy, but with Rantanen and Seth Jarvis ahead of him on the depth chart, there is a bit less pressure. What may stand out here is that someone like Jordan Martinook has a gold check and Rantanen doesn't. Remember, these marks aren't apples to apples, but relative to each position and role. As solid as this team looks, there could still be room for improvement. Jesperi Kotkaniemi is passable as a 2C, but less than ideal. The goaltending isn't perfect, either. The Devils have much of the framework that a contender should strive for. They have a high-end one-two punch of Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After some early season struggles, Jacob Markstrom found his footing as the No. 1 goalie this team has craved. And the blue line has been revitalized from rebound performances and some new additions. Advertisement But one thing is missing: forward depth. Dawson Mercer's value has cratered in New Jersey after the last year-plus. He thrived in his first couple of seasons because he brought a different skill set to the top six than the Devils' stars. But he has fallen out of favor over the last year; he hasn't played well enough to stay in the top six or driven play enough to center the third line. Erik Haula and Ondrej Palat are underwhelming depth forwards, although Palat at least has some playoff pedigree to lean on in the spring. So management may want to find trade options to punch up this forward group with a new third-line center and a middle-six winger. The Maple Leafs have the star power at the top of their lineup and Auston Matthews still has another gear he can hit to take things up a notch. The real question is whether their regular-season success can translate in the playoffs. Pressure is a privilege that all stars have to find a way to push through, but the Core Four forwards can't shoulder everything — they need a stronger supporting cast. While Max Domi is serviceable, there is a reason the team is in the market for more forward depth — especially in the form of a third-line center to ease John Tavares' workload. The Maple Leafs have strength in net between Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, but there is room for improvement on defense. Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev (when healthy) help compensate for Morgan Rielly as a No. 1. While Rielly has trended up offensively lately, it wouldn't help to add more support, either. Matthew Tkachuk's injury status and whether he will be healthy for the playoffs are the biggest concerns in Florida. If he can return, the Panthers should have the forward chops to go on another deep run. It won't be surprising to see the team look for backup in the meantime, especially after unlocking more cap space with Tkachuk's contract on LTIR. Management has already bolstered the blue line by trading for Seth Jones. His value as a top-four defenseman looks far from inspiring, but the context of his surroundings in Chicago has to be considered. A safe assumption is that Jones will play top-four minutes, but his exact responsibilities will be determined down the stretch. Sergei Bobrovsky has only saved one goal above expected in 40 appearances with a .903 save percentage. That's why his actual value pales in comparison to his projected value. He could rebound or turn it on in the playoffs, but there is less room for error now since Spencer Knight was traded to Chicago. Advertisement The Lightning's strategy revolves around their elite core. Andrei Vasilevskiy has rebounded in a big way, with almost 23 goals saved above expected through 48 games. The return of Ryan McDonagh has helped take the burden off Victor Hedman, who is having an excellent season. Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov make a dynamic first line. Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel have also become a shutdown force. However, there are clear weaknesses below those players. The Cup Checklist scratches the surface on that, because there isn't an ideal player for that last forward slot. Mitchell Chaffee doesn't stack up, and neither do Gage Goncalves, Conor Geekie, Zemgus Girgensons or Michael Eyssimont. The Lightning's stars can make up a lot of ground, but it's a tall ask to rely on two scoring lines through up to four rounds of postseason action. So the Lightning's No. 1 priority at the deadline has to be finding support for the middle six. The Blue Jackets are a surprising fixture in the playoff race thanks to some star-powered performances and player development. Zach Werenski is the Blue Jackets' engine and is making the case for consideration for the Norris and Hart Trophies. Kirill Marchenko has emerged as a true top-line caliber player up front. A healthy Sean Monahan has upped his game in Columbus, while Kent Johnson, Dmitri Voronkov and Dante Fabbro have all progressed. Management should look for a top-nine forward to take this roster up a notch. The return of Boone Jenner is an addition of sorts — his actual value is a bit skewed due to only playing a few games — but the team has the leeway to make bigger swings, too. Unlike some contenders, the Blue Jackets have a ton of cap space, draft capital and a deep prospect pool to work with. It's important to remember how much the Red Wings have improved on both ends of the ice since Todd McLellan took over as head coach. Their dreadful start weighed down many of their core players, and it helps explain how few checkmarks there are in Detroit and how little black and gold highlights its checklist. Marco Kasper's numbers aren't a concern, considering his fit on the top line with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin. However, veterans Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko have fallen short of their projected values. So there is room to add up front. The most obvious spot is at 3C to replace Andrew Copp, but there may be an internal option in Michael Rasmussen when he returns from injury. That could allow management to focus on the wing and maybe the most pressing area: on defense. With one of the more challenging schedules ahead, the Red Wings may want to invest in extra help. GO DEEPER What Copp's injury means for the Red Wings as trade deadline nears Like the Red Wings and Blue Jackets, the Senators are also looking to turn the corner and return to the playoff picture — and that may require deadline dealings. The pieces are finally coming together in Ottawa to form a playoff team. Core players like Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot are on track, and there is a solid supporting cast in place behind them in Josh Norris, Drake Batherson and Artem Zub, among others. Advertisement But this team needs to grow a bit more and stay healthy. Norris, Shane Pinto and Linus Ullmark are all back from injury — Ullmark just hasn't found his pre-injury form yet. The Senators have shown a lot of progress this year, but this team still isn't a finished product. As much as they have improved defensively, there is work to do offensively. Adding a top-nine forward could help this team better its playoff chances. Some of the Rangers' core players exceeded expectations last season, but most have taken a serious step back this year. Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad (slotted in as a top-line winger for our purposes here), and Alexis Lafrenière have struggled. So has Chris Kreider, who has been dealing with injury through much of the season. The Rangers added J.T. Miller but more recently moved out pending unrestricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. Reilly Smith is being held out of the lineup for roster management purposes in anticipation of a trade. New York may still technically be in the playoff picture, but with Adam Fox sidelined, the team is better served taking a step back and loading up for next season. The Bruins, like the Rangers, have at least one franchise cornerstone at each position to build around in David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. But the strength of their roster is not contender-worthy as it stands. There are clear holes down the middle of the ice without a true top-line-caliber center or a high-end 2C to make up for it. The team's big 2024 offseason signings haven't lived up to the hype, either. Injuries have only hurt the Bruins' playoff odds. Hampus Lindholm is unlikely to return this season, and McAvoy, Brad Marchand and Trent Frederic have all been sidelined. These injuries, combined with the existing holes in the rest of their roster and a lack of depth to compensate for them, could force management into a much-needed retool. There has been little clarity on Mathew Barzal's timeline or potential return from injury, which is why he is still featured on the Checklist, unlike Lindholm in Boston and Copp in Detroit. As much as the team has defied the odds despite its injuries, Barzal is its biggest difference-maker and changes the makeup of this forward group. Without him, the gaps in the Islanders lineup are even more glaring. Advertisement The other question on Long Island revolves around Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who are all on The Athletic's trade board. Management trading any of these players will crush the team's playoff hopes and shift the focus to next year. That seems like the best path forward, but it's always possible the team will stand pat and bet on Ilya Sorokin to carry them into the postseason. Data via Dom Luszczyszyn, Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, All Three Zones and Natural Stat Trick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here is a primer on these numbers. (Photos of John Carlson and Mathew Barzal: Patrick Smith and Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
