Akil Thomas Signs Two-Year Extension With Kings

Los Angeles Kings forward Akil Thomas signed a two-year extension with an average annual value of $775,000, the team announced on Thursday. The 24-year-old earned himself a new deal after making his first NHL appearances in 2023-24. He posted three goals and one assist across seven outings in a limited role. Additionally, Thomas notched 46 […]

Maple Leafs Open To Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi Reunions

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly interested in bringing back veteran forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi as long as it makes sense for both parties, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Both players signed one-year pacts with the Leafs last offseason and both got off to slow starts before getting things turned around offensively […]

Leon Draisaitl Not Intimidated By Panthers' Physicality

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl told reporters on Wednesday that his team won't be intimidated by the Florida Panthers' physical style of play in their upcoming Stanley Cup Final series that kicks off Saturday in Sunrise. "We can be a physical team too. Obviously, we like to play with the puck but we're certainly not […]

Trevor Zegras Continues To Draw Trade Interest

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras continues to generate trade interest, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. The skilled center saw his name churn through the rumor mill during the 2023-24 season but it appears Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek continues to field calls regarding the American. Zegras had a tough season both from a health […]

Joel Edmundson, Maple Leafs Have Mutual Interest In Reunion

The Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Joel Edmundson reportedly have mutual interest in a reunion, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. The Leafs acquired the veteran blueliner in a trade with the Washington Capitals ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline. Edmundson appeared in nine games with the team, failing to hit the scoresheet […]

Joe Pavelski Likely Hanging Up His Skates

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski is leaning towards retirement after the team was eliminated in the Western Conference Final by the Edmonton Oilers. The veteran didn't want to make anything official but seemed pretty set in his decision to hang up his skates following his 18th NHL season. "This was it for me," Pavelski said. […]

Jets Determined To Retain Sean Monahan

Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan won't be going anywhere this offseason if the team has its way. According to Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre of The Winnipeg Free Press, there appears to be a "full-court press" from the Jets to retain Monahan, who is coming off a one-year, $2 million deal. Winnipeg acquired Monahan from […]

Tyler Bertuzzi Starts Contract Discussions With Maple Leafs

According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Toronto Maple Leafs have started contract negotiations with Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the club last offseason, is a pending unrestricted free agent. It was a down year for Bertuzzi, but the team clearly still sees him as a very valuable member […]

Logan O'Connor Expects To Be Ready For Start Of Training Camp

Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor (hip) has provided a positive update on his recovery, saying he expects to be ready for Day 1 of training camp. The 27-year-old underwent season-ending hip surgery in March. The hip injury cut short a good campaign for O'Connor, who managed to register 13 goals and 25 points in […]

Derek Ryan On Track To Return To Oilers Lineup

Edmonton Oilers center Derek Ryan is poised to re-enter the lineup on Sunday in Game 6 against the Stars. He was scratched in favor of Sam Carrick for Game 5. Carrick logged just 6:17 of ice time, registering one hit. Ryan has averaged 9:00 of action on the fourth line in the playoffs, recording one […]

Corey Perry Good To Go For Game 6

Edmonton Oilers winger Corey Perry (shoulder) will play in Sunday's Game 6 against Dallas. He missed some time in Game 5 with an apparent shoulder injury, but the veteran will remain in the lineup as Edmonton attempts to book a place in the Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday. Perry, who is trying to make it […]

Mavrik Bourque Makes Playoffs Debut On Sunday

Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque will enter the lineup on Sunday against Edmonton for his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. With the team down 3-2 in the Western Conference Final, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer inserts a bit more offensive talent into the lineup in the shape of Bourque, who was voted the AHL MVP this […]

Artemi Panarin Scores Lone Rangers Goal In Game 6 Defeat

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin potted the team's only goal in Saturday's 2-1 Game 6 defeat against Florida. Battling for survival in the Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers struggled to generate scoring chances and only found the back of the net with 1:40 left in the third period. Panarin hadn't scored for eight […]

Igor Shesterkin Solid In Losing Effort

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin pushed away 32 of 34 shots for a .941 save percentage in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against Florida on Saturday, but despite his fantastic effort, the season ended for the team with a 2-1 loss. Shesterkin was beaten by Sam Bennett inside the final minute of […]

Sergei Bobrovsky Almost Perfect In Series-Clincher

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky put in another rock-solid performance on Saturday, stopping 23 of 24 shots in a 2-1 victory over the Rangers. He was extremely close to becoming the first goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout in a series-clinching game, with the Rangers scoring their only goal at the 18:20 mark […]

Anton Lundell Keeps The Assists Coming

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell recorded an assist on Vladimir Tarasenko's game-winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory. It's his ninth postseason assist, which has Lundell ranked third on the team, behind only Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov. Lundell's productive work as a third-line center in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs includes three goals in 17 […]

Sam Bennett Scores In Third Consecutive Game

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett opened the scoring in Saturday's Game 6 win over the Rangers, extending his goal streak to three games. Bennett hit his sixth postseason goal of the year with 50 seconds left in the first period. His marker was the only goal of the game for a long time before Vladimir […]

Vladimir Tarasenko Sends Panthers Back To Cup Final

Florida Panthers winger Vladimir Tarasenko scored the decisive goal as the team clinched its spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 victory over the Rangers on Saturday. Having gone pointless in the series so far, Tarasenko popped up with a big goal 9:08 into the third period to give Florida a 2-0 […]

Today's NHL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (6/01/24) - Showdown Slate: Daily Fantasy Hockey

Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer, respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL postseason, which means it's time to sharpen our skills and partake […]

Jonathan Marchessault Set For Contract Talks With Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault is set to begin contract discussions with the team. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Golden Knights have made extending Marchessault a "priority" this offseason. The news comes just a few days after Marchessault noted that he's yet to receive a call from the club regarding a potential […]

Canadiens Will Not Re-Sign Tanner Pearson

Montreal Canadiens left wing Tanner Pearson will be on the move as a free agent this summer. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Canadiens have decided against extending Pearson, who spent one season in Montreal. The 31-year-old was acquired from Vancouver ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Pearson recorded 13 points (five goals, eight assists) […]

Matt Dumba To Leave Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba will not re-sign with the team and is hitting the open market this offseason. After inking a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Arizona Coyotes last summer, Dumba finished the 2023-24 campaign with the Lightning, playing in 23 contests. However, the Lightning have just re-acquired Ryan McDonagh, who carries […]

Sam Carrick Set To Enter Oilers Lineup For Game 5

Edmonton Oilers center Sam Carrick is expected to replace Derek Ryan in the lineup Friday against Dallas. The 32-year-old will make his ninth postseason appearance of the year. He's been limited to one assist in 9:50 of ice time per game. However, Carrick boasts a better faceoff percentage than Ryan, with 55.2 percent, and has […]

Jani Hakanpaa Remains Out On Friday

Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) will remain sidelined for Game 5 against the Oilers on Friday. The 32-year-old has yet to feature in the postseason after suffering a lower-body injury on March 16. Stars head coach Pete DeBoer hasn't ruled Hakanpaa out for the series, but he appears to still be some way […]

Christopher Tanev A Game-Time Call On Friday

Dallas Stars defenseman Christopher Tanev (lower body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's Game 5 against Edmonton. Tanev's night was cut short in Game 4 when he was injured while blocking a shot, but it looks like he has a chance to return to action on Friday. While the veteran blue-liner has managed to […]

Mika Zibanejad Grabs First Conference Finals Points With Assists

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad recorded his first points of the Eastern Conference Final series against Florida on Thursday, picking up assists on both goals in the team's 3-2 defeat. Zibanejad logged a short-handed helper in the second period when Chris Kreider scored and had his second assist inside the final minute of the […]

Alexis Lafreniere Bags Eighth Postseason Goal

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere continued his terrific postseason campaign with another goal in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Florida. He finished the scoring in the contest, notching his eighth playoff goal of the year. Alex Kovalev is the only player aged 22 or younger in Rangers history to score more goals in a single […]

Chris Kreider Ends Scoreless Run With Two-Point Effort

New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider finished Thursday's 3-2 Game 5 loss to the Panthers with two points. He tied Mark Messier's franchise record with his third career short-handed postseason goal and registered an assist when Alexis Lafreniere found the back of the net late in the game. These are Kreider's first points of […]

Sergei Bobrovsky Records 40th Postseason Victory

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky joined a select group of netminders with at least 40 career playoff wins on Thursday. He saved 25 of 27 shots to help the team to a 3-2 victory over the Rangers, becoming the fourth active goaltender with 40-plus postseason wins. There have only been 30 goalies throughout history to […]

Gustav Forsling Extends Point Streak With Another Goal

Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling scored a big goal to stretch his point streak to three games in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Rangers. The Swedish blue-liner popped up with a game-tying goal in the second period after Chris Kreider had given the Rangers the lead. It's already his second goal of the Eastern Conference […]