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Is Pascal Vincent’s popularity on the rise throughout the NHL?
I have no doubt the answer is yes, given his success in Laval in 2024-2025. After all, he certainly couldn’t have hurt his chances this season, could he?
I have no doubt that teams are considering him as a potential head coach.
But the question in Vincent’s case is whether the success of the Rocket, who are in the final four of the AHL playoffs, is working against him.
And by necessity, the answer has to be, to a certain extent, yes.
Obviously, if a club really wants him, they can wait. But I wonder how much the NHL teams looking for a pilot – the Kraken, the Penguins and the Bruins – will want to wait until the Rocket is eliminated (or crowned champion) before naming a head coach.
It’s getting late, and the same names keep coming up for the remaining positions.
Per sources ; Jay Woodcroft, Mitch Love, and Marco Sturm are among the favorites as potential hires as HC for @NHLBruins @penguins and @SeattleKraken. #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/WC9CwBVOxV
– Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) May 27, 2025
Does this mean Vincent has definitely missed out this year? No. But it wouldn’t be surprising if the ship had sailed and Vincent hadn’t been able to get his chance.
Good for the Rocket and the Habs… but too bad for him, if that’s what happens.
It’s worth noting that in the past, some coaches have been blocked by their club’s success in the AHL. Todd Nelson, who won the last two Calder Cup titles in Hershey, is a good example sometimes used by Anthony Marcotte.
In other years, he couldn’t talk to NHL teams because he was a victim of his own success. But this year, after failing to reach the final four, his name is suddenly circulating. #PasardDeHasard
People who work in the game were talking about Todd Nelson this weekend. Here’s what they’re saying and why it might be a good fit for the Penguins:
Penguins Coaching Search: Chatter Indicates Team High on Nelson https://t.co/IQygMkgAoY
– Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) May 27, 2025
Could it be the same thing that’s holding Vincent back? Who knows.
Note that the name of the Penguins has sometimes come up in the case of the Québécois from Laval, as the Pennsylvania club could turn to AHL coaches. How high up on Kyle Dubas’ list is Pascal Vincent? We have no idea.
overtime
– Speaking of the Rocket.
Forwards Laurent Dauphin and Xavier Simoneau will not practice today (therapy day).
Forwards Laurent Dauphin and Xavier Simoneau will not practice today (therapy day).
– xyz – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) May 27, 2025
Vincent Arseneau resumed practice this morning with his Laval teammates. Still no Tyler Wotherspoon or William Trudeau. There are no defensive extras on the Rocket side.
– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) May 27, 2025
– Carter Bear and the road to recovery. [RG Media]
– Is he the right man for the job?
Impressive introduction for Jeff Blashill, who says #Blackhawks job was the “exact” one he wanted. Mentioned “potential superstars at every position” and said his experiences will allow him to step foot into Hawks room and “not guess, not hope, but know” what it’s going to take . https://t.co/bknnfjNIN7
– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 27, 2025
– What do you think?
QUESTION OF THE DAY IN THE MORNING CLUB :
We’re a month away from the draft. If with a 1st-round pick, the Canadiens ask for a left-handed defenseman. How do you welcome the news?
#question #clubdumatin #hockey #canadiens #draft
– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) May 27, 2025
– Of note.
Situation #CoupeMemorial
Tonight: LON vs MH
(Winner in final – Loser in semis)Tomorrow: RIM vs MON
(Winner in semi-final – Loser eliminated)Friday: Semi-Final
Sunday Final
14 of the last 16 teams with a 3-0 record eventually win the Cup
– Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) May 27, 2025
More must-reads:
- Flyers first-round pick expected to commit to Michigan State
- WNBA All-Star Game ratings paint a troubling picture
- The 'NBA all-time 50-point game leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Reaves' Clear Opinion of Maple Leafs Captain Auston Matthews
Before Ryan Reaves was traded to the San Jose Sharks earlier this summer, he had a front-row seat to Auston Matthews' first season wearing the “C” for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews dealt with injury setbacks throughout the year, missing 15 games after hurting himself during training camp. He still found a way to finish the season, racking up 78 points in 67 regular-season games, adding 11 points in 13 playoff outings. Reaves appeared on the "Leafs Morning Take" podcast on Monday to discuss that and many other topics. Reaves opened up on his two seasons in Toronto. The enforcer offered insight into what made the 2024–25 campaign unique and how Matthews handled the spotlight during his first year as the team captain. “I think a lot of (Matthews') leadership is led by example,” Reaves said. “He works incredibly hard in practice. And on the ice, I think you see how hard he works in all three zones. “Obviously, grinding through some issues this year, and, you know, really trying to grind through it for the team.” Reaves said that even though Matthews was forced to miss time throughout the season, the captain maintained a presence Reaves — a 38-year-old veteran — found instructive, especially for younger players in the locker room. “To me, Auston was a guy who really led by example, really tried to drag guys into battles, practice,” Reaves said. “Never took days off, never, never coasted in practice. Always working his (expletive) off, on the ice before everybody else, off the ice last, you know. “(It’s) something that, as a vet, it was great to see. It really teaches those young guys how to, how to be, you know, the best in the world.” Reaves, however, acknowledged that Matthews wasn’t the most vocal captain he’d ever played with. That said, the veteran still respected Matthews' approach to leading the Maple Leafs. “Everybody leads differently, right?” Reaves said. “You can’t be the most vocal and the most leading by example, you can’t, you can’t do it all.”
Phillies’ 1.83 ERA starter drawing trade interest ahead of deadline
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Not only do they have a great front five, but there goes, potentially, eight pitchers deep with MLB talent. Unsurprisingly, with such a surplus of talent, the Phillies are drawing trade interest in their starters. Ranger Suarez, whose contract expires at the end of the year, would be a typical trade deadline candidate. But he's going nowhere. Instead, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are drawing trade interest in Phillies right-handed prospect Mick Abel. The 23-year-old starter could be a trade chip if the Phillies find a suitable trade target. "... Same goes for Mick Abel," Gelb writes, "who is drawing trade interest." The Phillies right-hander has impressed in his brief Major League stint, even if he now sits at a 5.04 ERA in six starts. His ceiling, which he displayed in his MLB debut, is enough to captivate teams around baseball. In the minors, Abel has been dominant this season. He has a 1.83 ERA in 12 starts in Triple-A, a significant improvement over his 6.46 ERA in 2024. Abel's progress this season has been incredible, and has teams interested in trading for him. If the Phillies find a trade partner for an outfielder or a dominant reliever, Abel could be a centerpiece of a deal to land such a player at the deadline. With the crowded rotation, Abel might not have a starting role on the roster for the rest of the season. He could go to the bullpen for the postseason run or be dealt to land a high-profile reliever or outfielder. But, regardless of what the Phillies do with Abel, this report from Gelb is a good sign. If teams around baseball are interested in Abel, then his progress isn't just a facade; it's something teams are willing to buy in on.
The Falcons just got some bad news for any hopes they had of landing a major trade offer for tight end Kyle Pitts
If the Atlanta Falcons are serious about the idea of potentially moving on from tight end Kyle Pitts in a contract year, they just got some bad news that could possibly impact the quality of the offers they'll receive this summer. There's a new veteran tight end on the free agent market and it may serve as a distraction or pivot for any team that was entertaining making a major offer for Pitts. This new direction would come without the need for losing a draft pick in the process. The Seattle Seahawks have waived veteran tight end Noah Fant — another tight end with a first round pedigree who boasts a dynamic athletic profile for teams to consider. Seahawks cut Fant in a cost-cutting measure Fant leaves Seattle after three seasons of play as the Seahawks lean into their younger group of tight ends. He's a sufficient level blocker but offers top-tier speed and athleticism for an NFL tight end, even if it hasn't translated to top-flight production throughout the bulk of his NFL career. Any team that may have been eyeing a tempting offer to send to Atlanta for Pitts can now find many of the same physical traits in Fant. Fant did enter the NFL two years earlier in 2019 versus Pitts' arrival in 2021. But he ran within 0.06 seconds in the 40 yard dash, jumped six inches higher than Pitts in the vertical, ran three-tenths of a second faster in the three-cone drill, and ran more than a tenth of a second faster in the short shuttle. Pitts has a more unique skill set thanks to his ability to play isolated as an 'X-receiver' and offers the higher ceiling as a result. Yet teams would almost assuredly gravitate towards another high-ceiling athlete at the position that wouldn't require a top-100 draft choice being sent away and will almost certainly play on a lower salary than Pitts' $10.8 million fifth-year option figure. This isn't necessarily bad news for the Falcons' 2025 outlook and it may not slam the door shut on any potential offers. But if Fant ends up lingering on the market for a while, it could string things out to the point where the window for a trade closes and the Falcons roll full-steam ahead for Pitts' contract year.
Red Sox pitcher sounds off on disgruntled sports bettors
Lucas Giolito is tired of hearing from angry sports bettors, and the Boston Red Sox pitcher says he recently spoke with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred about his concerns. During an episode of Rob Bradford's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast that was released on Monday, Giolito spoke about what he described as a growing problem with angry gamblers issuing threats to players. The right-hander said he has received countless messages from fans who placed wagers on him and lost, even when he pitches well. "I'm getting messages after every game," Giolito said, via Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek. "Even games where I pitched well, where they're mad at me because I hit the strikeout over instead of being under; prop bets, all these crazy things. People put hundreds of dollars on it. They don't have a lot of money but they're gambling it anyway because it's a disease. They freak out." Giolito added that there is only so much players can do in terms of blocking and reporting people on social media. He said his girlfriend has even received "nasty" messages from fans and that he asked Manfred what would need to happen for MLB to take serious action. "You can go private on social media. You can block accounts. It only goes so far. One thing I said to Rob was, 'Is it gonna take a player getting assaulted in front of their apartment building by some disgruntled that lost a bet for real action to be taken?'" Giolito said. As sports betting has been legalized across more states, the number of fans wagering has rapidly grown. Giolito alluded to prop bets such as over/unders on strikeouts, which are popular among casual gamblers. Giolito certainly is not the first professional athlete to raise concerns about disgruntled bettors. Scottie Scheffler recently revealed a change he had to make because of the actions of those who placed bets on him. As for what Manfred, MLB or any other sports organization can do about it, that remains to be seen.
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