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One player to root for from every NHL Eastern Conference team
With a new NHL season getting underway, ardent fans are eager to watch their favorite teams and hate on rivals. But for the teams you don't dislike but don't know much about, this guide may help you when your favorite team isn't playing.
Here's a player on each Eastern Conference team to root for.
Boston Bruins | Joonas Korpisalo | Goaltender
Korpisalo was essentially run out of Ottawa one year after signing a big contract. Now on his fourth team in three seasons, he has a chance to rebuild his reputation with one of the league's premier organizations.
Buffalo Sabres | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | Goaltender
Written off on multiple occasions, Swedish netminder "UPL" went from being considered the goalie of the future to another stalled prospect. Now he might once again be the goalie of the future. His building off of last season (.910 save percentage, 2.57 goals against average) could potentially help break the longest playoff drought in the NHL (13 seasons) for a rabid fan base.
Carolina Hurricanes | Brent Burns | Defenseman
Burns is 39 and turns 40 on March 9, is on an expiring contract and may be looking at his last chance at a Stanley Cup. He is basically the archetype for the "old guy without a Cup."
Columbus Blue Jackets | Sean Monahan | Center
Monahan had to slowly rebuild his career after injuries hampered his reign as one of the league's elite goal-scoring centers. He signed a big contract this summer in Columbus to be close to his best friend from his Calgary days, the late Johnny Gaudreau.
Detroit Red Wings | Alex Lyon | Goaltender
Lyon is an undrafted 32-year-old journeyman on his fourth stop in eight seasons, and he has been either the savior or near-savior of a team's season in his past two stops. He's part of a crowded crease with as many as four guys who could command the net at some point this season. The odds never seem to be in his favor, but Lyon has a history of delivering.
Florida Panthers | Gustav Forsling | Defenseman
The elite defenseman helped lead Florida to a Stanley Cup, playing a critical role in last season's seven-game win over Edmonton. The former Florida waiver claim signed a massive contract extension and has the chance to deliver a sequel performance even better than the original.
Montreal Canadiens | Lane Hutson | Defenseman
A 5-foot-10, 163-pound rookie defenseman playing enormous minutes for an Original Six franchise seems destined to either take the league by storm or be a complete disaster. Add in Hutson's electric ability, Montreal's teeming offensive talent and defense-optional style and you have the makings of must-see pond hockey. Hutson is only 20.
New Jersey Devils | Dougie Hamilton | Defenseman
Hamilton will always be a fan favorite for being part of one of the most absurd NHL rumors in history. Whether he's a "museum guy" or not, Hamilton is also one of the more fun players in the league and coming off a pectoral injury that cost him essentially all of last season and torpedoed New Jersey's season.
New York Islanders | Anthony Duclair | Wing
He shaved his hair off just to be a part of this team and follow some arcane policies instituted by GM Lou Lamoriello.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and this one speaks volumes about the out-of-touch, unopposed culture of this sport and one of its most revered people. pic.twitter.com/1OCuraozEh
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) August 22, 2024
New York Rangers | Filip Chytil | Center
Chytil looked like one of the rising centers in the NHL heading into last season, but concussions cost him 72 games. His love of the game brought him back. He chose the NHL and the sport's highest level rather than playing it safe back home in Czechia.
Ottawa Senators | Claude Giroux | Wing
Giroux's return home to play for his hometown team has been marred by one bizarre story after another, and none of them really have anything to do with him. He came home to bring Ottawa back to relevance, but the Senators spent two seasons as dysfunction personified. This may be his last chance to help turn around the team.
Philadelphia Flyers | Samuel Ersson | Goaltender
The midseason arrest of goaltender Carter Hart resulted in Ersson playing more games than all but one other goaltender from Jan. 20 to the end of the season. The 24-year-old wasn't ready for that workload, and his play suffered as a result. He now has a chance at a redemption arc.
Pittsburgh Penguins | Kevin Hayes | Center-wing
Few players in the league have dealt with the off-ice tragedy Hayes has in the past few seasons. He lost brother Jimmy in 2021 and his best friend from college, Johnny Gaudreau, earlier this summer. Hayes finding the level that earned him a seven-year contract with the Flyers in 2019 would be satisfying on its own and have implications for one of the league's most important players, teammate Sidney Crosby.
Tampa Bay Lightning | Andrei Vasilevskiy | Goaltender
The league is simply more fun when "The Big Cat" is at the height of his powers, which he wasn't last season after losing the first seven weeks of the season to surgery to repair a herniated disc. When Vasilevskiy is playing well, he's the Josh Allen of the NHL — an uber-talented 6-foot-4, 220-pound monster who shouldn't be able to move the way he does.
Toronto Maple Leafs | Max Pacioretty | Wing
The soon-to-be 36-year-old goal scorer has twice had to rehab a significant Achilles injury. He has only played 91 games in the past three seasons as a result.
Washington Capitals | Logan Thompson | Goaltender
He learned he had been traded by Vegas to Washington first thing in the morning on the day he was set to attend an autograph signing at the 2024 NHL Draft for Vegas Golden Knights fans. It would have been so easy for him to bail on the event. Instead, Thompson kept the appearance to say goodbye to Vegas fans who showed up for him.
More must-reads:
- One player to root for from every NHL Western Conference team
- Storylines to follow for the 2024-25 NHL season
- The '2024-25 NFL passing-yard leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Edmonton Oilers on the verge of trading key players in massive shake-up
With trade rumors heating up again in Edmonton, it's clear the Oilers are preparing for another Cup run, but getting past Dallas won't be easy. The Edmonton Oilers are once again facing a familiar situation: loaded with talent, backed into a win-now window, and flirting with another all-in approach at the trade deadline. This time, though, the road to the Stanley Cup looks more crowded, especially in the Western Conference. The Dallas Stars aren't just contenders anymore. They might be the team that Edmonton has to beat. In a recent piece from The Athletic, NHL insider Allan Mitchell named five Oilers who could be dangled as trade bait if Edmonton goes full throttle again. That list includes goalie Stuart Skinner, winger Matt Savoie, and prospects Vasily Podkolzin, Beau Akey, and Maxim Berezkin. These aren't throwaway names. Skinner alone has started 50 playoff games and was in net for the first two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. "This team has already given up a lot of futures to win now," Mitchell explained. "And they might do it again, depending on how the season plays out." The Oilers want the Cup, but the Dallas Stars might be their biggest roadblock in the West While Edmonton debates whether to spend more future capital, the Dallas Stars have quietly built one of the deepest, most balanced rosters in hockey. With Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Mikko Rantanen, they've mixed youth and star power better than almost anyone. And they've done it without constantly emptying the cupboard. In fact, the Stars might now be the Oilers' biggest nightmare in the Western Conference. They've ended playoff runs before and could do it again. Personally, I don't think Edmonton gets past Dallas unless they hit on every single trade they make. The Stars are built to last. The Oilers are built to win now, or risk it all.
The Lakers could have another undrafted gem on their hands
In a summer dominated by LeBron James and Luka Doncic headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers may have quietly struck gold once again in the UDFA market, this time with former Villanova standout Eric Dixon. After initially agreeing to a two-way contract following the 2024–25 NBA Draft, Dixon’s path to the professional ranks was temporarily delayed due to injury, forcing him to miss Summer League. The Lakers, however, remained invested in the 24-year-old forward, eventually signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal, a move that keeps him in the pipeline and positions him as a potential breakout candidate through the G League. Dixon brings one of the most decorated resumes in college basketball. The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward led all Division I scorers last season, averaging 23.3 points per game while shooting an impressive 40.7% from beyond the arc on 7.2 attempts per contest, a remarkable transformation for a player once seen as a traditional low-post presence. He concluded his five-year career at Villanova as the school’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with 2,314 points and etching his name into Big East history. While concerns around his age and lateral quickness may have contributed to him being passed over in the draft, Dixon’s refined skill set and ability to stretch the floor make him a strong fit in today’s NBA. He delivered in big moments throughout the season, including a 38-point outburst against Maryland on Nov. 11, and consistently carried the offensive load for the Wildcats. With his Exhibit 10 deal, Dixon is expected to begin the season with the South Bay Lakers, where he’ll aim to prove he’s healthy and ready to make an immediate impact. If he performs as expected, a return to a two-way contract, and possibly NBA minutes, could be on the horizon. The Lakers have developed a reputation for identifying and nurturing overlooked talent, with Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso emerging as prime examples. Dixon, with his offensive versatility and physical readiness, could be next in line. In a loaded Western Conference, unearthing low-cost contributors is more important than ever. Dixon might just be the next hidden gem to emerge from the Lakers’ development pipeline.
Gap between star WR Terry McLaurin, Commanders revealed
As of Thursday morning, the Washington Commanders and Terry McLaurin remained in a contract stalemate after the 29-year-old wide receiver in the final year of his current deal requested a trade. During Thursday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler noted that the Commanders and McLaurin are locked in "a classic standoff" as McLaurin allegedly looks to secure "parts" of the five-year, $150M deal that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf this past March. "They have been far apart," Fowler said about the negotiations between the Commanders and McLaurin, as shared by Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report. "...[McLaurin] has wanted metrics of the DK Metcalf contract, which is $32M. I'm told the Washington Commanders have only been slightly above where he was before, which is $23M. So take that gap, that's $7M to 8M that they have to bridge." Fowler added that Washington "has got some calls about McLaurin" this summer because "there's some interest league-wide" in learning whether or not the wideout could become available. For what it's worth, numerous reporters have said since McLaurin went public with his trade request that he likely won't go anywhere before Washington opens the season with a home game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. ESPN's John Keim mentioned that Washington's joint practice with the New England Patriots on Wednesday showed that the Commanders "need McLaurin back on the field" as soon as possible. That's understandable, as McLaurin recorded team highs of 117 targets, 82 receptions and 1,096 receiving yards to help quarterback Jayden Daniels become the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2024 season. Additionally, McLaurin finished the 2024 campaign ranked second in the entire NFL with 13 touchdown catches. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list a Washington team coming off a trip to this year's NFC Championship Game sixth among the betting favorites at +1800 odds to win Super Bowl LX. Perhaps Wednesday's joint practice will spark more positive conversations between McLaurin's camp and the Commanders that will result in the playmaker rejoining summer practices as soon as early next week.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might be making major moves in Cleveland Heights
First Travis Kelce went Instagram official with Taylor Swift, and now this! The star couple might be looking to take another big step in their relationship. The New York Post reports that Swift and Kelce have "toured at least two homes in Cleveland’s Eastside suburbs in June." The outlet speculated that this area could "potentially boast the perfect home for a post-NFL retirement." The two were spotted having lunch together in Ohio this summer at JoJo's Bar in Chagrin Falls, with eagle-eyed fans noticing that the singer was even wearing her merchandise. The manager of JoJo's Bar spoke with PEOPLE at the time about Kelce and Swift's lunch date. "Taylor and Travis came in and had a wonderful time," John Ponyicky told the outlet. "They had a great lunch, enjoyed our food, and were really impressed with the team. Travis grew up in Cleveland Heights, so he decided to visit somewhere he was familiar with. He and Taylor were both really pleasant. They sat at the bar for a bit, but also had a private lunch in a private room." Kelce is very proud of his hometown, so it makes sense that he would always want to make sure he has a place to go back to there. However, including Swift in this decision proves that he is building a future with her.
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