Josh Wegman

 

Paul Maurice further cemented his legendary status in Florida Panthers lore, moving into sole possession of first place on the franchise's all-time coaching wins list with Saturday's 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks.Maurice overtook Jacques Martin for top spot. Coach Games Wins Paul Maurice 192 111 Jacques Martin 246 110 Peter DeBoer 246 103 Gerard Gallant 186 96 Doug MacLean 187 83 "It's been a lot of fun," Maurice said, according to Jameson Olive of the team's website. "The intensity and the ups and downs and the success has made it. These guys are fun to coach. We've been in some wild games and incredibly difficult situations and found a way. We reached the summit."Maurice guided the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup last season. He also led Florida to the final in 2023.No coach in Panthers history has lasted longer than three seasons. Maurice, who was hired ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, is primed to become the first. Florida now sits first in the Atlantic Division after its victory

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek will be out for "a little bit" with an undisclosed injury, interim head coach Anders Sorensen announced, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.Mrazek suffered the ailment during the first period of Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Petr Mrazek left today's game with an apparent injury. Arvid Söderblom is now in net for the #Blackhawks. pic.twitter.com/7sMROP9kuj— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) December 7, 2024 Mrazek owns stellar .906 save percentage in 20 games this season despite playing for the NHL's last-place team.Backup Arvid Soderblom entered the game in relief of Mrazek. He's also been sharp this season, posting a .915 save percentage in eight appearances.The Blackhawks signed veteran netminder Laurent Brossoit in the offseason, but he's yet to suit up after undergoing offseason knee surgery. He was given a four-week timeline on Sept. 20, but his recovery is taking longer than expected.Drew Commesso, a 2020 second-round pick, is the organiza

 

 

 

Auston Matthews is back.The Toronto Maple Leafs captain returned to the team's lineup Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.Forward Matthew Knies also came back Saturday after missing two games with an upper-body injury of his own.Matthews visited a specialist in Germany to help treat the ailment, which didn't require surgery. He said the injury flared up in preseason and got progressively worse as he continued to play through it.The shorthanded Maple Leafs went 7-2-0 in Matthews' absence, with Mitch Marner (15 points), William Nylander (11 points), and John Tavares (nine points) doing some heavy lifting in that span.Tavares and Marner rekindled an old connection together on the top line, and they stayed together on the second unit versus the Lightning. Matthews, who's spent most of his time this season with Marner, skated on a line between Nylander and Knies at Friday's practice.Toronto also reunited a five-forward power-play unit at Friday's practice fea

The Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets have explored the possibility of trading for Vancouver Canucks winger Nils Hoglander, reports ESPN's Kevin Weekes.The 23-year-old entered Friday with just five points in 21 games this season after potting a career-high 24 goals in 2023-24. He's averaged roughly 12 minutes per game this season and last. More smoke around Nils Hoglander. The speedy Swede scored 24 even strength goals last year in fourth line minutes but has just two this year. 3 years at $3M after this season. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/rYJv1tIjFK— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 29, 2024 Hoglander's cap hit for this season is $1.1 million. He signed a three-year, $9-million extension in October that begins in 2025-26.The Canucks drafted Hoglander in the second round out of Sweden in 2019.

The Columbus Blue Jackets continue to dangle prized defense prospect David Jiricek in trade talks, reports TSN's Chris Johnston, who added there's "sizable interest" in the 2022 No. 6 pick.Jiricek, who turns 21 on Thursday, is currently playing with Columbus' AHL affiliate after averaging 11:12 per contest in his six games with the Blue Jackets this season.Columbus initially sought a similarly valued prospect in return for Jiricek, but the team is now reportedly open to listening to draft-pick-based packages."It's a player that wants a fresh start, and I think the organization is committed to giving it to him," Johnston said.Jiricek boasts a tantalizing skill set as a right-shot defender with a 6-foot-4, 204-pound frame and loads of offensive upside. He's managed 14 goals and 45 assists in 86 career AHL games but has been limited to 11 points in 53 career NHL contests - 43 of which came in 2023-24. Lots of trade talk surrounding David Jiricek. 2022 6th overall pick hasn't been able to get the trust of his coa