Latest news with #Flames
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Thanks for Bennett and Tkachuk': Brad Marchand trolls Calgary Flames after the Florida Panthers win Stanley Cup again
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with the Stanley Cup (Credit: Getty Images) After winning his second Stanley Cup, Brad Marchand made sure to use the moment not just to celebrate, but to send a not-so-subtle reminder to teams that once doubted the Florida Panthers roster. One of his sharpest jabs came at the Calgary Flames, who once traded away both Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, now vital parts of Florida's championship core. Calgary Flames' trade history under fire again It has been a difficult stretch for the Flames. Missing the playoffs for three straight seasons while watching Tkachuk and Bennett dominate the postseason makes the trades sting even more. The Matthew Tkachuk deal, though initially considered a strong return, hasn't aged well. Calgary received Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar, but Huberdeau's struggles in Calgary have been well-documented. Brad Marchand celebrates the Florida Panthers teammates and takes shots The 37-year-old Marchand, acquired by Florida from Boston earlier in the year, has leaned fully into his new role as both on-ice leader and off-ice agitator. At the celebratory dinner that quickly turned into a nightclub-style party, Marchand publicly thanked teams like Calgary for 'giving up on' key players like Bennett and Tkachuk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Flames left to reflect while Brad Marchand enjoys the last laugh Brad Marchand has never been one to shy away from controversy. Now, as a Cup winner again, he's embracing the spotlight with the same energy he brought on the ice. For the Calgary Flames, his post felt like salt in a still-fresh wound. While there is some long-term upside to the trades they made, the optics are hard to ignore. Read more: Connor McDavid's wife, Lauren Kyle, sharesa heartfelt message with the Edmonton Oilers fans after the Stanley Cup loss As Marchand danced and toasted his teammates, he left Calgary fans, and former GM Brad Treliving with a tough pill to swallow. The Panthers are champions again, powered by players the Flames once let go. And Marchand made sure no one would forget. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Flames ‘continuing to plug away' on contract negotiations with Dan Vladar, says Conroy
Article content Second-string goalie Dan Vladar was emphatic in his end-of-season interview about his desire to stick around the Saddledome, while the Flames seemed similarly keen on continuing with their current twine-minding tandem. But two months later, and less than two weeks before Vladar would become an unrestricted free agent, there's been no news of a contract extension for the 27-year-old from the Czech Republic, raising the possibility that rising star Dustin Wolf might have a different sidekick when the puck drops on the 2025-26 campaign. Article content 'We're talking to his representation and seeing where his mindset is at,' Flames general manager Craig Conroy told Postmedia on Thursday when asked for an update on negotiations with Vladar. 'We're open, just like he was open to a contract. But both sides have to come to terms with that. We're just continuing to plug away at that one.' Vladar is at the tail-end of a two-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of US$2.2 million. Coming off the heaviest workload of his NHL career, and after finishing the season on a 6-1-1 run, it's safe to assume that he's looking for at least a slight raise. The Flames have plenty of salary-cap wiggle room, but teams are often hesitant to be allocating too much loot to their backup puck-stopper. Vladar and Wolf split starts last fall, but the youngster emerged through the winter as the obvious workhorse in Calgary. Wolf, en route to his runner-up finish in the Calder Trophy race, was tapped for 76 per cent of the crease time in the second half of the season. Article content In 30 appearances, Vladar posted a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. It did not go unnoticed by teammates and staff that he was handed a lot of tough assignments, including the second half of any back-to-back sets. 'We talk about Wolfie a lot and the season he did have, but I think a big reason why he had such a good year was the way Dan was, too,' said Flames head coach Ryan Huska on locker clean-out day. 'We had a great tandem. You look at our team and that was probably the strength of our team this year — those two guys in net gave us a chance to win every night, and it was rare when one of them had an off-night. 'When you're planning ahead, you know you have one area covered. For me as a coach, I know we're going to be good in net.' The big question is, have those plans changed since mid-April, when their backup stressed he would 'love to be back' for a fifth season with the Flames? Article content Is Vladar, who really seemed to find his groove after the 4 Nations Face-Off and continued to roll with a sparkling .950 save percentage in his four appearances at the world championship tournament, now wondering if another organization might view him as a potential starter or a platoon possibility? Is he hoping for more playing time so he can showcase himself for a chance to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Is it simply a matter of finding some middle ground on term and dollar figure? If Vladar does opt to test the market when free agency opens on July 1, he will be one of the most appealing options available, a guy who can offer a blend of experience and upside. If the Flames need to go another route, the pickings are somewhat slim. Beyond Vladar, the list of soon-to-be UFAs in the crease is headlined by Jake Allen, Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, who just lifted the Stanley Cup as the No. 2 for the Florida Panthers. Article content The Flames have also been mentioned as potential suitor for Ivan Prosvetov, who is looking to return from the KHL. Also factoring in this conversation is whether there is internal belief that Devin Cooley can be part of the big-league plan. Cooley's contract upgrades to a one-way for this coming season, but there may be some second-guessing after his rollercoaster campaign with the Wranglers — a superb start that netted an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic and then a miserable finishing stretch. Cooley, who turned 28 last month, will certainly be among those keeping close tabs on Vladar's situation. While there's still time to get a deal done, the Flames might need a backup backup plan. Latest National Stories
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Flames ‘continuing to plug away' on contract negotiations with Dan Vladar, says Conroy
Article content Article content Is Vladar, who really seemed to find his groove after the 4 Nations Face-Off and continued to roll with a sparkling .950 save percentage in his four appearances at the world championship tournament, now wondering if another organization might view him as a potential starter or a platoon possibility? Article content Is he hoping for more playing time so he can showcase himself for a chance to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Article content Is it simply a matter of finding some middle ground on term and dollar figure? Article content If Vladar does opt to test the market when free agency opens on July 1, he will be one of the most appealing options available, a guy who can offer a blend of experience and upside. Article content If the Flames need to go another route, the pickings are somewhat slim. Beyond Vladar, the list of soon-to-be UFAs in the crease is headlined by Jake Allen, Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, who just lifted the Stanley Cup as the No. 2 for the Florida Panthers. Article content Article content The Flames have also been mentioned as potential suitor for Ivan Prosvetov, who is looking to return from the KHL. Article content Also factoring in this conversation is whether there is internal belief that Devin Cooley can be part of the big-league plan. Cooley's contract upgrades to a one-way for this coming season, but there may be some second-guessing after his rollercoaster campaign with the Wranglers — a superb start that netted an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic and then a miserable finishing stretch. Article content
Global News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
After Oilers lose to Panthers again, where do Canada's teams stand amid Stanley Cup drought?
The Stanley Cup drought for Canadian teams reached 32 years after the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in a second consecutive final on Tuesday. What about next year? Here's a look at where each of the seven Canadian clubs stands heading into next season — and which might be closest to ending the skid. Calgary Flames After narrowly missing the playoffs, the Flames will try to strike a balance between developing around their emerging young talent and punching a little higher next season. The Stanley Cup? Probably not happening. Dustin Wolf was Calgary's MVP in his rookie season and appears to be a franchise goalie. Young wingers Matt Coronato and Connor Zary also represent hope for the future, while top defence prospect Zayne Parekh could enter the fray. Story continues below advertisement Calgary also has quality veterans like Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau pushing to end a three-year playoff drought, but the Flames are still firmly in a 'retool' period. Edmonton Oilers Spearheaded by superstar duo Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers should be best-positioned to fight for the Stanley Cup again. Edmonton dominated the Western Conference playoffs for two straight seasons before running into a deep and relentless Panthers team both times. The Oilers need to sign star defenceman Evan Bouchard to run it back. The pending restricted free agent is due a massive raise from his US$3.9 million cap hit after producing 55 points in his last 47 playoff games. Story continues below advertisement McDavid has one year left on his contract, adding potential stakes to next season. The Oilers captain is eligible for an extension on July 1. Also, will the Oilers make a move for a true No. 1 goalie after inconsistent performances from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard? 1:42 Edmonton Oilers fans heartbroken after Stanley Cup final loss Montreal Canadiens Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Montreal's future is bright, but the Canadiens are likely a few seasons away from fighting for a Stanley Cup. The Canadiens boast a young core of captain Nick Suzuki, winger Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, a shifty defenceman who won the Calder Trophy. Dazzling forward Ivan Demidov could contend for rookie of the year himself next season. Montreal was the youngest team in this year's playoffs, where they lost a first-round series to the Washington Capitals in five games, and could be even younger next season as more players from the franchise's deep prospect pool graduate to the NHL. Story continues below advertisement Major off-season additions — particularly a second-line centre — are possible, but general manager Kent Hughes is taking a patient approach to build a sustainable winner. Ottawa Senators The Senators took a major step with a playoff berth last season, signalling the end of a long, painful rebuild. Led by captain Brady Tkachuk, centre Tim Stutzle and defenceman Jake Sanderson, the Senators are young, talented and trending in the right direction. Much like the Canadiens, however, are they close to making the leap from playoff contender to Stanley Cup contender? Ottawa has a solid supporting cast, but still has holes to fill. GM Steve Staios could be active in his search for a top-four defenceman and a top-six winger this off-season. Veteran forward Claude Giroux also needs a contract. Story continues below advertisement 1:26 Canada's NHL teams optimistic about ending Stanley Cup drought Toronto Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs have only won two series in their 'Core Four' era despite reaching the playoffs nine straight years. Now the DNA, as GM Brad Treliving put it, looks like it's about to change in Toronto. Star winger Mitch Marner is a pending free agent and could leave his boyhood club, former captain John Tavares also needs a contract, and Treliving appears ready to make bold moves. Then again, the Leafs led the Stanley Cup-champion Panthers 2-0 in their second-round series and pushed them to a Game 7. They also won the Atlantic Division with a smothering defensive style in their first year under coach Craig Berube. No matter how the off-season shakes out, the Leafs should return to the playoffs. But will it be any different once they get there? Story continues below advertisement Vancouver Canucks The Canucks looked a contender last year in a seven-game second-round series against Edmonton. That feels like a long time ago. Vancouver's followup went off the rails in a past season marked by off-ice drama between star forwards Elias Pettersson and since-traded J.T. Miller. Many uncertainties now surround the Canucks. Will Pettersson, once viewed as a top No. 1 centre, rediscover his 100-point form? Can goalie Thatcher Demko, elite when healthy, get through a season injury-free? Story continues below advertisement Head coach Rick Tocchet left Vancouver for Philadelphia, with Adam Foote taking over behind the bench. Forward Brock Boeser might also exit in free agency. Canucks management will be desperate to get the franchise back on track with superstar defenceman Quinn Hughes due for a new contract in two years, but the path to the Stanley Cup, at least for next season, feels steep. Winnipeg Jets No team has won more than Winnipeg over the past two regular seasons, but the Jets are rarely mentioned as a Cup favourite. Star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, defenceman Josh Morrissey, and forwards Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele helped lead a deep and well-rounded team to the Presidents' Trophy last season. Winnipeg, however, fell in the second round to Dallas after needing a miracle to scrape past St. Louis. Hellebuyck's sensational regular-season play – earning him this year's Hart and Vezina trophies – also hasn't translated into the playoffs. The Jets might lose winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who's one of six unrestricted free agents on the roster. Most other key pieces should return to the Manitoba capital. The question is: How much further can this group go? 4:25 John Shannon on the Jets: Looking to the offseason
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Maybe next year? A look at where Canadian teams stand amid Stanley Cup drought
The Stanley Cup drought for Canadian teams reached 32 years after the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in a second consecutive final on Tuesday. What about next year? Here's a look at where each of the seven Canadian clubs stands heading into next season — and which might be closest to ending the skid. CALGARY FLAMES After narrowly missing the playoffs, the Flames will try to strike a balance between developing around their emerging young talent and punching a little higher next season. The Stanley Cup? Probably not happening. Dustin Wolf was Calgary's MVP in his rookie season and appears to be a franchise goalie. Young wingers Matt Coronato and Connor Zary also represent hope for the future, while top defence prospect Zayne Parekh could enter the fray. Calgary also has quality veterans like Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau pushing to end a three-year playoff drought, but the Flames are still firmly in a 'retool' period. EDMONTON OILERS Spearheaded by superstar duo Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers should be best-positioned to fight for the Stanley Cup again. Edmonton dominated the Western Conference playoffs for two straight seasons before running into a deep and relentless Panthers team both times. The Oilers need to sign star defenceman Evan Bouchard to run it back. The pending restricted free agent is due a massive raise from his US$3.9 million cap hit after producing 55 points in his last 47 playoff games. McDavid has one year left on his contract, adding potential stakes to next season. The Oilers captain is eligible for an extension on July 1. Also, will the Oilers make a move for a true No. 1 goalie after inconsistent performances from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard? MONTREAL CANADIENS Montreal's future is bright, but the Canadiens are likely a few seasons away from fighting for a Stanley Cup. The Canadiens boast a young core of captain Nick Suzuki, winger Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, a shifty defenceman who won the Calder Trophy. Dazzling forward Ivan Demidov could contend for rookie of the year himself next season. Montreal was the youngest team in this year's playoffs, where they lost a first-round series to the Washington Capitals in five games, and could be even younger next season as more players from the franchise's deep prospect pool graduate to the NHL. Major off-season additions — particularly a second-line centre — are possible, but general manager Kent Hughes is taking a patient approach to build a sustainable winner. OTTAWA SENATORS The Senators took a major step with a playoff berth last season, signalling the end of a long, painful rebuild. Led by captain Brady Tkachuk, centre Tim Stutzle and defenceman Jake Sanderson, the Senators are young, talented and trending in the right direction. Much like the Canadiens, however, are they close to making the leap from playoff contender to Stanley Cup contender? Ottawa has a solid supporting cast, but still has holes to fill. GM Steve Staios could be active in his search for a top-four defenceman and a top-six winger this off-season. Veteran forward Claude Giroux also needs a contract. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS The Maple Leafs have only won two series in their 'Core Four' era despite reaching the playoffs nine straight years. Now the DNA, as GM Brad Treliving put it, looks like it's about to change in Toronto. Star winger Mitch Marner is a pending free agent and could leave his boyhood club, former captain John Tavares also needs a contract, and Treliving appears ready to make bold moves. Then again, the Leafs led the Stanley Cup-champion Panthers 2-0 in their second-round series and pushed them to a Game 7. They also won the Atlantic Division with a smothering defensive style in their first year under coach Craig Berube. No matter how the off-season shakes out, the Leafs should return to the playoffs. But will it be any different once they get there? VANCOUVER CANUCKS The Canucks looked a contender last year in a seven-game second-round series against Edmonton. That feels like a long time ago. Vancouver's followup went off the rails in a past season marked by off-ice drama between star forwards Elias Pettersson and since-traded J.T. Miller. Many uncertainties now surround the Canucks. Will Pettersson, once viewed as a top No. 1 centre, rediscover his 100-point form? Can goalie Thatcher Demko, elite when healthy, get through a season injury-free? Head coach Rick Tocchet left Vancouver for Philadelphia, with Adam Foote taking over behind the bench. Forward Brock Boeser might also exit in free agency. Canucks management will be desperate to get the franchise back on track with superstar defenceman Quinn Hughes due for a new contract in two years, but the path to the Stanley Cup, at least for next season, feels steep. WINNIPEG JETS Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. No team has won more than Winnipeg over the past two regular seasons, but the Jets are rarely mentioned as a Cup favourite. Star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, defenceman Josh Morrissey, and forwards Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele helped lead a deep and well-rounded team to the Presidents' Trophy last season. Winnipeg, however, fell in the second round to Dallas after needing a miracle to scrape past St. Louis. Hellebuyck's sensational regular-season play — earning him this year's Hart and Vezina trophies — also hasn't translated into the playoffs. The Jets might lose winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who's one of six unrestricted free agents on the roster. Most other key pieces should return to the Manitoba capital. The question is: How much further can this group go? This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025.
