SUNRISE, Fla. — The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament will conclude at TD Garden in Boston next February.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have announced a new international tournament featuring teams from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden competing in a round-robin format from February 12-20, 2025.

Four games will be held at Bell Centre in Montreal, while TD Garden will host two round-robin games—Canada vs. Finland and the U.S. vs. Sweden—and the championship game on February 20.

“Two iconic cities. We thought it was important to have some exposure in Canada,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly on Saturday. “We have 32 franchises, so we could have hosted it anywhere, but these two cities stood out.”

The tournament will be broadcast by Disney, Turner, and Rogers, the current North American NHL rights holders. ABC will air a doubleheader of Sweden vs. Finland and the U.S. vs. Canada on February 15, 2025, from Bell Centre. ESPN will televise the championship game.

All games will follow NHL rules, with each team playing three games in a round-robin format using the points system: 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for an overtime/shootout win, 1 point for an overtime/shootout loss, and 0 points for a regulation loss. The top two teams will advance to a one-game final.

The first six players for each team will be announced on June 28.

“The players are thrilled about this opportunity for international competition, serving as a prelude to the [2026] Olympics,” said NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh.

The NHL and NHLPA decided against semifinals or a consolation game due to the event’s limited timeframe.

“This tournament replaces the All-Star Game. It’s a longer event, and we didn’t want to extend it further,” Daly said.

Notably, the tournament does not include Czechia, Germany, or Switzerland, despite their prominent NHL players. Czechia’s David Pastrnak even teased the NHL after Czechia’s IIHF world championship win.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman explained that the tournament’s limited timeframe required a focus on NHL players, and these four countries were the best fit.

Russia is also excluded due to the IIHF’s ban on Russia and Belarus from international hockey until 2025 because of the Ukraine war.

“Given the circumstances, this is the best we can do right now,” Bettman said. “People will have opinions on what could have been done differently, but a lot of effort went into this decision.”

The NHL and NHLPA also addressed other league topics during their nearly 40-minute news conference:

**2024-25 Salary Cap**

The salary cap for the next season will be set at $88 million, slightly higher than projected, with a floor of $65 million.

“Teams now have more flexibility, reflecting our robust revenues,” Bettman said. He expects continued growth in the cap.

Walsh is hopeful that players will recover the money they put in escrow this season, which was set at 6% for 2023-24.

**LTIR Rules**

Teams have used the long-term injured reserve exemption to circumvent salary cap constraints. Daly mentioned that most general managers support addressing LTIR rules, though it’s not seen as a major competitive issue currently. Changes may be negotiated in the next collective bargaining agreement, which has two years remaining.

**Expansion Timeline**

Bettman and Walsh did not provide a timeline for future NHL expansion. Interest remains high, with over six locations expressing interest. They praised the new market in Utah, where the relocated Arizona Coyotes have already received over 34,000 season-ticket deposits.

**Canadian Quartet Status**

Daly stated there is no update on the four players charged in the 2018 world juniors sexual assault investigation. These players are restricted free agents, and clubs must decide on qualifying offers by the end of the month.

**Outdoor Game in Florida**

Bettman did not rule out the possibility of an outdoor game for the Florida Panthers at LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, noting its suitability with a roof and air conditioning. The Panthers and Utah are the only teams yet to participate in an NHL stadium game.

“We continue to explore options for the Panthers to play in an outdoor game,” Bettman said.

Natalie Darwitz out as GM of PWHL champion Minnesota

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced the removal of Natalie Darwitz as the Minnesota team’s general manager just a week after their inaugural championship victory. The decision was the result of extensive internal and external reviews over the past five months, involving input from Minnesota players and staff.

PWHL Vice President of Hockey Operations, Jayna Hefford, stated that the reviews left the league with little choice but to make this tough decision. “The feedback to us was pretty direct and pretty clear that there wasn’t a path forward with the current personnel in place,” Hefford said in a Zoom interview. She emphasized that the change was necessary based on comprehensive evaluations conducted throughout the year.

Although specific findings were not disclosed, the review included various factors, such as Coach Charlie Burggraf’s resignation a week before the season began due to family reasons. Hefford did not confirm any rift between Darwitz, Burggraf’s successor Ken Klee, and players like captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, stating that “a ton of factors” contributed to the decision.

Ken Klee will continue as coach while the league searches for a new GM. He and his staff will manage the upcoming draft in Minnesota and oversee free-agency decisions if a GM isn’t appointed by June 21.

“The easy thing would be to look and say, `This team won a championship. Everything’s perfect,'” Hefford noted. “The harder thing to do is, I think, look at the broader picture and everything that’s occurred. … So when you put all of it together, it unfortunately led us to this decision.”

The decision was surprising, given the league’s establishment just 11 months ago and a season that surpassed expectations in attendance, merchandise sales, and competitiveness. Darwitz, hired in September, built a team rich in local talent and led them to a Walter Cup championship after a 3-0 win over Boston in Game 5 on May 29.

Darwitz, 40, a prominent figure in Minnesota hockey, opted to stay with her team last month instead of attending her induction into the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame in Europe. Hefford acknowledged Darwitz’s significant contributions to the team and the league, stating, “Certainly, this was the last thing we wanted to happen. But our job is to also do what’s right for the league, and so that’s where we’re at today.”

Discussions about offering Darwitz another role within the PWHL have taken place, but the status of those talks remains unclear. The PWHL operates all six franchises and employs its GMs and coaches on one-year contracts. The internal review was conducted by the league’s human resources department, while the external review was handled by a firm previously used by the league.

Hefford mentioned that the review process was ongoing, and no decision was made to remove Darwitz until after Minnesota’s championship celebration. “It’s not something that was premeditated or we knew it was going to happen. It’s just timing is never perfect,” Hefford said. “We went through this process and got to a point where we just had to make a decision. And it was a difficult one.”

Oilers’ McDavid not thinking about legacy as Cup finals begin

SUNRISE, Fla. — As the Stanley Cup Final begins, Connor McDavid says he’s not preoccupied with his legacy. However, reminders of the Cup are everywhere as he answers questions during media day on Friday.

The actual Stanley Cup glistened on a table about 50 feet away. Nearby, a large poster depicted Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour lifting the Cup in 2006, the last time the Edmonton Oilers reached the Final. Another poster showed Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby celebrating one of his three championships.

Although McDavid is widely regarded as the best player in the world, he has yet to win the Stanley Cup. Nevertheless, he insists that winning a championship is not his primary concern as he prepares for Saturday’s Game 1 against the Florida Panthers.

“It’s like what I said this last series about Dallas, I’ll say it again about Florida: They’re a great team and they require your full attention,” McDavid stated. “You’ve got to stay in the moment. You can only take what’s in front of you. And for us, that’s getting ready to go for tomorrow. Showing up and playing all of Game 1.”

McDavid leads the postseason with 31 points in 18 games. While he has scored only five goals, his 26 assists put him close to Wayne Gretzky’s NHL single-postseason record of 31 set in 1988.

“There’s certain things in certain moments where there’s only one player in the world that can make that happen. And I think we can all agree on that,” said teammate Leon Draisaitl regarding McDavid.

Game 1 is a full-circle moment for McDavid at the Panthers’ arena: it’s where he accepted an Oilers jersey as the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL draft.

“It’s kind of funny how it’s worked out,” McDavid reflected. “Honestly, it feels like it was yesterday that that night was happening, and here we are nine years later, it feels like it’s going back around.”

McDavid recalled watching the Stanley Cup Final as a young fan. “I just remember how exciting it was,” he said. “I think any time you would see the Stanley Cup on TV, it was always a special thing. Obviously as I’ve been in the league, I think I watched less. I mean, I’d still watch here and there, but when you’re as competitive as everyone is, it’s not always easy to see the Cup passed around.”

The last time the Oilers won the Stanley Cup was in 1990, after Gretzky’s departure, but still considered part of the Edmonton dynasty with five Cups in seven seasons. Paul Coffey, a defenseman for three of those winners and now an assistant coach for the Oilers, has given McDavid insights into what it takes to win.

“As somebody that was not alive for that period of time, you feel like it was always just easy for them, but they went through a lot of adversity and a lot of heartbreak to get to where they got to as a team,” McDavid said. “That certainly resonates with our group. We’ve gone through a lot to get to this point.”

This journey included a challenging 3-9-1 start to the season, which led to a coaching change and doubts about Edmonton’s playoff chances.

“When you’re going through it, obviously it sucks,” McDavid admitted. “But I think our group always believed that we were a good team. Even when things weren’t going well, I think we always believed that if we just stuck with it, things were going to turn around. I think we showed that we can go through adversity together and come out the other side.”

‘Super disciplined’ Panthers no longer the NHL’s bad boys

SUNRISE, Fla. — Matthew Tkachuk insists that the Florida Panthers’ reputation as the NHL’s chief agitators is a thing of the past.

During last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Panthers earned a reputation as the league’s bad boys, frequently engaging in physical play that often extended beyond the whistle. However, Tkachuk believes that the team’s return to the Final against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 on Saturday night in Sunrise is due to their newfound discipline.

“I’d say that used to be a part of my game and that now it’s pretty nonexistent anymore,” Tkachuk said at Stanley Cup media day on Friday. “I’ve kind of learned what works, and what works is playing as hard as I can for 30 to 45 seconds — well, sometimes I take the long shift, so 30 seconds to a minute — and just leave it all out there, come back to the bench and get rested for the next one. There’s no need to waste your time doing extra stuff.”

Coach Paul Maurice has commended his team’s maturity throughout the season, noting that they approached training camp with a focused determination to win the Stanley Cup. Maurice highlighted that avoiding unnecessary post-play incidents that could result in penalties has been a key part of their success.

“I would like to think it’s maturity and that we’ve gotten better,” Maurice said. “There’s no value in it. We’ve been an exceptionally disciplined team since midway through the Tampa series [in the first round].”

Despite their improved discipline, the Panthers still accumulate their share of penalties. They average 12:10 penalty minutes per game, the third most in the postseason among teams that advanced past the first round. Their penalties taken per 60 minutes (3.97) ranks fourth. Given Edmonton’s power play efficiency at 37%, the Panthers are keen to minimize their opponents’ scoring opportunities.

Tkachuk emphasized the importance of maintaining this discipline. “You guys have watched us the last couple series. There’s nothing after the whistle. There’s no nonsense or chirping or really anything that’s not just playing hard,” he said. “So that’s probably a big difference from last year. This year we’re super disciplined. That’s been our biggest achievement so far and probably our best asset.”

The Panthers aim to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history and become the first team since the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Cup after losing in the Final the previous season.

“It’s kind of like a Christmas Eve feeling right now,” Tkachuk said. “It’s been a long week trying to keep your mind off it as much as possible, and just enjoy the warm weather outside as much as you can. But it’s hard not to think about Game 1, and now that it’s finally almost here, it’s more exciting now.”

Public split on Stanley Cup Final; money backing Panthers

The Florida Panthers are favored to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, with significant financial backing, despite a nearly even split in betting slips with the Edmonton Oilers.

Across U.S. sportsbooks, neither the Panthers nor the Oilers have a clear majority of tickets. ESPN BET reports the highest percentage of Edmonton bets at 55%, while FanDuel shows the most Florida tickets at 58%. Other sportsbooks fall within these ranges, and Caesars characterizes the ticket split as 50-50.

However, all surveyed sportsbooks indicate the Panthers as the clear leaders in money bets. ESPN BET shows Florida with 50% of the money, while FanDuel reports a striking 90%. This discrepancy suggests that while the Panthers are favorites, significant amounts of big money are backing them to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final.

Due to the financial support, the Panthers’ odds have shifted from -125 at the opening to -135 by Friday afternoon. Conversely, the Oilers’ odds have changed from +105 to +115, according to ESPN BET.

The confidence in Florida is evident in the series prop markets, especially within the Series Correct Score market, where a Panthers 4-2 win (+500) is the most popular bet across sportsbooks.

Despite less overall support for the Oilers, Connor McDavid remains the favorite (+200) and the most popular pick for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. This is noteworthy given that the award rarely goes to a player from the losing team, with the last instance being Anaheim’s Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003.

Edmonton’s star players, including McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Evan Bouchard, attracted bettors before the postseason, potentially leading to significant future liability for sportsbooks.

“In a perfect world for BetMGM, the Panthers bring home the Stanley Cup in Game 7,” said Matthew Rasp, BetMGM’s sports trader, to ESPN.

New Utah team announces 6 finalists for name

The NHL’s newest franchise in Utah is nearing the decision on its official team name. Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), the franchise’s owner, announced on Thursday the six potential names that fans can vote on for the team debuting in the 2024-25 season: Utah Blizzard, Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC), Utah Mammoth, Utah Outlaws, Utah Venom, and Utah Yeti.

These finalists emerged from an initial round of fan voting, which received 520,000 votes, with over 60% favoring the six remaining options. Fans have the opportunity to cast their votes again through June 20.

In their first season, the team will sport jerseys with “UTAH” displayed prominently, symbolizing their connection to the state and commitment to their new fan base. Once the final name is chosen, SEG will develop a corresponding logo, mascot, and branding to be featured on the team’s jerseys starting in the 2025-26 season.

The franchise is inheriting the former Arizona Coyotes, which were relocated to Utah in April due to the inability to secure a permanent NHL-caliber arena. The NHL had to purchase and then resell the franchise to Ryan Smith, the owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz.

For the upcoming season, Utah’s NHL team will play at Delta Arena, the current home of the Jazz. Future renovations are planned to make the venue more suitable for hockey.

Stanley Cup playoffs 2024: Bracket, schedule, scores, news

The stage is set for the Stanley Cup Final, with the Florida Panthers taking on the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers, aiming for their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, are determined to bounce back after last season’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Cup Final. Meanwhile, the Oilers are seeking their first championship since 1990, hoping to return to the glory days of their storied past.

Here’s a comprehensive look at the playoff journey leading up to this thrilling matchup:

### First-Round Series

#### Eastern Conference
1. **Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins**: The Panthers upset the top-seeded Bruins in a hard-fought series, showcasing their resilience and determination to make a deep playoff run.
2. **Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning**: The Maple Leafs overcame their first-round woes by defeating the Lightning in a dramatic seven-game series.

#### Western Conference
1. **Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings**: The Oilers advanced past the Kings in a series defined by high-scoring games and standout performances from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
2. **Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken**: The Avalanche faced a tough challenge from the Kraken but managed to advance, setting up a highly anticipated second-round matchup.

### Second-Round Series

#### Eastern Conference
1. **Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs**: The Panthers continued their impressive run by outlasting the Maple Leafs in a physical and tightly contested series.
2. **Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils**: The Hurricanes showcased their depth and defensive prowess, eliminating the Devils in a commanding performance.

#### Western Conference
1. **Edmonton Oilers vs. Colorado Avalanche**: In a rematch of last year’s conference final, the Oilers exacted revenge on the Avalanche, securing their spot in the conference finals with stellar play from their star forwards.
2. **Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars**: The Golden Knights battled past the Stars in a thrilling series that went the distance, setting the stage for a showdown with the Oilers.

### Conference Finals

#### Eastern Conference
1. **Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes**: The Panthers continued their magical run, defeating the Hurricanes in a series marked by tight games and clutch performances.

#### Western Conference
1. **Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights**: The Oilers triumphed over the Golden Knights in a high-octane series, punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.

### Stanley Cup Final: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

The Panthers and Oilers are set to clash in a series that promises excitement, skill, and high stakes. Florida is looking to secure its first-ever Stanley Cup, building on the momentum from last season’s deep playoff run. Edmonton, led by the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, is eager to end their long championship drought and bring the Cup back to a hockey-crazed city.

Stay tuned for full coverage of the Stanley Cup Final, as both teams vie for the ultimate prize in professional hockey.