<p>The Stanley Cup Playoffs are moving onto the second round, as the first round of playoff hockey was some of the best entertainment in all of sports. From underdog stories, to unsung heroes, the first round had it all, including the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Battle of Ontario in six games, topping the up-and-coming Ottawa Senators.</p>
<p>While there&#8217;s been plenty to talk about from all the action on the ice, there&#8217;s plenty of buzz happening off the ice, as well. Here&#8217;s the very latest from around the NHL:</p>
<h2>Nathan MacKinnon &#8216;in shock&#8217; after another Game 7 collapse</h2>
<p>Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon couldn&#8217;t believe his eyes in Saturday&#8217;s Game 7 against the Dallas Stars. The Avs were up 2-0 early on in the third period, only to watch former teammate Mikko Rantanen go off for a hat trick, propelling the Stars to a first-round victory.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s pretty shocking,&#8221; MacKinnon said after the 4-2 loss, per <a href="https://x.com/evanrawal/status/1918871811158127017">The Denver Gazette&#8217;s Evan Rawal</a>. &#8220;Felt like we were in total control, then Mikko &#8230; credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was the difference-maker, took over. Yeah, I don&#8217;t know. I&#8217;m in shock, to be honest.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;They were missing their best D (in Miro Heiskanen) and maybe their best forward (in Jason Robertson),&#8221; MacKinnon added, per <a href="https://x.com/DNVR_Avalanche/status/1918867006729711850">DNVR</a>. &#8220;We still couldn&#8217;t beat them. Yeah, I don&#8217;t know. I don&#8217;t know what we&#8217;re gonna do.&#8221;</p>
<p>MacKinnon has never won a Game 7, as the franchise has now lost their last seven attempts. The last time the Avalanche won a Game 7 was all the way back in 2002. With limited cap space, it&#8217;s going to be an interesting offseason in Colorado.</p>
<h2>Senators&#8217; Brady Tkachuk shuts down trade rumors</h2>
<p>Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is extremely disappointed with his team being ousted in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that doesn&#8217;t mean he&#8217;s looking to leave the franchise.</p>
<p>The ongoing trade rumors were a topic of discussion at Tkachuk&#8217;s end-of-the-season availability, and he wasn&#8217;t shy to shut them down, hopefully for him, once and for all. “Obviously it’s a lie,” Tkachuk said during a media conference. “All those articles, stories… It’s just not true. But I think it’s on me if I let that bother me or take me off what I’m trying to do. Everyone knows that I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Seeing this fan base, this excitement, see how much they rallied around us, everybody’s waiting for it. Everybody wants to accomplish and win the Stanley Cup.”</p>
<p>Tkachuk is in the middle of an eight-year contract extension with the Senators, making a very reasonable $8.2 million AAV, which should leave some room for management to fill in the gaps, and improve the hockey club heading into next season. “I know we have a great group in here and I know we’re just going to get that much better and I know there’s going to be some amazing times, memories here down the road. I think with all that stuff, it’s obviously not true. I want to play here, I want to win here and I really believe in everybody in this organization and that everybody wants to win here. I think that’s what makes it fun, everybody has the same goal and wants to accomplish the same thing.”</p>
<h2>Hurricanes bringing back Frederik Andersen</h2>
<p>Frederik Andersen and the Carolina Hurricanes have come to terms on a one-year contract extension worth $2.75 million AAV.</p>
<p>The former Maple Leaf is currently in the final year of a two-year deal, which carries a $3.4 million cap hit. Andersen played just 22 games this season, due to a lingering knee injury, posting a record of 13-8-1, along with a .899 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average.</p>
<p>The Hurricanes are set to take on the Washington Capitals in the second round, however thanks to a collision late in the first round, Andersen is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. So far in this year&#8217;s playoffs, Andersen has registered a .945 save percentage, and 1.32 goals against average.</p>
<h2>Quick hits from around the NHL:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Pittsburgh Penguins fired head coach Mike Sullivan after 10 seasons of service, and he&#8217;s already landed on his feet, being named the 38th head coach of the New York Rangers.</li>
<li>Calgary Flames inked forward Matt Coronato to a seven-year contract extension, worth $6.5 million AAV. Coronato collected 24 goals and 23 assists in 77 games this season.</li>
<li>Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson wants to remain with the team long-term, stating he feels their future is bright &#8211; &#8216;we&#8217;re ready to win&#8217;.</li>
<li>Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman played through a broken foot in their first-round series against the Panthers.</li>
<li>Anaheim Ducks continue to search for their new head coach, and while they&#8217;ve interviewed Joel Quenneville twice, Jay Woodcroft and David Carle are also considered strong candidates.</li>
<li>Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point are the nominees for the 2024-25 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.</li>
<li>Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals, Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets, and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens have been selected as finalists for this season&#8217;s Jack Adams Award.</li>
<li>Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan have been chosen as the 2024-25 nominees for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.</li>
<li>Edmonton Oilers confirmed defenceman Mattias Ekholm will not be available for their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.</li>
</ul>


Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon hugs ex-teammate Mikko Rantanen after the Dallas Stars eliminated the Avs in seven games.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are moving onto the second round, as the first round of playoff hockey was some of the best entertainment in all of sports. From underdog stories, to unsung heroes, the first round had it all, including the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Battle of Ontario in six games, topping the up-and-coming Ottawa Senators.

While there's been plenty to talk about from all the action on the ice, there's plenty of buzz happening off the ice, as well. Here's the very latest from around the NHL:
<h2>Nathan MacKinnon 'in shock' after another Game 7 collapse</h2>
Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon couldn't believe his eyes in Saturday's Game 7 against the Dallas Stars. The Avs were up 2-0 early on in the third period, only to watch former teammate Mikko Rantanen go off for a hat trick, propelling the Stars to a first-round victory.

"It's pretty shocking," MacKinnon said after the 4-2 loss, per <a href="https://x.com/evanrawal/status/1918871811158127017">The Denver Gazette's Evan Rawal</a>. "Felt like we were in total control, then Mikko ... credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was the difference-maker, took over. Yeah, I don't know. I'm in shock, to be honest."

"They were missing their best D (in Miro Heiskanen) and maybe their best forward (in Jason Robertson)," MacKinnon added, per <a href="https://x.com/DNVR_Avalanche/status/1918867006729711850">DNVR</a>. "We still couldn't beat them. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what we're gonna do."

MacKinnon has never won a Game 7, as the franchise has now lost their last seven attempts. The last time the Avalanche won a Game 7 was all the way back in 2002. With limited cap space, it's going to be an interesting offseason in Colorado.
<h2>Senators' Brady Tkachuk shuts down trade rumors</h2>
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is extremely disappointed with his team being ousted in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that doesn't mean he's looking to leave the franchise.

The ongoing trade rumors were a topic of discussion at Tkachuk's end-of-the-season availability, and he wasn't shy to shut them down, hopefully for him, once and for all. “Obviously it’s a lie,” Tkachuk said during a media conference. “All those articles, stories… It’s just not true. But I think it’s on me if I let that bother me or take me off what I’m trying to do. Everyone knows that I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Seeing this fan base, this excitement, see how much they rallied around us, everybody’s waiting for it. Everybody wants to accomplish and win the Stanley Cup.”

Tkachuk is in the middle of an eight-year contract extension with the Senators, making a very reasonable $8.2 million AAV, which should leave some room for management to fill in the gaps, and improve the hockey club heading into next season. “I know we have a great group in here and I know we’re just going to get that much better and I know there’s going to be some amazing times, memories here down the road. I think with all that stuff, it’s obviously not true. I want to play here, I want to win here and I really believe in everybody in this organization and that everybody wants to win here. I think that’s what makes it fun, everybody has the same goal and wants to accomplish the same thing.”
<h2>Hurricanes bringing back Frederik Andersen</h2>
Frederik Andersen and the Carolina Hurricanes have come to terms on a one-year contract extension worth $2.75 million AAV.

The former Maple Leaf is currently in the final year of a two-year deal, which carries a $3.4 million cap hit. Andersen played just 22 games this season, due to a lingering knee injury, posting a record of 13-8-1, along with a .899 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average.

The Hurricanes are set to take on the Washington Capitals in the second round, however thanks to a collision late in the first round, Andersen is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. So far in this year's playoffs, Andersen has registered a .945 save percentage, and 1.32 goals against average.
<h2>Quick hits from around the NHL:</h2>
<ul>
 	<li>Pittsburgh Penguins fired head coach Mike Sullivan after 10 seasons of service, and he's already landed on his feet, being named the 38th head coach of the New York Rangers.</li>
 	<li>Calgary Flames inked forward Matt Coronato to a seven-year contract extension, worth $6.5 million AAV. Coronato collected 24 goals and 23 assists in 77 games this season.</li>
 	<li>Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson wants to remain with the team long-term, stating he feels their future is bright - 'we're ready to win'.</li>
 	<li>Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman played through a broken foot in their first-round series against the Panthers.</li>
 	<li>Anaheim Ducks continue to search for their new head coach, and while they've interviewed Joel Quenneville twice, Jay Woodcroft and David Carle are also considered strong candidates.</li>
 	<li>Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point are the nominees for the 2024-25 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.</li>
 	<li>Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals, Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets, and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens have been selected as finalists for this season's Jack Adams Award.</li>
 	<li>Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan have been chosen as the 2024-25 nominees for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.</li>
 	<li>Edmonton Oilers confirmed defenceman Mattias Ekholm will not be available for their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.</li>
</ul>

Around the NHL: Avs’ MacKinnon ‘shocked’ by Game 7 loss, Hurricanes extend Andersen

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