NHL Player News
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Bokondji Imama LW | PIT
Penguins' Bokondji Imama: Agrees to one-year contract
Imama (biceps) inked a one-year, $775,000 contract with Pittsburgh on Friday.
Imama had a goal, 30 PIM and 45 hits in 16 appearances with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. He also recorded three goals, five points and 47 PIM across 24 regular-season outings with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Imama underwent biceps surgery in late March with an initial recovery timetable of 4-6 months. If everything goes as planned, Imama should be ready for the start of 2025-26, though he might miss some of training camp.
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Victor Soderstrom D | ARI
Blackhawks' Victor Soderstrom: From Windy City to Beantown
Soderstrom's NHL rights have been traded from the Blackhawks to the Bruins in exchange for Ryan Mast and a seventh-round pick, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports Friday.
Soderstrom did not play in the NHL last season, opting to play in the SHL with Brynas IF instead. During the 2024-25 campaign, the 24-year-old posted 37 points in 49 regular-season games. It remains to be seen if this move is a precursor for a return to North America with the Bruins organization, but it should be noted that he has one year left on a two-year deal with Brynas signed in September of 2024. Soderstrom has 11 points in 53 career NHL games.
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Sam Bennett C | FLA
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Riding five-game point streak
Bennett notched an assist, three shots on goal, two hits and four PIM in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Bennett helped out on a Sam Reinhart tally at 19:40 of the third period, tying the game at 4-4 to force overtime. During his five-game point streak, Bennett has five goals and two assists. The 28-year-old is up to 14 goals, seven helpers, 63 shots on net, 99 hits, 46 PIM and a plus-5 rating over 21 playoff appearances.
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Carter Verhaeghe C | FLA
Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe: Collects assist in Game 4 loss
Verhaeghe posted an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Verhaeghe extended his point streak to five games (two goals, five assists) when he set up an Anton Lundell tally in the first period. The 29-year-old Verhaeghe continues to see top-six minutes, and he's been very good lately after ending the second round in poor form. The winger has 20 points, 49 shots on net, 55 hits and a plus-6 rating across 21 playoff outings.
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Aleksander Barkov C | FLA
Panthers' Aleksander Barkov: Earns two helpers in loss
Barkov logged two power-play assists, four shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Barkov helped out on both of Matthew Tkachuk's tallies in the first period. The 29-year-old Barkov had been held off the scoresheet with a minus-3 rating and six shots on net over the first three games of this series. He's now at 18 points (eight on the power play), 45 shots on net, 49 hits, 21 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over 21 playoff outings. His defensive prowess is a gift and a curse -- Barkov's had his hands full trying to contain Connor McDavid for much of this series, limiting his own chances on offense.
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Anton Lundell C | FLA
Panthers' Anton Lundell: Lights lamp in loss
Lundell scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Lundell's tally stretched the Panthers' lead to 3-0 late in the first period. The center has four points in as many games in the Cup Finals as he continues to make a noticeable impact from the third line. Lundell is up to 16 points, 42 shots on net, 27 hits, 20 blocked shots and a plus-16 rating over 21 playoff outings.
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Sam Reinhart C | FLA
Panthers' Sam Reinhart: Forces overtime in Game 4
Reinhart scored a goal on four shots, added two assists and blocked two shots in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Reinhart earned both helpers, including one on the power play, during a three-goal first period. His goal was clutch, tying the game at 4-4 at 19:40 of the third, but the Panthers came up short in the extra session. This was Reinhart's second multi-point effort in a row and his third in the last five games. He's up to six goals, 12 helpers, 58 shots on net, 36 hits, 22 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 19 playoff outings while occupying a top-line role.
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Matthew Tkachuk LW | FLA
Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk: Three points in overtime loss
Tkachuk scored two power-play goals and added an assist in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Tkachuk had his best performance since the playoff opener versus the Lightning, but it wasn't enough. The 27-year-old has three goals and four assists over his last five contests. Overall, he's produced seven goals, 21 points (11 on the power play), 38 shots on net, 42 hits, 33 PIM and a plus-6 rating across 21 playoff appearances.
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Sergei Bobrovsky G | FLA
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Squanders good start
Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 35 shots in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Bobrovsky was spotted a 3-0 lead after one period, but it was gone by the second intermission. A bad bounce after a strong individual effort by Leon Draisaitl in overtime was the difference, with Bobrovsky taking his first loss since Game 1 of the series. He's allowed 14 goals on 160 shots against the Oilers, good for a .913 save percentage. Despite this missed opportunity to take a commanding series lead, Bobrovsky is a virtual lock to start in Game 5 on Saturday in Edmonton.
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Kasperi Kapanen RW | EDM
Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen: Manages assist
Kapanen logged an assist in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Kapanen's 8:36 of ice time was lowest among Edmonton forwards, as there was some in-game line shuffling after the Oilers fell behind 3-0 in the first period. The 28-year-old Kapanen has been on the second line on paper lately, but this was his second game in a row under the 10-minute mark. The Finn has contributed six points, 24 shots on net, 42 hits, 18 PIM and a plus-4 rating across 11 playoff outings.