Stuart Skinner came up big, first outplaying Cam Talbot in regular and over-time, then in the shoot-out, as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2.
The Kings dominated the first period, scoring twice. The Oil were superior in the second, scoring twice.
In total, the Oilers had 11 Grade A shots, the Kings 13, with the subset of most dangerous 5-alarm shots being Edmonton five, Los Angeles eight. Grade A shots on in on average 25 per cent of the time, 5-alarmers 33 per cent of the time.
Zach Hyman, 5. Not his best game. McD set him up in the second for a wide-open slot shot, but Hyman failed to score. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 7. He did strong work on the PK early on. He won a n-zone battle to set up McDavid’s rush chance in the second. In OT he saved the day with a huge stop on Kopitar’s wrap-around try. He scored in the shootout. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +01-0.
Ryan McLeod, 4. He looked a bit out of sorts against the tough-checking Kings early on, was a bit better in the third. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Warren Foegele, 4. He stole a puck on the PK early in the second and fired on net, a rare early sign of life from the Oilers. He got beat by Dubois on a rush chance late in the second. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-1.
Derek Ryan, 8. Good game even before the shootout. Solid work on the PK and some good hustle at even strength. He won the game with the Oilers were a shootout goal. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 7. Excellent effort, not bad results. He got off a hard high slot shot, then a Grade A one-timer, in the third after his line worked the Kings with hard forechecking. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-1.
Mattias Janmark, 6. Good work on the PK and fine hustle all game. He won a puck at the blueline in the sequence where Brown got off his Grade A. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-1.
James Hamblin, 6. Finds a way to help out. He charged back hard to break up a dangerous Kings rush in the first. He almost cashed in Lavoie’s board crashing shot at the side of the net in the third. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +1/-0.
Raphael Lavoie, 5. He followed McDavid to the net in the second and almost jammed in a rebound goal. The refs gave him a ridiculous penalty when Kempe ran into him, and that marked the first time I’ve seen Coach K get upset on the Oilers bench. He got caught out of position on an L.A. 5-alarmer early in the third. But followed up with a hard-working shift where he drilled two shot on net. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Adam Erne, 5. He came to the defence of Ryan after #10 took a dirty hit from Doughty. Quiet game otherwise. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Evan Bouchard, 7. Moved the puck well in 29:01 of icetime. He got beat by Grunsdtrom behind the net on the 5-alarm shot by Lewis in the first. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
Cody Ceci, 7. Quiet game, good game. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-1.
Darnell Nurse, 6. He got caught out of position on Kempe’s goal, not playing it cautious enough at the offensive blueline. Was otherwise hard, tough and effective. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.
Vincent Desharnais, 4. He struggled in this one. He got beat out of the corner early on, leading to one Grade A and one 5-alarm shots in bang-bang fashion. A moment later he and Ekholm allowed a pass out to the slot to Kevin Fiala, who ripped in the first L.A. goal. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-1.
Brett Kulak, 7. Another good game from the veteran. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Stuart Skinner, 9. He held his team in the game early on, then won it for them in overtime and the shootout. He gave up a big rebound but made an even bigger save off Kopitar early on. A moment later he sprawled to thwart Dubois on a wide-open net. He had little chance on Fiala’s one-timer goal. He thwarted a 5-alarm shot in a from Lewis. Kempe has a great shot, but his scoring snipe was far enough out that Skinner might well have stopped it. Huge save early in the second on a Doughty-to-Kopitar slap pass and tip shot, then another one on a rebound that fell to Lizotte in the slot., and yet again on a Doughty one-timer early in the third.
In a surprising turn of events, the Winnipeg Jets have traded their 2022 first-round draft pick, Rutger McGroarty, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for another promising young prospect, Brayden Yager. The move comes after an off-season of speculation regarding McGroarty’s future with the Jets, culminating in his decision not to sign with the team.
The first signs of trouble between McGroarty and the Jets emerged at the NHL Draft Combine in June. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed that McGroarty’s agent informed him that the young star did not intend to sign with the team. This revelation caught the Jets’ management off guard.
“That’s the first inkling that we got; there was nothing that was going to come to fruition there,” Cheveldayoff stated. “We sat down and asked the agent why, and he didn’t have an answer, he didn’t have a reason. He just said he just didn’t feel right. It started in development camp where he just didn’t feel right.”
Cheveldayoff later met with McGroarty face-to-face, but the conversation yielded the same result. McGroarty, a highly-touted prospect selected 14th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, could not provide a clear reason for his decision.
After weeks of deliberation, the Jets decided to part ways with McGroarty, trading him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, Winnipeg received Brayden Yager, a fellow first-round pick from the 2023 NHL Draft, selected 14th overall by the Penguins. The trade was finalized Thursday, with McGroarty signing his entry-level contract with Pittsburgh shortly after the deal was complete.
“We’re very excited to add Brayden to the organization,” said Cheveldayoff. “I think he’s a very, very talented player at a very skilled position at centre where he can certainly make other players better around him.”
Yager, a 19-year-old centre from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is coming off an impressive season with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. He scored 35 goals and added 60 assists for a total of 95 points in 57 games last season. His performance was instrumental in leading Moose Jaw to their first Memorial Cup appearance since 1947, as WHL champions.
Yager also showcased his talents on the international stage, representing Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships. He posted two goals and five points in five games, further solidifying his reputation as a top prospect.
The trade reflects the Jets’ strategy to strengthen their roster by acquiring a player who not only has a high ceiling but also fits into the team’s long-term plans. Despite not being their original pick, Yager had been on the Jets’ radar for some time.
“And that’s kind of what we’ve watched and viewed throughout his draft year and obviously, in subsequent scouting situations after that. Obviously, you never know what comes up and just because you don’t end up drafting a player, you don’t stop keeping tabs on him,” Cheveldayoff added.
For the Jets, the trade marks a significant shift in their prospect pool. Yager’s arrival provides the team with depth at the centre position, an area where the Jets have been looking to bolster their ranks. His ability to make plays and elevate the performance of those around him makes him a valuable addition to the team’s future core.
As McGroarty begins his new journey with the Penguins, Yager will have an opportunity to prove his worth in Winnipeg. The Jets’ management and fans alike will be eager to see how the young centre integrates into the team and contributes to their pursuit of success.
For Pittsburgh, the acquisition of McGroarty represents a commitment to adding top-tier talent to their roster. The Penguins will be hoping that McGroarty, with his skill set and potential, will thrive in their system and become a cornerstone player for years to come.
This trade serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of professional sports, where a player’s future can shift in an instant, reshaping the fortunes of teams and players alike. Both Winnipeg and Pittsburgh now look ahead, each hoping that this trade will bring them one step closer to achieving their respective goals in the NHL.
In a significant NHL trade, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired promising forward Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Brayden Yager on Thursday. The deal involves two highly regarded young talents, each selected in the first round of recent NHL Drafts, and marks a key move for both franchises as they look to shape their futures.
McGroarty, a 20-year-old forward, was a standout at the University of Michigan, where he was ninth among NCAA players with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) during his sophomore season. His impressive performance extended beyond college hockey as he captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing nine points (five goals, four assists) in the tournament.
Originally selected by the Jets with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, McGroarty was considered one of Winnipeg’s top forward prospects. His combination of skill, leadership, and competitiveness made him a coveted asset, which ultimately led to the Penguins’ decision to pursue the trade.
“We had a difficult decision to make with this trade because we hold Brayden Yager in such high regard as a person and prospect,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said. “After much consideration, we decided that the opportunity to add Rutger McGroarty was ultimately in the best interest of the Penguins. He possesses the combination of ability, leadership, and competitiveness that the Penguins need to achieve our goals in the short and long run. We look forward to welcoming Rutger and his family to the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins.”
The Jets, in turn, receive Brayden Yager, a 19-year-old forward who was picked by the Penguins at No. 14 in the 2023 NHL Draft. Yager had an outstanding season with Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League, tallying 95 points (35 goals, 60 assists) in 57 games. He also represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in five games.
Yager had recently signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on July 24 and was expected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster this season. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza had praised Yager’s growth and potential prior to the trade, noting, “I would never want to limit a young player’s ability to make the team. So he controls that in terms of how he shows up and how he plays. But we saw great growth as far as his ability to play tough matchups.”
For both McGroarty and Yager, the trade represents a fresh start and a new opportunity to make an impact at the NHL level. As the Penguins and Jets continue to build their rosters, these young talents will be key pieces in their respective teams’ strategies for success.
In 2016, debates raged over whether Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine should be selected first overall in that year’s NHL draft. Matthews was the presumed favorite, but Laine made a late push with standout performances in international tournaments and Finland’s top league. Despite the fierce debates, Matthews was eventually drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Laine went second to the Winnipeg Jets.
Fast forward to today, and there’s no longer any debate between the two: Matthews is a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, NHL MVP, and captain of the Leafs, while Laine is on his third team after a recent trade to the Montreal Canadiens. Injuries, including a broken clavicle and shoulder surgery, and time spent in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program have hampered Laine’s career in recent years. He scored just six goals in 18 games during the 2023-24 season, raising questions about his ability to remain an elite goal scorer.
However, when healthy, Laine remains a dangerous sniper. From the 2021-22 season through 2022-23, he managed 48 goals in 111 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his 1.37 goals per 60 minutes of ice time were comparable to players like Kyle Connor, Elias Pettersson, and Aleksander Barkov. Over his three seasons in Columbus, Laine scored at a 0.38 goals per game pace, ranking 43rd in the league.
Given his elite goal-scoring potential, the Canadiens are banking on Laine rediscovering his form. Laine expressed excitement about the move to Montreal, stating that he’s mentally and physically in a better place after addressing his mental health and rehabbing his shoulder.
At 26 years old, Laine is still relatively young, and the Canadiens are taking a calculated gamble by acquiring him. Montreal’s front office had the cap space to absorb his $8.7 million annual average salary, and they received a second-round pick from Columbus in the deal. For Montreal, adding a player of Laine’s offensive caliber is a clear bet on a potential payoff.
If Laine can stay healthy and motivated, he could provide a significant boost to a Montreal offense that ranked 26th in goals per game last season. His presence could take some of the scoring pressure off Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky, adding depth and versatility to the Canadiens’ attack, both at even strength and on the power play.
To land Laine, the Canadiens had to part with young defenseman Jordan Harris, a player with solid two-way capabilities. Harris, who averaged 17:28 minutes of ice time in 56 games last season, now joins a Blue Jackets team looking to solidify their defense. Montreal’s decision to move Harris reflects the team’s depth at the blue line, with a crop of young defenders such as Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and David Reinbacher showing promise.
For Montreal, Laine’s offensive upside makes this trade an exciting possibility. While there are concerns about his inconsistency and defensive effort, his ability to score goals is undeniable. Laine has shown he can be a game-changer, and if he can regain his form, the Canadiens could have a major asset on their hands.
From Columbus’s perspective, the addition of Harris strengthens their defense and clears cap space to continue rebuilding. The Blue Jackets will also benefit from the second-round pick Montreal sent as part of the deal, adding another asset to their draft arsenal.
The Patrik Laine trade is a bold move that comes with risks for both teams. However, if Laine can get back to being the elite scorer he was early in his career, Montreal could look back on this deal as a defining moment in their rebuild. For Columbus, the opportunity to move on from Laine and gain future assets presents a new direction. Time will tell if this gamble pays off for the Canadiens, but one thing is certain: Laine’s next chapter in Montreal will be closely watched.
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