Quinn Hughes, Cale Markar, and Zach Werenski were named the finalists for the Norris Trophy.
Werenski, a first-time finalist with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was second among defensemen behind Makar with 82 points (23 goals, 59 assists) and broke team records at the position in all three categories and average ice time, an NHL-best 26:45. He was also third among all skaters with 298 shots on goal and is the ninth defensemen since 1997 to finish a season with at least 80 points.
The second round of the Calder Cup playoffs begins as the Cleveland Monsters meet the Laval Rocket. The best-of-five series will begin in Cleveland for the first two games and then move to Laval for the remaining three games. The first 5,000 fans at Game 1 will receive a playoff t-shirt courtesy of truenorth Convenience Stores and a rally towel from Friedman, Domiano & Smith.
This season, Pascal Vincent’s squad went 2-0-2 against Cleveland.
Projected Lineups
Laval Rocket
Alex Barre-Boulet Laurent Dauphin Jared Davidson Sean Farrell Owen Beck Florian Xhekaj Josh Roy Lucas Condotta Xavier Simoneau Rafael Harvey-Pinard Filip Mesar Riley Kidney Luke Tuch Vincent Arseneau Brandon Gignac Alex Beaucage Will Dineen Tyler Thorpe Jakov Novak Bradley Chenier Joe Dunlap Mark Estapa Anthony Poulin Charles-Antoine Roy
Logan Mailloux Adam Engstrom Noel Hoefenmayer William Trudeau Tyler Wotherspoon Gustav Lindstrom Zach Hayes David Reinbacher Josh Jacobs Brendon Clavelle Vincent Sevigny
Cayden Primeau Jacob Fowler Connor Hughes
Cleveland Monsters
Mikael Pyyhita—Luca Del Bel Belluz—Trey Fix-Wolansky Rocco Grimaldi—Hunter McKown—Justin Pearson Luca Pinelli—Dylan Gambrell—Roman Achan James Malatesta—Jospeh LaBate Jr.—Gavin Brindley
Denton Mateychuk—Madison Bowey Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm—Cole Clayton Guillaume Richard—Stanislav Svozil
Jet Greaves Zach Sawchenko
Players to Watch
Laval —
Cleveland — James Malatesta — got the series winner in Game 2 against Toronto. The QMJHLer comes back to Quebec to support Cleveland to round three. Malatesta, in his second pro season, shone with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. In 2023, the Montreal native was named MVP during the Remparts’ run to win the Gilles-Courteau Trophy and the Memorial Cup.
Detailed Schedule
GAME 1 – Wed., April 30, 2025 – 7:00 PM LAV @ CLE GAME 2 – Fri., May 2, 2025 – 7:00 PM LAV @ CLE GAME 3 – Sun., May 4, 2025 – 3:00 PM CLE @ LAV GAME 4 – Tue., May 6, 2025 – 7:00 PM CLE @ LAV GAME 5 – Fri., May 9, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Rumor Mill
Thatcher Demko (VAN) CBJ
Bryan Rust (PIT)
CBJ, DET
F Brock Boeser (VAN)
CBJ, MIN
F Elias Pettersson (VAN)
BUF, CAR, DET, MIN, DAL, OTT, CBJ, BOS
F Rickard Rakkell (PIT)
CBJ, CAR
D Noah Dobson (NYI)
Per Spencer Lazar THN (CBJ)
DET, MTL, VAN, STL
D Jamie Oleskiak (SEA)
Per NHL Trade Talk Trade Board
CBJ, DAL, TOR
F Nick Robertson (TOR)
CBJ, SEA, UTH
Leaving Columbus?
2025 1 st Rd (BOTH)
Only for player with term
G Elvis Merzlikins
G Daniil Tarasov
The Columbus Blue Jackets could have a new tandem in net next year Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: Undrafted Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves is on a one-way deal next season. He’s played well in the AHL and when called up to the NHL on an emergency basis. He could be in consideration for a role next season. The Blue Jackets will be looking to change their goaltending for next year. They likely won’t be able to trade Elvis Merzlikins and his remaining two years at $5.4 million. He could be bought out. They appear to have lost faith in pending RFA Daniil Tarasov. It will be interesting to see what they do with him. They’ll need to either trade for a veteran goaltender or sign one in free agency.
D Ivan Provorov
Luke Kunin
Sean Kuraly
Christian Fischer
Justin Danforth
James van Riemsdyk
Kevin Labanc
Dante Fabbro
Jack Johnson