Ben Wasserman’s Post

What are the Boston Bruins getting in Joonas Korpisalo 🇫🇮, after trading for him while sending Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club? Initially, there were rumours that he was going to be sent elsewhere in another trade later this summer, but those ideas can be shut down according to The Hockey News in an official report earlier today (https://lnkd.in/gUV7i6k8). This was an interesting trade as Boston brings yet another goaltender with the Finnish style be a part of their system, after Tuukka Rask carried them to two Stanley Cup Finals and retired a few years ago. Having seen Korpisalo's career from Ilves to Boston, here are the main points: - First off, out of the three styles of goaltending, these being butterfly, stand-up, and hybrid, he is a purely butterfly goaltender. Ullmark and Swayman are both hybrids, meaning that Boston now has two different styles of goaltending that can work on separate evenings. - His glove hand is decent, his blocker not so much; hence, there have been occasions throughout the 2023/24 regular season where the opposition has strategically aimed for the top-left corner. He is better as a lower-to-the-ground goaltender than one that can save at the top corners. - He can stop rebounds quite effectively, and can read plays even through screens in front; he is also an endurance goaltender, meaning that he can go through many shots and rebounds over a long period of time - the most notable case was in 2020 and his 74-save performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5OT in game one of their first round series. It should be noted that Linus Ullmark was a struggling goaltender at the Buffalo Sabres before the Bruins picked him up; Boston is very hopeful that Korpisalo, a new alternative with a new style of goaltending, can play decent hockey like he did in Los Angeles with the team he has behind him. He may be backup to Jeremy Swayman, or play half the season like Swayman did with Ullmark, especially when the Bruins face a team that struggles with getting past butterfly goalies. It is a trade that is actually a very smart move by the Bruins; in the same trade, they also acquired 25-year-old Mark Kastelic, who plays similarly to the aging Pat Maroon. There are rumours around the team that Maroon may be next on the trade block, and we will see what happens from that, but Korpisalo may be an excellent goaltender with an excellent Bruins squad in the near future. I will be posting more on trades involving Finnish players, having scouted Liiga players at an amateur level over the last ten years. #hockey #jääkiekko #nhl #bostonbruins #bruins #finland #goaltending #goalies (graph courtesy of CapFriendly)

As the post-season begins today in the National Hockey League (NHL), a total of 193 CHL alumni from its three member leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) are set to take part in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 193 CHL alumni, representing nearly 50% of the players participating in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, mark the most of any development hockey league in the world. In total, there were 100 graduates hailing from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), 63 from the Western Hockey League (WHL), and 30 from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Since 2014, of the 245 players who have had their names etched onto the Stanley Cup, 55% (135 players total) have come through the CHL, including 18 players on last year’s Vegas Golden Knights championship roster. READ MORE | https://lnkd.in/gbypyKJg

With the 2024 NHL Draft set to take place this week on June 28-29, countless draft-eligible prospects from the CHL are set to head to the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the two-day event. With 149 CHL players listed in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings, the CHL is once again poised to have the greatest number of players drafted to the National Hockey League (NHL) of any other development league in the world. Last year at the 2023 NHL Draft, 80 CHL players were selected between rounds one through seven (accounting for about 36% of all draft picks), including 11 in the first round. The 80 selections, along with the 11 CHL players chosen among the first 32 picks, were the most of any league. For more about the storylines heading into the 2024 NHL Draft and the CHL players set to be selected, check out our story below. https://lnkd.in/gJBhXb6x Western Hockey League (WHL) | Ontario Hockey League (OHL) | Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

Notes from the Atlantic: Tkachuk, Ekman-Larsson, McMann - https://lnkd.in/dC93JY32 As the regular season comes to a close, many players on teams not in the playoffs are making decisions about whether or not they will suit up for their country at this year's IIHF World Championship. One of those players, Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, is leaning toward playing for Team USA according to multiple reports (Link). Since officially joining the Senators organization in the 2018-19 NHL season, Tkachuk has not suited up for international play. However, he captained Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championships, scoring three goals and nine points in seven games, helping lead his team to the bronze medal. If Tkachuk joins Team USA for this year's tournament showcase, he will try to bring the team closer to tournament relevance. The United States has not received a gold medal in the tournament since 1960, which is also the last time they received a medal higher than bronze. Other Atlantic notes: In the team's overtime win against the Buffalo Sabers tonight, the Florida Panthers received some negative news on their blue line. At the beginning of the second half, the team Announced that defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson he would not return to the game due to an upper body injury after just 3:04 minutes of ice time. Given that the Panthers only have one game left in the regular season, it's more than likely that the organization will sideline Ekman-Larsson in that game to get him fully rested for the playoffs. Similarly to Ekman-Larsson, the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost Bobby McMann for the remainder of their game tonight against the Detroit Red Wings (Link). Suffering a lower-body injury, McMann fell awkwardly in Toronto's defensive zone and cautiously returned to the Maple Leafs bench. Regardless of the severity, Toronto is also likely to keep McMann out of the final two games of the regular season so that he is at full strength for the postseason. Keynote USA News Besides NHL Sports News, You can get NBA

HEADS UP EDMONTON OILERS!! The Edmonton Oilers (National Hockey League (NHL)) are poised for a historic Stanley Cup victory! After an incredible comeback to tie the series 3-3, they stand on the brink of joining an elite group of NHL teams to clinch the Cup after falling behind 3-0. This Monday night in Sunrise, Florida, they can etch their names alongside the legendary 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs. The Edmonton Oilers, a powerhouse in the National Hockey League's Pacific Division, call Rogers Place home since 2016. Led by stars like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Stuart Skinner, and Evander Kane, the team is determined to triumph in Game 7. Legends of the game, such as Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe, Mark Messier, and others, offer their wisdom and strategy to support the current Oilers roster. Discussions center around emotional resilience, puck control, team chemistry, and optimizing player performance—all crucial for securing victory. Maintaining strong spinal health and flexibility is critical for hockey players to optimise performance and health. "Look into the future!" Upright posture enhances hockey players' health, with less neck stress, less neck pain, and better body hormones and neurotransmitters, and the upright gaze allows 1/10 seconds further view advantage for 1.2 to 2.4 feet of viewing advantage moving at 10 to 15 miles an hour. "Heads Up, Oilers!"—keeping your posture in check can give you a critical edge. Are you interested in learning cutting-edge strategies to protect and enhance your spine for peak hockey performance? WATCH YOUR BACK: Nine Proven Strategies to Reduce Your Neck and Back Pain Without Surgery https://lnkd.in/gignAjCS

Lessons from the Oilers' Stanley Cup Loss No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup in the last 30 years. And we are disappointed but we need to understand one thing first. The NHL stands out as a league with substantial competitive parity. Unlike the NFL, NBA, or top European soccer leagues, the NHL provides a platform where many teams can realistically aim for the Stanley Cup. In other words, there are no dynastic runs like the Patriots, Real Madrid, or Lakers sweeping all the championships and fans. At least not in the last three decades. No NHL team has won the Stanley Cup more than twice back-to-back in the last 30 years. And it's a healthy thing. In fact, it's so healthy that it's almost a requirement to lose in the finals to win the cup. Don't believe me? Check out the last 30 years' winners and losers: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins... All these teams made it to the finals and lost, significantly increasing their chances of winning the cup within 5 years. And the probability of winning the cup if you made it to the finals increases as high as 60% within 2 years among all the teams in the league. If you lost twice in the finals, it's almost certain that the team would win the Stanley Cup within 5 years. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vegas Golden Knights are great examples of this. In the NHL, losing in the finals isn't just a setback—it's often the stepping stone to ultimate victory. So, it takes a loser to win the Stanley Cup. P.S.: I am no hockey expert by any stretch of the imagination if you think my analysis is wrong, please correct me below. -------------------- Image: https://buff.ly/4cGOwKn by Bruce Bennet/Getty Images

🚨🏀Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks, NBA Finals locked!! This time it will be the battle of duos: Luka Doncic x. Jayson Tatum Kyrie Irving x. Jaylen Brown 🏆STORIES - Kyrie will be returning to Boston, Luka-Legend’s first trip to the NBA Finals, the duo of Tatum & Brown searching for their first NBA title, and Kristaps Porzingis facing his former team. 💪🏻The Dallas Mavericks dominated the red-hot Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. Dallas finished the series 4-1 at the Target Center today. "Lukai" dropping 72 points combined to advance to the NBA Finals is CRAZY!🫡 I thought it would not be that easy for the Mavericks to overpower a team that had swept the Kevin Durant-led Phoenix Suns (first round) and the defending champions Denver Nuggets, even covering an 18-point lead in Game 7. A few days ago, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers, continuing their journey to clinch their 18th NBA trophy, the last being in 2008. The team will be playing their 3rd NBA Finals in the last three seasons. The last was the 2022 NBA Finals, where they got whipped by the Golden State Warriors in a 4-2 series. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are in the title round for the first time since they won the NBA championship in 2011 against the Miami Heat. A 13-year-long WAIT! It really took buckets of sweat. No doubt Boston played exceptional basketball, yet the playoff journey for the team went a little easy. This season the East was without superstars (injured) like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, and Trae Young. The playoff journey for both teams goes like this: 🏀Boston Celtics - 4-1 vs. the Miami Heat (1st round) - 4-1 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers (2nd round) - 4-0 vs. the Indiana Pacers (ECF) 🏀Dallas Mavericks - 4-2 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers (1st round) - 4-2 vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder (2nd round) - 4-1 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves (ECF) #nba #basketball #nbafinals #sports #history

Could the Detroit Pistons' record-breaking 28-game losing streak be the worst in modern American sports history? Let’s take a look 👀 The Philadelphia Phillies hold the longest losing streak in modern-era Major League Baseball (MLB) history, as they were losers of 23 straight games back in 1961. Even though the number of games is comparable, the MLB season was 154 games back then—that means the Phillies’ streak only represented 15% of the regular season compared to the Pistons’ 34%. 😬 What about hockey? The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres currently co-own the record for longest losing streak in National Hockey League (NHL) history, as the two clubs lost 18 straight games in 2003-04 and 2020-21, respectively. And in hockey’s 82-game schedule, that record doesn’t even come CLOSE to the feat that the Pistons performed. And then there’s football. Back in the 70s, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 26 straight games over the span of two seasons—they followed up a disastrous 0-14 season in 1976 with another 0-12 start the next year, after which they finally added something to the win column. 😲 So who wins? Is the Pistons streak the king of all modern sports streaks? Or does Tampa Bay’s multi-season skid take the cake? Guess you’ll have to decide… 🤔 Did you enjoy this story and want to get more just like this delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eW3W-pnd #sports #streak #basketball #pistons #business #football #baseball #hockey #detroit

Justus Annunen Signs Two-Year Contract Extension with Avalanche - https://lnkd.in/dfdRPhUW The Colorado Avalanche would have signed the goalkeeper Justus Annunen to a two-year one-way contract extension, according to NHL expert Kevin Weekes. Weekes adds that the deal will have a cap hit of around $833,000. This move is a good sign of confidence for the 24-year-old Annunen, who has played just 12 NHL games since his debut in the 2021-22 season. He has posted an admirable seven wins and a .908 save percentage in those appearances, including a .926 save percentage in eight games this season, but has still struggled to earn starting spots over backup competition. Ivan Prosvetov and pavel francouz in recent years; the latter has not yet played this season. The issue is not helped by the fact that the starter motor Alexander Georgiev has played in an NHL-leading 56 games. But now, with a one-way deal in place, Annunen can give a sign of relief that departures are coming soon. And Annunen has certainly earned the opportunity. He has posted 60 wins in 114 AHL games since joining the league at the end of the 2020-21 season, posting a combined save percentage of .903. He's seeing that success translate to the NHL for the first time this season and finally starting to find his footing at the top level. With progress, Annunen joins other 2018 recruits Joel Hofer and Lucas Dostal as encouraging young goalkeepers struggling to start from a reserve role. Keynote USA News Besides NHL Sports News, You can get NBA

The CHL is proud to announce that 14 CHL players were selected in the first round of the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 14 selections represented nearly half of the NHL’s first-round picks on Friday and stood as the most of any development league in the world. In total, six CHL players were taken in the top 10, matching the highest number of CHL skaters selected within the first 10 picks since six were chosen in 2020. Over the last 55 years, the CHL has had 10 or more of its players selected in the first round of every NHL Draft dating back to 1969 – a streak that now runs at 56 consecutive drafts. Following last night's first round, there have now been a total of 894 players from the CHL selected in the first round of an NHL Draft since 1969 — accounting for nearly two-thirds of all first-rounders chosen over that time. The 2024 NHL Draft will continue today at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT with rounds two through seven. To read more about the players and their accomplishments, please see the release below. https://lnkd.in/g5DbRt3p