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Around the NHL: Canucks’ Tocchet calls out Pettersson, Flyers’ Ristolainen to miss start of ’25-’26 season, Flames’ Andersson played through broken leg
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Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jeremy Tingly
Apr 21, 2025, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 21, 2025, 08:09 EDT
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The Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun as the NHL begins a two-month stretch of some of the best entertainment in sports. While playoff teams are now finding another gear entering the second season, including the Toronto Maple Leafs in their dominant Game 1 win in the Battle of Ontario, there have been plenty of storylines to follow with non-playoff teams, as they begin their offseason and preparation for the 2025-26 campaign.
Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Canucks’ Rick Tocchet says Elias Pettersson needs to prepare better

The drama continues in Vancouver as head coach Rick Tocchet made some interesting comments at his media availability to cap off the Canucks’ disappointing season. Tocchet called out Elias Pettersson for his lack of preparation for games and feels the team’s highest-paid player needs to do a better job getting himself ready for action.
“I think he’ll tell you this: His preparation has to get better,” Tocchet told reporters on April 18. “There’s no secret. If you want to be a great player, you have to prepare. Almost an obsessive type of preparation. I think he got behind the eight ball early. Then the expectations come, and then there’s a little bit of struggle with the team, and he could never gain traction.”
“He has to … move his feet, shoot the puck, change angles. You know me, I’m an honest guy. He’s got to practice better. … Do I think he will do those things? I do, I really do. I think I can bank on him taking this information, going away for four months, and making sure he has a plan. The plan has to change. I’m not sure he can train the same way.”
Pettersson makes $11.6 million per season and registered 45 points in 64 games this year. There were several uncomfortable moments throughout the season thanks to a public rift with former teammate J.T. Miller, a relationship Pettersson admitted they weren’t the closest of friends, but respected each other as teammates. Meanwhile, Tocchet admitted the team tried everything to get the two on the same page, but it just didn’t work out.
Keep an eye on the NHL draft, Pettersson’s no-movement clause doesn’t kick in until July 1, so it will be interesting to see if the Canucks gauge the trade market at the draft.

Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen undergoes arm surgery, will miss training camp

The Philadelphia Flyers won’t have defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen available to start training camp, as the towering blueliner recently underwent arm surgery and will be out several months. GM Daniel Briere stated recently that Ristolainen is expected to miss the beginning of next season.
“Right after the trade deadline, he had to get checked, and they figured out he needed to go under the knife for another surgery on his arm,” Briere said Apr.19. “So he’s going to be out until probably the early parts of next season, unfortunately.”
Ristolainen had an up-and-down season, recording 19 points in 63 games. The 30-year-old d-man has two more years on his deal at $5.1 million AAV.

Flames’ Rasmus Andersson played 12 games with broken fibula

Talk about toughness, Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson admitted he played the last 12 games of the season on a broken fibula.
Andersson suffered the injury on March 25 against the Seattle Kraken and wanted to stay in the lineup to do whatever he could to get the Flames into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Once the Flames were eliminated, Andersson sat out the season finale; however, he does plan to play for Team Sweden at the World Championships this summer.
Andersson registered 11 goals and 20 assists in 81 games and was involved in some trade speculation throughout the season. It’s obvious he loves playing for Calgary and will do anything for his Flames’ teammates, so we’ll have to wait and see if GM Craig Conroy signs the right-handed defenceman to a contract extension this summer.
Andersson has one season left on his current deal, at $4.5 million AAV.

Quick hits from around the NHL:

  • The New York Rangers fired both head coach Peter Laviolette and associate coach Phil Housley.
  • Anaheim Ducks let go of head coach Greg Cronin after two seasons, as GM Pat Verbeek felt his team is now a playoff team, and won’t accept anything less.
  • Penguins’ Erik Karlsson admitted he feels there’s a possibility he could be traded this offseason.
  • Montreal Canadiens veteran defenceman David Savard will be retiring after the Canadiens’ playoff run.
  • Connor Bedard admitted the season was tough on him, but made sure to mention he loves Chicago and doesn’t want to go anywhere.
  • San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier stated he’s willing to listen to trade offers on the Sharks’ 2025 first-round pick, which could wind up being a top-two pick.
  • New Jersey Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keefe admitted his team was ‘overwhelmed’ by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period of Game 1, losing the contest 4-1.
  • Hurricanes’ forward Logan Stankoven had two goals in the playoff opener for the ‘Canes, meanwhile,e Mikko Rantanen was held off the scoresheet for the Dallas Stars, in their 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
  • Despite the Game 1 loss to the Avalanche, Stars’ head coach Peter DeBoer felt Game 1 was the best hockey his team has played in weeks.
  • The Edmonton Oilers signed defenceman Ty Emberson to a two-year, $2.6 million extension.
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