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
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.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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