NHL Notebook: Maple Leafs’ William Nylander returns for Game 4, Jaromir Jagr to retire from professional hockey, and more

The 27-year-old has been dealing with migraines that kept him out of the first three games. This was a condition that was unknown to the public until Thursday.

Nylander’s struggle with similar issues in the past led to him using a tinted visor in 2022.

The forward has been present in morning skates over throughout the series, hinting at a timely return. Although he didn’t confirm his participation for Saturday, Nylander said he was in good condition while speaking with the media on Friday.

The Toronto market eagerly anticipated Nylander’s return as the Leafs look to tie the series at two. Keefe announced some minor adjustments to the lineup. Defenceman T.J. Brodie replaced Timothy Liljegren on the third pairing, while Nick Robertson suits up with Connor Dewar being a scratch.

Jaromir Jagr to retire from professional hockey following 2024-25 campaign

In an interview with CNN Prima News, former NHL star Jaromir Jagr revealed that the 2024-25 campaign would be his last in professional hockey. 

During the interview, Jagr mentions his plans to film and document the final season with Petr Vetrovsky, who he began working with four years ago to document the end of his career.

“I thought I’d be done by now,” Jagr said.

Jagr, who turned 52 in February, is finishing the season with the Rytiri Klando — the team he also owns — after taking some time off to return to Pittsburgh for his jersey retirement.

During game two of the team’s best-of-seven series against Vsetin, Jagr recorded a goal and an assist, making him the oldest player to score a goal in professional hockey, passing legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe.

Since the 2021-22 season, Jagr has yet to play more than 30 games. This year, he appeared in 15 regular-season matchups for Klando and recorded four points.

Jagr sits second all-time in scoring in the NHL with 1,921 points. His additional 303 international points while playing with his own professional teams aid in his incredible total of 2,673 points throughout his entire professional career. 

Who is the most clutch NHL player in history?

As the excitement of the playoffs continues to swell, one team will eventually become the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Champions. However, there’s a lot on the line for plenty of teams, so who’s the go-to guy with the Stanley Cup on the line?

Florida Panthers Carter Verhaeghe’s overtime game-winning goal in game two of the Panthers versus Tampa Bay Lightning series tied the 28-year-old for third in NHL history for playoff overtime winners with five.

The goal’s excitement and the milestone in Verhaeghe’s career prompted a highly debated topic among Daily Faceoff contributors: Who is the most clutch NHL player in history?

Patrick Roy 

Patrick Roy won four Stanley Cups during his time in the NHL, two with the Montreal Canadiens (1986 and 1993) and two with the Colorado Avalanche (1996 and 2001). Alongside the achievement of becoming a four-time champion, Roy also became the only player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy three times.

“He won six of 13 Game 7s in his career, which isn’t awe-inspiring, but consider that he had two Game 7 shutouts and allowed one or fewer goals five times in those games,” said Matt Larkin. “If it’s overtime with my life on the line, I’m trusting Saint Patrick to keep me alive.”

Martin Gelinas

Despite winning a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers, Martin Gelinas will always be known to Calgary Flames fans as “the eliminator.” He became a staple to the Calgary franchise after tying an NHL record with three series-winning goals in a single playoff run in 2004. 

“It should’ve been four, too: Gelinas “scored” the non-goal on Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Nikolai Khabibulin late in Game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final that likely would have clinched the championship for the Flames, had it counted,” said Mike Gould.

“Now 53, Gelinas remains a folk hero in Calgary and has served as an assistant/development coach with the team since 2012.”

 Claude Lemieux

Claude Lemieux may be one of the greatest postseason players out there, ranking 27th in career playoff points with 158. Lemieux won the Stanley Cup with three out of six teams he played for in his 21 seasons in the NHL: the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and 2000, and the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. 

“Nearly a quarter of his 80 career playoff goals were game-winners,” said Frank Seravalli. “He led the postseason twice in game-winners, scoring four each in 1986 and 1997.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Andrei Vasilevskiy was one of the most exciting goaltenders to watch during his three-year Stanley Cup Final run from 2020 until 2022. A two-time Stanley Cup Champion and a Conn Smythe recipient, it’s hard not to consider Vasilevskiy. 

“Playoff goaltending can be so random at points, but Vasilevskiy rarely is the main reason for a Lightning loss,” said Steven Ellis. “No goaltender was in the same stratosphere as Vasy’s 18.74 playoff GSAA at 5-on-5 from 2020-22.”

Danny Briere

Danny Briere was never one to create huge waves during the regular season; however, in the postseason, he was always there with at least three playoffs where he played at a point-per-game pace. Briere never won a Stanley Cup despite coming close in 2010 with the Philadelphia Flyers, but he recorded 12 goals and 30 points throughout 23 games. 

“The lack of a Cup probably takes him out of the running for most clutch of all-time,” said Scott Maxwell. “But he should definitely be in the conversation considering his consistent ability to show up in the playoffs.”