Former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Thomas Vanek was officially inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Vanek was traded to Columbus by Vancouver for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen, February 26, 2018, to help Columbus with their playoff run that season.
Vanek played in 19 games for the CBJ, scoring 7 goals and totaling 15 points, and having a plus-9 rating. He played 6 games in the first round of the playoffs and had two points.
In the summer of 2018, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings, where he would play in 64 games, and then end his career in the NHL.
Vanek also played for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, and the Vancouver Canucks.
The Austrian native played in various international tournaments for his home country. He played in the World Juniors, World Championships, Olympics, and other various tournaments for the Austrians.
Congrats to Thomas Vanek on his induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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In a recent article for ESPN, Rachel Krysak discussed multiple young players who could use a change of scenery. A Buffalo Sabres goaltender was among the players listed, as Devon Levi made the cut.
With Levi dropping to the fourth spot on the Sabres' goalie depth chart and not making an appearance at the NHL level this season, it is certainly fair to argue that he could use a fresh start. There is simply not a path for him to make the jump to the Sabres' roster right now, so it would make sense if the Sabres gave him another opportunity elsewhere.
With Levi being a young goalie with good upside, it is possible that the Sabres could use him in a trade package to land a player who would help them immediately. The 24-year-old goalie was once considered Buffalo's top prospect, after all. Furthermore, with the free-agent market being weak this year when it comes to goalies, that could also lead to interest being high in Levi.
Levi appeared in 52 AHL games this season with the Rochester Americans, posting a 23-20-9 record, a .904 save percentage, a 2.83 goals-against average, and three shutouts. This is after he had a 25-13-4 record, a 2.20 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage, and seven shutouts in 2024-25 with Rochester.
In 39 career NHL games with the Sabres, Levi has a 17-17-2 record, an .894 save percentage, and a 3.29 goals-against average.
Drafting and developing has often been the best and most cost effective way to build a true Stanley Cup contender, especially in the salary cap era (2005-06 to present).
The Chicago Blackhawks won three Stanley Cup titles after drafting franchise cornerstone players such as Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. The Pittsburgh Penguins won three titles after drafting Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won two championships after drafting Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman.
There are several other examples, too.
This season’s Stanley Cup finalists — the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes — have taken the complete opposite approach to roster construction.
Let’s breakdown some crazy numbers and notes from both of their active rosters ahead of Tuesday night’s Game 1 in Carolina:
The Golden Knights’ Game 1 lineup likely won’t have a single player they drafted in the first round. The Hurricanes have two of their own first-round picks (Andre Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis) on their roster.
Andre Svechnikov (Carolina) is the only player drafted by one of these teams in the top five. Other players, such as Jack Eichel (Vegas), were top-five picks, but they were drafted by other teams.
Sixteen of Vegas’ players, including many of its best players (Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, Rasmus Andersson, etc.) were acquired via trade.
Seven Hurricanes players, including Taylor Hall, captain Jordan Staal, K’Andre Miller and Logan Stankoven, were acquired via trade.
Only two of the Golden Knights’ players — Pavel Dorofeyev and Kaedan Korczak — were drafted by Vegas. Just six of the Hurricanes’ players — Svechnikov, Jarvis, Jackson Blake, Sebastian Aho, Alexander Nikishin and Jaccob Slavin — were drafted by Carolina.
Both starting goalies — Carter Hart (Vegas) and Frederik Andersen (Carolina) — were free agent signings.
Veteran sportswriter Adam Gretz made a great graphic that highlights these two rosters:
How the Stanley Cup Final teams were built.
Only two players selected by either team in the first round. Only one top-5 pick (Svechnikov at No. 2… and oddly enough, Carolina only had the 11th-worst record that year. Big lottery luck). pic.twitter.com/egOKWs3QTm
The Florida Panthers’ 2025 Stanley Cup team was built heavily on trades, too. The Panthers acquired Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand and Seth Jones in separate trades.
It’s true, to some degree, that the Golden Knights are a bit of a unique case. They greatly benefited from the expansion draft process. They also operate in the state of Nevada, which has zero state income tax, and that’s helpful in terms of signing players to team-friendly contracts. But their overall approach of not overpaying in free agency and making super aggressive (but also smart) trades has been fascinating to watch over the last eight years.
Is there a lesson or a blueprint the Bruins can follow here?
Yes, actually.
Trades are an effective way to build a team. This method of roster construction does carry plenty of risk, especially if you’re trading away first- and second-round picks at a high rate. But if you have good pro scouts and can identify players who will fit your team and can be extended long term (if necessary), it’s possible to build a perennial contender through the trade market.
Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Golden Knights got Jack Eichel and Mark Stone via trades.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has generally done a good job in his role since taking over in 2015. Drafting and developing has been a challenge for the entire organization during his tenure, though. It’s gotten better in recent years, but overall, the Bruins have not done a good job building through the draft.
Trades are a different story. Sweeney is awesome at making deals. He has won nearly every trade he’s made as Bruins GM, and many of them were home runs. It doesn’t matter if he was a buyer or seller — he almost always knocks it out of the park.
If a team is looking to build a winning roster via trades, Sweeney is a great guy to have in charge. And if you look at the Bruins’ current situation, they absolutely should consider being super aggressive in the trade market this summer.
Why is that?
For starters, the free agent market is pretty weak. Alex Tuch is the only legit top-six forward available. Rasmus Andersson and Darryn Raddysh are the only legit top-four defensemen available, and giving an expensive long-term deal to either player would be a risk considering they’re both 29 years old.
The Bruins have the No. 23 pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. They did not get lucky in the draft lottery and won’t get a first-round pick from the Maple Leafs to complete the Brandon Carlo trade until 2027 or 2028.
That leaves the trade market. And for the first time in a long while, the Bruins are loaded with quality assets to dangle.
They have five first-round picks in the next three drafts. They own all their second-round picks, too. They have several super talented prospects such as James Hagens, Dean Letourneau and Will Zellers. NHLers such as Casey Mittelstadt and Mason Lohrei have value, too.
The Bruins desperately need more high-end talent. They have only one elite forward in David Pastrnak. Every true Cup contender has at least two or three of those players. The B’s have a legit No. 1 defenseman in Charlie McAvoy, but the depth and talent behind him (especially on the right side of the blue line) is not great. The B’s have a great goalie in Jeremy Swayman. That’s one position that doesn’t require substantial improvement.
Boston hasn’t been able to find a real No. 1 center, or even a legit top-six center, since Patrice Bergeon and David Krejci both retired in 2023. Elias Lindholm was supposed to be that kind of player when he signed a seven-year, $54.25 million deal in 2024 free agency, but he has played well below expectations so far. Maybe Hagens becomes a No. 1 center in the near future, but even if that scenario did play out, trading for another top-six center should still be a priority.
The bottom line is the trade market is by far the best way for the Bruins to add the premium talent they need.
Which players could they target? Last week, we looked at seven players the Bruins should consider pursuing, including top-six forwards Robert Thomas, Jason Robertson and Mason McTavish, as well as defensemen Owen Zellweger and Simon Nemec.
Robertson is a 45-goal scorer at left wing and only 26 years old. He would take significant pressure off of Pastrnak. Thomas is a legit No. 1 center and an elite playmaker. He might be a little unrealistic as a target given the crazy high asking price. McTavish might be a less expensive option if he became available.
Zellweger and Nemec are two highly talented young defensemen who could benefit greatly from a change of scenery and/or a larger role.
The Bruins have a good core. Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman are franchise pillars. Pavel Zacha was a 30-goal scorer. Morgan Geekie is a very good goal scorer, too. Hampus Lindholm, when healthy, is a solid second-pairing defenseman. Fraser Minten could be a strong two-way center for many years. Hagens has enormous potential.
James Hagens, C, 19 years old
Fraser Minten, C, 21
Morgan Geekie, LW, 27
Jeremy Swayman, G, 27
Charlie McAvoy, D, 28
Pavel Zacha, C/W, 29
David Pastrnak, RW, 29
Elias Lindholm, C, 31
Nikita Zadorov, D, 31
Hampus Lindholm, D, 32
Viktor Arvidsson, LW, 33 (UFA this summer)
There’s a lot to like about the Bruins’ roster. But the lack of elite talent was glaringly obvious during the playoffs, and until that issue gets addressed, the Bruins will likely be a first-round exit kind of team.
The best place for them to make immediate and massive roster additions is the trade market, which is why Sweeney needs to be aggressive this summer.
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Colorado Avalanche Alumnus, Claude Lemieux meets with the media prior to the 2016 Coors Light Stadium Series Alumni Game at the Four Seasons Hotel on February 26, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
On Claude Lemieux
NHL legend Claude Lemieux’s family donates his brain to CTE research. “No conclusions should be drawn at this time regarding any diagnosis,” the family’s statement said. [Montreal Gazette]
Frederik Andersen issues a personal statement on Claude Lemieux. [Carolina Hurricanes]
Martin Brodeur pays tribute to friend and former teammate Claude Lemieux. [Sportsnet]
Claude Lemieux made a career of being there when it mattered. [Toronto Star]
Former NHL player Claude Lemieux passes away at age 60. [TSN]
Avalanche lost Western Conference Final. The Cale Makar injury, offensive issues amount factors. Lackluster power play, inability to hold leads also reasons for elimination. [NHL]
Former NHL star Dennis Hull dead at age 81. [Toronto Sun]
Buffalo’s Konsta Helenius scores the golden goal for Finland at the World Championship, Norway defeats Canada to capture the bronze. [ProHockeyRumors]
The Philadelphia Flyers may not possess the high draft pick needed to help them evolve from a playoff hopeful to a Stanley Cup contender, but they do have a path to trading for one.
After a wildly disappointing season, for their standards, in 2025-26, the Winnipeg Jets own the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and given the amount of stars they have in their prime years, they may feel obligated to turn such a high pick into an immediate contributor instead of a prospect.
According to NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, that's exactly what they could do, particularly at the forward position.
The Flyers are in no position to offer any kind of center, but they do have a plethora of wingers to offer to the Jets, as well as draft capital, which can be flipped for that center after taking a winger from Philadelphia.
Players like Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett, whose 10-team no-trade list kicks in on July 1, make the most sense, though the Flyers may consider Tippett, a former No. 10 pick himself, more valuable than the eighth pick at this time.
In any case, though, the Flyers have more wingers than spots to give, and one or more will eventually have to find a home elsewhere in the NHL.
Provided the Flyers can trade a winger, another roster player, and the 21st overall pick for the eighth overall pick, it would mean a great deal to the rebuild.
The Flyers, of course, need a top-tier center prospect, and with the No. 8 pick, could find themselves in a position to choose between the likes of Tynan Lawrence and Viggo Bjorck.
On defense, 6-foot-4 lefty Malte Gustafsson is an option that can't be ignored, too.
The Jets trading their first-round pick at all will likely depend on how desperate they are, knowing their core is ageing but feeling some pressure to start looking towards the future.
A good number of teams in the NHL, such as the Montreal Canadiens, the Flyers themselves, the Minnesota Wild, the Chicago Blackhawks, and more are looking for top-six centers, and the Jets throwing out a top-10 pick for a few second-liners is likely the only way they can definitively outbid the competition.
If the Flyers are truly committed to stockpiling young, high-skill assets, they will do what they can to make this deal happen by leveraging their cupboard of wingers and draft picks.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 17: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at Lenovo Center on January 17, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The stage is set for the 2026 Stanley Cup now that only Vegas and Carolina remain.
The Hurricanes bulled into the final by dropping Montreal in five games in the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina spotted the Canadiens the first game following a 12-day layoff in between series. Once the Canes got back in with the program, it was just a matter of time until they folded up the Habs based on the domination. Goalie Jakub Dobes put up a heck of a fight to keep some of the games close, by the end there was nothing more he could do to stop the mismatch from ending in a one-sided result.
On the other side of the bracket out west, the process wasn’t as one-sided but the results were perhaps even more shocking for the Golden Knights to sweep away the regular season champ Colorado Avalanche. Vegas won one-goal contests in Games 1-3 (until late empty net goals sealed the deal) and then jumped up 2-0 in Game 4 and held onto win 2-1. Game 3 was probably their finest moment, erasing a 3-0 deficit and coming back to score five unanswered goals to shock Colorado all the way out of it. (In a way, the Avs conference final appearance mirrored the Penguins in ‘13 against the Bruins. A couple close games didn’t go their way, then before they knew what happened the hole got so deep there was no way out).
Vegas sweeps Colorado 4-0
The Knights got better and better as the series went on, outchancing the Avs 46-36 in the final two games.
Three different models see this ultimately this matchup with the exact same result on a 56-44 split in favor of the Hurricanes. It’s hard to argue against the 12-1 path they’ve cut through the Eastern Conference. The gambling market is in close step with that analysis, the Knights at +130 to win is an implied probability of 43.5% (Carolina’s line of -155 is at 60%. That math doesn’t add up to 100%, because no matter what happens the house always wins).
That sounds like a good baseline to think about when trying to predict or analyze this one. Both teams obviously have reason to be confident heading into the final round of the playoffs, either is capable of winning four more games if the next few days/weeks go the right way. The Hurricanes are probably a marginally stronger side on paper, with home ice advantage to boot. Games, of course, won’t be decided on paper so they’ll play them to see what happens.
One area to watch – and potentially challenge previous results – will be what happens with the power play for Vegas. The Golden Knights have a 23.6% power play (2nd best in the playoffs for teams that won a round). That’s going to have to be a difference-maker and will have quite the challenge. Carolina has the penalty kill working to the tune of four goals allowed this playoff on 53 chances (92.5%) and beyond that are yielding 4v5 expected goal rates per 60 in the 3.7-4.2 range in their first three series. By contrast, the Vegas power play has 8.71 actual goals/60 on the power play this playoff to show the stark difference of this strength-on-strength area.
That will put an onus on Mitch Marner (seven power play points this playoff) and Jack Eichel (6 PPP) to create something that can hit the back of the net to throw the games off schedule for what Carolina has been doing this spring. The stars have to shine bright at this time of year, and with how stingy the Hurricanes have been that will be a huge telling point for just how much of a chance the slight underdogs have to make noise.
Both teams have been excellent late when they have a lead, Carolina is 7-0 in the playoffs when leading going into the second intermission, Vegas is 8-0. The Hurricanes have scored first in a shocking 11 out of their 13 games, and are 10-1 when they do take that first lead. The first goal has been important for Vegas, they’re 7-1 in playoff games when they strike first, but still an impressive 5-3 when they trail 1-0.
That too could be a crucial piece of information; the Hurricanes aren’t used to giving up goals while shorthanded and they’re not used to falling behind. Vegas has more experience in terms of dealing with adversity to get to this point, starting with the fact they only won 39 regular season games, had a late coaching change and have had to be in a clawing/survival type of mode for quite a while.
The question becomes is Carolina able to perform so well that they don’t even have to figure out how to deal with falling behind in a game or series? Or can Vegas take advantage of planting some seeds of doubts and putting the Canes in an unaccustomed tough spot?
We’ll shake up the ball a little and say that the Hurricanes won’t cruise to the championship, though there’s a decent possibility that they will. All of their lines are clicking, including the impressive second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake that’s helped push Nik Ehlers into the ‘Phil Kessel type of ’third’ liner’ territory. Carolina is built to suppress their opponents, the missing piece for them has seemingly been found to get enough production to make it count. That means we’ll say that Jordan Staal gets a successful trip back to the SCF, his first since being with the Penguins in 2009.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils reacts during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 7-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Is there a case to be made for keeping Dougie Hamilton? “He may not be at his pinnacle anymore, but he is a high-end blueliner nonetheless, and, if given the deployment he has had throughout his career, he should be a 50+ point-getter despite the possibility of him playing on the second power-play unit. Sunny Mehta and the Devils sure seem headed to make the right call in keeping No. 7 around.” [Infernal Access]
“In what is conventionally regarded as a weak free agent class, there are three names in particular that the Devils should be keen on if they’re looking to add a third-pair caliber puck-mover in the stead of one of Hamilton or Nemec.” [Devils’ Advocates]
Marty talks here about Claude Lemieux:
"He had such a big heart." ❤️
Martin Brodeur joins the broadcast to chat about the life of teammate and longtime friend Claude Lemieux 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/Q0JOSylmjW
Stan Fischler remembers Claude Lemieux: “If there ever was a New Jersey Devil who deserved the nickname ‘Mister Clutch’ it was Claude Lemieux.” [Devils NHL]
On the Simon Nemec situation: “Perhaps the middle-ground solution would be a cheaper bridge deal, projected at a $4.5 million AAV over two years. You could then try trading Hamilton and elevate Nemec into a surefire top-four opportunity and see what he’s got. On the other hand, if the Devils don’t believe he’ll reach his long-term ceiling (especially defensively), there’s strong merit to the idea of leveraging Nemec as a trade chip while his stock around the league is still high to land the high-end, top-six forward the club needs.” [The Athletic ($)]
Hockey Links
A nightmare Stanley Cup Final if you ask me:
Here’s how both teams in this year’s Stanley Cup Final stack up to one another 👀📊
“Any time a team falls short of expectations, the finger-pointing will inevitably start, and usually that begins with the head coach. Jared Bednar is the second-longest tenured coach in the National Hockey League and guided the Avs to a Cup just a few years ago, but some are wondering if the team needs a new voice after this spring’s disappointment.” [Sportsnet]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
While the Montreal Canadiens’ defense was much better than last season, it is still plagued by a few big question marks. Kaiden Guhle playing Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final despite being obviously injured was just the latest evidence that Martin St-Louis doesn’t really trust Arber Xhekaj. The fact that Lane Hutson played the entirety of the playoffs on his off-side is further proof that the Canadiens still need a right-shot defenseman, even if it’s only a depth one. There’s also the fact that neither Xhekaj nor Jayden Struble can establish themselves as regulars, which is also a concern.
Xhekaj is the only defenseman who needs a new contract for this upcoming season; he’s an RFA with arbitration rights. His qualifying offer stands at 1.3 million, and there’s no doubt that the Canadiens will qualify him. However, it’s far from certain that he will still be in Montreal when the next season starts.
While the gritty defenseman brings a physical element his teammates can't, St-Louis has shown time and again that he doesn’t really like that side of play, and that even if Xhekaj has adapted to the coach’s preferred style, the bench boss doesn’t really trust him. In his last game, number 72 spent less than two minutes on the ice. On a Stanley Cup-winning team, no defenseman spends so little time on the ice. It’s not sustainable for the other five defensemen to shoulder an increased workload because the coach essentially only trusts them.
Dylan McIlrath lays a BIG hit on Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj comes FLYING in to take exception 😳👊 pic.twitter.com/UBH7G85Fr1
If the coach isn’t going to use him, it may be tempting for Kent Hughes to use him in a deal to fill another organizational need. Despite not playing that much, there is little doubt that there would be interest in him on the market; his toughness would be attractive to many teams.
The Canadiens also need a right-shot defenseman. While Hutson has proven that he can play on his off-side if needed, that’s not putting him in the best position to succeed. It would make sense for the Habs to get another right-shot defenseman. Of course, they do have David Reinbacher in their system, but the fifth overall pick at the 2023 draft has been dealing with so many injuries that his development has been affected. Will he be ready to make the jump in the NHL this coming season? It remains to be seen.
While prospect Bryce Pickford has been dominant in the WHL this year, it doesn’t guarantee that his game could eventually translate to the NHL. We’ll get a better idea of what he can really do when he plays in the AHL in 2026-27.
There are also some question marks around Guhle. The defenseman has had a roller-coaster season, with just as many highs and lows. When he’s at his best, he’s a great part of the team, but consistency is an issue. Furthermore, he’s also often injured, and it’s hard to build a team around a piece that will only be there part-time. If the Canadiens do decide to hang on to the defensive defenseman, they have to plan for safe backup options. A seventh defenseman who won’t be a liability on the ice and will be able to shoulder the load when the Albertan is sidelined. Adam Engstrom is knocking on the door, but he doesn’t have the physicality Guhle has.
It’s June! It must be Stanley Cup Final season. That’ll kick off tomorrow with the Hurricanes and Knights. And check back later this morning for the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast, with Sean Cuthbert joining Dan and Mike.
Islanders News
The Islanders named former NHL defenseman and successful OHL coach Jay McKee to lead their AHL affiliate in Hamilton. [Isles]
And at the NHL level, Pete DeBoer feels “ahead of the curve” for next season since he was able to join and see the team before the end of this past season. [Isles]
The latest Weird Islanders podcast covered a murderer’s row of mostly forgotten, short-time goalies. [LHH]
Reviewing the many Long Island-roots NHL players from this season and playoffs. [News]
Elsewhere
Rod Brind’Amour demands a consistent brand of Hurricanes berserker hockey and he’s fortunate to have dressing room leaders who make sure new players follow along. [NHL]
And after his “low point” in Buffalo, Jack Eichel is feeling grateful for a shot at a second Cup just a few months after getting an Olympic gold. [NHL]
Frederik Andersen, one of Claude Lemieux’s first clients once he became an agent, reflected on the ice after advancing to the finals 48 hours after Lemieux’s death. [Post]
At the Worlds, Canada missed out on bronze by losing to…Norway? [Sportsnet]
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 01: Conor Sheary #43 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal to defeat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 during overtime in Game Two of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Consol Energy Center on June 1, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ten years ago today, Conor Sheary scored an overtime goal to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-0 lead in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
Pittsburgh was riding high heading into Game 2 of the Cup Final, having beaten the Sharks in a Game 1 thriller and were looking to defend their home ice and head to California with a 2-0 series lead.
The HBK Line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel teamed up for the game’s opening goal in the second period after a scoreless opening frame.
The Penguins held onto their 1-0 lead as time started ticking away into the third period but with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game, Justin Braun struck for San Jose, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
The overtime period didn’t last all that long however, as Sidney Crosby won an offensive zone faceoff and Kris Letang, almost seemingly catching him off guard, got a pass to Conor Sheary, who took advantage of a screened Martin Jones to pick the corner of the net.
Just like that, it was a 2-0 series lead for Pittsburgh, putting San Jose on the back foot and heading home to California facing a tall task.
Hockey might be Canada’s game, but the Stanley Cup resides in the United States.
It’s something Canada has grown accustomed to over recent decades. Despite dominating in the early days of the NHL and into the 1980s, the U.S. has taken complete control over the league and the Stanley Cup.
Just seven of the 32 NHL teams call Canada home, giving the country slim chances of hosting a champion. Toss in those seven teams’ recent playoff history, and the reasons for a significant championship lull become even clearer.
Canada’s quest for the Cup in 2026 lied in the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, who made it to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. After winning Game 1 in Carolina, the Habs then lost their next four games, dashing the country’s hopes for a championship.
Just how long has it been since a team took the Stanley Cup to the Great White North? Here’s a breakdown of Canada’s ongoing Stanley Cup drought:
When was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup?
It’s been 33 years since a Canadian team lifted the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings four games to one in the 1993 Cup Final, and an American team has won it every year since.
Here’s when each Canadian organization last earned the Stanley Cup:
Montreal Canadiens: 1993 (beat Kings in five games)
Calgary Flames: 1989 (beat Canadiens in six games)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 1967 (beat Canadiens in six games)
Ottawa Senators: Never
Vancouver Canucks: Never
Winnipeg Jets: Never
When was the last time a Canadian team appeared in the Stanley Cup Final?
Prior to the Edmonton Oilers’ appearances in 2024 and 2025, the Canadiens came close to snapping the skid in 2021. However, they fell to the defending-champion Lightning in a gentleman’s sweep during the Cup Final.
Here’s each Canadian team’s last Cup Final appearance:
Edmonton Oilers: 2025 (lost to Panthers in six games)
Montreal Canadiens: 2021 (lost to Lightning in five games)
Vancouver Canucks: 2011 (lost to Bruins in seven games)
Ottawa Senators: 2007 (lost to Ducks in five games)
Calgary Flames: 2004 (lost to Lightning in seven games)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 1967 (beat Canadiens in six games)
Winnipeg Jets: Never
How many times has a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup?
Since 1918, Canadian teams have won 49 Stanley Cups. Along with the four active NHL teams from Canada that have lifted the Cup, the country’s tally also includes two championships from the Montreal Maroons, who existed from 1924 to 1938.
U.S. teams are up to 57 following the 2025 Cup Final. It wasn’t until the Washington Capitals’ triumph in 2018 that the U.S. surpassed Canada in the overall tally.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article was published in June 2022.
Plenty of former Pittsburgh Penguins' players have made their mark lately, whether in the Stanley Cup Playoffs or during the IIHF World Championship, which ended Sunday.
And an ex-Penguin was an integral part of Finland's gold medal-winning team.
Forward Jesse Puljujarvi - who played in 48 games for the Penguins in parts of the 2023-24 season and 2024-25 season - was Finland's second-leading scorer in the tournament (four goals, nine points in 10 games) behind only Florida Panthers superstar Aleksander Barkov. Puljujarvi last played in the NHL as Barkov's teammate with the Florida Panthers in 2024-25, when he had one point in five regular season games.
The former first-round pick - selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 - joined the Penguins on an amateur tryout agreement after undergoing double hip surgery during the 2023-24 season. He was signed as a free agent on Feb. 4, 2024, and re-signed with the team the following summer.
However, healthy scratches and AHL demotions eventually wore on both Puljujarvi and the organization, so the two parties agreed to a mutual contract termination that allowed him to sign as a free agent with Florida on Mar. 5, 2025. He spent this past season with Geneve-Servette HC of the NL, registering 19 goals and 52 points in 52 games.
During his Penguins' tenure, he notched six goals and 13 points in those 48 games. Over the course of his NHL career, Puljujarvi has 58 goals and 128 points in 387 games.
During the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins saw a changing of the guard at the goaltending position after Tristan Jarry had held that starting post for the better part of six-plus seasons.
In shipping Jarry off to the Edmonton Oilers in mid-December, they received veteran Stuart Skinner in return. They also had rookie goaltender Artūrs Šilovs via a trade from the Vancouver Canucks during the summer of 2025, staying afloat and playing well enough to keep making appearances throughout the season.
And, for the rest of the regular season, Skinner and Šilovs experienced some peaks and valleys, both posting .888 save percentages. Of course, Šilovs lived up to his big-game reputation in three games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving the Penguins a chance to come back from down 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round with a .939 save percentage and 1.52 goals-against average.
As promising as Šilovs's playoff performance was, there is even more promise in the Penguins' system, so much so that it's becoming more apparent that they may have multiple options at the NHL level.
Well, at least, that's the hope — and, really, the Penguins' hopes kind of depend on it.
Of course, it starts with 22-year-old Sergei Murashov, the most NHL-ready goaltending prospect in their system and, by a wide margin, their most promising up to this point. And Murashov is certainly proving himself in the Calder Cup Playoffs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), putting up a .938 save percentage with a 1.84 goals-against average in 11 postseason games.
There is a ton of pressure on Murashov to live up to lofty expectations, especially as he's already been annointed as the next "great" Penguins' goaltender by many fans despite playing in just five NHL games so far. And, not only that, he has an internal target on his back, too.
Joel Blomqvist, 24, fell into a bit of a backup role behind Murashov by the time playoff time came around, but he still posted a respectable .913 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average in 26 regular season games this season. Taylor Gauthier put together another outstanding season in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailers with a .929 save percentage in 36 regular season games and a .922 save percentage in 17 Kelly Cup Playoff games, also breaking the franchise's regular season shutout record.
Then, there is Gabriel D'Aigle — unrefined yet as quick and athletic as Murashov in addition to being 6-foot-5 in the goal crease. The 19-year-old got peppered on a nightly basis with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL and still had a .908 save percentage in 39 appearances, and he joined Wheeling at the end of his junior season and appeared in three games, facing 106 shots on goal and recording a .925 save percentage in the process. He turns 20 this year, so there's a good chance he will play in Wheeling next season.
With all this goaltending depth in their system, it seems like the Penguins are pretty set. If things don't work out with Šilovs or Murashov, they have Blomqvist, Gauthier, and D'Aigle behind them. Right now, they have depth at the position to spare.
And that's a good thing because the future success of the franchise depends on at least one of these guys panning out.
Yes, goaltending isn't the end-all, be-all, but it's typically the x-factor in what separates a mere playoff contender from a true Stanley Cup contender. The Penguins don't win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 without the lights-out play of rookie Matt Murray. The Tampa Bay Lightning don't back-to-back in 2020 and 2021 without Andrei Vasilevskiy in his prime as the best goaltender in the league. The Vegas Golden Knights don't win in 2023 without Adin Hill and his .932 save percentage.
The teams with the best goaltending are the teams that are not only able to perenially contend, but also get over the hump and hoist the Stanley Cup. That places an immense amount of expectation and pressure upon the young Penguins' goaltenders, fair or not.
At the end of the day, the biggest factor in whether or not the Penguins and Kyle Dubas will rebuild successfully and contend sustainably lies between the pipes. And teams with a solid tandem have an even better chance at success.
No matter what it entails, the Penguins need to be fully invested in the proper development of their netminders. There is a whole lot of potential, but potential is all it is at this point — and it is up to the organization to give these guys the best chance to succeed and march Pittsburgh back to sustained contention.
The 2026 NHL Draft is quickly approaching, and that means it's time for another Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect profile.
It's also great timing, since the NHL Combine is set to be held in Buffalo starting this Monday and running through Saturday. It will be a great chance for teams to meet with some of the top prospects in the draft and get to know them. Teams will also be able to review players' medical reports.
It's also a chance for teams to kickstart trade conversations since the full offseason is set to get underway in a couple of weeks, but the main order of business is getting to meet with the top prospects.
I kicked things off with defenseman Ryan Lin last week, who would be a really solid pick if he were to fall to No. 22 overall, and we're now shifting to forward Nikita Klepov.
Klepov spent the 2025-26 season with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and had a tremendous campaign, finishing with 37 goals and 97 points in 67 games. It was his first season with the Spirit after spending the 2024-25 season with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers.
Klepov plays on the right wing and the first thing that stands out is his skating. It's extremely powerful and he absolutely flies up the ice once he gets going. He'll also showcase some dangles that players won't see coming and his shiftiness is one of my favorite attributes of his game.
His playmaking skills are through the roof, and he has excellent vision, especially on the power play. His office on the man-advantage is the right circle and made some outstanding passes that led to goals from there this season.
Don't sleep on his one-timer, either. He can really rifle the puck and scored some sick goals from the right circle this season as well, including one against the Flint Firebirds. The Spirit were trailing 3-0 at the time when Klepov passed the puck to the left point before drifting over to his office. He got the puck back a few seconds later and uncorked a one-timer to make it 3-1. The Firebirds' goaltender had no chance on it.
Another example of his nasty one-timer came from the Spirit's game against the Brampton Steelheads. It was a 1-1 game in the second period when Klepov changed that with an unbelievable shot from his office on the power play. The puck went in and out of the net in what felt like a millisecond.
Klepov also isn't afraid to drive to the net and get to the dirty areas. Yes, he does a lot of his best work a bit further out, but he's more than willing to get his hands messy and score/set up some greasy goals.
Outside of his play on the power play and at 5v5, Klepov also showed the ability to play on the penalty kill at times, making some nice shorthanded plays that showcased his speed and deception.
Klepov does a lot right offensively, but I wasn't overly impressed by his two-way game on tape. It definitely needs some improvement, and he'll have the chance to work on that when he plays for Michigan State during the 2026-27 season.
MSU is one of the top college hockey programs in the country, and for good reason. It knows how to churn out some really good NHL players.
Heck, Flyers forward Porter Martone played for MSU during the 2025-26 season, and look how that turned out for them. Martone was fantastic for the Spartans before making his NHL debut at the end of the year, and he helped the Flyers make the playoffs, compiling 10 points in nine games.
Overall, I'd be thrilled if the Penguins had the chance to select Klepov in the first round. He's a hard-working, electric winger with a ton of offensive upside and is still developing. He wouldn't be ready right away like Ben Kindel was this year, but he'd have the chance to crack the NHL roster in a couple of years if everything went right.
Vancouver Canucks prospect Gabriel Chiarot and the Kitchener Rangers have won their third Memorial Cup in franchise history.
After a dominant round-robin that saw them win all three of their matchups against the Everett Silvertips, Chicoutimi Sagueneéns, and Kelowna Rockets, Kitchener advanced to their seventh Memorial Cup Final and took the WHL champion Silvertips down by a score of 6-2. This is Kitchener’s first Memorial Cup win since 2003.
Six different players found the back of the net for the Rangers in today’s win, with goals coming from Luke Ellinas (Ottawa Senators), Dylan Edwards, Jared Woolley (Los Angeles Kings), Jack Pridham (Chicago Blackhawks), Sam O’Reilly (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Christian Humphreys (Colorado Avalanche). On Everett’s side, 2026 draft prospect Matias Vanhanen continued his stretch of solid play by scoring a goal, as did Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear.
Kitchener advanced to the 2026 Memorial Cup after winning the 2026 OHL championship with series wins against the Saginaw Spirit, Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires, and Barrie Colts. During their OHL playoff run, Kitchener did not lose more than one game per series, sweeping both Saginaw and Barrie. The Rangers finished the 2025–26 regular season with the second-best record in the OHL with 101 points (47–14–5–2).
Photo Credit: Steve Dunsmoor-CHL
Chiarot, who was selected 175th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by Vancouver, made an impact in his team’s dominant Memorial Cup run by scoring a goal and an assist in four games. He played on Kitchener’s top-line featuring O’Reilly and Edwards.
"Just the resilience and the belief in this group was unreal. All game, I know they had their moments, had their pressure on us, but we stick to the fight, and we found a way to get it done, and that's what this team's been all about, just finding ways to get it done," Chiarot told The Hockey News post-game.
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