Rob Blake stepped down as GM of the Los Angeles Kings on May 5. Eleven days later, they hired former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland as Blake's replacement. 

On May 22, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Holland intends to be aggressive in this summer's trade and free-agent markets. He believes the new Kings GM could go “big-game hunting” to upgrade their roster following four straight first-round playoff exits to the Oilers. 

The Kings have $21.7 million of projected cap room and 21 active roster players under contract for next season. LeBrun noted they have the cap space to make a big splash in the free-agent pool.  

LeBrun wouldn't be surprised if Holland gets into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs right winger tests the UFA market on July 1. He could pursue a more affordable option like Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets or Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks.

The Hockey News’ Jim Parsons listed Boeser and Marner as targets as well as the Leafs’ John Tavares, Oilers’ Connor Brown and the Florida Panthers’ Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, but he noted there will be a lot of competition for the high-end free agents.

Turning to the Montreal Canadiens, they're expected to pursue a second-line center via trade or free agency following the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

TVA Sports' Tony Marinaro and Jean-Charles Lajoie recently looked at possible UFA options for the Canadiens. They felt Mikael Granlund of the Dallas Stars might be a good fit.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Granlund lacks the size that the Canadiens could seek in a second-line center, However, Marinaro and Lajoie believe he'd be a decent short-term addition. Lajoie recommended signing the 33-year-old Granlund even if the Habs find someone else to center their second line, citing his ability to step up into that role if injuries strike. 

Granlund is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million. He's coming off back-to-back seasons of 60-or-more points following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign with the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins.

In New Jersey, the Devils could move one or two players this summer to free up salary-cap space to address other roster needs. 

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now indicated the no-trade protection for 34-year-old forwards Ondrej Palat and Erik Haula will change on July 1. Palat's drops from a full no-movement clause to a 10-team no-trade list, while Haula's goes from a full no-trade to a six-team no-trade list. 

Haula might be the easiest to move because he has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.125 million. Palat has two years left at $6 million annually. 

Nichols noted the Devils need more scoring, suggesting Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres and Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights as trade targets.

However, the Senators are unlikely to move Batherson and his team-friendly contract, the Sabres are reportedly keen to sign Tuch to an extension, while the Golden Knights probably prefer to retain the 24-year-old Dorofeyev, who tallied 35 goals this season.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins employ Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic as their goalie tandem. However, the duo and Joel Blomqvist (15 games) combined to give up the third-most goals in the NHL in 2024-25. 

Jarry is under contract for three more seasons with a $5.375 million cap hit, while Nedeljkovic will enter the final year of his deal, valued at $2.5 million. Meanwhile, in the system, Joel Blomqvist is an RFA in 2026-27 and will make $886,667 next season.

After the Finnish netminder on the depth chart is Filip Larsson ($775,000) and Russian phenom Sergei Murashov ($861,110). Murashov finished his first season in North America in the ECHL with some time in the AHL, compiling a 19-10-1 record between the two leagues. Finally, Taylor Gauthier, who had an outstanding season in the ECHL, is an RFA. 

Ultimately, the Penguins' future goal is to turn Murashov into their franchise netminder. At 21, he's still not ready to compete in the NHL, unless the organization decides to throw in the towel in 2025-26 in hopes of landing Gavin McKenna.

Realistically, Captain Sidney Crosby would not buy into that plan, which means Pittsburgh should consider revamping its goalie platoon for better success next season.

Considering the shallow depth of available free agent goalies, some intriguing RFA names are in the pool. If the Penguins decide to move on from Jarry, whose buyout would save up to $3.6 million next year, his future is a hot-button topic amongst the fanbase; his potential buyout would free up some cap space to take a flyer on an RFA goalie. 

When looking at the list of RFA goalies, the Penguins would have to take a number if they wanted to offer sheet the Anaheim Ducks' young goalie Lukas Dostal. According to CapWages.com, he's projected to get a salary increase to over $5 million.

Although he's young and talented, Dostal could be looking for a starting role. Despite decent numbers on a bottom team, he may not be the answer, especially if someone wants to offer him an eight-year contract.

After Dostal, there are a handful of potential candidates, like Arvid Soderblom (Chicago), Cayden Primeau (Montreal), Jakub Dobes (Montreal), and Danill Tarasov (Columbus). Still, the best option may be Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues.

If anyone remembers, the Blues stirred the pot last summer by acquiring Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers via an offer sheet, which means someone will be out to return the favor. 

Furthermore, Jordan Binnington is the starter in St. Louis, carrying the team to their 2019 Stanley Cup title. He recently reestablished himself at the 4 Nations Face-off, leading Canada to the championship. So, Hofer becomes expandable with Binnington between the pipes at the right price.

CapWages.com projects Hofer could ink a two-year extension at $2.8 million. As mentioned, if Jarry is bought out, the Penguins would save roughly $3.6 million next season, which is more than enough to get Hofer into black and gold and still have some money left over. Especially with Nedeljkovic potentially coming off the books after next season, his spot can go to Blomqvist or Larsson, who is ready to be a 20-25-game backup. 

Meanwhile, at 24, the Penguins could offer him a four-year deal, giving the organization plenty of time to let Murashov mature in the ECHL and AHL without suffering any significant setbacks at the NHL level. 

Although some in the fanbase may think that another few seasons in the minors will "hold Murashov back," the New York Rangers did not let Igor Shesterkin see any NHL action until he was 24, and at 26, he won the Vezina Trophy. 

Goalies develop at a different pace. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who started to play 50 games at 22, and Connor Hellebuyck, who skated over 50 games at 23. 

At this point, the Penguins need a goalie tandem they can rely on night in and night out. Hofer debuted in 2021-22 and played two games (1-1) before playing in six (3-1-1) in 2022-23. For the past two seasons, he's played 61 games, compiling a 31-20-4 record with a 2.65 GAA, .909 SV%, and two shutouts. 

Outside of his first two games, Hofer has yet to record a sub .900 SV% in any season and continues to lower his GAA from a career-high 3.22 in 2022-23. 

Hofer won't be the long-term solution in the net and does not need a lengthy contract offer, especially since Jarry's five-year deal hasn't aged well. But suppose the goal is to get Murashov ready to take the baton in a couple of seasons. Why not put the Blues in an uncomfortable position with an offer sheet for their number two goalie, giving him a chance to become an NHL starter on a team with a new head coach and a burning desire to return to the postseason?

The 2024-25 season wasn't always easy for veteran winger Tomas Tatar. 

In his first stint with the New Jersey Devils, he found success on the team's top line, playing with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer. He potted 20 goals and 48 points and was an asset to the Devils. 

His second stint was a bit more challenging. 

Under head coach Sheldon Keefe, Tatar spent the majority of the season in the bottom six and found himself scratched at certain points. 

"(It was) tough," he said during his exit interview. "Definitely played a different role than I am used to. The role was not to be productive but to help the team gain momentum. So, something very new for me." 

Appearing in 74 games, Tatar scored seven goals and collected 17 points. 

"It was challenging, for sure, but for this group, I was willing to do no problem," Tatar said of embracing his new role. "Obviously, I have lots of friends, and I do really like it here. That is why I came back to try to help the team." 

Understanding that Tatar, 34, was set to be an unrestricted free agent, many were not expecting him to return to New Jersey. On Tuesday, his future was confirmed as he has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with EV Zug, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

"With his enormous experience from almost 1000 NHL games and his game intelligence, he is an important reinforcement for us at center," said Zug GM Reto Kläy. "In recent years, Tomáš has regularly played on the wing. With us, he will be used as a center."

The veteran has appeared in 927 NHL games, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken. 

The Hockey News wishes Tatar and his family all the best in Switzerland. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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A new patch is going live at 1pm EST/10am PT in NHL 25. 

The update is to add support for upcoming World of Chel and Hockey Ultimate Team live content. 

🛠️An #NHL25 patch will be deployed tomorrow (Tuesday, May 27) at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT.

This update adds support for upcoming HUT and WoC Live content. Server downtime is expected to last up to an hour after the patch.

Please finish any online games before then.

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) May 26, 2025

EA SPORTS NHL warns server downtime could last for up to one hour after the update. Players are advised to finish all live games before 1pm EST/10am PT. 

Players can ask questions or leave comments on the EA NHL 25 Forums here.

Check out Week 1 of the Double Shift Event here. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.       

Oh ah Silfverberg, say oh ah Silfverberg. After 12 seasons in the NHL, Jakob Silfverberg announced his retirement from the NHL and returned to his native Sweden this past season, where he had quite the year. In his return to his boyhood club, the former Anaheim Duck led Brynäs in both goals scored (23) and points (47). He was also fourth in the SHL in both goals and points.

Brynäs finished top of the league in their return to the SHL after being promoted from the HockeyAllsvenskan, their first time outside of the top flight in over 50 years. After taking down Malmö in the quarter-final and making quick work of Skellefteå in the semi-final, they came within two games of winning the SHL Championship in their first year back.

With the series tied at two apiece, Luleå overwhelmed Brynäs with the duo of Pontus Andreasson and Brian O'Neill up front and Frédéric Allard on the backend. Silfverberg had 13 points in 17 playoff games, including two goals in the finals, but it wasn't enough.

Ducks' Silfverberg can be proud of impression he's leftJakob Silfverberg concludes his 12-year NHL career tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Despite the loss in the finals, Silfverberg's performance in his return to the SHL was recognized, as he won the SHL regular season MVP, Swedish Gentleman of the Year (Rinkens Riddare) and Årets schysstaste spelare, the SHL's version of the Lady Byng Trophy, which is voted for by players in the SHL. Silfverberg finished the regular season with zero penalty minutes, an impressive feat.

"I am extremely grateful that I get to coach such a humble and nice player as Jakob Silfverberg," Brynäs head coach Niklas Gällstedt said in a team statement (translated from Swedish).

His first season back in the SHL is almost everything Silfverberg could have asked for. He probably would say he wished that they could have won the league title to top it all off, but it was as perfect a return as it could have been otherwise. Silfverberg was presented with his SHL MVP and schysstaste spelare award by his parents, Christina and Jan-Erik, and was able to celebrate with his wife, Clara, and their two kids.

Silfverberg will play for Brynäs again in 2025-26 after originally signing a two-year deal following the 2023-24 season. He will play alongside Ducks prospect Lucas Petterson, who joins from MoDo. Former Brynäs star Nicklas Bäckström is also rumored to be returning to the team where he began his pro career, much like Silfverberg. Bäckström's contract with the Washington Capitals expires this summer, and while he hasn't played in a game in almost two years, a return home would be an appropriate way to conclude his playing career.

Ducks Prospect Swaps Swedish ClubsLucas Pettersson, a 2024 draft pick by the Ducks, has signed a two-year contract with Brynäs IF in the SHL.

"I think (Petterson is) in a good spot (in Brynäs)," Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden said. "He's going to be well surrounded by Silfverberg for sure."

“I’ve even said it from day one when we moved over,” Silfverberg said in April 2024. “We had a really special year my last year (with Brynäs). We ended up winning the championship with a fairly young team, a lot of guys that I played against in the NHL here and stayed in close touch with. I even said 12 years ago that before I get too old and too slow, I’d like to come back and make a strong push and do this again.”

Featured image caption: Apr 18, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg (33) celebrates with team mates after the Ducks defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Slovak forward Tomáš Tatar, 34, has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with EV Zug, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

“With his enormous experience from almost 1000 NHL games and his game intelligence, he is an important reinforcement for us at center,” said Zug GM Reto Kläy. “In recent years, Tomáš has regularly played on the wing. With us, he will be used as a center.”

Back in early April, Kläy admitted to Swiss media that Tatar was one of the players he planned to pursue this off-season, along with Czech winger Dominik Kubalík. Kubalík signed with Zug a few weeks ago and Kläy emphasized that he will stay on the wing, raising the possibility of him playing together with Tatar on the team’s top line.

The news comes a day after Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström signed a three-year deal with National League rival Lausanne HC.

Erik Brännström Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.

Tatar was a second-round pick, 60th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. He immediately went overseas to play in the AHL and has played in North America ever since.

Tatar has 227 goals and 269 assists for 496 points in 977 NHL regular-season games with the Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken. He also had 13 points in 56 playoff games.

This past season, he had 17 points in 74 games in his second tour of duty with New Jersey.

Dominik Kubalík Finds New Swiss ClubCzech winger Dominik Kubalík, 29, has signed a two-year contract with EV Zug, the National League club announced on Friday.

Internationally, Tatar has represented Slovakia at seven IIHF World Championships and at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He didn’t play for Slovakia at the Worlds this year, but he has stated his desire to play at the 2026 Olympics.

Always one of Switzerland’s big-spending clubs, Zug won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 but results have been disappointing since. And Kläy clearly wants to change that.

In addition to Tatar and Kubalík, Zug has under contract for 2025-26 World Championship MVP goalie Leonardo Genoni, defensemen Raphael Díaz and Gabriel Carlsson and forwards Grégory Hofmann and Fabrice Herzog.

Photo © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images: Tomáš Tatar playing for the New Jersey Devils in 2024-25.

Tomáš Tatar “absolutely” wants to play in Milan 2026 OlympicsTomáš Tatar’s first World Championship was in 2012 and he won a silver medal with the Slovak team. This year was his fifth and second as team captain, but the 33-year-old winger is still searching for his second medal. Slovakia’s tournament came to an end on Thursday with a 6-3 quarterfinal loss to Canada.

Alexander Nikishin is going to be a special player.

Three games into his NHL career and that already feels like a bygone conclusion.

Sure, he was one of the most hyped up prospects in a long time, but there's a huge difference between playing in the KHL and the NHL.

But honestly, based on what we've seen so far, we should perhaps just throw away the 'going to be' part, because this hasn't just been 'playing in the NHL.'

This isn't just some random mid-January game against the Anaheim Ducks, this is the Eastern Conference Final, in do-or-die games, yet Nikishin already like an NHL regular.

The rookie defenseman has played north of 18 minutes in back-to-back games, filling in on the team's top four in the absence of Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker.

He's looked calm, composed and just unfazed by the whole situation.

You'd never guess that he had just three North American games under his belt with no training camp nor preseason experience.

The play he made to spring Logan Stankoven for the game-winning goal in Game 4? Just ridiculous.

An absolute dart from Logan Stankoven 🎯😮‍💨

(via @NHL)pic.twitter.com/h5BywBdntE

— BarDown (@BarDown) May 27, 2025

And just the all around defensive game he showed against the defending Stanley Cup champs has been more than impressive.

"I just like that he's not rattled and that he's just going out there and playing," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Sometimes these young kids come over and come in, even rookies, they don't realize the moment and how big it is. They're just playing hockey. Sometimes it takes a couple years to realize, 'Oh this is pretty important,' you know? He looks like he's unfazed. I don't know. I can't really tell you, but he's doing a great job for us."

It wasn't like it was an immediate fit for Nikishin either, who had to wait several weeks for the chance to make his NHL debut.

He was the first guy to jump into the lineup when Chatfield went down with injury, but in that game against the Washington Capitals, he turned the puck over multiple times and was just constantly in the wrong spots.

"His first game wasn't very positive," Brind'Amour said. "It was a little rough. But now he looked like he's played more than one game in North America."

So what gives?

Well, for one, Nikishin has had plenty of time to learn the systems since coming over to North America in April.

"[Assistant coach Tim Gleason] has worked with him daily on how we want to play," Brind'Amour said. "He knows how to play even with the language issues. He's picking it up really quickly and it's been a month now. He's been here and everyday he's going through stuff. That's really encouraging for an organization standpoint and for us trusting him."

But there's also just the fact that he's had the opportunity to get the butterflies out and now he knows that he's being counted on in an important situation.

And at the end of the day, elite players rise to the occasions.

"I was really proud of how from one game to the next, it changed," Brind'Amour said. "We have a good one there for sure."

Hindsight is 20/20, but with the way Nikishin is playing, it really makes you wonder if he could have made a difference in those first two games.

"We went to him and it was a rough first outing, but obviously he's seizing the moment right now," Brind'Amour said.

"It's a tough time of the year to come in as a rookie and play minutes like that, so it's huge," said Jaccob Slavin. "The games that they played tonight were awesome and I'd say a big congrats to Niki on his first point. That's awesome and happy for him."

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The Florida Panthers are heading back on the road again.

Florida had an opportunity to knock out the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night, but the Cats couldn’t get the job done.

Credit to the Hurricanes, who played their best game of the series while holding the potent Panthers scoreless, winning 3-0 after a couple empty-net goals.

It’s a step in the right direction for Carolina, who still have quite a bit of work to do if they’re going to climb back into this series.

The last time Florida held a 3-0 series lead, they were playing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final a couple weeks later. We’ll see how much they learned from that experience in the coming days.

Let’s get to the Game 4 takeaways:

PANTHERS TRIED TO BE PERFECT

During many of Florida’s offensive zone opportunities, the Panthers were unable to complete some pretty tough cross-zone passes and came up with nothing to show for them.

That was a recurring theme throughout the game, with Carolina doing an excellent job of clogging up the passing lanes while also blocking 15 shots.

When the Panthers try to do too much and come out of their usual fluid game, things can look a little deliberate and disjointed, and that’s what happened at times on Monday.

“We were looking for something, or looking for something better, and you will always play a slow game when you do that,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.

MUCH TO TAKE FROM LOSS

One thing Maurice has said often during his tenure behind Florida’s bench is that you learn far more from a loss than you do from a win.

Well, based off the Panthers performance in Game 4, the team’s collective IQ should be going up by a couple of points.

The night absolutely belonged to Carolina.

They imposed their will, their pace and their style of play on the Panthers during much of the night, and it showed in how ineffective Florida was compared to the rest of the series.

“I am exceptionally happy with the learning opportunity,” said Maurice. “I'm not screwing around with you. I believe there's consistent things in games that we don't love, and you cannot eradicate those. Give Carolina credit, they were quick, they closed the gap, blocked some shots, hustled real hard. They played a great game for them in terms of style, and when I say for them, I mean in terms of the style that they play, I thought they were very consistent with their game plan.”

POWER PLAY STRUGGLES

During the first two games of the series, Florida was lights out when on the man advantage.

The Panthers went 4-for-5 on the power play to start the series, and that’s saying something.

Carolina had the league’s best penalty kill during the regular season, and they kept for the first two rounds of the playoffs, killing off 28 of the 30 power plays they faced.

Well, it appears that the Canes have snapped back into form.

During the two games in Florida, the Panthers were a paltry 0-for-8 on the power play, generating a total of seven shots on goal during those opportunities.

“Our power play right now is slightly disjointed,” said Maurice. “When you lose Sam Reinhart, he’s a really big piece to that, but it has still found a way to get some action and score some goals. We still put good players out there. I also don't think against their kill, that formula of a power play is as important, because their kill is like ours. There's so much pressure there, it's broken play, you might as well just play like it's five on five and see what you come up with.”

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Photo caption: May 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) reaches for the puck during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

With the IIHF Men's World Championship wrapped up - and Canada, shockingly, having lost Thursday to Team Denmark - Pittsburgh Penguins GM and POHO Kyle Dubas can shift his focus from managing Team Canada fully to the coaching search for his NHL club.

With a round of interviews already in the rearview, it's about time for a choice to be made. Dubas said upon Mike Sullivan's departure that a new coach would likely be named in early June.

And, on May 26, a clear frontrunner is seemingly emerging.

Mitch Love - assistant coach for the Washington Capitals - has already spoken with the Penguins and the Seattle Kraken about their head coaching vacancies. Dubas and company seemed to be impressed by Love in his first interview, which means he is likely headed for the next phase.

If the Penguins have the option to hire Love as their head coach - and he's willing to take the job - he's absolutely the right choice.

Love began his coaching career in 2011, when he helmed the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was with the Silvertips until 2018, when he became the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades and led the team to a playoff berth in his first season there. 

Two Names Emerge In Penguins' Head Coaching SearchThe NHL head coaching carousel is beginning to pick up some steam across the league, as the Vancouver Canucks hired Adam Foote, the Anaheim Ducks brought on Joel Quenneville, and the Philadelphia Flyers landed on Rick Tocchet.

He was in Saskatoon for three seasons - compiling a .667 win percentage - before he moved on to the Stockton Heat, who are now the Calgary Wranglers. Leading the Flames' AHL affiliate, this is when Love's coaching resume really solidified itself, as he won Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 and led the team to the ninth-best finish in AHL history in that first season.

His success in Calgary led to him landing a gig with the Capitals as their defensive coach in 2024-25, where he helped maximize the potential of blueliners like Jakob Chychrun, who had a career year with 20 goals and 47 points in 74 games. 

Love seems to check all the boxes. He has experience working with defensemen, and the Penguins' blue line is in dire need of some TLC. His resume spans more than a decade. He's a younger, fresh face at just 40 years old.

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And, perhaps, most importantly, he has a track record of success in developmental leagues, which is something Dubas has specified they would be looking for in a head coach.

“We'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally,” Dubas said after Sullivan's departure. "Sully had that. Sully was in player development with Chicago, he coached in the American League, an [NHL] assistant coach...that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to be developing your own guys."

There is a pretty good chance that Pittsburgh will hire the 23rd head coach in franchise history sometime within the next week. If that happens, don't be surprised if Love's name is the one announced.

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

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EDMONTON – Put the brooms back in the closet, we have a series.

The Edmonton Oilers nearly discovered who they were (potentially) playing in the Stanley Cup Final – should they arrive there themselves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

On Monday night, the Carolina Hurricanes kept their postseason alive with a 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers. They were propelled to victory with goals from Logan Stankoven, Sebastian Aho, and Jordan Staal.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen is in the middle of a Stuart Skinner-esque comeback, earning a shutout on Monday night.

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The Hurricanes have earned themselves another opportunity to keep their season alive, now that the series is at 3-1 in favor of the Panthers.

The Oilers are nowhere near being done with their series. However, with a 2-1 series lead and with the Alberta-based squad controlling every aspect of the game for the majority of the series, playing out the games seems like a formality at this point.

No matter which way the Hurricanes-Panthers series swings, the Oilers will get a rematch. If it’s the Panthers, they will play them for the second straight year for all of the marbles.

NHL Game 3 Highlights | Hurricanes vs. Panthers - May 21, 2025Logan Stankoven’s fifth of the playoffs turned out to be the game-winning goal before the Carolina Hurricanes added two empty net goals to win 3-0 over the F...

On the flip side, facing the Hurricanes presents another retribution opportunity – and a longer gestating one. 

The Hurricanes and Oilers met in the 2006 Finals, with the Oilers coming up short and the Hurricanes taking Lord Stanley’s Cup home. It would be a series with a longer history, but perhaps less intensity.

Either way, Oilers fans will need to wait at least one more game of the Eastern Conference Final to play out to see a clearer picture of the final round.

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Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Michael Augello and Katie Gaus react to the Carolina Hurricanes saving their season with a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 Monday night. The Panthers now lead the series 3-1.

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Promo image credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

We’re not done quite yet.

The Florida Panthers couldn’t close out the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night, falling in Game 4 to the Carolina Hurricanes by a 1-0 final score.

Carolina played perhaps their strongest opening period of the series, outshooting Florida 11-7 and holding a 9-3 edge in scoring chances, but neither team was able to solve the opposing goaltender.

A quick transition play midway through the game brought us the night’s first goal.

Catching Florida in a line change, Alexander Nikishin found a cutting Logan Stankoven, who skated into the Panthers zone and beat Sergei Bobrovsky over the blocker to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with 9:15 left in the middle frame.

It was the first time in the series that Carolina held a lead.

Moments after a Panthers power play expired during the third period, the Hurricanes thought they took a 2-0 lead on a goal from Mark Jankowski.

Florida challenged the play for it being offside, and replay showed that the play was in fact not legal, so it remained a one-goal lead for Carolina.

Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal added empty-net goals in the final minutes, and that would end up being more than enough for Frederik Andersen, who kept the Panthers off the scoreboard and forced the series back to Raleigh.

On to Game 5.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Florida went 0-for-4 on the power play, while their penalty kill went 3-for-3.

Stankoven became the fifth rookie in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score a goal in an elimination game.

Alexander Nikishin became the sixth defenseman in the expansion era to record his first career point in an elimination game.

The Panthers are now 1-4 under Paul Maurice when holding a 3-0 series lead. 

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Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Scott Morrow (56) celebrate after scoring a goal during the second period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will reflect on how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, May 26, Pittsburgh has compiled a 4-3 record in seven games on this date.

• 1992 - Game 1 Win vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5-4)
• 1995 - Game 4 Loss vs. New Jersey Devils (2-1 OT)
• 1996 - Game 4 Win vs. Florida Panthers (2-1)
• 2008 - Game 2 Loss vs. Detroit Red Wings (3-0)
• 2009 - Game 4 Win vs. Carolina Hurricanes (4-1)
• 2016 - Game 7 Win vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1)
• 2021 - Game 6 Loss vs. New York Islanders (5-3)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

May 26, 1992 - The Penguins rally from a 3-0 first-period deficit to take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final thanks to four unanswered goals in the second and third periods, led by Mario Lemieux's two, including the game winner with 13 seconds left. Meanwhile, Ron Francis had two assists, and Rick Tocchet had a goal and an assist. 

May 26, 2008 - As the Red Wings shut out the Penguins for the second consecutive game to begin the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, Maxime Talbot establishes a new career-high with 14 penalty minutes, all in the third period, during the 3-0 loss. Eight players took penalties, with Gary Roberts also contributing 14 towards the team total of 46.

Should The Penguins Target Dallas Stars' RFA Forward?Ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency, the Pittsburgh Penguins - in addition to hiring a new head coach - figure to be busy.

May 26, 2009 - Talbot helps the Penguins sweep the Hurricanes with three points in a 4-1 victory in Game 4. It was the only time he'd record three points in a playoff game. Moreover, Sidney Crosby had two helpers in the win. 

May 26, 2016 - Bryan Rust (two goals) and Evgeni Malkin (two assists) help Pittsburgh eliminate Tampa Bay in Game 7 at CONSOL Energy Center. 

So far, here in the roaring 20s, the Ottawa Senators' first-round picks at the NHL Draft have been all or nothing. They’ve either landed in the top 10 or haven’t had a first-round pick at all.

In 2020, the Senators had three first-rounders, including two in the top five, where they landed franchise pillars, Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson. The following year, they picked 10th overall and selected Tyler Boucher, who had 10 points in 47 AHL games this season.

Sens Headlines:

Carter Yakemchuk Ranked 26th Overall In Magazine's New NHL Prospect Rankings
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Ottawa Senators Prospect Parts Ways With Organization And Signs Back Home In Sweden

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In 2022 and 2023, Ottawa didn’t have a first-rounder, having traded those picks in separate deals to acquire Alex DeBrincat and Jakob Chychrun. Then in 2024, they returned to the top 10, drafting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk at 7th overall.

This year, it’s a happy medium, with the Senators holding the 21st pick. It won’t be the first time Ottawa has picked at No. 21. This will actually be the fourth time, and in each previous instance, the Senators ended up with an NHL player. 

Anton Volchenkov – 2000

We’re nearing the 25th anniversary of the Senators drafting Russian defenseman Anton Volchenkov at No. 21 in 2000. Known for his fearless shot-blocking and physical play, Volchenkov debuted with Ottawa two years later and spent seven seasons with the team in its glory years.

In 2010, he signed a six-year, $25 million deal with the New Jersey Devils. But with a lot of wear and tear on his body, the Devils bought him out four years in. He wrapped up his NHL career with the Nashville Predators in 2014–15.

Stefan Noesen – 2011

Just like in 2020, the Senators had three first-round picks in 2011. They took Mika Zibanejad at No. 6, Matt Puempel at No. 24, and in between, they selected Plymouth Whalers forward Stefan Noesen at No. 21. Two years later, Noesen was part of a trade package sent to Anaheim—along with Jakob Silfverberg and a first-round pick—for Bobby Ryan.

Noesen developed slowly, not becoming a full-time NHL player until 2017–18 with the New Jersey Devils, where he scored 27 points in 72 games. After bouncing around as a depth player for a few more years after that, he found his stride with the Carolina Hurricanes for two years, and just had a career-best season back with New Jersey at age 32, scoring 22 goals and 41 points in 78 games.

Colin White – 2015

Three picks after selecting Thomas Chabot, the Senators drafted center Colin White at No. 21. The two quickly became close—roommates and friends—with identical birthdays (January 30, 1997). Seen as part of Ottawa’s core, both signed long-term contracts in the offseason in 2019.

While Chabot’s deal is too pricey at $8 million, White’s six-year, $28.5 million deal became a much bigger issue. Just three years into the deal, the Senators bought him out. Under the terms of the buyout, Ottawa will be paying him $875,000 annually for each of the next three seasons. In the meantime, he's a half-decent AHL scorer who wasn't able to crack the lineup of the San Jose Sharks, the NHL's worst team. White will be a UFA on July 1st.

Sharks To Sign Former First-Round Pick To NHL DealThe San Jose Sharks are in the process of converting forward Colin White's contract to an NHL deal.

The general managers of the past – the Twenty One Pilots – were Marshall Johnston (Volchenkov) and Bryan Murray (Noesen and White). This year, it's Steve Staios.

Staios and the Senators still have work to do on the roster, both among their top-six forwards and on the blue line. Since so many teams tend to prioritize forwards early in the draft, and considering that Volchenkov remains their best historical pick at No. 21, perhaps it’s a sign that it might be a good point in the draft to look to the blue line again.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

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The Edmonton Oilers have been thriving in the current Stanley Cup playoffs, taking a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference final series against the Dallas Stars. But for as good as the Oilers have looked, they could be even better if veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm returns to the lineup this week.

It’s still undecided if Ekholm will play in Tuesday’s Game 4 against the Stars, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday, but he remains day-to-day, meaning he could play on Thursday as well.

Edmonton has been without Ekholm’s services since the second week of April, nursing an injury that has hampered him for months. But in Ekholm’s absence, the Oilers have managed not only to survive but to put themselves in a position to add more or less a trade deadline-type asset who adds the type of physical, high-panic-threshold presence any true Cup contender needs at this time of year.

The way things are shaking out, Ekholm could be the final puzzle piece that puts the Oilers over the top and into the winner’s circle over either the Florida Panthers or Carolina Hurricanes in the Cup final. 

When this writer made his Western final prediction, we noted there was very little separating the Stars and Oilers. Through three games, that’s the way the series has played out, with Edmonton winning Games 2 and 3 to steal home-ice advantage from Dallas. We believed another returning veteran defenseman – Stars star Miro Heiskanen – would be one of the difference-makers in Dallas’ favor, but the Oilers have been able to pile up goals on Dallas netminder Jake Oettinger despite Heiskanen being in the lineup.

Ekholm’s experience and veteran know-how are highly valuable, and his ability to eat up major minutes – he averaged 22:12 of ice time this regular season, and he’s averaged 23:42 in 112 career playoff games – will have a terrific ripple effect on what the Oilers can do the rest of the way.

If Ekholm does get back in the lineup this week, life will get considerably more difficult for Stars players who enter Edmonton’s defensive zone. Ekholm’s 6-foot-5 frame and willingness to play a robust physical game will benefit the Oilers. 

The 35-year-old Swede is about to enter the final year of his contract, meaning there’s going to be some urgency to his game. Elite NHL teams want to have players who seize the moment, and after so much time on the sidelines, Ekholm should come into this series knowing how precious these opportunities really are. So, imagining he’s going to ratchet up his game isn’t at all a stretch.

The Stars are a very good bounce-back squad, so the Oilers are far from out of the woods in this Western final showdown. But the emotional and structural boost they could get from a returning Ekholm can’t be overstated. 

Ekholm is a calming influence and an experienced contributor who isn’t going to mess around once he does get into game action. Edmonton will need all hands on deck if they’re to win this year’s Cup, but so long as Ekholm does what he normally does when he’s healthy, the Oilers are in a good spot.

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