DENVER — The NHL Coaches’ Association said it is closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights have denied multiple teams permission to speak with him about working for them.
Cassidy was fired in late March and still is under contract through next season, so anyone wishing to interview him must get permission from the Golden Knights, according to league rules.
“It is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities,” the Coaches’ Association said in a statement. “It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.”
Vegas reportedly has not allowed Pacific Division rivals Edmonton and Los Angeles to talk to Cassidy when asked since their seasons ended. Word of the Oilers’ interest in Cassidy leaked before they fired Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit.
It was not clear if teams in the Eastern Conference or elsewhere in the West sought or received permission to interview him. General manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed teams have asked for permission to talk to Cassidy.
“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said at a news conference ahead of Game 1 of the West final at the Avalanche. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this, as well.”
Cassidy, who just turned 61, guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, helped Boston reach the final in 2019 and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the pandemic shortened ’19-20 season. He was an assistant on Canada’s staff at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
The Montreal Canadiens are one of the four teams still playing hockey as the calendar inches closer to June. While that is quite a surprise for a team that nobody saw as a contender yet, it’s even more surprising when you factor in the fact that their top line has been neutralized throughout the first two rounds.
In 14 games, Nick Suzuki has a total of 13 points, but eight were scored on the power play, while both Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield have nine points, but only one at even strength for the captain’s wingers. What’s even more worrying is that the three first-line forwards are part of a select club of only five players on the Canadiens’ roster who have a negative differential alongside Noah Dobson and Joe Veleno. Not only are they not producing at even strength, but they are getting scored on.
Despite having four power-play goals in 14 games, Slafkovsky’s performance has been largely underwhelming. In fact, since the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the power forward has not really looked like himself. The punch he took from Brandon Hagel or the hit that obliterated him from Max Crozier might have something to do with it. It looks like he’s playing injured, and as the Canadiens get ready to take on the well-oiled scoring machine that is the Carolina Hurricanes, they need to find a way to get their top players going.
Throughout the second round, one player looked like he was slowly finding his footing in the playoffs: Ivan Demidov. The Russian rookie has seven points in 14 games, but he has looked increasingly threatening of late; five of his points came in the last five games. He might not have gotten an assist on Alex Newhook’s series-winning goal in overtime. Still, it was his forecheck and active stick that helped the Canadiens regain puck possession and allowed Alexandre Carrier to send Newhook on his way to score the most important goal of his career thus far.
The 20-year-old rookie is also quite the playmaker and having him on Caufield’s opposite wing might be a good way to get the sniper the puck in dangerous areas more often. That could allow Caufield to finally get going at even strength in these playoffs. Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Demidov all had five points in three games against the Canes this season, but based on recent performance and the fact that the top line has been ineffective in these playoffs, it could be time for St-Louis to give a boost to his top line.
The first game of this third-round series will be a pivotal one. The Canes have been off for 11 days, while the Habs are just coming off an intense series against the Buffalo Sabres in which they had to dig deep. In the long run, the rest could come in handy for the Canes, but early in the series, they might need to get rid of some rust, and Montreal needs to take advantage of that.
HAGEL AND SLAFKOVSKY DROP THE GLOVES AND HAGEL DROPS SLAF WITH A SINGLE RIGHT 😱👊 pic.twitter.com/fuTEJTspLb
It's time to start handing out hardware in the NHL as the playoffs have reached the conference finals.
The Prince of Wales Trophy and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl — and more important a spot in the Stanley Cup Final — are on the line as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals while the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche battle in the Western Conference finals.
The Canadiens and Hurricanes have taken just about opposite paths to the East finals. Carolina has played just eight games this postseason, becoming the first team to sweep its first two series since the first round went to best-of-seven in 1987. The Habs enter having played the most possible games (14), fresh off a second consecutive Game 7 win (this time in OT).
Out West it's a battle of heavyweights, with the 2022 champions (Avalanche) and 2023 champions (Golden Knights) squaring off. Will the Avalanche, the NHL's best team in 2025-26, continue their march?
USA TODAY Sports' NHL experts make their predictions for the conference finals:
Eastern Conference finals predictions: Hurricanes vs. Canadiens
Kevin Skiver: Hurricanes in 5. The Habs deserve a ton of credit for what they've done. Montreal brings its 14 playoff games so far up against Carolina's eight, with the Hurricanes having swept their first two series. It's a question of rest vs. rust, one as old as time. But the 'Canes benefit from their extended break and take down the team that has proved to be the most fun to watch this postseason.
Jace Evans: Canadiens in 6. It is perhaps ill-advised to pick against a team that has literally not lost a game yet in the playoffs, but I picked the Canadiens to reach the Stanley Cup Final before the playoffs began and I'm staying on this magic ride. They are young, but they have the skill to hang with the Hurricanes. And they appear to have the goaltending.
Mike Brehm: Hurricanes in 6. The Canadiens will be a lot tougher opponent for the Hurricanes than the Senators and Flyers, but Carolina's sweeps gave the team a chance to rest up any injuries. Montreal has played two seven-game series. A rested Hurricanes team will prevail because it will be able to continue its high-energy game.
Western Conference finals predictions: Avalanche vs. Golden Knights
Kevin Skiver: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights took down a few upstart teams in Utah and Anaheim, but now they run into a team that is shaping up to be as much a force of nature as its namesake. Colorado is back in the conference finals for the first time since 2022, and has cruised past the Kings and Wild. Jared Bednar's Avs get past the Golden Knights, and Vegas enters the offseason with a choice to make on John Tortorella.
Jace Evans: Avalanche in 6. When they're not preventing their former coach from interviewing with other teams or skirting league media rules, the Golden Knights are pretty good at hockey! I think the Avs are just a cut above, though. Colorado is 8-1 these playoffs and what's been most impressive is it's not just the big guns getting it done; 17 different Avalanche players have scored in their nine playoff games.
Mike Brehm: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights have the playoffs' leading scorer (Mitch Marner) and goal scorer (Pavel Dorofeyev), but the Avalanche have the best remaining player in Nathan MacKinnon and scoring depth throughout the lineup. Colorado has won eight of nine games with a seemingly banged-up Cale Makar limited to five points.
When it comes to the first round of the NHL Draft next month, the Senators are in “just glad to be here” mode.
After the botched communications on their 2021 Evgenii Dadonov trade, the Senators were planning to give up a first-round pick this summer. But the NHL relented and returned it to them in mid-March, with some conditions. The biggest was that they would have to select dead last, no matter what place they finish.
Normally, that would be a cause for celebration because drafting 32nd overall means you just won the Stanley Cup.
Senators winger Drake Batherson says it would be nice if he's able to get an extension done this summer.
But the Senators’ fate this season wasn’t quite that glorious. They were swept in Round 1, scoring just five goals in the process. So there is work to be done, and another first-round pick, as late as it is, certainly cannot hurt.
It also adds at least some intrigue to the draft for Senators fans. Before the NHL's change of heart, the Senators didn't have a pick until the third round.
So let's glance at what the 32nd pick might get them.
In his past two drafts, the first of his NHL GM career, Steve Staios has opted for defencemen in Carter Yakemchuk (2024, seventh overall) and Logan Hensler (2025, 23rd overall).
As most GMs will tell you, they usually don't try to draft for need because their biggest need usually won't be filled by an 18-year-old who was just chosen 32nd overall. He’s probably 2-4 years away from the NHL, if he gets there at all. And who knows what your NHL needs will look like by then?
So, once Gary Bettman announces you're on the clock, the simplest and smartest way to handle things, at least in the early rounds, is to draft the best player available.
If you cover or cheer for a team with a top-10 pick, projecting players they might pick is a lot easier because you can probably hone in on 5-8 guys. But the deeper you go, the more things morph into a total crapshoot.
Elite Prospects not only lists the rankings of some of the top draft analysts in the game, including our own Ryan Kennedy and Tony Ferrari, but EP also puts everyone’s lists together to formulate consolidated rankings. So just for fun, and with a big tip of the cap to Elite Prospects, here are five players who might be available to the Senators.
These are the players they ranked 30-34, all based on a consensus of the experts.
30 William Håkansson (D), Luleå HF, SHL
Jan 5, 2026; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Sweden forward Jack Berglund (26) and defensemen William Hakansson (19) hug after defeating Czechia in the final of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, the left-shot defender is more of a shutdown defenceman, and Staios is fond of those. He played 22 games as an 18-year-old in the top Swedish men’s league this season. Håkansson also won gold with Team Sweden at the 2026 World Juniors.
31 Maddox Dagenais, C, Québec Remparts
Dagenais played for Team Canada at the U18s last month. What’s not to like about a 6-foot-4 forward who skates well, puts up a point a game in the Q, and plays a highly physical game? Oh, and his dad, Pierre, played in the NHL, and the Sens love those NHL bloodlines.
32 Liam Ruck (F), Medicine Hat Tigers
Falling right on the consensus number 32 ranking, Ruck put up 45 goals and 104 points with Medicine Hat this season. At 6 feet and 176 pounds, he can obviously produce offence, but he's also bursting with hockey IQ when he doesn't have the puck. And hey, if the Sens miss out on Liam, they can always grab his twin brother and teammate, Markus, who had 108 points for the Tigers this season. Markus is currently ranked 44th.
33 Nikita Shcherbakov (D), Salavat Yulaev Ufa
The puck-moving Shcherbakov appeared in seven KHL games this season. Based on a viewing of his highlights at the lower levels, if you can picture Thomas Chabot at 18, but now imagine him being 6-foot-5, Shcherbakov plays the game a little like that, including the lack of physical play. Despite his height, Shcherbakov is still fairly light and will need to pack on some pounds.
34 Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms
Hextall put up 58 points in 59 games in the USHL this season. He is 6 feet, 185 pounds, skates well, and brings an excellent, quick-release shot to the table. Hextall was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and he tied for the team lead with seven assists.
So there they are, just for fun, the kinds of players that might be available to the Senators at 32 next month.
The Hockey News has opened its full archive to subscribers, giving fans access to 76 years of hockey history, feature stories, and unforgettable moments. In the latest issue, we rank the NHL’s top 100 players, with Detroit Red Wings star winger Alex DeBrincat coming in at No. 65th overall. Here is a free preview featuring players ranked 59 through 65.
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Top 100 NHL Players: 59-65 - Apr. 17 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 10
59 NICO HISCHIER
POS: C | AGE: 27 | LY: 67
His offense may have taken a hit this season, but Hischier has always been known for his 200-foot game. The Devils’ captain remains a stalwart on the penalty kill, and his faceoff prowess was impressive – he took 200 more draws than anyone else in the NHL and won 56 percent of them.
60 BROCK FABER
POS: D | AGE: 23 | LY: 73
Offense drives the Norris discussion, and Faber notched career-best goal and point totals, but his value exists not in what appears on the scoresheet but what is absent from it: the opposition. His eight-year, $68-million contract is already a steal, and he’s only completed the first season of the pact.
61 BRANDON HAGEL
POS: LW | AGE: 27 | LY: 50
Undrafted in the WHL and a sixth-round pick in the NHL, Hagel has willed himself into being a crucial all-zones player who has a soft scoring touch and a surprising physical game. But Hagel’s worth is in his ability to play anywhere in the lineup and on either special-teams unit.
62 JACKSON LACOMBE
POS: D | AGE: 25 | LY: NR
LaCombe took another step after signing his monster contract extension close to the start of the season. On an improving Ducks squad, the 25-year-old is now wearing an ‘A’ as part of the leadership group. Logging more than 24 minutes a game, he cracked a career-high 50 points in his third full campaign.
Keller is helping the Mammoth write the first chapter in their history, and that includes extending his lead atop the franchise’s all-time scoring register. In two seasons in Utah, he’s accumulated over 40 percent of the total points he posted during his seven-plus years in the desert as an Arizona Coyote.
64 ADAM FOX
POS: D | AGE: 28 | LY: 40
The idea Fox isn’t still an elite offensive D-man is bizarre. On a bad Rangers team, he rocked a 55 percent Corsi rating at all strengths (best on the squad), and New York was outscoring opponents by a wide margin when he was on the ice in 5-on-5 situations. Injuries hurt his totals, but he still averaged a point per game.
65 ALEX DEBRINCAT
POS: LW | AGE: 28 | LY: 72
There were serious doubts whether DeBrincat, who ranks second all-time in goals by an American-born OHLer, had a game that would translate to the NHL, but he has continued to defy critics with season after season of elite production. Although skating is not his forte, he’s smart and fast enough to find the open areas.
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World Championships: Tomas Holmstrom get a goal and an assist (Emil Heineman two assists) in Sweden’s loss to the Czech Republic. [Isles] They next take on Slovakia, while the U.S. and Danny Nelson Germany.
Anders Lee discusses his program awarding scholarships to high school students who help cancer patients. [Isles]
Stan Fishler describes Brock Nelson as a “shadow star.” [NHL]
Elsewhere
As the conference finals begin, with the Avalanche and Hurricanes each looking to extend incredible runs. [NHL]
Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmons faced the music, sort of, coming out with statements acknowledging team and John Tortorella fault for not bothering to speak after they beat the Ducks to advance. He also said correct, they have not granted permission to anyone to speak to Bruce Cassidy because it would disrupt their “focus” in the playoffs. You know, it would be a distraction otherwise… [Sportsnet]
The new Canucks regime fired Adam Foote; Manny Malhotra seems to be a front-runner to replace him. [Sportsnet]
The Devils aren’t firing Sheldon Keefe though. [Sportsnet]
Here are the compensation levels for those RFA offer sheets you swear the Isles should make. [Sportsnet]
The Montreal Canadiens head south to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at the Lenovo Center on Thursday, May 21.
My top Canadiens vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks expect Montreal starter Jakub Dubes to face all kinds of rubber from Carolina in the series opener.
Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 1 prediction
Canadiens vs Hurricanes best bet: Jakub Dobes Over 28.5 saves (-105)
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes sports a solid .910 save percentage with 12.17 goals saved above expected across his 14 postseason starts, and he’s about to be busier than ever in Game 1.
The Carolina Hurricanes have recorded a playoff-high 30.9 shots per 60 minutes at five-on-five while ranking second in Corsi For percentage, and they also finished the regular season with the second-most shots per game (32.2) and highest CF% at 5-on-5.
So, with Montreal finishing 23rd in CF% at 5-on-5 during the regular season and now sitting 13th in the metric among the 16 postseason teams, Dobes is set to face more than enough rubber to record 29 or more saves in the series opener.
Montreal linemates Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook tilted the ice in their favor in Round 2 with a 58.2% shot rate at 5-on-5 while combining for 37 shots. Additionally, Demidov recorded two or more in four of seven games, and Newhook had at least two shots six times.
The Carolina Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 25 games (+14.40 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 1
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, Sportsnet
Canadiens vs Hurricanes latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Buffalo Sabres are entering the off-season with multiple pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Logan Stanley is among them.
With the Sabres having several left-shot defensemen and Stanley being scratched multiple times during the playoffs, there is a chance that he won't be brought back by Buffalo.
Due to this, let's look at three teams that could target Stanley if he ends up hitting the free-agent market on July 1.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks could be a team to watch when it comes to Stanley this summer. It is no secret that San Jose needs to boost their blueline, and they are entering the off-season with several pending UFA defensemen. Because of this, it would not be surprising if they tried to sign Stanley this off-season. They need more toughness on their blueline.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins should be looking to improve the left side of their defense this off-season. If they signed Stanley, he would have the potential to be a nice addition to both their bottom pairing and penalty kill. Furthermore, at 27 years old, Stanley would be a good fit on a Penguins club that is focused on the future.
Winnipeg Jets
Could the Jets look to reunite with Stanley this off-season? The possibility should not be ruled out. The 6-foot-7 defenseman thrived this season with Winnipeg before being traded to Buffalo, as he posted nine goals and 21 points in 59 games. With this, it would be understandable if the Jets tried to lure their 2016 first-round pick back to Winnipeg if he hits the market.
There are difficult, dubious contract negotiations, and then there are contract negotiations where the hardest part is figuring out how long you want the partnership to last.
For the Philadelphia Flyers and Trevor Zegras, this offseason feels much closer to the latter.
A year ago, the trade that brought Zegras to Philadelphia carried more intrigue than certainty. The talent was obvious, but so was the inconsistency. Around the league, many voices debated whether he was a misunderstood offensive creator trapped in a stagnant environment or a player whose flashy skill set would always outweigh his overall impact. The Flyers believed they could unlock something more complete.
What they ended up discovering was not only a highly productive offensive player, but someone who fit the emotional identity of the organization far better than many expected.
Now, after a season in which Zegras became one of the defining personalities of the Flyers’ resurgence, the organization arrives at a critical but relatively straightforward piece of business: giving him a contract that will solidify his place in Philadelphia in the years to come.
Trevor Zegras on his #Flyers contract extension: “I love playing here, I love the fans, I love our group. I want to be here for a long time, so hopefully that can get worked out over the next couple of months.”
That number might have once felt aggressive to some outside observers who viewed Zegras primarily through the lens of inconsistency or highlight-reel reputation, but the 25-year-old has proven that he is so much more than the injuries and flashiness that defined his early NHL years. When evaluating what he became for the Flyers this season, and what he projects to become entering his prime, it starts to look not only reasonable, but smart.
Because this was not simply a “good statistical season.”
This was the season where Zegras matured into an undeniable foundational piece.
He finished the year as one of the Flyers’ most dynamic offensive drivers, producing in all situations while becoming increasingly trusted in difficult minutes. More importantly, his game evolved far beyond the perception that has followed him since entering the NHL.
The offense is still the headline. It always will be.
Few players in hockey manipulate space the way Zegras does. He changes defensive posture simply by touching the puck. Defenders back off half a stride because they are worried about being embarrassed. Penalty killers hesitate because they know he can thread passes through seams that most players do not even recognize. That hesitation matters at the NHL level. It creates openings that are invisible in the box score but fundamental to offense.
What made Zegras especially valuable to the Flyers, though, was how his creativity complemented the team’s overall structure instead of disrupting it.
Under Rick Tocchet, the Flyers built an identity around pace, layered pressure, and relentless support. Zegras could have been an awkward stylistic fit in theory—a high-risk offensive player on a team obsessed with detail. Instead, he became proof that skill and structure are not mutually exclusive.
His transition play was essential to Philadelphia’s offense all season. The Flyers are not a team loaded with pure one-on-one offensive creators. They generate much of their attack through pressure, retrievals, and layered movement. Zegras gave them something different: controlled entries with possession, east-west playmaking, and the ability to manufacture offense when structure alone was not enough.
That matters enormously in playoff hockey, where systems tighten and teams eventually need players capable of creating something out of nothing. And with the Flyers establishing that playoffs are no longer a lofty, just-out-of-reach goal, that is a key piece of Zegras' value.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras (46). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Even during stretches where the offense cooled, Zegras remained impactful because of how much defensive attention he demanded. Opponents tracked him differently, and matchups shifted around him. That is star gravity, even when the scoring totals fluctuate.
And importantly for the Flyers, his growth away from the puck was real.
He competed harder along walls. He tracked with more consistency through the neutral zone. He became more engaged physically than he was earlier in his career. Tocchet’s staff pushed him relentlessly on details, a coaching style that Zegras welcomed with open arms.
The Flyers are building a culture that values coachability almost as much as talent. Zegras could have bristled under that environment. Instead, he leaned into it, even asked for it. Tocchet has repeatedly emphasized how much communication exists between coaches and players, and Zegras himself became one of the clearest examples of that relationship working. He sought out video sessions, asked questions, wanted to understand the “why” behind adjustments instead of simply being told what to do.
In Flyers exit interviews, Zegras highlighted how much he worked at becoming a more engaged player to shed the misconceptions of him being an "Instagram hockey player."
"I think that was definitely something that me and Tocc had talked about before the year," he said. "My goal and mindset was just to come in and be coachable wherever they wanted me to play. I did the best of my ability, whether it was the wing or center, whatever it was."
Why the Flyers Should Want Long-Term Security
The salary cap is rising. Young top-six forwards are becoming more expensive every year. Waiting rarely makes elite offensive talent cheaper.
If the Flyers bridge Zegras again—something in the three- or four-year range—they would essentially be betting against their own development process. They would be acknowledging uncertainty about a player who increasingly looks central to everything they are becoming offensively.
A long-term extension now allows them to buy prime years before the market fully explodes.
And make no mistake: if Zegras continues progressing under Tocchet while playing meaningful playoff hockey in Philadelphia, his value is only going up.
There is also the broader organizational picture. The Flyers are no longer simply trying to accumulate young talent for later down the line. They're putting the league on notice now, which also means that they are transitioning into the far more complicated phase of a rebuild: determining which players are pillars and which players are complementary.
Zegras looks like a pillar. Not necessarily because he is arguably the best player on the roster today, but because of the dimensions he adds that are difficult to replicate.
He brings skill, pace, and offensive unpredictability. He is a power play asset, and is growing into a versatile player that can handle the responsibilities of being a winger or a center (a position Danny Briere acknowledged the Flyers still need bodies to fill).
Away from the ice, Zegras also brings personality, marketability, and energy. In the age of social media and for an organization like the Flyers who are building back a great relationship with their fanbase, those qualities are vital.
Philadelphia fell back in love with hockey this season, and Zegras became one of the faces of that emotional reconnection, in part because being a Flyer helped him fall back in love with the game too.
During Flyers exit interviews, he said of the change of scenery from Anaheim to Philadelphia, "It was big for me. Having that excitement about the game was great. Having a passion for winning and success as a team was big, and I think a lost a little bit of that [with Anaheim]. The drive and passion to win, being a really good team—in my opinion, we definitely had a great, successful season."
Fans do not merely appreciate him; they engage with him. Xfinity Mobile Arena is crawling with jerseys emblazoned with 46 on the back on any given game day. Clips of his plays circulate constantly online. National broadcasts gravitate toward him. He is charismatic without feeling manufactured, confident without feeling detached.
Eagles Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox is in the building! He's repping the #Flyers in a Trevor Zegras jersey. Naturally, Eagles chants follow.
Some stars feel marketed into relevance, but Zegras feels naturally magnetic. For a franchise trying to fully reestablish itself nationally after years of inconsistency, that matters commercially and culturally, and the Flyers know it.
Why the Number Works for Both Sides
An $8 million cap hit positions Zegras appropriately within both his current value and future projection.
It acknowledges that he is not yet a perennial 100-point superstar, but it also recognizes that high-end offensive centers and play-driving forwards entering their prime years simply cost money now.
From Zegras’ perspective, the deal offers life-changing security while still allowing him to cash in significantly before the end of his career. From the Flyers’ perspective, it provides cost certainty through what should be the most productive stretch of his NHL life.
And stylistically, there is reason to believe his game will age well.
Players built entirely around speed can decline abruptly. Players built entirely around finesse can disappear physically in playoff environments. Zegras’ value increasingly comes from processing speed, spatial manipulation, and creativity under pressure. Those traits tend to sustain themselves longer.
Most importantly, though, the Flyers finally look like a place where Zegras can become the best version of himself. That was not always guaranteed.
Some players need structure. Some need freedom. The challenge for organizations is identifying which balance unlocks growth. Philadelphia appears to have found it with Zegras. Tocchet has demanded accountability without suffocating creativity. Veterans like Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim have helped stabilize the room around younger personalities. And Zegras, for perhaps the first time in his NHL career, genuinely looked settled.
Philadelphia Flyers forwards Trevor Zegras (46) and Owen Tippett (74) celebrate the Flyers clinching a playoff spot. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Comfortable players usually become better players, which is why this negotiation should not drag unnecessarily.
The Flyers spent years searching for players capable of changing the emotional temperature of games and seasons. Trevor Zegras became one of those players this year—not without flaws, but undeniably. You do not spend years rebuilding only to hesitate when you finally identify a cornerstone worth building around.
"I would love that," Zegras said of contract talks. "I would love to be here for a long time... I love playing here. I love the fans. I love the group that we have. I hope that that happens over the next couple of months."
Bill Zonnon extended his goal-streak to three games, matching the number of games he has suited up in the AHL to help the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins win the pivotal Game 3 in their best-of-five series against Springfield last night. Here was the Pens’ lineup
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 19, 2026
Rutger McGroarty opened the scoring, notching his second goal of the playoffs in the final minute of the first period. McGroarty jumped out on a shorthanded breakaway and made it count to give WBS the lead.
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 19, 2026
The score would remain that way until the third period until Boko Imama (!!) made a beautiful pass over for Zonnon to finish and extend WBS’s lead to 2-0 with 14 minutes to go.
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 20, 2026
For a while this game looked similar to Game 2 in this series, where WBS took a multi-goal lead and Springfield then made a desperate late comeback effort. The Thunderbirds scored with 3:39 remaining to drop the score to 2-1. They kept pushing as time wound down but in Game 3 there would be no overtime, Wilkes hangs on for a 2-1 win. Sergei Murashov stops 27 of 28 with another strong performance, especially down the stretch in the final segment.
WBS will have the opportunity to close the series out and move onto the winner of Toronto/Cleveland by winning Game 4 tomorrow night.
Up at the NHL level, the Penguins have to be excited to see another strong night from so many important players. Murashov is showing mastery of the AHL level (1.82 GAA, .942 save% in the playoffs) to suggest he’s ready for NHL action. McGroarty scoring while shorthanded gives a reminder that he should be in the conversation for a spot next season. Zonnon is still playing AHL fourth line in his very first taste of pro hockey, but it’s becoming harder to remember the more green aspects of where he’s at in his journey when he scores a goal every game he plays – especially since the AHL is known to be lower scoring hockey than the NHL and goals in the playoffs come at a huge premium. Good run so far for Wilkes, Pittsburgh has to be extremely encouraged to see a lot of the important names for the NHL radar continually show up and stand out in this playoff run.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are four wins away from a Stanley Cup Final berth.
After winning eight of their first nine playoff games, the Avalanche now turn their attention toward the Vegas Golden Knights in a series that feels less like a conference final and more like an inevitable collision between two modern Western Conference powers.
Game 1 is set for Wednesday night at Ball Arena, where Colorado will attempt to protect home ice against a Vegas team built around depth, pressure and postseason experience. The Avalanche, meanwhile, enter the series looking every bit like the most explosive offensive team remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Colorado finished the regular season with a 2-0-1 record against Vegas, narrowly outscoring the Golden Knights 11-10 across the three meetings.
Colorado’s Offense Has Become a Playoff Avalanche
No team has generated offense more consistently this postseason than Colorado. p
The Avalanche lead the NHL with 4.11 goals per game through nine playoff contests while allowing just 2.56 goals against per night. At five-on-five, Colorado has been even more dominant, producing 2.56 goals per game while surrendering only 1.44.
The puck possession numbers paint an equally commanding picture.
Colorado is averaging 32.6 shots on goal per game while limiting opponents to just 26.1 shots against. Even against a structured Vegas team, the Avalanche held a significant territorial advantage during the regular season series, averaging 32.3 shots per game compared to the Golden Knights’ 25.7.
Special teams could become one of the defining storylines of the series.
Colorado’s power play is operating at 25 percent during the postseason, nearly identical to Vegas’ 25.7 percent mark. The Golden Knights, however, have owned the edge on the penalty kill, entering the conference final at 86.8 percent compared to Colorado’s 79.3 percent.
Vegas has still been one of the NHL’s most complete playoff teams.
The Golden Knights arrive in Denver with an 8-4 postseason record while averaging 3.67 goals per game and allowing 2.58 goals against. Their .915 team save percentage also ranks ahead of Colorado’s .902 mark entering the series.
MacKinnon Continues to Set the Standard
Nathan MacKinnon once again sits at the center of everything Colorado does offensively.
The Avalanche superstar enters the Western Conference Final tied for third in the NHL with seven playoff goals while ranking tied for eighth with 13 points. His ability to dictate pace through the neutral zone has repeatedly overwhelmed opponents throughout the postseason.
MacKinnon has also consistently produced against Vegas throughout his career, recording seven points in seven playoff games against the Golden Knights along with 30 points — including eight goals and 22 assists — in 31 regular-season meetings.
Martin Necas has become one of Colorado’s most important secondary playmakers during the playoff run.
Necas is tied for sixth in the NHL with 10 assists while carrying a plus-10 even-strength goal differential, tied for the second-best mark among all playoff skaters remaining.
Devon Toews continues to provide offensive production from the blue line, ranking seventh among NHL defensemen with eight playoff points. He is tied for fifth among defensemen in assists with six and tied for eighth in goals with two.
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns brings another layer of playoff experience into the matchup. Burns has totaled nine points in 13 postseason games against Vegas during his career, in addition to 16 points in 32 regular-season contests.
Colorado’s Comeback Win Became a Defining Moment
Even dominant playoff runs usually require one game that galvanizes a team.
For Colorado, that moment arrived in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild.
The Avalanche fell behind 3-0 midway through the first period before mounting one of the most dramatic comebacks of the postseason. Parker Kelly finally broke through in the second period before Jack Drury redirected a Devon Toews point shot late in regulation to cut the deficit to one.
With the net empty and Colorado’s season briefly hanging in the balance, MacKinnon delivered again, scoring with 1:23 remaining to tie the game.
Then came the finish.
At 3:52 of overtime, Brett Kulak blasted home a one-timer off a Martin Necas feed, completing the comeback and sending Ball Arena into chaos as the Avalanche clinched the series in five games.
Instead of becoming a warning sign, the early deficit only reinforced Colorado’s confidence and offensive firepower.
Vegas Brings Its Own Wave of Firepower
The Golden Knights arrive with enough depth to make this a true heavyweight matchup.
Mitch Marner has led Vegas offensively with 18 playoff points while ranking second on the team with 11 assists and third with seven goals. Pavel Dorofeyev enters the series leading the Golden Knights with nine postseason goals, while Jack Eichel has orchestrated much of the attack with a team-leading 14 assists and 15 total points.
Vegas secured its trip to the conference final with a commanding 5-1 victory over Anaheim in Game 6 of the second round.
Marner opened the scoring just 1:02 into the game before Brett Howden added a shorthanded goal and Shea Theodore capitalized on the power play later in the first period. Dorofeyev eventually buried two third-period goals to put the game away.
Now the Golden Knights head into Denver facing the NHL’s highest-scoring playoff team in a series that carries no shortage of history, animosity or championship implications.
For Colorado, the opportunity is obvious.
The Avalanche have looked fast, deep and overwhelming through two rounds.
Vegas may be the first team capable of matching them shift for shift.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 22: Head Coach of the New Jersey Devils Sheldon Keefe looks on from his bench during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 22, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Coaching news:
Devils also confirm that Sheldon Keefe will be returning as HC. He has two years left on his contract. New GM Sunny Mehta had evaluated the HC position and has decided to bring Keefe back. https://t.co/W8aTCWYV5w
“Jordan Kyrou’s name has been a constant in trade rumors over the past year and change. If the St. Louis Blues put him back on the market this summer, the New Jersey Devils should make him a priority target. Let’s get into some of the many reasons why.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“The Vegas Golden Knights appealed their NHL-imposed sanctions in New York on Tuesday morning and it was determined shortly afterward that the punishment will remain as assessed, sources told ESPN. The league fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 and stripped the team of its 2026 second-round draft pick for ‘flagrant violations’ of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoff media regulations.” [ESPN]
More Golden Knights drama:
Following the Golden Knights reportedly denying the Edmonton Oilers an opportunity to speak to Bruce Cassidy, the NHLCA releases a statement. pic.twitter.com/7XG2Kjjhhc
General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that Head Coach Adam Foote and Assistant Coaches Scott Young, Kevin Dean and Brett McLean have been relieved of their duties.
Almost as soon as the playoffs started, there was some chatter around the Montreal Canadiens about Jakub Dobes being the second coming of Jaroslav Halak. Not because they have a similar style or build, but rather because neither was seen as the team’s number one goaltender before being catapulted into the NHL playoffs in the starting role.
While Halak started the 2010 playoffs for the Canadiens, he didn’t play all the games. In the first round against the Washington Capitals, he had to make way for Carey Price for a game-and-change before coming back with a vengeance and eliminating both the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins in consecutive Game 7s. Just like Dobes, he was spectacular in big games, making phenomenal saves. Meanwhile, Price, who was already tagged as the Habs’ goaltender of the future, was riding the pine.
Fast forward 16 years, and Dobes finds himself right where Halak was. He has eliminated two great teams in two series that went the distance, with the organization’s goaltender of the future, Jacob Fowler, riding the pine. Even Zachary Bolduc did his best to take everyone back to 2010 on Monday night, scoring a goal as Mike Cammalleri did during that special run with one knee on the ice.
Fans, however, will hope this marks the end of the striking resemblance between the two playoff campaigns. Back in 2010, the Canadiens bowed out in the third round, losing the Conference Final to the Philadelphia Flyers in just five games after Halak ran out of gas.
After eliminating the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night, Dobes dismissed the idea that he could be tired after playing 14 intense playoff games, stating he could play another 40 games. However, those are only words, and we’ll see in the third round if he still has some gas left in the tank.
Those who lived through the Halak spring will also remember that not long after the Canadiens’ elimination, the netminder, who was just about to become an unrestricted free agent, was unceremoniously traded to the St. Louis Blues as the organization elected to stick with Price, who had been the organization’s fifth overall pick at the 2005 draft.
Unlike Halak, Dobes still has a year left on his contract before becoming a UFA, meaning the Canadiens won’t be in a rush to decide when it comes to their goaltenders, at least not for a while. Unless, of course, the team is tempted to sacrifice a goaltender to fill another organizational need (such as a second-line center), but I’d be surprised if that were the case. The Habs still have other exciting prospects coming up through the ranks who could potentially help them complete their top six.
In Dobes and Fowler, the Canadiens have a great goaltending tandem at a very low cost, and neither of them should be on their way out of town anytime soon. Kent Hughes will tread carefully before moving on from one of the two keepers. Besides, he has shown in the past that he can be very persuasive when it’s time to sign players to a team-friendly contract. Who’s to say he couldn’t do just that with Dobes and Fowler? There seems to be something special brewing in Montreal, and who’s to say the duo won’t be interested in sticking around?
It’s becoming increasingly frequent that teams really rely on a tandem of goaltenders around the league these days, and would it be such a terrible thing if the Canadiens found themselves in the same situation as the Boston Bruins were with Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark? For now, the only goaltender the Canadiens should be looking to move is Samuel Montembeault. It’s a shame for the Becancour native, but at this stage, it does look like he would benefit from a new start somewhere else.
There have been a lot of names reported as candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coaching position. So it’s no surprise to learn that at least one internal candidate will be considered for the position of Toronto bench boss.
Sources tell The Hockey News that Maple Leafs assistant coach Derek Lalonde will interview for the job.
Lalonde joined the Maple Leafs last summer after associate coach Lane Lambert departed Toronto to become the new head coach of the Seattle Kraken. While Lalonde led the club’s penalty kill, Toronto finished eighth in the NHL with an 81.2 percent efficiency. But defensively, the Leafs struggled all season long, and defense fell under his purview as well.
Lalonde had a successful first stint in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning under Jon Cooper. There he won Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, while going to the Stanley Cup Final again in 2022. From there, Lalonde earned his first NHL head coaching position, becoming bench boss of the Detroit Red Wings at the beginning of the 2022-23 season. In his second season, the Red Wings narrowly missed the playoffs despite a 41-32-9 record. He was fired midway through the 2024-25 season and replaced by veteran head coach Todd McLellan.
It’s not a real surprise that the Leafs would talk to Lalonde, as Chayka mentioned the process to find a new bench boss would be extensive. The Leafs talked to well over 20 people for the role Chayka occupies now, so this could take some time.
From a public standpoint, Lalonde has proven to be quite insightful. Who could ever forget his time on the panel during Hockey Night In Canada back in 2023, when he was working during the intermission of the Maple Leafs and Lightning first-round series? It was there where he mentioned that the Lightning had done an internal study showing that goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was one of the lower-percentage goalies in finding the puck from the point.
Lalonde’s future is up in the air along with the rest of the Maple Leafs assistants, as a new head coach will likely want to bring a new staff. But he could be a good candidate to stick around in any kind of coaching capacity.
How do the teams rank heading into what are sure to be intriguing series? USA TODAY Sports offers power rankings of the four conference finals teams, plus two Conn Smythe candidates per team in the race for playoff MVP.
4. Vegas Golden Knights
Mitch Marner is leading the playoffs in scoring, Pavel Dorofeyev is leading in goals and coach John Tortorella has Vegas playing the right way. But the Golden Knights' next opponent, the Avalanche, is formidable and it will be hard to advance, especially with Mark Stone out.
Conn Smythe candidates: Marner, Dorofeyev
3. Montreal Canadiens
They're more than an upstart team. They're a 100-point team that beat two other 100-point teams. Top players Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov are getting going and Alex Newhook has seven goals, including two Game 7 winners.
Conn Smythe candidates: Newhook, Jakub Dobes
2. Carolina Hurricanes
They have won eight in a row, the first team to sweep the first two series since the first round went to best of seven in 1987. Goalie Frederik Andersen has rediscovered his game and the line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake has been dangerous. The Hurricanes haven't made it to the Stanley Cup Final under coach Rod Brind'Amour. Is this the year?
Conn Smythe candidates: Andersen, Stankoven
1. Colorado Avalanche
They were the best team in the regular season and get the nod in the playoffs because they beat the high-powered Minnesota Wild in five games. Colorado was the best offensive and defensive team in the regular season and is averaging 4.11 goals per game in the playoffs. Cale Makar appears to be favoring his shoulder, which could hurt the Avalanche in the long run.
Conn Smythe candidates: Nathan MacKinnon, Scott Wedgewood
