The Senators and Leafs entered the offseason from very different places.
The Sens are coming off a 99-point season, ninth overall in the NHL, and a second straight playoff appearance. After it was over, they had an unexpected problem drop in their lap when captain Brady Tkachuk requested a trade.
Toronto, meanwhile, went from first to worst in the Atlantic with 78 points, won the draft lottery, replaced their head coach and GM, and went to work on a major roster overhaul.
Drake Batherson says it would be nice to get an extension done with the Sens this summer and hopes it happens.
The summer is far from over, but most of the heavy lifting has probably been done. So, which team had the better offseason, and more importantly, which one looks better heading into 2026-27?
Senators Trades
The Senators' offseason plans spun off the road in early May when Tkachuk officially decided he wanted to play with his brother, asked for a trade, and was eventually got one.
Ottawa received Florida's ninth and 25th picks in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional 2029 first-rounder.
GM Steve Staios quickly flipped the ninth pick to San Jose for forwards William Eklund and prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.
Eklund is the key piece, the proven NHL commodity. He had 53 points last season and gives the Sens a young, established top-six winger who can help replace Tkachuk's offence. The additional hope is that the 23-year-old Eklund still hasn't hit his ceiling.
The Senators also acquired winger Andre Burakovsky from Chicago for a 2027 sixth-round pick and RFA goalie Samuel Ersson from Toronto for a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Senators Free Agent Signings
Ottawa's free-agent activity was much quieter as they basically took care of their own. Senators re-signed Ersson, veteran forwards Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins, defenseman Jordan Spence, and goalie Leevi Merilainen.
They also signed some depth free agents to two-way contracts: forwards Sammy Blais, Ryan Suzuki, Philip Tomasino, Philippe Daoust and defenseman Christian Kyrou.
Senators Free Agent Losses
The Sens turned the page on Lars Eller, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, Lassi Thomson, Arthur Kaliyev, Olle Lycksell, James Reimer, and Mads Sogaard, allowing all of them to walk into free agency.
The obvious question is whether Eklund and Burakovsky can make up enough of the offence lost with Tkachuk.
That said, when you factor in the intangibles like team chemistry, or how Tkachuk's vibe noticeably changed after last year's 4 Nations Face-off, it's more than fair to suggest his exit isn't all bad for the Sens.
Extreme Makeover: Toronto Edition
If the Sens' summer was about reacting to the Tkachuk Show leaving town, Toronto's offseason program might be labelled Extreme Makeover. The Leafs parted ways with head coach Craig Berube and GM Brad Treliving.
New general manager John Chayka, in the role of Ty Pennington, came in with major renovations after the Leafs' dismal 78-point season, starting with the hiring of Jim Hiller as his new head coach.
Leafs Trades: Additions
Praying to all the hockey gods that he's not a one-hit wonder, the Leafs acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from Tampa Bay and signed him to an eight-year extension worth $8.5 million. In just his third full NHL season, the 30-year-old Raddysh erupted for 22 goals and 70 points last season. His previous best was 6 goals and 37 points.
Toronto then went back to Tampa for former Senator Nick Paul. They also acquired RFA defenseman Emil Andrae and RFA goalie Sam Ersson from Philadelphia. Ersson's rights were then flipped to Ottawa for almost nothing.
Leafs Trades: Substractions
The Leafs didn't make all those changes without saying goodbye to some talent in those deals: Along with Ersson, goalies Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby are also gone. So are defencemen Brandon Carlo and Simon Benoit, along with forward Nick Robertson.
First Overall Pick
Toronto's most intriguing addition didn't come through trade at all. After winning the draft lottery, the Leafs selected Gavin McKenna first overall. McKenna has the elite puck skills to be a superstar but it remains to be seen if he can reach that status right away.
Leafs Free Agent Signings
Toronto's biggest free-agent signing was goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year contract after seven seasons with Florida. Bobrovsky has been an elite goalie for years, but posted an unimpressive .877 save percentage last year. Was that because the Panthers were a bad team, ravaged by injury, or because age is setting in? Bob will turn 38 in September.
Toronto also signed Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime, and Zack MacEwen.
Leafs Free Agent Losses
The Leafs turned the page on Matias Maccelli and Calle Jarnkrok.
That's a lot of turnover. Toronto is betting heavily that an aging Bobrovsky won't repeat last year's performance and that Raddysh will.
And Then There's Alfie
This Battle of Ontario comparison has another layer that has nothing to do with the rosters.
Daniel Alfredsson left the Sens' coaching staff after three seasons and joined Toronto as an associate coach. Seeing him join the Leafs is beyond strange.
Verdict 1: Who had the better offseason?
Toronto, in a landslide.
The Sens did their best to recover from a situation they didn't create. Turning part of the Tkachuk return into William Eklund was solid and helped shore up the Sens future with picks and prospects that everyone agreed they needed.
For the second straight year, the club is maybe being a little cavalier with their backup goaltender situation. Linus Ullmark obviously needs a platoon situation in the regular season and the Sens are betting big that the newcomer, Ersson, a $2.2 million goalie, can be that co-number one for them.
Toronto, meanwhile, aggressively addressed several areas of its roster. Bobrovsky, Raddysh, Paul and Roslovic are significant NHL additions, while McKenna will probably become the most important player acquired by either team this summer.
Verdict 2: Who will be the better team this season?
Ottawa.
The Leafs will surely narrow the gap, but the Senators finished 21 points ahead of them last season, and that's a lot of ground to make up in one year.
Ottawa still has a core built around Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Dylan Cozens, and Thomas Chabot, and has now added Eklund to that group. Unlike teams of the rebuild, the core is not only better, more experienced, and battled-tested, they're now well-insulated with higher-quality veterans.
The Leafs may have improved more this summer, but they still have to show that all those new pieces can completely transform the fifth-worst team in hockey. If they can't, the Buds may find themselves with a restless captain of their own next summer.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article first appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa. For full Senators coverage, check out one of The Hockey News headlines below.
A six-year contract extension worth $5.5M per year followed the initial trade for Pettersson, keeping the defenceman in Vancouver for what seemed like the foreseeable future. Pettersson had a full no-move clause for the first three years of the deal — one that he ultimately waived in order to go to New York.
The decision to waive, the defenceman explained to reporters in New York, was one that came about as a result of his familiarity with some of the team’s staff as well as the reputation of the franchise itself.
“Obviously, the Rangers being an Original Six, growing up idolizing that team and stuff like that,” he said. “It all happened very quickly, to be honest with you. But when I got the opportunity to come here, and with the history with some of the coaching staff that I have there, it was a great opportunity. I’m super excited.”
One specific member of the Rangers that Pettersson is familiar with is none-other than head coach Mike Sullivan, who he played under for seven seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The defenceman explained why he’s happy to be playing under the long-time NHL head coach, citing the way he approaches the game.
“First off, as a person, I feel like me and Sully had a great relationship. He’s a straightforward kind of guy. You’re never really wondering what you should do or where you’re at or stuff like that... I love that about him. And system-wise, I feel like it tends to play into my playing style. I want to play a fast-paced style, like he wants to play, and pressure on puck. I feel like his system is so good, where you don’t have to overthink things out there. You’re playing off your instincts, and your instincts are what brought you to where you are.”
Mar 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) shoots against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Another familiar name for Pettersson, though the two never played together, is Rangers captain J.T. Miller. Miller was traded back to New York on the same day that Pettersson was acquired by Vancouver — on January 31, 2025.
“Some of my teammates in Vancouver talked about J.T. and how great of a person is, and they reached out and said, ‘You’re gonna love him and his family and stuff like that, and the competitiveness that [he] brings’.”
Now a member of the Rangers, Pettersson will close the chapter of his career that took place in Vancouver. While he did acknowledge that there were a lot of things to be learned from his time with the Canucks, as a whole, the defenceman is “grateful” for the experience.
“I have nothing but great things to say about Vancouver. My time there, even though it was short, I feel like I learned a lot, and I do feel like I want to bounce back from kind of a negative feeling from that. I’m super excited to join the Rangers, but I’m grateful for the Canucks, as well.”
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When hundreds of Utah hockey fans traded their Vegas Golden Knights jerseys for Mammoth sweaters during last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, many wondered what became of the pile of jerseys left behind.
Now, there's an answer—and it turned into something far more meaningful than simply being thrown into storage.
The jerseys collected during the Utah Mammoth's popular exchange event were donated to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, which then distributed them to nonprofits throughout the Las Vegas area, including HELP of Southern Nevada.
The nonprofit recently shared photos of youth and staff members wearing the donated jerseys while thanking everyone involved in giving them a second life.
"Those jerseys are being proudly worn by HELP youth and staff members, creating smiles and reminding us that sports have the power to bring communities together both on and off the ice."
HELP of Southern Nevada also expressed its appreciation to the Utah fans who surrendered their jerseys, the Mammoth organization for organizing the promotion, and the Golden Knights Foundation for ensuring the jerseys reached families and young people in the community.
"Your generosity is making a difference for local families and youth throughout Southern Nevada."
The jersey exchange took place before Game 3 of Utah's first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Golden Knights. Fans who brought in a Vegas jersey received a blank 2025-26 Mammoth home jersey at no cost, with hundred, according to The Salt Lake City Tribune, taking advantage of the promotion before the supply of replacement jerseys was exhausted.
What began as a lighthearted rivalry promotion ultimately produced a lasting impact, turning old Golden Knights jerseys into donations that continue to benefit families and youth across Southern Nevada.
And now other sports are beginning to follow suit. Earlier this month, NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar hosted an event where offered free T-shirts repping his No. 77 team to the first 77 fans who brought in shirts that supported active drivers for a free trade-in at his merch trailer.
The next chapter of Andrew Agozzino’s hockey career won’t take place on the ice.
Just days after announcing his retirement from professional hockey, the former Colorado Avalanche forward is staying with the Utah Mammoth organization, this time behind the bench. Utah announced Saturday that Agozzino has been named an assistant coach for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, allowing the longtime minor-league standout to transition directly into coaching.
Agozzino spent the past two seasons serving as an alternate captain in Tucson, where he totaled 82 points (39 goals, 43 assists) and 78 penalty minutes in 111 games. His leadership and experience made him a respected voice inside the Roadrunners’ locker room, qualities the organization will now lean on in a coaching role.
Although his NHL opportunities were limited, Agozzino appeared in two games with the Mammoth during the 2025-26 season, adding to a career that spanned eight NHL campaigns with Utah, the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Avalanche.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward finished his NHL career with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and four penalty minutes across 53 games.
Agozzino’s greatest impact, however, came in the American Hockey League. A three-time AHL All-Star, he compiled an impressive 662 points on 284 goals and 378 assists while appearing in 847 career games over 15 seasons. His consistency and offensive production made him one of the league’s most recognizable veterans before ultimately deciding to hang up his skates.
Now, instead of leading from the ice, Agozzino will help develop the next generation of players from behind the bench as he begins the coaching phase of his hockey career.
We wish Agozzino success in his new role and given his history in the AHL, it would be appear on the surface that he’s the right man for the job.
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Buffalo native Patrick Kane signs with the Chicago Blackhawks
Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six.
Someone who has yet to be signed, and has won a pair of Stanley Cups is veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old has become a gun for hire since being dealt from the St. Louis Blues in 2023. The talented Russian scored 30 or more goals six times in 10 seasons with the Blues, after which he has played for New York, Ottawa, Florida, Detroit and Minnesota. In two of the last three seasons, with Ottawa/Florida and Minnesota, Tarasenko has scored 23 goals.
The veteran forward is not strong defensively, but still has the skill to play on a second power play unit or in the middle six. Tarasenko would not be the equal of Kane as a playmaker, but has more of an ability to put the puck in the net and in a pinch, can move up higher in the lineup and fit in on the top power play. His last two contracts have been short term (one year with Ottawa, two years with Detroit) with a cap hit of $4.75 to $5 million.
Still being unsigned at the end of July could mean that Tarasenko is open to a lesser amount or an performance bonus-based deal, which could be a better fit for the Sabres in their current cap situation.
David Reinbacher is a prospect whom the Montreal Canadiens are hoping will emerge as a very important part of their roster in the future. The 21-year-old defenseman has the potential to blossom into an impactful player, but he is still looking to make the jump to become a full-time NHLer.
Reinbacher showed promise last season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, posting five goals, 19 assists, 24 points, and a plus-18 rating in 57 games. This was after he was limited to only 10 games with Laval during the 2024-25 season due to injury, where he posted two goals and five points.
Reinbacher's solid play in the AHL this past season with Laval also helped him land his first call-up to Montreal's roster. In his first two career NHL games with the Habs, he recorded one assist, one hit, and two blocks. Overall, the youngster had a solid first look in the NHL, and he will now be looking to take a big step with his development in 2026-27.
It is clear that this upcoming season is a very important one for Reinbacher. The Canadiens will be hoping that he can continue to grow his game. If he does, it should open the door for him to receive more opportunities at the NHL level in 2026-27.
It will be interesting to see if Reinbacher can make the jump to the NHL level next season. The young blueliner has a lot of potential, and he is a big prospect to watch in 2026-27 because of it.
One of the newest members of the Florida Panthers is preparing for the upcoming NHL season in a unique way.
It’s not unheard of for Brady Tkachuk to work some non-hockey training into his offseason regimen.
The physical forward has been known to utilize MMA training to help sharpen his skills in the past, and this summer is no different.
Earlier this week, former UFC fighter Nick Cantone shared an image on social media from a workout session that included himself, Tkachuk and MMA fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov.
Tkachuk can be seen wearing his gold medal from the 2026 Winter Olympics in the photo.
The hangout took place at Cantone’s gym, the Nicholas Scott Cantone Training Center, which is located in Brick Township, New Jersey.
In joining the Panthers, Tkachuk knew that he was going to be asked to play in a very aggressive and physically demanding system, so to see him gearing up and honing those skills when we’re still over a month from training camp is no surprise.
During his career, Tkachuk has never shied away from playing a tough game and going into the dirty areas of the ice.
NHL forwards who typically play a more physical game than others will average around three to four hits per game and generally are rare to turn down an opportunity to drop the gloves when challenged.
Through his eight seasons, all with Ottawa, Tkachuk has averaged 3.4 hits per game and racked up 821 career penalty minutes, which averages out to just over 100 per season. Of all those penalty minutes, 185 of them have come from his 37 fighting majors.
Now it’s worth noting that Tkachuk has been fighting less in recent years. He only fought three times last season, the lowest amount since his rookie campaign in 2018-19.
Compare that to 24-25, when he fought five times, or 23-24, when he dropped the gloves six times, or the season before that when he was called for eight fighting majors, or the 16 combined times he dropped the gloves in the three years before that, from the 19-20 season to 21-22.
Perhaps as he’s gotten older and more mature, Tkachuk is prioritizing his ice time a little differently and understands a player of his caliber is needed more on the ice than in the penalty box.
Regardless, Tkachuk continues to train in many different ways and focus on an abundance of areas that improve both his hockey and overall physicality.
We’ll see how that translates into the way he plays for the Panthers, arguably the most physical team in the league.
Photo caption: Jan 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Ottawa Senators left wingBradyTkachuk(7) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman John Marino (6)fightduring the third period at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins won 6-4. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
Not everyone is sold on the Colorado Avalanche’s biggest offseason extension.
Just weeks after Colorado committed to veteran defenseman Brett Kulak with a five-year, $22.5 million contract carrying a $4.5 million average annual value, one prominent NHL publication has already labeled the deal among the league’s worst.
In its annual ranking of the NHL’s best and worst contracts, The Athletic placed Kulak’s extension at No. 8 on its list of the least favorable deals, pointing to concerns that the 32-year-old’s underlying performance has declined significantly despite earning a long-term commitment.
Kulak arrived in Colorado after the Olympic break in a trade that sent Samuel Girard and a second-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His offensive numbers were never going to jump off the page, but the veteran quickly carved out an important role on the Avalanche blue line. He stabilized the team’s top four, eventually settling in on the second pairing alongside Sam Malinski, and logged stretches next to Cale Makar on the top pair whenever Colorado needed him there.
The criticism, though, isn’t about his counting stats at all.
The Athletic built its case around Kulak’s underlying defensive metrics, especially his relative impact on expected goals at five-on-five. The outlet argues his numbers slid throughout the season, and that the decline showed up no matter which team he was skating for.
“His drop-off at five-on-five wasn’t exactly an isolated incident; it was consistent across three different playoff teams,” The Athletic wrote. “Kulak’s relative impact on xG was minus-0.48 in Edmonton, minus-0.14 in Pittsburgh, and a ghastly minus-1.2 in Colorado. In all three locales, his impact on goals was even worse.”
Where I Push Back
This is where I part ways with the analytics crowd — the writers who lean so heavily on the numbers that they lose sight of everything else happening on the ice. The Athletic zeroed in on one narrow slice of data here, when there are plenty of other indicators suggesting Kulak has actually been a net positive for this team.
There’s also a metric these rankings tend to overlook entirely: watching the game. Since Kulak joined the Avalanche, I’ve noticed — without needing a spreadsheet to tell me so — that there’s been a real stretch where he simply wasn’t on the ice for a goal against. For a defenseman, whose entire job description is keeping the other team from piling on his goaltender, that’s no small thing.
He backed it up in the playoffs, too. Kulak was effective for most of Colorado’s run and scored the game-winning goal that sent the Avalanche past the Minnesota Wild and into the Western Conference Final. Yes, his third-round performance dipped — but so did nearly everyone else’s on that roster. Singling him out doesn’t feel fair. Furthermore, Kulak is a pure defensive defenseman, so getting on his case for not having glamorous offensive prowess doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Analytics has its place. It’s a genuinely useful lens for evaluating performance, and I’m not arguing otherwise. But leaning on numbers alone leaves gaps, and those gaps matter. There’s still no substitute for actually watching the games — at least not in my book.
Unfortunately for the Detroit Red Wings, it's no longer "Showtime" in the Motor City.
Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane, who had been with the club since signing as a UFA in December 2023, chose to return to the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he'd spent the bulk of his career and won three Stanley Cup rings.
Chicago paid handsomely to lure Kane back into the fold, signing him to a salary cap hit of $8 million for the next two seasons, which will likely be the last of his career.
While Kane ending his career where it began is a fitting conclusion, his departure leaves a significant void in the lineup of the Red Wings, who were considered a longshot to return to the playoffs next season even had he re-signed.
But just because the Kane era in Detroit is over, it doesn't mean that he won't look back fondly on his playing days wearing the Winged Wheel.
Kane, who spent time in the metro-Detroit area as a youth and was even hosted by the family of former Red Wings forward Pat Verbeek, spoke glowingly about how the organization and the fan base treated him.
“What can I say about Detroit? I know it’s a huge rival with Chicago, but it was an incredible place to play," Kane said during his introductory press conference with Chicago on Friday. "The fans were great to me, the team was great. Everyone kind of welcomed me with open arms and really embraced me while I was there. So, great, great experience.”
Kane, who is good friends with Alex DeBrincat, whom he played with in Chicago and Detroit, appreciated the chance for their young sons to continue their friendship with one another.
“I got to watch my son kind of grow up a little bit there and make some good friends with Archie DeBrincat, and they had a great relationship,” Kane said. “So, it was fun to watch that kind of evolve."
Unfortunately for the Red Wings and their fans, they never got to experience Stanley Cup Playoff hockey with Kane in the lineup. While Kane said upon re-signing with Detroit last year that he'd love to skate in playoff hockey at Little Caesars Arena, it wasn't meant to be.
The Red Wings now own the NHL's longest postseason drought at 10 years and counting. Captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade out of town, and GM Steve Yzerman recently stepped down from his role.
In April, Kane expressed interest in what would have been a third full season in Detroit, but it's likely those aforementioned developments played a role in his choosing to continue his career elsewhere.
And while he'll finish his career as a Blackhawk, he was happy to have played for the Red Wings.
“Obviously, we didn’t get to the playoffs, which is disappointing, but my experience there was great," Kane said of playing in Detroit.
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The Blackhawks were the team the Wild simply couldn't get past. Chicago eliminated Minnesota from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2013-15, with Patrick Kane playing a starring role each time.
Whether it was his game-breaking skill, timely goals or ability to frustrate opposing fans, Kane became one of the most recognizable villains in Wild history.
But over the last several years, that rivalry has lost much of its edge. Minnesota is 18-1-1 in its last 20 games against the Blackhawks.
Chicago entered a rebuild after its championship core aged out, while Minnesota established itself as a consistent playoff team. Games between the two clubs no longer carried the same emotion or significance they once did.
Kane's return to the Blackhawks changes that.
No, it doesn't suddenly make Chicago a Stanley Cup contender, nor does it dramatically alter the Wild's outlook in the Central Division. Minnesota will still be judged by how it stacks up against Dallas and Colorado.
What Kane's return does bring back is intrigue.
Every Wild-Blackhawks matchup now has another storyline. Kane returns to the franchise where he became one of the greatest players in NHL history, while Connor Bedard continues his development as the face of Chicago's next era.
On the other side, the Wild are trying to prove they're ready to take another step as legitimate contenders in the Western Conference.
That's a far more compelling matchup than what fans have seen in recent seasons.
There's also a nostalgia factor that can't be ignored.
Wild fans haven't forgotten the playoff battles of the early 2010s. Kane scored several memorable goals against Minnesota and always seemed to save some of his best performances for games against the Wild. While many of the players from those series have moved on, the memories haven't.
Seeing Kane back in a Blackhawks sweater when he visits Grand Casino Arena will undoubtedly bring some of those emotions back.
At the same time, these games now represent a meeting between two very different stages of team building.
Chicago is hoping its young core, led by Bedard, eventually returns the franchise to contention. Minnesota, meanwhile, is trying to capitalize on the prime years of Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and the rest of its current core.
The stakes may not be the same as they were a decade ago, but the entertainment value should be.
For the first time in years, Wild-Blackhawks games feel like they'll have a little extra buzz. Fans will get another chance to watch one of hockey's all-time great American players return to the team where he became a legend, while seeing how Minnesota measures up against a Chicago club beginning to show signs of life.
The rivalry isn't back to where it was during the Stanley Cup playoff battles.
But thanks to Kane's return, it's a lot more fun than it was a week ago.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 27: Colorado Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog holds the Stanley Cup trophy above his head as he walks off the plane with his teammates at Signature Flight Support at Denver International Airport on June 27, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado Avalanche arrived back from Florida after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 and 4-2 in the series to win the Stanley Cup finals.(Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The past thirty years of Avalanche hockey have featured incredible highs, and some very, very dismal lows.
As an avid fan of The Simpsons, I’ve witnessed plenty of “best of times” moments, but also been subjected to a smattering of unpleasant “blursts” of times. In the final edition of this off-season series, I take a look back through the past thirty years, highlighting one moment that stands among the best, and comparatively, the worst (or blurst, if you will) each season.
Here are the best and blurst moments from another five years of Colorado Avalanche history.
2020-2021
The Best: Miniseries Schedule Format (Various)
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued after the conclusion of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff bubble, the NHL tried to find a way for its member clubs to the upcoming season.
A shortened, fifty-six game schedule was unveiled, along with a temporary division realignment. Instead of all 31 teams playing against each other, teams would play solely against members of their own division. Each team would play a total of eight games against each division opponent.
As was the case during the playoff bubble, fans were not permitted to attend. This policy was lifted in April, allowing a fans to attend games, albeit in a very reduced capacity.
The Avs were one of eight teams that made up the West Division, facing off against the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Los Angels Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, and Vegas Golden Knights.
In order to potential risks associated with traveling from city to city, teams often played “miniseries” of games against the same opponent. The schedule had a couple of variations to keep things a little interesting. In order to re-create home ice advantage, teams would play a couple of games against each other in one city, then travel to the other for a third game. Or, they would play a pair of games in a specific city, then play another pair against that same team on the road as the season progressed.
Playing consecutive games against the same opponent—sometimes on back to back nights—evoked a playoff series atmosphere, and added a new dimension to regular season play. Since teams could only play against other ones within their division, every point held even more significance as the shortened season progressed. This led to heightened physicality during games and, as the season marched towards the playoffs, increased urgency for better playoff positioning, if not staving off elimination from playoff consideration.
The Avs finished with a 39-13-4 record and 82 points, narrowly edging out Vegas via tiebreakers for the best record in the League and their third Presidents Trophy in franchise history.
The format has yet to return in the years following this one, and due to the myriad scheduling conflicts for each venue, it likely won’t be seen again. I felt this scheduling adjustment was a unique method of making the regular season games more compelling. If there’s ever a chance that the League could re-imagine the now 84 game season to recreate this format in some capacity, it could help draw in more viewers that may be inclined to see a rematch between two clubs after a tightly contested game, or see if one team can respond after a blowout loss.
Case in point: the Avs lost their season opener to the St. Louis Blues by a score of 4-1 at Ball Arena on January 13. Two nights later, they responded in convincing fashion, defeating St. Louis by a 8-0 decision.
The highlights below speak for themselves. Who wouldn’t be drawn in by a response like that?
This scheduling strategy was the best move the League could have made under such challenging circumstances.
The Blurst: Nazem Kadri KOs Justin Faulk (May 19, 2021)
After securing the top seed in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avs drew the St. Louis Blues in the first round. Both teams had previously met only once in the postseason: the Avs defeated St. Louis in five games during the 2001 Western Conference Final en route to their second Stanley Cup championship.
In comments to the media before the series began, St. Louis Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly professed his belief in his team’s capability to prevail over the Avs. “We know that they have a lot of talent over there and they work hard, but for us, it’s an exciting challenge,” said O’Reilly. “We’re going have some fun and we’re going to beat them.”
Oh, oh, oh…O’Reilly.
The Avs took that bulletin board material and ran with it all the way to a 4-1 victory in Game One.
Game Two followed a similar blueprint, until things took an unfortunate turn in the third period. Blues defenseman Justin Faulk had received a drop pass from teammate Robert Thomas in the Avs zone. Avs center Nazem Kadri began skating towards Faulk in an attempt to disrupt the play. Immediately after Faulk shot the puck towards goaltender Philipp Grubauer, Kadri forcefully hit Faulk, with the majority of the contact up high. The force of the impact spun Faulk around before he tumbled to the ice, laying motionless.
Kadri was assessed a match penalty for the hit, and on May 21 ahead of Game Three at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, he was suspended eight games for the hit. The Avs would go on to sweep St. Louis out of the postseason, and advance to face the Vegas Golden Knights.
On May 31, one day after the Avs won Game One by a 7-1 score, Kadri filed to appeal his suspension with the NHL, but the League upheld their decision. The Avs won Game Two against Vegas in overtime by a 3-2 decision the next day.
With half of Kadri’s suspension now served, and two games away from the Western Conference Final, the Avs still had a huge hill to climb. Even if they were to sweep Vegas, they would still be without Kadri for at least two more games in the next series. If Vegas were to push back, the soonest Kadri would be available would be in a winner-take-all Game Seven at Ball Arena.
Unfortunately for the Avs, they wouldn’t get the chance to find out. Vegas won the next four straight games, eliminating the Avs series in six games. This was the third consecutive second-round exit for the Avs, and with it, a possible Stanley Cup berth went bust (or blurst).
Nathan MacKinnon bemoaned the loss in this infamous video. “I’m going into my ninth year next year,” he began, “and I haven’t won shit, so I’m definitely motivated [for next year].”
A year later, the hockey world would find out just how motivated he and the Avs would be.
2021-2022
The Best: Found a Way (June 26, 2022)
After the disappointing end of their playoff run at the hands of Vegas last year, the Avs vowed that this season would be different. To a man, they knew that they couldn’t afford to have another early exit when the playoffs rolled around in the spring.
The COVID-19 protocols presented an added layer of complexity as the year started out. The Avs certainly had some trouble finding their rhythm, losing six of their first ten games of the season. Things went on the upswing afterwars, as the Avs won thirteen of their next sixteen games.
With rising COVID-related concerns, the NHL instituted a schedule pause (spoilers) as the calendar year concluded. When January rolled around, the Avs picked up right where they left off, going 23-2-2 into March. They finished the season on a 15-9-3 run, clinching the top seed in the Western Conference as the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs began.
The Avs handily swept the Nashville Predators in the first round, but had a scare in Game Three when Kuemper suffered a freak eye injury at the hands of future Avs center Ryan Johansen. Pavel Francouz stepped in to keep the goaltending steady.
A second round rematch against the St. Louis Blues proved to be a formidable challenge, and one that was not without controversy. Both teams suffered key injuries in Game Three, with defenseman Sam Girard suffering a broken sternum that knocked him out for the remainder of the playoff run, and Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington sustaining a lower body injury in the aftermath of a collision between Nazem Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosén.
Kadri became the target of racist remarks from a select segment of the St. Louis fanbase after the hit, resulting in an increased security presence for Game Four. Kadri let his on-ice play do the talking, as he recorded a hat trick to give the Avs a 3-1 series lead as the series shifted to Denver for Game Five. Unable to close out the series on home ice, the Avs returned to Enterprise Center for Game Six, with with Helm providing a last-minute goal to secure the series win.
A highly anticipated Western Conference Final with the Edmonton Oilers turned into another lopsided affair. After a high-scoring victory in Game One, Kuemper would be shelved for the remainder of the series due to the aftereffects of his eye injury against Nashville. Francouz again answered the call for the Avs, and an overtime goal from Artturi Lehkonen secured their berth in the Stanley Cup Final. The Avs also lost Kadri to injury early in Game Three, and his return for the remainder of the playoffs was in question.
The Avs hosted the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning to begin the series, winning both games on home ice. They earned a split on the road thanks to an overtime goal by the returning Kadri. Tampa staved off elimination in Game Five, and Lehkonen gave the Avs the go-ahead goal in Game Six to win the series, claiming their third Stanley Cup in franchise history and snapping a twenty-one year championship drought.
Four days later, the Stanley Cup made its return to Denver, with fans lining the downtown streets to celebrate the victory. Head coach Jared Bednar unarguably gave his finest speech of his coaching tenure to date.
As for MacKinnon? He finally won something!
What a difference a year makes.
The Blurst: Down With The Sickness (December 16, 2021)
Winning cures a lot of ills, but even for all its might, it can’t cure COVID.
The Avs were in Nashville to face the Predators in what was originally scheduled to be a quick visit to the Music City before returning home for a rematch against Tampa. However, a surge in positive COVID-19 cases resulted in a total of twelve players for both teams being ruled out of action.
Missing from Colorado’s lineup were goaltender Darcy Kuemper, defensemen Cale Makar and Devon Toews, and forwards Andre Burakovsky and J.T. Compher. The Avs weren’t able to call up any players from Loveland to shore up their suddenly thin lineup, and were forced to play with sixteen skaters. Goaltender Pavel Francouz was pressed into service shortly before puck drop, and Dustin Smith served as the emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for the game.
On Nashville’s side of the ice, forwards Nick Cousins, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Johansen, Matt Luff, Michael McCarron, Philip Tomasino, and defenseman Ben Harpur also missed the game due to COVID protocol. In addition to the players, Nashville’s coaching staff of Jon Hynes, Dan Hinote, Dan Lambert, Todd Richards, and Ben Vanderklok. Unlike the Avs, however, Nashville did call up reinforcements from their farm team in Milwaukee.
Nashville held a 2-0 lead into the second period, but Mikko Rantanen finally broke through against goaltender Jusse Saros just before the halfway point of regulation. Nashville’s Filip Forsberg would restore the two-goal margin in late in the period. Valeri Nichushkin scored in the third period to keep the margin within one goal, but Nashville added a pair in the final stages of the game to secure a 5-2 victory, which snapped a five game winning streak for the Avs.
“They were shorthanded, we were shorthanded,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said. “We’re not using COVID as an excuse. We’re here to win a hockey game. We had plenty of capable bodies in the lineup.”
The next day, the NHL announced that it had postponed the Avs’ remaining four games before the holiday break amid more positive COVID-19 cases. On December 20, the NHL went a step further, announcing that it was pausing all games through December 27. However, on the day that the pause was to conclude for the Avs, the League announced that the two remaining games in December—both against the Dallas Stars—would also be postponed.
In total, seven games were postponed and rescheduled in the wake of the Avs’ visit to Nashville. While it was in the NHL’s best interest to take action to adjust and reschedule postponed games, it’s a poor look on the League to risk the health of their entire contingent of players—not just the superstars—amid an uptick in the middle of a two year long global pandemic.
It’s a blurst that, thankfully, didn’t seem to have more longer-lasting consequences than this.
2022-2023
The Best: A Banner Occasion (October 12, 2022)
Opening night is special on its own, but it takes on a whole different aura when the Stanley Cup is the guest of honor in commemorating that long road to championship glory, a ceremony exclusive to only one franchise.
Of all the sights I’ve witnessed in my time watching this team over the years, the sight of Gabe Landeskog (gingerly) skating the Stanley Cup on Ball Arena ice was truly one of the greatest moments I’ve experienced as an Avs fan.
The other great moment? Watching the 2022 Stanley Cup Champions banner being raised to the Ball Arena rafters.
This team was the laughingstock of the hockey world five years prior. Matt Duchene—labeled as the heir to Joe Sakic when the Avs drafted him third overall in 2009—infamously asked for a trade (“I only get one shot at this. I need to play playoff hockey.”) when this team was at its lowest. Patrick Roy—the goaltending backbone of the Avs’ initial championship era—gave the finger to the franchise where he won two more Stanley Cups and had his first head coaching assignment. Several others took their shots at this franchise when it was at its lowest.
Five years later, that had all changed, with that glistening silver chalice and accompanying championship banner as proof of their renaissance to relevance.
Other than winning the Stanley Cup, things don’t get any better than this.
The Blurst: Oh, Captain, No Captain (October 19, 2022)
The Avs had high hopes of defending the Stanley Cup as the season got underway, but started the season without its captain. Gabe Landeskog missed the first three games of the year with a lower body injury. On October 19, the team announced that Landeskog would miss twelve weeks to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery.
The news sent shockwaves through the fanbase. Head coach Jared Bednar said that Landeskog’s knee—the one he had surgery on back in March—began to bother him as the start of the season drew closer. The decision was made early to have the procedure done in the hopes that Landeskog would return shortly after the start of the year.
Landeskog’s surgery seemingly went through without complication. The Avs carried on without their captain, and as the season progressed, worked to positioning themselves favorably for their title defense.
Unfortunately, Landeskog’s recovery stretched beyond the twelve week mark. As January turned to February, then to March, many began to wonder if he would make a return for the upcoming playoffs, if he returned at all. He did make a rare appearance on April 30 as the Avs faced the expansion Seattle Kraken in a do-or-die Game Seven at Ball Arena. Unfortunately, the Avs’ Stanley Cup defense came to an end that evening.
On May 9, the team announced that Landeskog would undergo knee surgery yet again: this time for knee cartilage replacement. The news meant that not only would Landeskog be out for the remainder of this season and the corresponding playoff run, the Avs would not have his services for the entirety of the 2023-2024 season. Further, there was no guarantee that the surgery would allow Landeskog to return to action.
“I just have to do what’s right for my health and really, ultimately, do what I can so I’m able to go out there and play with the guys and continue chasing more Stanley Cups,” Landeskog told reporters on a Zoom call prior to the surgery. “Is it going to be a long road? Yeah. But motivating factors are plenty.”
The cartilage replacement surgery was performed on May 10, and Landeskog began the very lengthy rehab process shortly after.
Losing your leader for not the entirety of this season and the following season on top of a first round exit at the hands of an expansion team? Better believe that’s a blurst.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins came to Denver for a Sunday matinee late in the 2023-2024 season, they faced an Avs squad that had won eleven of their last twelve games. Pittsburgh, however, had lost ten of their previous thirteen games. With one team red hot and the other ice cold, the outcome seemed like a foregone conclusion.
Things got off to a great start…for Pittsburgh. They scored a pair of goals on Avs goaltender Alexandar Georgiev in the first period, then added another pair during the second period. Pittsburgh thwarted every chance the Avs had, giving goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic a relatively quiet time in goal.
The Avs found some life late in the second, as defenseman Sean Walker and forward Yakov Trenin would score a pair of goals 3:25 apart to put some pressure on Pittsburgh. Jonathan Drouin pulled the Avs within one early in the third.
Nedeljkovic was forced to leave the game after a collision with Avs center Casey Mittelstadt halfway through the period. A few minutes later, Nathan MacKinnon scored to tied the game at four.
The Avs wasted little time in the extra session, as Jonathan Drouin completed the comeback in just under a minute to secure the 5-4 victory for their ninth consecutive win.
MacKinnon scored a goal and two assists, putting him at a total of 122 points on the season, eclipsing the previous mark held by Joe Sakic (120) in Avalanche history. For his part, Crosby scored one goal and added three assists. Both players combined for two goals and five assists for a total of seven points, an impressive performance regardless of the outcome.
If there’s a better best than rallying from a four goal hole and pull out a win, it would have to be something pretty remarkable (which may be further down on this list).
The Blurst: Big Val’s Big Violation (May 13, 2024)
Trailing 2-1 in their second round series against the Dallas Stars, the Avs needed to earn another split on home ice to keep the series on even footing. Having lost Game Three by a 4-1 decision, a solid performance throughout the lineup, especially its biggest stars, would be essential.
Unfortunately for the Avs, they were about to receive some very bad news.
The abrupt announcement meant that the Avs would be without Nichushkin for not just the duration of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but through the middle of November in the upcoming 2024-2025 season. With Logan O’Connor already out with injury, and Gabe Landeskog fresh off his knee cartilage transplant surgery, the Avs were now missing three key components from their roster.
Nichushkin’s absence was noticeable as the Avs took the ice for Game Four. Dallas raced to a three goal lead in the first half of regulation, handily winning by a score of 5-1 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Avs forced a Game Six back on home ice with a 5-3 victory in Game Five, but a double-overtime goal by Matt Duchene in two nights later snuffed out the Avs’ playoff hopes.
While losing Nichuskin was a big factor in the Avs losing this series, there were other factors that led to their demise. However, Nichushkin’s own personal struggles consumed him in the worst way at the worst possible time.
With two previous strikes against him in the past, the third proved to be his most costly, and an even costlier blurst for his team.
2024-2025
The Best: The Captain Makes It Happen! (April 23, 2025)
You knew this was coming.
After three knee surgeries, including a knee cartilage transplant that had no guarantee of a successful return to the game, which resulted in three lost seasons totaling over 1032 games, the wait was over.
Captain Gabe Landeskog had been activated from injured reserve, making his long-anticipated return.
Earlier in this article, I mentioned that the sight of Landeskog skating the Stanley Cup on Ball Arena ice was one of the greatest moments I’ve experienced as an Avs fan.
This was on a whole other level.
The anticipation inside Ball Arena was the highest it had ever been, even surpassing the energy during the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. As soon as Landeskog appeared on the Ball Arena video boards, all that pent-up energy stored over three years by Avs fans in attendance, finally found its rightful place. When the house lights came up and Landeskog took pregame warmups, Ball Arena was louder than I’ve ever heard it.
Louder than any comeback victory. Louder than the fiercest rivalry match-up between any of the franchise’s most despised foes over the years. Louder than any of the three Stanley Cup wins. Louder than any—or every—jersey retirement of the greats from the past.
This moment beats them all.
The video above doesn’t do Landeskog’s re-introduction justice. Every fan of this team rode the highs and lows of his recovery, openly speculating—some even doubting—the probability of his return for three years. And finally, three years of determination, commitment, and incredible discipline, finally paid off at last.
You truly had to be there to witness how much emotion went into that moment.
Of all the bests covered in this series, this one may be the absolute summit.
The Blurst: Doomsday in Dallas (May 03, 2025)
It is said that, when the doomsday clock strikes twelve, a man-made global catastrophe will come about.
This is the hockey equivalent.
Not forgotten amid the sheer elation of Gabe Landeskog’s return to action was another familiar face: Mikko Rantanen, who had been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 24, had been acquired by the Dallas Stars on March 07. Rantanen previously returned to Denver as a member of the Stars on March 16, but this was the first time that he would face his now-former teammates in a playoff setting.
Rantanen had a quiet start to the playoffs, recording the secondary assist on Tyler Seguin’s overtime goal that secured a 2-1 victory for Dallas. As the series went on, his presence became more noticeable: he collected three goals and five assists for Dallas in Game Five and Game Six.
The Avs, who weren’t able to force a Game Seven the previous season, managed to do so with their emphatic 7-4 victory at Ball Arena. Two nights later, goals from Josh Manson and Nathan MacKinnon gave the Avs a 2-0 lead, which they carried into the third period.
From there, it all fell apart in the worst way imaginable.
Rantanen scored his first goal at 7:49 of the third period to solve former teammate Mackenzie Blackwood. Nearly six minutes later, with Cale Makar in the box for a tripping penalty, Rantanen tied the game on a shot that deflected off defenseman Sam Girard’s skate. Nearly three minutes later, Dallas took the lead on another power play opportunity.
With Blackwood on the bench for the extra skater in the final minutes, Rantanen gained control of the puck and had nothing between him and the empty net. He completed the hat trick among cheers from the crowd in attendance, adding the exclamation point on the series.
Once again, the Dallas Stars eliminated the Avs for the second straight season, but this time, it was at the hands of someone who had been one of their own for nearly a decade.
Indisputably, a blurst of doomsday-level proportions.
2025-2026
The Best: Going Wild Against Minnesota (May 03, 2026)
A sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round gave the Avs an opportunity to rest up in advance of their upcoming second round. Either they would face the Dallas Stars for the third straight postseason, or they would draw the Minnesota Wild.
With Minnesota winning their first round series against Dallas, the Avs knew they had their work cut out for them, but neither team expected this series to start out quite like this.
Just after the halfway point of the first period, the Avs scored three goals on Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt in 2:01 seconds to take the lead. Later in the period, Minnesota responded with two goals in 1:02 to keep the game close.
The Avs added another goal early in the second period, but Minnesota turned up the pressure, scoring three goals in 10:10 to take a 5-4 lead. Late in the period, the Avs found the equalizer, sending both teams to the locker room tied at five goals apiece.
Early in the third, the Avs scored twice in 2:22, retaking the lead. Minnesota cut the lead to one with just over four minutes to play, but two goals in 0:46 from the Avs (one of which was an empty net tally) capped off the scoring. When the dust settled, the Avs won by a final score of 9-6, in what became the highest scoring game in franchise history, taking a 1-0 series lead in the process.
A performance like this, and the series clincher against Minnesota in Game Five, made believers out of many people—including me—that the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance was all but inevitable.
Inevitable, however, would have to wait for another day. Until then, we’ll always have the best memory of a season filled with incredible moments to remember forever.
The Blurst: A Harrowing Heritage Hearkening (Various)
During the shortened 2020-2021 season, the Avs released an updated jersey design as part of the Adidas Reverse Retro Collection. Those jerseys were the envy of the League thanks to their integration of the Avs’ burgundy and white color scheme into the classic look of the original Nordiques jersey design.
While those jerseys won’t ever see a re-release (although they probably should), the Avs did the next best thing as part of their thirtieth anniversary celebrations this past season: a re-release of the original powder blue Nordiques jersey would be worn on select game nights to honor the team’s Québécois roots.
Not counting the Reverse Retro release, this was the very first time that the Avs publicly celebrated their Canadian origins as part of an anniversary year. Putting the classic Nordiques logo front and center, down to the smallest details, even going so far as to integrate Badaboum (Quebec’s original mascot) demonstrated that the organization wanted to put a lot of effort into recognizing their roots.
Given all of this attention to detail, what made this whole effort a blurst?
In total, the Avs wore the Nordique sweaters for eight games as part of their Heritage Series. Here’s a brief look at how the team performed:
October 23, 2025 vs. Carolina Hurricanes: after trailing Carolina (who wore their throwback Hartford Whalers jerseys for the occasion) 4-1 in the first period, the Avs rallied to tie the game late in the third period, but lost via a 5-4 shootout decision.
November 29, 2025 vs. Montréal Canadiens: the Avs scored a pair of goals in both the first and second period, eventually cruising to a 7-2 victory.
January 03, 2026 @ Carolina Hurricanes: Trailing 3-1 to Carolina (who again wore their throwback Hartford Whalers jerseys) after two periods, the Avs would score four unanswered goals to win by a score of 5-3, but lose defenseman Devon Toews to injury.
January 12, 2026 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: The Avs saw a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit in the third period. A goal by Martin Nečas tied things up, but an overtime goal from Toronto’s William Nylander saw the Avs fall by a 4-3 score.
January 29, 2026 @ Montréal Canadiens: Montréal scored early and often in this contest, jumping to a 3-1 lead after the first period, ultimately avenging their loss in November with a 7-3 defeat of the Avs at Centre Bell.
March 16, 2026 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first period and never looked back, as they would win one for the returning (but injured) Sam Girard by a score of 7-2.
April 01, 2026 vs. Vancouver Canucks: Goaltending was very optional in this game, as Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen and Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood surrendered a combined fourteen goals. Even though the Avs somehow came back from 3-1 and 6-3 deficits, they still wound up on the losing end, falling to Vancouver by a 8-6 final score.
April 11, 2026 vs. Vegas Golden Knights: In what could very well have been foreshadowing future events, both teams traded goals in the first and second periods, only for Jack Eichel to score the game-winner in overtime, defeating the Avs by a 3-2 decision.
Quebec’s history wasn’t always pretty, and unfortunately, the Avs embraced that side of their heritage a little too literally.
Looking at those results, there’s no way that this nod to history—even one that was as well-meaning as this one—couldn’t be considered a blurst.
Was there a best (or blurst) from these most recent years of Avalanche hockey that was overlooked? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Rick Bowness was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets last January, and what he did with a team that was dead last in the Eastern Conference was remarkable.
Of course, the season didn't end as they had planned, as they fell just short for a second season straight. Rick Bowness was and is the best coach for this team at the time.
The Hockey News' Adam Proteau has been ranking the NHL head coaches starting at 32 and working his way down. Proteau has CBJ Head Coach Rick Bowness listed at #14 on his list.
He had this to say about Bowness: "Rick Bowness infamously went off on his Columbus Blue Jackets players late in the season. But Columbus GM Don Waddell supported Bowness by signing him to a one-year contract extension."
"Bowness is 71 years old, but he showed this past season he could still succeed as an NHL coach, as he put together a 21-11-5 record in 37 games. Columbus narrowly missed the playoffs, but Bowness has a mandate to push his group into the post-season in 2026-27. He’s a no-nonsense coach who can provide structure and stability."
Rick Bowness will have a full offseason and training camp to prepare his team for the 2026-27 season. On paper, though, his team didn't get much better. Waddell made a trade for Val Nichushkin, a big power forward who is fast and has skill. Ideally, he will play on the top line with Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko, and will be considered one of the fastest lines in all of the NHL.
His defense is staying the exact same, along with the goaltending, barring any late summer changes.
Can Head Coach Rick Bowness get this same team to make another push for the playoffs? The schedule for the Blue Jackets is very favorable, with 7 of the first 9 games in October at home and 5 of the first 6 in November at home.
Getting a decent start has plagued this franchise every year of its existence. Can they change that this year with a good leader behind the bench?
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
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Nikolaj Ehlers waited more than a decade to get his hands on the Stanley Cup. When his turn finally came to bring it home, the former Winnipeg Jets winger made certain it was a day his hometown of Aalborg would remember.
Ehlers celebrated his day with the Cup on Thursday carrying hockey’s most famous trophy through his city before sharing it with thousands of Danish hockey fans.
Photo courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes
And naturally, he arrived in style: Ehlers placed the Stanley Cup in the passenger seat of a bright yellow Lamborghini, fastened the trophy securely with a seatbelt and drove it to Sparekassen Danmark Arena. The Cup rode shotgun as Ehlers cruised around Aalborg.
The 30-year-old then carried Lord Stanley down a red carpet and into the arena, where more than 4,000 fans had gathered for the opportunity to celebrate with one of Denmark’s newest Stanley Cup champions.
Ehlers posed for photographs, displayed the Cup and spent time signing autographs for those in attendance.
“We are enormously proud of his sporting achievements,” Mayor Lasse Frimand Jensen said in announcing the celebration. “But we are equally proud of the person he is and the great contribution the entire Ehlers family makes to their hometown and to the Aalborg Pirates.”
For Ehlers, the public celebration brought an emotional conclusion to a whirlwind stretch that began when the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to capture the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.
Ehlers fittingly scored the final goal of Carolina’s season, depositing an empty-netter with 68 seconds remaining in the Hurricanes’ 3-0 Game 6 victory. It was the first championship of his NHL career after spending his first 10 seasons in Winnipeg with the Jets.
“It’s been fantastic to be able to take the trophy home to Aalborg and Denmark,” Ehlers said following Thursday’s festivities.
“There are a lot of people who have come from all over Denmark. So, that means a lot. It’s been a solid day and right now that gives me a little closure to the wildest month I’ve had. It’s been fantastic and I’m super happy.”
The celebration came one day after fellow Hurricanes champion Frederik Andersen brought the Stanley Cup to Denmark. Andersen’s tour included a stop at Legoland before the Cup moved north to Aalborg for Ehlers’ turn.
For Jets fans, the sight was undoubtedly bittersweet. A beloved member of Winnipeg's only big-four professional team, the Jets selected Ehlers ninth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft, and he became one of the most electrifying players in the team's modern history. His speed and creativity made him a fan favourite over 10 seasons in Manitoba.
His time in Winnipeg ended without the championship both he and the organization had chased. But one year after signing a big deal in Raleigh and leaving the only NHL home he had ever known, Ehlers reached the top of the hockey world.
And on Thursday, he brought the Cup back to where it all began - with thousands of people waiting to welcome him home.
The Montreal Canadiens could use another skilled winger to solidify their top nine before the start of the season. At this point of the off-season, there are not too many notable free agent options left. Because of this, if the Canadiens hope to bring in another winger, their best bet would be the trade market.
One trade candidate who would make sense for the Canadiens to make a push for is Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk.
With the Canucks being in a full-on rebuild, DeBrusk has been a popular name in the rumor mill since leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. With the Canadiens needing help on offense, the 2015 first-round pick would be worth taking a flier on.
If the Canadiens signed DeBrusk, he could slot very nicely at their second line left wing spot. He would also provide Montreal with another scorer to work with on their power play if brought in.
In 81 games last season for the Canucks, DeBrusk scored a team-high 23 goals and recorded 42 points. This was after he scored a career-high 28 goals and posted 48 points in 82 games with Vancouver in 2024-25. He has also scored at least 23 goals in four out of his last five seasons. With numbers like these, he would certainly give Montreal's roster a boost.
DeBrusk would be a long-term pickup for the Canadiens, too, as he has a reasonable $5.5 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season.
The Chicago Blackhawks should have a goalie battle to watch once we get to training camp. Prospect Drew Commesso will be looking to earn himself a spot on Chicago's roster over Arvid Soderblom, and the possibility of him doing so should not be ruled out.
Commesso showed a lot of promise during his few chances with Chicago last season. In three games with the Blackhawks last season, the 2020 second-round pick posted a 2-1-0 record, a 2.31 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage. He also made a big statement with his 36-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 10.
If Commesso can impress at training camp, he very well could earn a spot on the Blackhawks' roster to start the season. The 24-year-old has shown promise at the AHL level for multiple seasons now. His best season with the Rockford IceHogs was in 2024-25, when he had an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.54 goals-against average.
Soderblom, on the other hand, appeared in 26 games last season with the Blackhawks, where he had an 8-13-3 record, an .880 save percentage, and one shutout. This was after he posted a 10-18-7 record, an .898 save percentage, and a 3.18 goals-against average with the Blackhawks during the 2025-26 season.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Blackhawks' backup goalie situation. Soderblom may have the edge right now, but a strong training camp from Commesso could change things on that front.
Report: Senators Players Grew Tired Of The Noise Around Brady Tkachuk, Including His PodcastAccording to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Sens teammates grew weary of the noise surrounding their former captain. 
