Twenty seasons and 120 playoff games after raising the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2006 — the eighth season after the franchise relocated — the Carolina Hurricanes are back competing for the best trophy in professional sports. 

And it couldn’t have come at a better time, nor with a better core. The Hurricanes have tuned out the critics who said there was no chance they would get to this spot, opting instead to play their way and style en route to complete domination. 

When the final horn sounded on the Carolina Hurricanes’ 6-1 win on Friday over the Montreal Canadiens to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup against the Vegas Golden Knights, there was almost a sense of relief mixed in with the joy. After seven seasons — that each seemed to have a similar disappointing ending — the wait finally paid off. Carolina’s journey with this core hasn’t always been smooth, but the patience has been worth the wait. 

The way last season played out for the Canes would have been considered a success for most teams. Instead, for Carolina, it left a bitter taste. 

While the Hurricanes were able to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, they were once again completely outmatched, losing to the Florida Panthers in five games. The one positive takeaway, at least, was they ended one of the worst — and strangest — playoff streaks in North American sports. 

Entering last season’s ECF, the Canes had gone three straight conference finals appearances without winning a single game after being swept in 2009, 2019 and 2023. Then the Florida Panthers, who swept the Canes in 2023, went up 3-0 last season in the ECF to bring the streak to 15 consecutive conference finals games without a win — the longest by five games in NHL history. 

The Hurricanes were able to snap the streak after beating the Panthers in Game 4, but their season came to an end unceremoniously in Game 5, bringing their conference finals record to a miserable 1-16 in the ECF since their Stanley Cup win in 2006. 

Entering the offseason it was clear something had to be done, but to what extent was the question. After whiffing on landing a big star following the departure of both Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen in previous years, many thought Carolina’s core wouldn’t be able to get over the hump. 

Instead of making any premature or drastic changes, general manager Eric Tulsky got right to work in the offseason to make the Canes better. Carolina first added K’Andre Miller in a sign-and-trade with the Rangers and then doubled down by signing Nikolaj Ehlers to the ninth biggest UFA contract in total value since 2015. 

After enjoying another dominant regular season this year, in which the Hurricanes finished with the second most points in the league and the best record in the Eastern Conference, the real test started in April. The doubts of whether this was the year the Canes would overcome their agonizing Eastern Conference Finals woes still hung above the franchise’s head. 

Despite complete domination through the first two rounds, which resulted in an unbeaten record heading into the ECF against the Canadiens, there was a split second where it looked like the pattern would continue when the Canes were destroyed 6-2 in Game 1. 

But overtime winners from Ehlers and Andrei Svechnikov gave Carolina breathing room and it was smooth sailing from there. 

The coffin holding the 19 years filled with conference final misery was officially put in the ground following Carolina’s win over the Canadiens on Friday. 

While it feels as if this season has already been a success, it’s far from complete. Any scenario that doesn’t end with a parade in Raleigh and another banner hung in the Lenovo Center might even be deemed a failure of sorts. It’s a simple equation that almost-championship teams never cement themselves quite like the teams that get the job done, for example the 2001-02 Hurricanes team that lost in the Stanley Cup versus the 2005-06 team that won it all.

To get to that level of immortality, the Canes will have to get through the Vegas Golden Knights, who will be without a doubt the toughest test yet. 

After firing head coach Bruce Cassidy in late March, the Knights have gone 19-4-1 under new head coach John Tortorella. They just swept the Stanley Cup favorite Colorado Avalanche and are playing their best hockey of the season. 

Mitch Marner, who Vegas traded for in the offseason from the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been a revelation so far this postseason. He has 21 points in 16 games to lead the Knights. Not far behind is Jack Eichel —  who was a key part of Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup win — with 18 points. 

Unlike the Senators, Flyers, or Canadiens, the Knights are experienced, physical and have the top end talent to be competitive with the Canes. They’ve also been in this position before with their Stanley Cup win in 2023, something Carolina can’t speak to. Vegas has also been the beneficiary of hot goaltending during the playoffs. 

With all that being said, this is the Hurricanes’ series to take. No team has been more consistent and more dominant across the regular season and postseason. 

Carolina is the only team since the NHL moved to the four best-of-7 series format in 1987 to enter the Stanley Cup with a 12-1 record. With a sweep, the Hurricanes can become the first team in NHL history to go 16-1 in the playoffs. 

First the Hurricanes surmounted their Eastern Conference Final troubles.

Now, the Stanley Cup is only four wins away from coming back to Raleigh for the first time in two adversity-filled decades.  

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are back in their Eastern Conference Final series against the Toronto Marlies after Monday's 5-3 win in Game 3. 

WBS needed to win to avoid being in a 0-3 hole and did exactly that, getting goals from five different players.

The Marlies opened the scoring in the first period before Aidan McDonough tied the game for the Penguins with 5:23 remaining in the first frame. Gabe Klassen corralled the loose puck after his original shot was blocked and was able to find McDonough, who tipped the puck into the net. 

Donzo on the power play ties us up!! pic.twitter.com/zBiJY2qvou

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 1, 2026

WBS took a 2-1 lead early in the second period when McDonough got a shot off from the left wing, and Bill Zonnon was right there to clean up the loose change. It's Zonnon's fourth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

BILLY Z GIVES US THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/v0qK5S5uLI

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 2, 2026

The Marlies tied the game late in the middle frame after a puck deflected off Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering's skate and into the net. It was another crazy bounce for a Marlies squad that has gotten all of the bounces to start this series. 

WBS rebounded from that bad break in the third period when Ville Koivunen made it a 3-2 game with 12:12 left in the final frame.

Tristan Broz accelerated through the neutral zone and dropped the puck to Koivunen after entering the offensive zone. Koivunen then gave the puck back to Broz, who was below the left circle, before he sent it back to Koivunen, who made no mistake. Koivunen even taunted the Marlies Crowd a little bit during his celebration. 

GOAL. Ville Koivunen off a feed from Tristan Broz gives #WBSPens a 3-2 lead in the third period.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/F0yPrYaPUM

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) June 2, 2026

Atley Calvert made it a 4-2 game off a slick feed from McDonough shortly after Koivunen's goal before the Marlies cut it to 4-3 with 51 seconds left. However, Tanner Howe iced the game with an empty-net goal just 15 seconds later to ice the game for the Penguins. 

Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov finished the game with 35 saves

It was a well-earned win for the Penguins, and they'll now have a chance to even up the series on Wednesday in Game 4. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

---

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With the 2026 NHL Draft approaching and free agency looming, the Edmonton Oilers face important decisions on several veteran depth pieces who are about to see their respective contracts expire. While the team has clear needs at goaltending and possibly top-six forward, bolstering the bottom-six and defensive depth can't and shouldn't be ignored.

Edmonton has let players leave in the past. In many cases, their decision to overlook what they had in-house didn't turn out well. 

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To avoid a repeat mistake, here are three players the Oilers should seriously consider bringing back this offseason:

1. Connor Murphy (Defenceman)

Connor Murphy was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2026 trade deadline and quickly became a steady presence on Edmonton’s blue line. The 33-year-old right-shot defenseman brings physicality, strong penalty-killing ability, and reliable top-four minutes.

Why bring him back? He wants to stay, he's a reliable player, and he fits perfectly alongside a player like Darnell Nurse. As much as Murphy himself can be effective, what some fans like about him even more than his own skill set is that he brings Nurse up to a different level, allowing him to play a style of hockey that better suits him.

At a projected $3.5M–$4M AAV on a short-term deal, Murphy would provide stability without breaking the bank. 

2. Jason Dickinson (Centre)

Another mid-season acquisition from Chicago, Dickinson excelled in a shutdown third-line role. An injury in the playoffs was the lone reason fans didn't get to see more of what he can provide for this Oilers roster.

The 31-year-old is a strong defensive forward who wins faceoffs, kills penalties, and provides quiet but effective two-way play. When it wasn't available against the Ducks, it became clear how much the Oilers could have used him in the lineup. Oh, and he's got a solid scoring touch, too. He's a former 22-goal scorer who should signs he maintains that ability. 

Why bring him back? Edmonton’s bottom six took a massive step back this past season. Dickinson proved he can handle tough matchups and help drive better 5-on-5 play. A 2–3 year deal in the $4M-$5M range would be value but not a hefty discount. Something below $4 million would be a no-brainer. 

3. Kasperi Kapanen (Winger)

Few have made more out of an opportunity than Kapanen. Picked up off of waivers, not much was expected, but he's proven to be a solid fit, offering speed and scoring ability. There were health issues last season, but when he's in, he's solid. He's expressed a strong interest in returning to the Oilers after playing a depth role in 2025-26.

The 28-year-old Finnish winger can keep up with top players, but is gritty enough to play a bottom-six role if the team is stacked. He has penalty-killing ability and offers secondary scoring that the Oilers desperately need.

Why bring him back? Kapanen is a low-risk, high-familiarity option. On a one- or two-year deal (likely $1.5M–$2M), he represents excellent value compared to chasing similar players on the open market.

Final Thoughts

Re-signing Murphy, Dickinson, and Kapanen would allow the Oilers to bring back players who more than earned their keep. Letting them walk will lead the Oilers to look for similar options on the free-agent market, bringing back unknown and potentially more expensive assets.

Stan Bowman has some tough calls to make, but these three should be near the top of his “priority” list.

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Trading for NHL players is a lot like playing the stock market.

Teams are always on the hunt for depressed assets who, for whatever reason, have underperformed in their current situation but may offer more potential value than the opportunity cost of acquiring them.

A quick glance around the league and several targets immediately come to the forefront. Injuries ravaged Michael Kesselring’s season in Buffalo, and he was frequently made a healthy scratch during the postseason. The hulking defenceman only played one game for the Sabres, logging 4:25 of ice time. 

In Anaheim, Olen Zellweger and Mason McTavish were similarly made healthy scratches during the Ducks’ postseason run, the latter of whom has had his name surface in reports within the last week.

Sources indicated to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that thSenators were actively scouring the market for a top-six forward, and inevitably, the conversation turned to McTavish.

The 23-year-old centre had a relatively disappointing campaign with the Ducks in which he tallied 17 goals and 41 points in 75 regular season games. It was the fourth consecutive season in which McTavish surpassed 40 points, but the campaign represented a down year after he set career highs in goals (22) and points (52) the season prior.

Naturally, McTavish is going to generate extra interest because he was the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and he is a local hockey product. His parents moved from Switzerland, where his father, Dale, played professionally, to Carp when McTavish was just eight years old. McTavish would play for the Ottawa Valley Titans and the Pembroke Lumber Kings before being selected fifth overall in the 2019 OHL Draft by the Peterborough Petes.

There is also the connection to Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios. The two acquired Mason McTavish when they ran the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. And, in one of his first moves after becoming the Senators’ general manager, Staios hired Dale McTavish as a pro scout.

Beyond those connections, the idea of adding McTavish to the fold is intriguing on several fronts.

A lot of attention has been paid to the idea that the Senators need a quick winger for centre Tim Stützle. Especially in the playoffs, where every microcosm of the game is magnified, there were instances where it looked like the shifty German centre would attack the opposition’s end with possession, only to look for support and find none.

The NHL Edge data is not particularly flattering of McTavish’s skating ability.

He ranks below the 50th percentile in both his max skating speed and each speed-burst metric. His presence, however, would afford the organization the flexibility to consider using Dylan Cozens on the wing - a position where he flourished alongside Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby at the World Championships. Cozens finished the tournament recording four goals and seven points in 10 games.

His max skating speed of 22.40 miles per hour ranked in the 84th percentile, while his 22+ miles per hour bursts ranked in the 91st percentile. Cozens had a resurgent 2025-26 campaign, scoring 28 goals and 59 points. They represented his highest totals since his breakout 2022-23 season in Buffalo.

Given the opportunity cost required to acquire a more proven scorer, it may benefit the Senators to target McTavish as a second-line centre and elevate an internal option like Cozens.

Perhaps the organization has suspicions that Cozens’ strong play in 2025-26 was primarily driven by the team’s structure and the fact that his most common linemate was Brady Tkachuk. If the physical, shot-generating Tkachuk is moved off Cozens’ wing and there are concerns that the centre will be hampered by that fact, it could make sense to use Cozens on the wing.

McTavish’s underlying metrics are a bit of a mixed bag to this point. Offensively, there are reasons to believe that his offence can play up.

According to HockeyViz, McTavish’s isolated offensive impacts were strong.

And, when he was on the ice, Anaheim did a significantly better job at generating chances.

The opposite can be said about his defence.

The defensive impacts make sense because the Ducks played a run-and-gun style. They ranked in the top five in shot generation at five-on-five, but gave up almost as many chances as they generated, with the fifth-highest expected goals allowed per 60 in the league.

McTavish played predominantly with rookie Beckett Sennecke and sophomore Cutter Gauthier, so given the team’s structure and the inexperience of his line, it is reasonable to understand why his line gave up its share of scoring chances. Granted, despite that rate, the line still generated 56.55 percent of the shots (CF%), 54.48 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 56.21 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 58.65 percent of the expected goals (xGF%) per Evolving-Hockey.

The buy-in from the players in Ottawa under Travis Green’s watch has created strong structure and ushered in impressive underlying metrics for seemingly every player. With McTavish’s competitiveness, the hope would be that he could buy in and be part of the solution. His age would certainly align with the window created by the average age of the Senators’ young core.

His situation is reminiscent of what another high pick, Sam Bennett (fourth overall, 2014), experienced in Calgary. After some mildly productive years, Bennett was dealt, in his age-24 season, to the Florida Panthers for a 2022 sixth-round pick and Emil Heineman, along with a 2022 second-round pick. In Florida, Bennett flourished and became an important cog on two championship teams.

McTavish may not develop into Bennett, but the situations are similar. And for that, I believe there is enough under the hood to explore what it may take to bring the centre to Ottawa. The cost will assuredly be higher than what the Panthers paid for Bennett in 2021, but if the Senators perform their due diligence and find that the projected future value outweighs what they would have to give up now, it would make sense.

And if not McTavish, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Senators expand their search for a top-six forward beyond just wingers. If there is one common theme to Steve Staios and his management group, it is that they are diligent and will explore all of their options to make this group better.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News

Brendan Gallagher Was A Great Canadien. Here's Why Ottawa Fans Remember Him DifferentlyCanadiens fans will remember Brendan Gallagher as a heart-and-soul player. Senators fans remember a fierce rival who was never afraid to stir the pot.

There's certainly no love lost between Ottawa Senators fans and Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.

So when Gallagher announced to the Montreal media on Monday that his time with the Canadiens was coming to an end, Senators fans likely viewed the moment a little differently than those in Montreal.

For Canadiens fans, Gallagher was the undersized, go-through-a-wall, heart-and-soul player who spent 14 seasons giving everything he had to the organization. Love him or hate him, he carved out an impressive NHL career and clearly wasn't prepared for the emotions that came with admitting his time in Montreal was over.

"I got to do it for 14 years now and it's not lost on me how special it was to call the Bell Centre home,’ Gallagher told the media.” The very first time I stepped foot in this organization, management, coaches, teammates I've had along the years. I can't (say enough good things). There's been ups and downs, but I don't have a single regret.

“It's pretty clear, I'll be kind of moving on here, but you know, I'm incredibly, incredibly..."

With that, Gallagher got emotional.

Gallagher still has a year left on his contract, which pays him $6.5 million. The 34-year-old is coming off his least productive season as a pro, recording 23 points in 77 games. While the Canadiens enjoyed a lengthy playoff run, Gallagher appeared in just three games, scoring one goal.

Whether his next step is a trade, buyout, or retirement remains to be seen. What isn't in doubt is that Gallagher leaves behind a memorable legacy in Montreal.

But in Ottawa, part of his legacy will always be tied to Tim Stützle.

Gallagher famously called out the young Senators star for embellishment following a game in April of 2022. Stützle had taken a knee-on-knee hit from Nick Suzuki and remained down on the ice for about 30 seconds before getting up and finishing the game. Gallagher wasn't impressed.

"You know, there's kids watching," Gallagher said. "We're role models. If I was a teammate of his, I'd tell him to smarten up. You know, it's just not a good look. Very talented player, very good player. He needs to stop laying on the ice. It's embarrassing."

The comments generated headlines across the hockey world and helped fuel an excellent Atlantic Division rivalry.

The irony, at least from Ottawa's perspective, was that Stützle was actually injured on the play. He gutted it out for the rest of that night, but missed the next two games against Nashville and the New York Rangers with a lower-body injury.

Nick Suzuki apologized for the hit, but Gallagher never walked back his take-down of Stützle. D.J. Smith would later say that after Gallagher's comments, he noticed an uptick in players from other teams taking runs at Stutzle.

At the time of the comments, Gallagher was a 30-year-old veteran in the league, while Stützle was 20 and wrapping up his second NHL season. Rather than escalating the situation, Stutzle chose not to react.

"I respect (Gallagher) as a player. Everyone has their own opinion. He's a veteran player. I have my opinion. That's all I want to say about it."

While Senators fans saw an older NHL player unfairly calling out one of the league's emerging young stars, Canadiens fans saw a beloved veteran standing up for what he believed.

Years later, opinions on the incident haven't changed much on either side.

Now, with Gallagher's Montreal career coming to an end, Canadiens fans will remember him as a fiery, buzzsaw player who was more than happy to bleed for the brand. Senators fans will remember him as a pain in the butt and a player they loved to hate.

Either way, Brendan Gallagher made sure nobody was indifferent.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Mason McTavish To Ottawa? Why The Trade Rumours Have ReturnedDespite signing a long-term deal in September, Carp's Mason McTavish is being mentioned in NHL trade chatter for a second straight summer.

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It looks as though it was one-and-done for Eduards Tralmaks and the Detroit Red Wings organization.

Tralmaks, who was signed by the Red Wings last March to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season, has signed a contract in Czechia - but also made it clear that if an opportunity to return to North America presented itself, he would consider it. 

(Translated from Latvian)

"I’ll be ready, I have a signed contract in Czechia, however, if an NHL offer comes my way, I can still consider it and go back to the NHL," Tralmaks explained. "This is the month when hockey ends and agent work begins. I think that in a month and a half we’ll see where I’ll be in the future." 

🚨 “Būšu godīgs, man ir parakstīts līgums Čehijā, tomēr, ja man parādās NHL piedāvājums, es to tāpat varu izskatīt un braukt atpakaļ uz NHL. Šis ir mēnesis, kad hokejs ir beidzies un sākas aģenta darbs. Domāju, ka pusotra mēneša laikā redzēsim, kur būšu nākotnē,” atzina hokejists… pic.twitter.com/QEwdeRH4PJ

— zemledus (@zemledus) June 1, 2026

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Tralmaks appeared in 64 regular-season games this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins, finishing fourth overall in total team scoring with 26 goals and 16 assists and helping them become the first AHL club in decades to clinch a playoff spot in February.

His 26 goals were second overall on the club behind only John Leonard's 33 goals. He also registered four goals in eight Calder Cup Playoff games. 

Before signing with the Red Wings, Tralmaks played with Rytíři Kladno in the Czech Extraliga, and led the club in scoring with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 total points, which were good for the most of any player in Czechia’s top professional league. 

Storybook Season For Carter Bear, Everett Silvertips Ends In Heartbreak Despite the best efforts of Detroit Red Wings 2025 first-round draft selection Carter Bear, the Everett Silvertips were bested by the Kitchener Rangers to win the Memorial Cup.

He did have previous experience playing in North America, spending several years with the University of Maine before collecting 41 total points in parts of three seasons with the Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins. 

Tralmaks also previously played for the EHL's Boston Jr. Bandits as well as the Chicago Steel of the USHL. 

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Four former Vancouver Canucks will take part in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final pitting the Carolina Hurricanes against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Carolina, a strong team throughout the post-season, swept both the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers before taking down the Montréal Canadiens in five games. This is their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since their championship win in 2006. 

Vegas, who defeated the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games, swept the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final to advance to their third Stanley Cup Final since their inaugural season in 2017–18. 

Last year, five former Canucks took part in the Stanley Cup Final, with Nate Schmidt, Jonah Gadjovich, and Roberto Luongo (Advisor) of the Florida Panthers defeating Vasily Podkolzin and Troy Stecher of the Edmonton Oilers in six games. 

These are the four former Canucks who will take part in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. 

Jalen Chatfield, Carolina Hurricanes 

Chatfield spent less than 20 games with the Canucks, but stuck with the organization in the AHL for four seasons. He signed with Carolina in July of 2021 and has remained with the Hurricanes since. In his first season with Carolina, he won the Calder Cup Championship with their AHL-affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. 

During the 2025–26 regular season, Chatfield put together a career-high in assists with 15. He also took on a much larger chunk of minutes, averaging over 20 minutes per game through 72 matchups. The defenceman has already hit career-highs in playoff points and TOI this year, scoring a goal and four assists and averaging 22:12 minutes in 13 post-season games. 

Nic Dowd, Vegas Golden Knights 

Dowd was a Canuck for less than one full season, skating in only 40 games for Vancouver in 2017–18, before joining the Washington Capitals for nearly eight years. The forward was traded to the Golden Knights ahead of this year’s trade deadline in exchange for goaltender Jesper Vikman and a 2027 third-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick. 

As a staple centre in Vegas’ bottom-six, Dowd has been one of the players that have performed well for the Golden Knights throughout their current playoff run, but has fallen under the radar. The centre has scored three goals and put up an assist in 16 games this post-season, potting two of these goals in his team’s series against the Avalanche. 

Ben Hutton, Vegas Golden Knights 

Hutton was drafted by the Canucks in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, playing for Vancouver from the 2015–16 season to 2018–19. The defenceman skated with the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs before finding a home in Vegas during the 2021–22 season. He hoisted the Stanley Cup as a member of the Vegas team that won the championship in 2023. 

So far this post-season, Hutton has played in a total of seven games for Vegas — six against ex-team Anaheim and one against the Avalanche — already five more than his total from the 2023 post-season. The defenceman collected an assist in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, with this being his first career NHL playoff point. 

John Tortorella, Vegas Golden Knights 

Tortorella’s time in Vancouver was polarizing, to say the least. The ex-Canucks head coach’s stint in Vancouver lasted through only the 2013–14 season, with Tortorella bringing the Canucks to a record of 36–35–11 during this span of time. Vancouver did not make the post-season during Tortorella’s time as head coach. 

When the Golden Knights made the decision to replace head coach Bruce Cassidy with Tortorella at the end of March, many voiced opinions ranging from both concern and praise. Since then, however, Tortorella and the Golden Knights have lost only four post-season games, with Vegas’ record under their new head coach being 19–4–1 dating back to when he was hired. 

2026 Stanley Cup Final Schedule: 

Game 1: June 2, 5:00 pm PT 

Game 2: June 4, 5:00 pm PT 

Game 3: June 6, 5:00 pm PT 

Game 4: June 9, 5:00 pm PT 

*Game 5: June 11, 5:00 pm PT 

*Game 6: June 14, 5:00 pm PT 

*Game 7: June 17, 5:00 pm PT 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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When the New Jersey Devils selected Lenni Hämeenaho with their second-round pick (58th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, they believed that they were getting a talented player who could be a great contributor at the NHL level. 

Through his first year pro in North America, it is obvious that this is the case. Hämeenaho spent part of the 2025-26 season with the Utica Comets and part with the New Jersey Devils. 

In the AHL, he had 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 37 games played. When he played in the NHL, he had 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points in 37 games. As his role grew, so did his production. 

Over the last handful of weeks, Hämeenaho has spent his time playing with Team Finland at the IIHF World Championships. In the end, the Finns won in overtime of the Gold Medal Game to secure a Gold Medal. 

To take home the Gold, they defeated Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Team Switzerland. That is three straight seasons in which the Swiss lost the final game, scoring 0 goals all three times. 

As heartbreaking as it was for Hischier and Meier, it was pure jubilation for Hämeenaho and his teammates. They play a high-effort, smart game that allows them to be successful no matter what their roster looks like. 

This tournament had to be a bit of a confidence booster for Hämeenaho, who had 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points over the 10 games that he played. As a depth player on the team, he played a key role in them getting to the end and winning. 

Now, coming off this Gold Medal-winning performance, Hämeenaho should be ready for big things with the New Jersey Devils. He has shown a scoring touch from the wing everywhere he goes, which should play into what the Devils are trying to do. 

If he makes the team out of camp, a spot with Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes could be up for grabs, depending on how the off-season goes. Even a spot on the third line with a healthy Cody Glass isn't a bad place to be early in a career. 

Confidence is half the battle for a lot of forwards who are expected to provide some level of offensive production, and Hämeenaho has proven that he can do it. If he can bring it with more regularity at the NHL level, he will prove to be a great draft pick. 

Coming into 2025-26, New Jersey didn't have a high total of offensive-minded prospects to tout, but Hämeenaho has been a bright spot. He should go into the off-season and then training camp believing that he can help the Devils as they look to get back to the playoffs in 2026-27. 

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RALEIGH, N.C.— With the Stanley Cup Final beginning in just over 24 hours, Raleigh, North Carolina, has become the temporary hockey mecca of the world. On Monday, hundreds of journalists, broadcasters, and other media members flocked to the Lenovo Center for the annual pre-Final media availability day.

For the players, this probably all seems like one big distraction that they’re contractually obligated to attend. But this is the third time in the past nine years that the Vegas Golden Knights have been a part of this dance, and they aren’t fazed.

“Well, most of our team is used to it,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella. “A lot of our team has traveled this road and found a way to win. We know what today is. We’ve talked about it, and we’ve baked it in as far as how we handle it. This is no problem for us at all.”

It’s true– most of the team is used to it. Of the 20 players the Golden Knights made available to the media, 11 have played in a Stanley Cup Final. Nine won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023.

From the top to the bottom of the roster, the Golden Knights are winners. This isn’t groundbreaking news– variations of this phrase have been said thousands of times over the last nine years. 

Because of their nature, the Golden Knights have also earned the reputation of being a team in perpetual ‘win-now’ mode. They’ve demonstrated a willingness to mortgage their future for a chance to win in the present, trading countless picks and prospects for players who will aid them in their quest to capture another Stanley Cup.

“The way that our organization was founded as an expansion team, one of the most important things we did was put together our pro scouting staff,” said McCrimmon. “Our amateur staff, who have drafted a lot of good players— and sometimes we trade those players, right?— have enabled us to be able to make some deals where we include players that we’ve drafted previously… That’s been the nature of our staff. We’ve had very close to the same staff in place since day one. We’ve got some great people in our organization, and that’s how we've built our teams.”

Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella is a firm believer in the importance of having the right mindset. He’s repeatedly stated that mental toughness is crucial to winning the most important games, and right now, his team has that in spades.

“They know how to do it,” said head coach John Tortorella. “They have experience. This organization, since its inception, the amount of playoff hockey they’ve played, and the amount of people that are in that room from 2023… They know how to do it. 


“I think X’s and O’s are very important in today’s game,” Tortorella continued. “But nothing is more important than a mindset, a mental toughness, and a will that you need in certain situations and in the playoffs. Our guys get it, and I think that’s the major piece of foundation that we have in the organization.”

Over the last decade, no team has enjoyed success more consistently than the Golden Knights. Since their inception in 2017, they lead the league in both postseason wins (74) and games played (122).

“It’s exhilarating to win,” said general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “We’re super proud to be back in the finals for the third time in our nine-year existence. It’s a privilege, and we don’t take it for granted. 
We work real hard; you have to get lucky along the way at times also. That’s been our objective right from the opening season.”

In a league where only the strong survive, the Vegas Golden Knights have earned the reputation of being a team willing to become stronger by any means necessary. They aren’t shy about adding to their team, whether by means of signing a prize free agent like Alex Pietrangelo or taking a swing at a top trade target as they did with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.

“We have made a lot of big decisions over our time in the league, and very bold,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon acknowledged during his Stanley Cup Final media availability. “I always say, to be big or bold is one thing, but you’ve got to make good decisions. And I think that we’ve collectively, through our hockey ops, done a good job of that.”

This year, the Golden Knights’ bold decisions reached a new peak when they relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach with just eight games remaining in the regular season. Kelly McCrimmon brought in John Tortorella to fill that void– a man he’d never even spoken to prior to the coaching change.

The gamble clearly paid off, as the Golden Knights went 7-0-1 down the stretch in the regular season to win their fifth Division Title in nine years. In the postseason, they beat the Utah Mammoth, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche to advance to the Stanley Cup Final in just 16 games. 

But despite the optics, Tortorella claims that he had very little to do with the team’s success. He’s repeatedly referred to himself as a ‘guidance counselor,’ stating that he does little more than nudge the team back onto the path when they’ve lost their way.

“This team knows how to play,” he said during his media availability on Monday. “It’s them. It’s not me or the coaching staff; it’s them.

“They handle themselves so well,” continued Tortorella. “That room self-sustains. That’s why they’re in the finals again this year, and that’s why they won it in 23, and that’s why they’ve been so successful. It’s not coaches being in there. 
It’s a room self-sustaining, and we’ve got good people doing that.”

Kelly McCrimmon seems to feel differently.

“He’s being really modest,” McCrimmon refuted. “He’s been a really successful coach in the NHL for a long time… I think he’s done a great job of coming in, reading the room, knowing what the team needs, and coaching from that perspective.”

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Speaking on the eve of the Stanley Cup Final, goaltender Carter Hart said Monday he has learned and grown a lot since signing with the Vegas Golden Knights after he and four other players were reinstated by the NHL following their acquittals in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case.

Hart is in the spotlight now in large part because he is the only one of the five players to sign a contract in the league. He addressed the situation after joining the Golden Knights in October but has spoken only about hockey since.

He was asked on Cup Final media day about comments he made in the fall and how he has learned and grown since then.

“I’ve been able to meet a lot of good people in the community,” Hart said. "I think the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation has done a really good job of making it easy for me to integrate into the community and meet a lot of cool people. Just really fortunate to be here in Vegas. It’s a great culture of people. Like I said, I’ve met a lot of cool people and just very fortunate to be here in Las Vegas and with this group.”

Hart's session was ended after his answer. General manager Kelly McCrimmon, who chose to sign Hart to a two-year, $4 million contract, was asked about the thought process and took issue with the notion that the 27-year-old goalie came with baggage.

“We went through a lengthy process of due diligence with Carter,” McCrimmon said. “Carter is a really good person. He’s ingrained himself in our community. He’s a player that I’ve known a long time, long prior to him becoming an NHL player. Playing very well. Obviously a big part of how our team is at this point that we’re at today, and he’s fit in seamlessly with his teammates.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Chicago Blackhawks lost Jack Pridham. He wasn’t going to sign with them, so they traded his rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He didn’t see much of a path to success in the Chicago organization, so he had other ideas.

After the trade was made, it became known that he was going to go to Denver, where he would find tremendous success with a truly elite NCAA program. There, he will attempt to translate his skills to a much tougher system against better opponents, which should better prepare him for the pro game. 

It’s a tough loss for the Blackhawks, but they got a third-round pick for him, which is what they paid to select him in the 2024 NHL Draft. It also isn’t going to make or break the organization going forward. Their pipeline will be just fine. 

As far as forwards go, they already have Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar at the NHL level. All of them are under 22 years old and are only going to get better. They also have high-quality depth players in the form of youth with Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Sacha Boisvert. 

In the pipeline, Roman Kantserov, Vaclav Nestrasil, Marek Vanacker, and AJ Spellacy were all ahead of Pridham on the ranking chart. Guys like Nathan Behm, John Mustard, and Mason West are also in the mix. With all of those players around, Pridham didn’t see a true path to the NHL, and that’s fair. 

If the Blackhawks can turn half of those players mentioned into legitimate NHL contributors, the future will remain very bright. Right now, their farm is superior in the league for a reason. Building through the draft has been their philosophy, and sometimes losing players like Pridham comes with that mentality. 

Time To Acquire NHL Talent Using Prospects

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of great prospects. Clearly, they aren't all going to make it to the NHL on a full-time basis. There isn't enough room. 

The prospects mentioned are aware of that reality, hence Jack Pridham's decision not to sign. If they see a path to more success elsewhere, they will take it. 

This is a reason for the Blackhawks to start acquiring more NHL-ready talent. They have been a bottom-five team for a handful of years now, and it's time to come out of that. 

With all of the youth in the lineup already, they must start experiencing late-season games that are meaningful. Trading prospects for players who will contribute right away will help the front office avoid players deciding to leave, as Pridham did. 

Sure, they recouped a third-round pick this time, but they might not be as fortunate next time. Over the summer, especially around the draft and free agency, there will be opportunities for Kyle Davidson to improve the team. Some of these prospects are assets in that quest. 

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired the rights to forward prospect Jack Pridham in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

The 20-year-old Pridham was selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2024 draft. He was eligible to re-enter the draft if he didn't sign an entry-level contract with an NHL team or commit to a college by 5 p.m. EDT on Monday.

Tampa Bay said Pridham had committed to play NCAA hockey next season, and the school was “expected to be announced in the coming days.”

The Blackhawks received a third-round selection in the 2027 draft in the deal with the Lightning.

Pridham had 46 goals and 44 assists in 65 games this season with Kitchener in the Ontario Hockey League. He also helped the Rangers win the OHL championship and Memorial Cup.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Vegas Golden Knights were 2023 Stanley Cup champions so it stands to reason they have a lot of championship round experience.

The Carolina Hurricanes haven't been to the Stanley Cup Final since they won it all in 2006, so it stands to reason that they don't.

The Golden Knights have 13 players with Stanley Cup titles, including key players Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev and Shea Theodore.

The Hurricanes have only two: captain Jordan Staal (who won in 2009) and William Carrier (who won with Vegas in 2023).

But that's in the past. How are the teams faring in this postseason?

The Golden Knights (4-0 vs. Colorado Avalanche) and Hurricanes (4-1 vs. Montreal Canadiens) are in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final after dominant performances in the conference finals. Here's how they size up:

Offense

The Golden Knights have the playoffs' top scorers in Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel and two 10-goal scorers in Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden. Mark Stone is back from an injury. The Hurricanes have the hottest line in the playoffs with Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake. The Sebastian Aho line hasn't broken through yet in the playoffs. If it does, this is a different series, but for now, it hasn't.

Edge: Golden Knights

Defense

The Golden Knights push teams to the outside and block shots. The Hurricanes make it difficult to get out of the zone. Carolina's Jaccob Slavin is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the league. K'Andre Miller was a solid offseason addition who has a league-best +14 plus-minus. Sean Walker is at +13. Hurricanes defensemen have better puck possession numbers than the Golden Knights do. Vegas gets better offensive numbers from the blue line. Shea Theodore (four goals, 11 points) is the top-scoring defenseman in the series, but he also averages 4.12 giveaways per 60 minutes.

Edge: Hurricanes

Goaltending

Carolina's Frederik Andersen gave up eight goals in the two losses in the season series, but Andersen is a changed goalie since the playoffs began. His regular season goals-against average was 3.05 and now it's 1.44. Vegas' Carter Hart, who faces more shots, is at 2.22. Moneypuck.com lists Andersen's goals saved above expected at 11.5, compared with Hart's 7.7. Andersen is motivated to win for his late agent Claude Lemieux, the four-time Stanley Cup winner who died on May 28.

Edge: Hurricanes

Coaching

Vegas' John Tortorella won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, but he hasn't been back to the final since. Rod Brind'Amour hasn't won a Cup as a coach but did as captain of the Hurricanes in 2006. Tortorella gets kudos for turning around the team after it fired coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the season and for sweeping the powerhouse Avalanche in a series involving two comebacks. Brind'Amour gets kudos for his video session after Carolina lost Game 1 to the Canadiens. The Hurricanes emerged in the next game as a different-looking team and dominated Montreal territorially for four games in a row to close out the series.

Edge: Hurricanes

Special teams

The Golden Knights' power play clicks at 23.9%, compared with the Hurricanes' 12.5%. But Carolina have a better penalty kill (92.5%) than the Golden Knights' (87.5%).

Edge: Even

Prediction

Hurricanes in six games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stanley Cup Final matchup: Do Golden Knights, Hurricanes have edge?

With the NHL Draft returning at the end of June, the Detroit Red Wings will be approaching proceedings a little differently than most. Having dealt their first-round selection at the trade deadline, Detroit will not have a pick on day one and will instead turn their full attention to the second round, where their first selection of the draft comes at 47th overall.

It is not a bad position to be in. The second round regularly produces meaningful NHL contributors, and there figures to be no shortage of intriguing options available when Detroit's card goes in. 

One name worth watching closely is Markus Ruck, an 18-year-old forward from Osoyoos, British Columbia, who just wrapped up one of the more eye-catching individual seasons in recent Western Hockey League memory.

Playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers this past season, Ruck posted 21 goals and a staggering 87 assists for 108 points in 68 games. Both his assist total and his point total led the entire WHL, with his 87 helpers coming 21 clear of the next closest player in the league. 

His 108 points also topped the league by four, with the player directly behind him being his own twin brother, Liam Ruck, in what made for an extraordinary family footnote to the WHL's individual scoring race. Markus carries some question marks at the pro level, primarily around his 168-pound frame, which raises durability and physicality concerns as he steps up in competition.

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At six feet tall, there is a reasonable projection that he fills out over time, but NHL teams will weigh that risk when deciding how early to commit. His offensive skillset, however, is difficult to argue with. Elite playmaking ability at this volume and consistency does not come around often.

The draft boards reflect the uncertainty around his ceiling like TSN's Craig Button, who has Ruck ranked as high as 16th overall, while McKeen's Hockey places him 54th, producing a consolidated ranking on Elite Prospects of 45th, which sits almost precisely where Detroit will be selecting. If Ruck slides even slightly on draft day, the Red Wings could find themselves with a straightforward decision.

As for Liam, he carries a consolidated ranking of 34th and is generally considered the hotter commodity on draft boards, with Button placing him as high as tenth overall. 

Getting to Liam at 47 would likely not happen and would require Detroit to trade up, making him a more complicated target. But the possibility of landing one half of a brother tandem that dominated the WHL's scoring charts this season is a scenario worth monitoring.

However the board falls, Detroit enters day two of the draft with meaningful ammunition and no shortage of options. The Red Wings have worked hard to build one of the deeper prospect pipelines in the league, and whoever they select at 47th overall figures to add to what is already a very promising foundation.

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