Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -211, Canadiens +175; over/under is 6
STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Canadiens lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the fifth time this season. The Canadiens won 6-2 in the last meeting. Juraj Slafkovsky led the Canadiens with two goals.
Carolina is 33-11-2 at home and 53-22-7 overall. The Hurricanes are 30-6-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.
Montreal has a 48-24-10 record overall and a 31-10-9 record on the road. The Canadiens have a +28 scoring differential, with 279 total goals scored and 251 conceded.
TOP PERFORMERS: Seth Jarvis has 32 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has seven goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Lane Hutson has nine assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 9-1-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.4 assists, 6.2 penalties and 14.3 penalty minutes while giving up 1.6 goals per game.
Canadiens: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.9 assists, 5.3 penalties and 17.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed.
Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The moment Cale Makar stepped onto the ice for optional practice Thursday, every eye inside Family Sports Center shifted in his direction.
After missing Colorado’s Game 1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final, Makar joined teammates for the skate, offering at least a glimpse of hope for an Avalanche team suddenly searching for answers without its most important defenseman.
Whether that translates into a return for Game 2 remains unclear.
“No, I don’t have an update,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Thursday. “We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Captain Gabe Landeskog speaks following a loss in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.
Colorado trails the series 1-0 heading into Friday night at Ball Arena, and Makar’s status continues to loom over everything surrounding the Avalanche.
The star defenseman is dealing with an upper-body injury believed to have originated during Colorado’s second-round series victory over the Minnesota Wild. While the Avalanche have remained guarded about specifics, his absence in Game 1 was impossible to ignore.
Without Makar controlling transitions, breaking pressure, and quarterbacking the attack from the blue line, Colorado struggled to consistently dictate pace against Vegas. The burden quickly shifted onto the rest of the defensive corps, including Sam Malinski, who logged more than 20 minutes in Wednesday’s defeat.
“You obviously can’t replace Cale,” Malinski said. “But we all know we have to step up and play a little more. So, I don’t think we really need to change the style of play. I don’t need to change the way I play.”
The Weight of One Missing Player
That’s the balancing act now facing the Avalanche — trying to survive long enough for their franchise defenseman to return while resisting the urge to become a different team without him.
Because when Makar is out, everything feels a little tighter.
Breakouts take longer. Odd-man rushes become harder to generate. The confidence that usually flows through Colorado’s game starts to fade in small moments that add up over sixty minutes.
If Makar remains unavailable Friday, Colorado is expected to once again lean on either Nick Blankenburg or Jack Ahcan to fill the final spot on the blue line.
Still, there’s no disguising what Makar means to this team.
Few players in hockey influence every layer of the game the way the former Norris Trophy winner does. His skating stretches defensive coverage, his puck movement fuels Colorado’s speed through the neutral zone, and his ability to erase mistakes often allows the Avalanche to play aggressively without fear.
When he is missing, the margin for error shrinks instantly.
And after dropping Game 1 at home, Colorado cannot afford many more mistakes.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 21: Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal on Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 21, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes dropped their first 2026 postseason game in grand fashion by a score of 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens. With the loss, they fall behind 1-0 after game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Canes had a record 11 day break between games and many wondered if that pause would cause some rust as they tried to work themselves back into game shape. The obvious answer was yes, although the Canes would not necessarily admit it.
While it seemed they had good energy, perhaps they were slow mentally.
After Seth Jarvis scored just 33 seconds into the game, the Habs would answer four straight times to make the score 4-1 before the end of the first period. Each goal was due to some breakdown or deficiency on the home team’s part. The Canes seemed to be skating in mud and were too often a step behind the speedy Montreal team in that period.
Captain Jordan Staal indicated that his team was not prepared.
“We were just not aware of them obviously. Different (guys), different style, different pace. Just awareness, really. The breakaways that we gave up right off the bat. Obviously, we need to find ways to defend better.”
If the team was not “aware” of how Montreal played, one wonders why they did not watch more film during their ample time off. Montreal, even with their short time between series, seemed to be well aware of how Carolina played.
The second period was more like Carolina hockey as they held the Habs to just three shots on goal. Eric Robinson scored on a breakaway to make it 4-2, but the Canes would not get any closer.
In the third period, the Hurricanes were only credited with two shots on goal themselves. Obviously, that was not going to get the job done. The Habs scored twice more, once on an empty net, to close out the scoring.
Jaccob Slavin blamed the loss on himself and not on the rust.
“No, I don’t think it had anything to do with the break but personally I think I handed them the game, so I need to be better.”
“I don’t think we were very sharp. Our top guys had a rough night and that will not work this time of year……… We clearly were not ready for that pace. I’m not going to use the layoff as an excuse, but we were not ready to play playoff hockey.
When asked why he replied.
“Yeah, we weren’t ready. I mean we were not mentally ready.”
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Montreal Canadiens never flinched in winning two Game 7s on the road to reach the Eastern Conference Final. Opening on the road again was no different, even against a well-rested top seed that had yet to lose in the postseason.
The Canadiens pounced for four first-period goals on slow-starting Carolina — coming off the longest postseason break in more than a century — and beat the Hurricanes 6-2 on Thursday night.
“We knew we could come in here and try to get off to a good start to the series,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said after a three-assist night. “We’re happy with the result, but they’re definitely going to be better than what they were tonight.”
Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault scored in the opening four minutes, Alexandre Texier followed four minutes later, and Ivan Demidov finished a breakaway for a shocking 4-1 lead midway through the opening period. That came against a team that hadn’t allowed more than two goals in an 8-0 playoff start.
Juraj Slafkovksy scored twice in the third period for Montreal, the second on a late empty-netter, while Jakub Dobes had 24 saves.
Game 2 is Saturday night.
The Hurricanes were the first team to sweep their first two playoff rounds since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987. But that led to a lengthy break of 11 days, the longest rest for any team before starting the next playoff run since at least 1920, while waiting on the Canadiens to battle their way past Tampa Bay and Buffalo.
That led to the rest-versus-rust discussion about the Hurricanes, along with how well the Canadiens would pivot from those to-the-limit wins.
And outside of Seth Jarvis beating Dobes just 33 seconds in, the Canadiens answered that question resoundingly in those opening minutes to extend Carolina’s misery in this round.
“I didn’t think we were very sharp, to put it bluntly,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Our top guys had tough nights. That’s not going to work at this time of the year.”
Much of Carolina’s success comes from pressuring opponents in the offensive zone and minimizing chances going the other way. But Montreal effectively moved the puck out of danger against Carolina’s aggressive pressure early, setting up clean breakouts, open-ice space and multiple breakaway chances at Frederik Andersen.
“The execution was there right off the bat,” Canadiens center Jake Evans said.
Danault’s goal was a full-speed breakaway right up the middle off a feed from Alexandre Carrier, while Demidov went forehand-backhand-forehand to beat Andersen for the 4-1 lead with 8:28 left in the first.
Andersen was leading the postseason in goals-against average (1.12) and save percentage (.950), but finished with just 16 saves.
Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which is in the Eastern final for the third time in four years and fourth time in the current eight-season playoff run under Rod Brind’Amour. But the Hurricanes are now 1-13 in those games, including sweeps against Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023.
Carolina’s loss meant the two Stanley Cup favorites both lost the opener of the conference finals. Colorado lost at home to Vegas on Wednesday night.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had a chance to eliminate Springfield in Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Final on Thursday night, but it wasn't meant to be.
It looked like WBS took the lead in the first period with a goal by Harrison Brunicke but it was disallowed due to goalie interference. The officials felt that Gabe Klassen made contact with Springfield goaltender Georgii Romanov and took the goal away.
However, Inside AHL Hockey's Tony Androckitis noticed via replay that it was Romanov who swept Klassen's leg at the top of the crease.
Take a look:
Complete & utter nonsense from AHL officiating yet again in these 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Thunderbirds goalie Georgii Romanov sweeps the leg of Gabe Klassen atop the crease & they call off the goal due to goaltender interference.
WBS lost all the momentum after that disallowed goal and couldn't get back to its game. Springfield eventually opened the scoring in the second period, thanks to Dillon DUbe. He scored a power play goal with less than four minutes left in the middle frame.
Springfield scores on the power play, and for the first time this series the Thunderbirds have a lead.
The Thunderbirds took that one-goal lead into the third period before making it 2-0 with 13:12 left.
The Penguins couldn't get anything going for the rest of the game and ultimately lost by that same score. The series is now even at two games all, meaning there will be a winner-take-all Game 5 back in WBS on Saturday.
Whoever wins Saturday's game will advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Montreal Canadiens never flinched in winning two Game 7s on the road to reach the Eastern Conference Final. Opening on the road again was no different, even against a well-rested top seed that had yet to lose in the postseason.
The Canadiens pounced for four first-period goals on slow-starting Carolina — coming off the longest postseason break in more than a century — and beat the Hurricanes 6-2 on Thursday night.
“We knew we could come in here and try to get off to a good start to the series,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said after a three-assist night. “We’re happy with the result, but they’re definitely going to be better than what they were tonight.”
Cole Caulfield celebrates after scoring a first-period goal on Frederik Anderson during the Canadiens’ 6-2 Game 1 win over the Hurricanes in Raleigh on May 21, 2026. Getty Images
Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault scored in the opening four minutes, Alexandre Texier followed four minutes later, and Ivan Demidov finished a breakaway for a shocking 4-1 lead midway through the opening period. That came against a team that hadn’t allowed more than two goals in an 8-0 playoff start.
Juraj Slafkovksy scored twice in the third period for Montreal, the second on a late empty-netter, while Jakub Dobes had 24 saves.
Game 2 is Saturday night.
The Hurricanes were the first team to sweep their first two playoff rounds since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987. But that led to a lengthy break of 11 days, the longest rest for any team before starting the next playoff run since at least 1920, while waiting on the Canadiens to battle their way past Tampa Bay and Buffalo.
That led to the rest-versus-rust discussion about the Hurricanes, along with how well the Canadiens would pivot from those to-the-limit wins.
And outside of Seth Jarvis beating Dobes just 33 seconds in, the Canadiens answered that question resoundingly in those opening minutes to extend Carolina’s misery in this round.
Juraj Slafkovský scores past Frederik Andersen during the third period of the Canadiens’ Game 1 win over the Hurricanes. AP
“I didn’t think we were very sharp, to put it bluntly,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Our top guys had tough nights. That’s not going to work at this time of the year.”
Much of Carolina’s success comes from pressuring opponents in the offensive zone and minimizing chances going the other way. But Montreal effectively moved the puck out of danger against Carolina’s aggressive pressure early, setting up clean breakouts, open-ice space and multiple breakaway chances at Frederik Andersen.
“The execution was there right off the bat,” Canadiens center Jake Evans said.
Danault’s goal was a full-speed breakaway right up the middle off a feed from Alexandre Carrier, while Demidov went forehand-backhand-forehand to beat Andersen for the 4-1 lead with 8:28 left in the first.
Andersen was leading the postseason in goals-against average (1.12) and save percentage (.950), but finished with just 16 saves.
Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which is in the Eastern final for the third time in four years and fourth time in the current eight-season playoff run under Rod Brind’Amour. But the Hurricanes are now 1-13 in those games, including sweeps against Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023.
Carolina’s loss meant the two Stanley Cup favorites both lost the opener of the conference finals. Colorado lost at home to Vegas on Wednesday night.
Montreal Canadiens fans across Ottawa and Gatineau are absolutely pumped that their team has advanced to the NHL Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes this week. So much so that a group in Gatineau was hoping to gather for a Game 2 watch party on Saturday with 4,000 of their closest friends in the city’s biggest rink.
However, the scheduled gathering at Centre Slush Puppie has been put on ice.
According to an article by Thomas Gerbet and Martin Comtois at Radio-Canada, the groups organizing the event got the required permission from TVA Sports, the French-language TV rights holder, whose live game feed would be shown in the arena.
The organizers reportedly believed they were good to go after that, but when you broadcast a team’s NHL game to that many people in a rival team’s market, and charge a fee to boot, it becomes a territorial rights issue.
The rule is that NHL teams control territorial rights within their city and roughly an 80-kilometre radius surrounding it, and the organizers didn’t get proper authorization.
It’s something you can usually get around by seeking timely permission and, most importantly, cutting the aggrieved team and the league in on some of the action. But with these teams, maybe not. There would naturally be some sensitivity about local events that help the Habs further build their fan base here.
Senators director of communications Sylvain St. Laurent told Radio Canada that the Sens had very little to do with the decision.
While it appears it ultimately came down from the NHL, Gatineau does remain something of a hot-button issue for the Senators. The organization has spent the past few years trying to make inroads in the market. Because the fans there felt largely ignored by previous Sens ownership groups, it's been (and continues to be) a stronghold for Canadiens fans.
Senators owner Michael Andlauer, who's bilingual and grew up in Montreal, would clearly like to change that. One of the organization’s hopes is that a new downtown arena might help win over young fans in Gatineau, considering a two-minute drive to see NHL hockey in person is a lot more enticing than a two-hour one.
So Canadiens fans in the Ottawa-Gatineau area will not get the chance to gather this weekend to take over a local arena and watch their team play. For that, they will have to wait until the fall and pay the usual premium prices (Habs fan tax) when the Montreal plays at Canadian Tire Centre.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This story was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. Click on the latest headlines below to read the latest stories there:
Ducks right wing Troy Terry slides the puck past sprawling Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson during a shootout last season. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry needs hip surgery that could endanger his availability at the start of next season.
Terry has a chronic hip impingement, the Ducks revealed Thursday in their postseason injury report. Anaheim’s first postseason since 2018 ended last week in the second round with a six-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks haven’t finalized a date for Terry’s hip surgery or a definite time frame for his recovery.
Terry has been Anaheim’s most consistent offensive player for the past half-decade, scoring at least 19 goals and 50 points each year. He scored 57 points last season before adding three goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games — the first postseason contests of his career.
The team also confirmed that goal-scoring forward Cutter Gauthier played with two fractured vertebrae in his back during the postseason. Gauthier was hurt in late March, but only missed five games before returning and eventually scoring 12 points in the postseason.
Captain Radko Gudas sprained his ankle in the Ducks’ playoff opener and didn’t return to the lineup, but he would have been available if Anaheim had advanced to another round. So would forward Ryan Poehling, who has been cleared after incurring a concussion from an illegal hit by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for a game.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov sprained a ligament in his knee, but he will be ready for training camp.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry needs hip surgery that could endanger his availability at the start of next season.
Terry has a chronic hip impingement, the Ducks revealed Thursday in their postseason injury report. Anaheim's first playoff season since 2018 ended last week in the second round with a six-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks haven't finalized a date for Terry's hip surgery or a definite timeframe for his recovery.
Terry has been Anaheim's most consistent offensive player for the past half-decade, scoring at least 19 goals and 50 points each year. He scored 57 points last season before adding three goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games — the first postseason contests of his career.
The team also confirmed that goal-scoring forward Cutter Gauthier played with two fractured vertebrae in his back during the postseason. Gauthier was hurt in late March, but only missed five games before returning and eventually scoring 12 points in the postseason.
Captain Radko Gudas sprained his ankle in the Ducks' playoff opener and didn't return to the lineup, but he would have been available if Anaheim had advanced to another round. So would forward Ryan Poehling, who has been cleared after incurring a concussion from an illegal hit by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for a game.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov sprained a ligament in his knee, but he will be ready for training camp.
The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes open the Eastern Conference finals. Montreal advanced after defeating the Buffalo Sabres in seven games. The Hurricanes swept the Philadelphia Flyers in four games. The puck line is set at Carolina -1.5 with an over/under of 5.5 goals.
How to watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Not only did the Grand Rapids Griffins stave off elimination from the Calder Cup Playoffs thanks to their overtime victory over the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday evening, but they'll now face a shorthanded Wolves squad in Game 4 of the Central Division Finals.
On Thursday, the AHL's Player Safety Committee today announced that Wolves defenseman Charles Alexis Legault has been suspended for Game 4 because of his dangerous hit from behind on Griffins forward Amadeus Lombardi.
The Griffins eventually prevailed by a 4-3 score in overtime thanks to a highlight-worthy goal from forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård.
Lombardi was selected with the 113th pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Draft, and has registered three assists in seven AHL postseason games this spring after having scored 16 goals with 26 assists in 47 regular-season contests this season.
Game 4 between the Griffins and Wolves will be played at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.
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Despite losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres had themselves a very special 2025-26 season. They not only made the playoffs for the first time since 2011, but also finished the regular season at the top of the Atlantic Division standings and defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round.
With how this season went for the Sabres, there is no question that Sabres fans' passion for the club skyrocketed. Due to this, they have landed some praise from New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes.
"The first thing I take from that whole series, that crowd in Buffalo is incredible," Hughes said. "I think that place is off the hook. They were down 2-0 early (in Game 7), and then when they got that first one, and then when Dahlin scored, the roof kind of popped off."
It is hard to disagree with Hughes here, as there is no question that the energy in the Sabres' building was incredibly high throughout the post-season. It is understandable that it was with how exciting of a year it was for the Sabres.
Now, the Sabres will be looking to build off their excellent season by taking another step forward in 2026-27.
The Chicago Blackhawks have four picks in the first two rounds of this year's NHL Entry Draft. They have the fourth-overall pick, their own second-round, the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick, and the New York Islanders' second-round pick. With this, the Blackhawks have the potential to land some promising new prospects in their system at the draft.
The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler recently released their latest mock draft, where they predicted each of the first two rounds of this year's draft.
For the Blackhawks' fourth-overall pick, Pronman predicted that Chicago would land left winger Ivar Stenberg. This would be massive if it came to fruition for the Blackhawks, as he is widely considered one of the best players in this year's draft. He has the potential to become a star in the NHL and would be a big pickup for a Blackhawks club that needs more skill on the wing.
In 43 games with Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Stenberg recorded 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points.
With the Blackhawks' own second-round pick, Pronman predicted that they would select defenseman Jakub Vanecek. Vanecek is a 6-foot-2 left-shot defenseman who demonstrated plenty of promise this season with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. In 59 games this season, he posted 14 goals, 21 assists, and 35 points.
With the Maple Leafs' second-round pick, Wheeler predicted that the Blackhawks would take another left-shot defenseman in Ben Macbeath. The 6-foot-2 blueliner spent this season in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen, posting seven goals and 51 points in 67 games. The Calgary, Alberta native has plenty of skill and could be a nice pickup for Chicago if selected.
Then, with the Islanders' second-round pick, Wheeler had the Blackhawks take goaltender Dmitri Borichev. The 6-foot-3 netminder spent this season in Russia's MHL with Loko-76 Yaroslavl, where he posted a 12-8-3 record, a .929 save percentage, and a 2.25 goals-against average.
HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) — The name of the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate is the Hamilton Hammers after the club was relocated to the Canadian city from Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The Islanders unveiled the Hammers moniker and logo at a news conference in Hamilton on Thursday and said it was a tribute to the city’s steelmaking industry. The team is set to play in the recently renovated TD Coliseum.
“We look forward to building on the progression and foundation established this past season in the AHL and bringing that momentum to Hamilton,” Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. “The Hamilton Hammers will embody the city’s hard-working spirit — built on heart, work ethic and a community identity that never backs down."
Bridgeport made the playoffs this past season in Rocky Thompson's first year as coach. Prospects such as recent first-round picks Cole Eiserman, Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson could all be playing for Hamilton in 2026-27.
The Islanders had their top minor league affiliate in Bridgeport for the previous 25 years.
The Philadelphia Flyers will have to think outside of the box this offseason if they want to make the big splash they have been advertising and add more firepower in the form of a top-six center.
By their own admission, the 2026 free agent class is devoid of any high-end talent, as studs like Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, and Artemi Panarin all signing contract extensions with their respective clubs.
That leads the Flyers to two roads, both of which can be dangerous if not navigated with care.
On one hand, the Flyers can leverage the mounds of cash they have available thanks to the salary cap increase and make a play for one of the top restricted free agents.
The problem, though, is that it would take a ludicrous offer sheet to get a center like Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson without Columbus and Anaheim, respectively, matching that offer sheet.
And, not to mention, Fantilli is yet to have a 60-point NHL season, and an unmatchable offer sheet from the Flyers' side would cost north of $12 million annually as well as four first-round picks as compensation.
So, the only other option for the Flyers is to consult the trade market, assuming they aren't willing to throw the kitchen sink at someone like Fantilli.
The Flyers' most obvious trade target, and one that is subject to great controversy online, is Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, who played under Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet for parts of three seasons.
Pettersson, 27, is a smooth, creative two-way forward who was, up until very recently, regarded as one of the best centers in the NHL.
The 2017 No. 5 overall pick erupted for 102 points in 80 games under Tocchet and Bruce Boudreau in 2022-23, then followed that up with an 89-point effort in his first full season under Tocchet in 2023-24.
Of course, Pettersson has managed just 30 goals and 96 points in his last two seasons combined, and it's worth noting the level of disarray that has plagued the Canucks organization in those last two seasons.
The other detractor for Pettersson is his staggering $11.6 million cap hit and full no-move clause, which severely limits the number of suitors for him on top of having complete say over his next destination.
At this point, the Canucks, who will now have a new GM and a new head coach heading into 2026-27, should lean into a full rebuild.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Flyers, Tocchet, and Pettersson all have interest in a reunion, but on paper, it makes sense, and there is a history of some success to fall back on.
No. 1 centers don't go on trees, and Pettersson may be the best shot at one for the Flyers. For all parties involved, a resolution might be the best path forward.
(Photo: Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images)
A far less appealing option, but still an option nonetheless, is Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, who appears to have completely fallen out of favor under new head coach Joel Quenneville, mimicking the career path of former teammate and current Flyers star Trevor Zegras.
McTavish, 23, just finished the first year of a six-year, $42 million extension that comes with an annual cap hit of $7 million, but GM Pat Verbeek and the Ducks paid all that out for a meager 41 points this past season.
The Ducks have Leo Carlsson in need of a massive new payday, and they have 2025 first-round pick Roger McQueen on the way, too.
McTavish won't come without his warts; he's four seasons into his NHL career with just one 20-goal, 50-point campaign and isn't a great skater.
Still, the Ducks could flip him to add more talent elsewhere and recoup some assets, whereas the Flyers would be betting on the potential that made McTavish the No. 3 pick in 2021, just as they did Zegras a year ago.
(Photo: Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)
Last but certainly not least, and sticking with the underperforming theme here, is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers.
The Kraken are not exactly the Vegas Golden Knights in terms of taking an expansion team and becoming an instant contender, and with most of their defense and winger groups rapidly ageing, they may as well start from scratch.
Beniers, 23, has played a role in that, too, with career-highs of 24 goals and 57 points through the first four years of his NHL career.
The 2021 No. 2 overall pick will turn 24 in November and is already heading into Year 3 of the seven-year, $50 million extension he signed with the Kraken on Aug. 20, 2024.
Beniers will be an unrestricted free agent as a 28-year-old in 2031 and is already making $7.142 million against the cap.
The former Michigan ace is a detail-oriented playmaker who does his best work in his own end of the ice. Beniers has the tools to be more of a scoring threat, though, and he can certainly unlock that potential in Philadelphia.
The Flyers have a much more robust group of wingers at their disposal than Seattle does, and as a result, Beniers won't have to focus on defense all the time while also trading in his Batman cape.
Tocchet and Co. deployed Matvei Michkov almost exclusively with Noah Cates and Sean Couturier this past season, so a partnership between Beniers and the Russian phenom feels like a natural fit.
No center on this list is a sure-thing, home-run add, but the Flyers are eventually going to have to make a move to get going on their way to becoming Stanley Cup contenders.
Talented centers with legitimate top-line upside don't come around very often, which makes now the time for the Flyers to use their roster and draft capital to build.
