Golden Knights eye a 3-1 edge as a wild Stanley Cup Final heads to Game 4
LAS VEGAS — In a Stanley Cup Final filled with more twists and turns than a Six Flags roller coaster, it’s difficult to imagine what more could be in store when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 4.
There certainly is plenty at stake.
Should the Golden Knights win and take a 3-1 series lead, they will be in an almost unbeatable position. Teams with such an advantage in the final are 38-1, the one defeat occurring 84 years ago when Detroit lost a 3-0 lead and fell to Toronto.
A Hurricanes victory would not only even the best-of-seven series, but regain home-ice advantage potentially with two of the three remaining games in Carolina.
Good luck trying to predict where this series will go. What largely was expected to be a high-checking, low-scoring championship round has been wide open at times, with each team capitalizing on the other’s mistakes. The teams have combined to score 25 goals, the highest total through three games in the final since the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars had 30 in 1981.
There have been blown leads of at least two goals in each game. Vegas rallied from such a deficit in Game 1 and Carolina did it in Game 2.
Then came the real doozy in Game 3 when the Golden Knights led 4-0 well into the third period before the Hurricanes scored three goals in a record 39 seconds. Carolina eventually forced overtime, but the Golden Knights won in double OT when Shea Theodore bounced a puck off the boards that caromed off goalie Brandon Bussi’s skate.
Because of course it did.
Bussi, who hadn’t played in two months, entered in the third period after coach Rod Brind’Amour had seen enough of Frederik Andersen. The Golden Knights couldn’t figure out Bussi until that final wacky shot, so he might start in Game 4. Brind’Amour said he knows who will start, but isn’t letting on.
Golden Knights among greatest NHL expansion franchises even if they don’t beat the Hurricanes
LAS VEGAS — The line to get into the Golden Knights’ practice stretched well outside the door at the rink, and Vegas fans have had plenty to celebrate in its team’s nine seasons.
Back in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time, the Golden Knights are two victories away from winning their second championship in four years.
Carolina will have plenty to say about whether the Golden Knights get there, and the Hurricanes will try to even the series at 2-2 and reclaim home-ice advantage when the teams meet in Las Vegas. A win by the Golden Knights puts them in a commanding position.
Hockey historian Eric Zweig said Vegas is on the short list of top expansion franchises in NHL history, and another Stanley Cup should put the Golden Knights in the conversation as the best.
“It’s hard to compare,” Zweig said. “Frankly, in a 32-team league — I guess it was only 31 when they started — anything you do now is harder than it had to have been before. It just is. There’s so many more rounds of playoffs to go through. There’s so many more teams that you have to be better than to get there.”
The Golden Knights have a locker room full of players who have lifted the Stanley Cup, and their experience especially is valuable when the goal of winning it again is so close.
“I think it goes a long way,” said forward Brett Howden, who has a playoff-leading 13 goals. “Just the experience that we have in his locker room, the leadership, the way we’ve gone through adversity, the way our team stays composed. It just speaks volumes to our locker room.”
Howden was on the 2023 team that won the Cup, but there are a number of notable players still chasing their first title. Players such as Mitch Marner, Rasmus Andersson and Tomas Hertl.
Hertl came close in 2016 with San Jose, reaching the Cup Final before losing in six games to Pittsburgh. The Sharks made the Western Conference Final in 2019 — along the way eliminating the Golden Knights in seven games — before falling to St. Louis in six games.
“In the third season when I got to the Cup, I was like, ‘I’ll be right back,’” Hertl said. “You have a couple of good runs. You have a couple of years missing the playoff. You’re like, ‘Will it ever come again?’ You come here and it’s a great team in the first two seasons. We’ve been in the playoff, but we never get far. And now we’re sitting there, we have two wins to the Cup Final.
“Hopefully, we finish this the right way and it will be remembered forever.”
And, likely, among the greatest expansion franchises.
Zweig said the Golden Knights already are in the company of the Flyers, Islanders and Oilers.
— Philadelphia entered the league in the 1967-68 season and made the playoffs in its first two seasons and three of its first four. The Broad Street Bullies won the Cup in 1974 and 1975 and lost in the Final in 1976.
— New York debuted in the 1972-73 season and began a 14-year streak of making the playoffs in its third year. That included winning four Cups in a row starting in 1980.
— Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton was part of the World Hockey Association merger with the NHL in 1979 and made the postseason in each of its first 13 years in the new league. That included five Cups over seven seasons, though the last in 1990 didn’t include The Great One, who was traded to Los Angeles two years earlier.
The New York Rangers and Blues are other expansion franchises that could be considered. The Rangers began play in 1926 and made the playoffs in 15 of their first 16 seasons and won three Cups. St. Louis was part of a new six-team division in 1967, and by winning it the first three years automatically made the Cup Final. The Blues were swept in all three series.
“There’s been so much expansion since the ‘90s,” Zweig said. “Vegas is head and shoulders above all of those.”
The Golden Knights aren’t overly concerned about history, but they are trying to survive what has been an unexpectedly high-scoring series against the Hurricanes filled with whiplash-inducing momentum swings. The Golden Knights just as easily could be down 2-1 or even 3-0 in this series, but they overcame an early two-goal deficit in the opener and escaped in double overtime of Game 3 after blowing a four-goal lead.
“There was no panic,” coach John Tortorella said. “The only way I can explain it is (the players) get it, they’ve been there. A lot of this team has won and gone through the process of going through playoffs, and they rely on that. I think they challenge themselves. It isn’t a physical skill, it’s a mental skill, and we have that. I don’t know if we win the series, but I know we have that in this organization.”
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin reportedly submits 3-team trade list of Florida, Minnesota and Vegas
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade by submitting a three-team list of desired destinations, a person familiar with discussions confirmed to The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because talks are private. The Detroit Free Press first reported the development earlier in the day.
Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and his list was limited to being dealt to Vegas, Minnesota and Florida. He has five years left on an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, which carries an annual salary cap hit of $8.7 million.
The 29-year-old’s trade demand comes after completing his 11th season in Detroit, and 10th straight without a playoff berth. The Red Wings’ decade-long postseason drought now stands as the NHL’s longest active run after the Buffalo Sabres qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 15 years this season.
The Red Wings faltered down the stretch in becoming the NHL’s second team to have 69 points through 53 games only to miss the playoffs.
From Waterford, Michigan, Larkin enjoyed success in his Olympic debut, by winning a gold medal representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Games in February.
The challenge for Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is working out a deal with any of the three teams, who each are projected to be in the bottom half of the NHL in having $15.2 million or less in cap space available entering next season, according to spotrac.com.
And they include the Golden Knights, who rank 31st among the NHL’s 32 teams in currently having just $4.6 million of space available.
It’s unclear whether Larkin would be open to potentially expanding his list.
Larkin has spent his entire career in the Detroit area. He played collegiately at Michigan, and was selected by Detroit with the 15th pick in the 2014 draft. He’s a six-time 30-goal scorer, and coming off a season in which he had 67 points, including a career-best 34 goals in 74 games.
Rod Brind’Amour not disclosing goaltender decision for Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final
LAS VEGAS — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour is wearing his poker face well in Las Vegas.
Brind’Amour has decided who will be in net against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
He’s just not telling anyone.
“It’s always a suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold on to,” Brind’Amour said after practice. “It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it.”
Vegas leads the series 2-1 after a wild 5-4 double-overtime win in Game 3. The teams split the first two games in Carolina.
Starting goaltender Frederik Andersen didn’t practice, which Brind’Amour described as a maintenance day, but backup Brandon Bussi was on the ice along with Pyotr Kochetkov. All three were in rotation over the first three months of the regular season.
Asked what the coaches were telling him about his chances of playing in Game 4, Bussi smirked: “You know, Rod’s our coach, right?”
Andersen was brilliant for the Hurricanes, playing every minute of their first 15 playoff games before Bussi replaced him after Vegas took a 4-0 lead after the second period of Game 3.
Bussi shut down the Knights until Shea Theodore’s game-winning shot caromed off the end boards and went in after the goaltender inadvertently deflected it with his left skate 5:38 into the second overtime.
Brind’Amour told reporters he didn’t anticipate “a lot of changes” to the lineup, but would “see how (Andersen is) feeling.”
The coach quashed the notion that Andersen may have suffered a head injury when Ivan Barbashev’s left hip viciously collided with the netminder’s head. Andersen dropped to the ice face-first, where he lay flat with his arms sprawled out.
Bussi, who hadn’t played since April 14 before replacing Andersen, said his mindset doesn’t change on how to prepare for a game, whether as a backup or starter.
“It’s the same thing for me every day,” Bussi said. “I put my head down, I work hard. I just do the same thing every time. It’s easier that way.”
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes said they have confidence in whoever leads the team onto the ice inside T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night.
“Freddie has been unbelievable, Bussi’s been unbelievable this year, and Koch, before he got injured, he was incredible,” Nikolaj Ehlers said. “So we got a ton of confidence. We want to play the same hockey that we know we can play. In the end it doesn’t matter who’s in the net, we’re going to do our best to limit their chances and give them less hard work to do during the games.
“It doesn’t matter. We have full confidence in all three goalies.”
Taylor Hall said the smaller intangibles to consider might be the goaltenders’ styles of play and how to react when an explosive team such as Vegas is firing on net.
“Bussi plays an aggressive style, so I would say it’s more about taking away the other options around the ice a bit more so that he can just focus on that shot if we do give up a chance,” Hall said. “Where Freddie’s more patient, and he’s more of a, ‘let’s see what happens.’ He’ able to kind of save some backdoor plays and things like that.”
In other injury news, forward William Carrier skated at practice after missing the third period and OT after appearing to injure his arm during a check on Jeremy Lauzon.
3 Penguins Make Best NHL Pending UFAs List
The Pittsburgh Penguins are entering the summer with several pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Now, three of them have been ranked among the NHL's best pending UFAs.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the NHL's top 50 pending UFAs for this summer. Anthony Mantha, Stuart Skinner, and Ryan Shea all made the cut.
Mantha was given the No. 8 spot, and it is pretty easy to understand why. While he had a disappointing post-season for the Penguins, he thrived during the regular-season. In 81 games this campaign with Pittsburgh, he recorded 33 goals and 64 points. After a season like this, he will generate a lot of interest if he tests free agency.
Skinner landed the No. 20 spot on Johnston's list. When noting that he is one of the top pending UFA goalies who can test free agency this summer and has a ton of playoff experience, he should have a good amount of suitors. In 50 games this season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins, he had a 23-17-9 record, an .888 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average.
As for Shea, he was given the No. 23 spot on Johnston's rankings. The 29-year-old just had a breakout year for Pittsburgh, setting new career highs with six goals, 29 assists, 35 points, and a plus-30 rating. Now, he is due for a new contract, and he should land himself a very nice raise. That remains the case whether he re-signs with the Penguins or signs elsewhere.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Props & Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Best Bets
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Taylor Hall has been a driving force for the Carolina Hurricanes throughout the playoffs.
He has continued to excel in this series, which is why he headlines my Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights props and NHL picks for Game 4.
Be sure to read our full Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions for June 9.
Best Hurricanes vs Golden Knights props for Game 4
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Taylor Hall | Over 0.5 points | -105 |
| Jalen Chatfield | Over 1.5 blocks | -130 |
 Noah Hanifin | Over 2.5 blocks | +135 |
Game 4 Prop #1: Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points (-105)
Taylor Hall ranked first or second on the Carolina Hurricanes in scoring chance contributions in each of the first three rounds, and he’s been arguably their best player in the Stanley Cup Final.
Hall has generated 21 shot attempts and nine scoring chances at 5-on-5, most among all Hurricanes players.
The Hurricanes have dominated the run of play during his minutes, winning the shot-attempt battle 58-28 and controlling a team-high 66.68% of expected goals.
I see a lot of value in backing Hall and would play him to get a point up to -130.
Game 4 Prop #2: Jalen Chatfield Over 1.5 blocks (-130)
Jalen Chatfield is being thrown to the wolves against the Vegas Golden Knights. He has logged the second-most ice time of any Hurricanes player while seeing extreme defensive usage.
Nobody has started more shifts in the defensive zone, nor been on the ice for more defensive zone faceoffs. Chatfield is being spoon-fed difficult assignments and starting a lot of sequences in his own zone.
That has led to an uptick in blocked shots. He has blocked multiple in nine straight, including three or more in each Finals game.
Playable to -150.
Game 4 Prop #3: Noah Hanifin Over 1.5 blocks (+135)
Noah Hanifin has been on the ice for 91 shot attempts in 62 minutes at 5-on-5. He is bleeding shots — and blocking plenty of them along the way.
He blocked four shots in each of the first two games, and still picked up two blocks despite missing a good chunk of Game 3 with an injury.
Hanifin played a regular shift during overtime periods, suggesting he should see his normal usage moving forward.
This is a generous price for someone who has cleared this line in four of the past five games he played start to finish.
Bet to +125.
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Where the Flames Rank Among NHL's Longest Stanley Cup Droughts
The Calgary Flames haven't qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for four seasons, last reaching the second round in the 2021-22 campaign.
However, the Flames' Stanley Cup drought is now at 37 years, with their lone title coming in 1989. Heading into the 2026-27 season, Calgary now maintains the NHL's sixth-longest Stanley Cup drought, one year ahead of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.
Considering the Flames are rebuilding and looking towards the future with hopes of contending when Scotia Place opens for the 2027-28 season, the organization could reach 40 years before another Stanley Cup parade.
Right now, the Flames are experiencing their third-longest playoff drought in team history, one season away from tying the five-season stretch from 2009 to 2014.
OnThePowerplay on InstagramThe longest active Stanley Cup droughts 😬 Will the Hurricanes end t...After qualifying for the postseason in 21 of their first 24 seasons, including 16 consecutive years from 1975 to 1991, they dropped out of the postseason by 1996 and missed the playoffs from 1996 to 2003, a record seven seasons.
Yet that figure doesn't even compare to the other five NHL franchises currently ahead of them on the list.
Longest Stanley Cup Droughts
10. Montreal Canadiens - 33 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: 1993
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2021
- Total Titles: 23
9. Ottawa Senators - 34 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: Never
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2007
- Total Titles: 0
8. San Jose Sharks - 35 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: Never
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2016
- Total Titles: 0
7. Edmonton Oilers - 36 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: 1990
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2025
- Total Titles: 5
6. Calgary Flames - 37 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: 1989
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2004
- Total Titles: 1
5. New York Islanders - 43 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: 1983
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 1984
- Total Titles: 4
4. Philadelphia Flyers - 51 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: 1975
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2010
- Total Titles: 2
3. Vancouver Canucks - 55 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: Never
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 2011
- Total Titles: 0
2. Buffalo Sabres - 55 seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: Never
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 1999
- Total Titles: 0
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - 58 Seasons
- Last Stanley Cup: 1967
- Last Stanley Cup Final: 1967
- Total Titles: 13
Are you surprised to see all six Canadian teams on the list? Which one of them will bring the Stanley Cup north of the border? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Hart Trophy, Selke Trophy Among NHL Awards Never Won by a FlameAs the NHL concludes its annual award announcements, it's time to look back at which trophies have eluded the Calgary Flames in their history, including the Hart Trophy and Frank J. Selke Trophy. Five Serious Remaining Candidates In Race For Maple Leafs Head Coach Position
The Toronto Maple Leafs are reaching the second phase in their search to hire the 42nd head coach in franchise history.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs' second phase of the process is believed to include "about five candidates."
A few names have been removed from the Maple Leafs' radar since they fired Craig Berube in May. Manny Malhotra was hired by the Vancouver Canucks, and on Monday, the Los Angeles Kings hired Peter Laviolette, a coach who was believed to be among the finalists for the Maple Leafs' position, and even the Edmonton Oilers.
Aside from confirmed hires in other markets, David Carle seems like another bench boss who won't be joining Toronto after reports about him respectfully declining an interview.
Bruce Cassidy, one of the biggest head coaching names available, doesn't seem to be a favorite in the running for the Maple Leafs' vacancy. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has mentioned multiple times that he doesn't see a fit for Toronto and Cassidy, meaning a marriage between the two doesn't seem likely.
Mike Van Ryn reportedly interviewed for the Maple Leafs job, and though he is an internal candidate, he's been with the organization for three years, and it's clear the organization is looking to make changes.
Not only does Van Ryn not have any head coaching experience in the NHL, but as an assistant in charge of the team's defensemen, it's hard to say he held up his end of the bargain when his team allowed the second-most goals in the NHL this past year. Therefore, doesn't seem like he'd be the final decision GM John Chayka makes for the team's head coaching gig going into next season.
With that said, who remains in the race as a serious head coaching candidate for the Maple Leafs? With the latest reports in mind, here is a list of five NHL coaches who could be among the final five, in no particular order.
Report: Another NHL Coaching Candidate Off The Board As Maple Leafs Lose Peter Laviolette To KingsAfter losing Manny Malhotra last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs have another coaching candidate come off the board, as the Los Angeles Kings hire Peter Laviolette.Jay Woodcroft
There have been conflicting reports regarding Jay Woodcroft's status with the Maple Leafs and where he stands in getting the job.
Earlier this off-season, Frank Seravalli reported that Woodcroft was set to be interviewed by Toronto. But not long after, Friedman pushed back on that report, saying, "I do not believe Toronto has asked permission to talk to him."
Regardless, LeBrun added his two cents on Monday.
"I think Jay Woodcroft probably is," he said of Woodcroft's position among the remaining candidates for the Maple Leafs. He also added that he doesn't have that report 100 percent confirmed.
At any rate, Woodcroft would still be a worthy candidate given his tenure with the Oilers, leading the superstars of Edmonton to a 50-win regular season in his one full campaign with the organization. The Toronto native also took the Oilers beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the two post-seasons he was there for.
Most recently, he spent the past year as an assistant coach alongside veteran head coach Joel Quenneville. Woodcroft helped the Ducks defeat his former Oilers in the first round of the 2026 post-season and is an effective offense-minded bench boss.
Derek Lalonde
Derek Lalonde may not be the hottest pick to be Toronto's next head coach, but he is certainly qualified to guide the Maple Leafs from behind the bench and has been interviewed for the job, for that matter.
Lalonde is an internal candidate, and though management has been making changes with Toronto's staff, Lalonde has been with the Leafs for one season and was excellent at his job.
The 53-year-old was in charge of the team's penalty kill last year, which was one of the few bright spots for the Leafs. Toronto was among the top 10 in the NHL for its penalty kill, converting at an 81.2 percent rate.
He's also won two Stanley Cups as an assistant coach during his four-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning, meaning he knows what a winning team looks like.
Report: Maple Leafs Interviewed Internal Candidates, Lalonde, Van Ryn, For NHL Head Coaching PositionThe Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly interviewed Derek Lalonde and Mike Van Ryn for an NHL head coach position, confirming earlier reports from TheHockeyNews.comAs a head coach, he didn't have the best record with the Detroit Red Wings, coaching them through two-and-a-half seasons.
In total, his NHL record is 89-86-23 across 198 games behind the bench. However, in his best year with Detroit, 2023-24, the Red Wings missed the playoffs by a tiebreaker to the Washington Capitals. In different circumstances, Lalonde could've been the one to end Detroit's NHL post-season drought. But even since Todd McLellan came in, the Wings still don't have a post-season appearance to show for it after 10 years of missing the dance.
Joe Pavelski
Though the Maple Leafs indeed have Joe Pavelski on their radar for their vacant head coach position, he's certainly a surprising candidate. With that in mind, there is a fair reason for Toronto to be considering him.
Seeing how successful the hire of Martin St-Louis has been for the Montreal Canadiens, other teams may want to mimic the ideology of hiring a coach who was an NHL star, despite NHL coaching experience.
St-Louis coached minor hockey, as Pavelski has with the Madison Capitols U-15 AAA team, coaching his son, Nate.
Why The Maple Leafs Are Reportedly Interested in Former NHLer Joe Pavelski For Head Coaching PositionCould Joe Pavelski follow the Martin St. Louis blueprint and go from coaching his son's minor hockey team to behind an NHL bench?It's certainly a risk, but it could also pay off with the hockey mind that Pavelski possesses. Even with his lack of experience as a head coach in hockey, he appears to be a real serious candidate for the Maple Leafs.
"It's been confirmed to me… Pavelski is among those five remaining candidates that is scheduled for in-person interviews this week with the Toronto Maple Leafs," LeBrun said on OverDrive.
It would be a huge challenge for Pavelski stepping into his first-ever crack at being a head coach, for the biggest hockey market in the NHL, and in a crucial upcoming season that could determine how the organization operates in the next few years.
Nonetheless, if Pavelski didn't feel comfortable in that situation, he wouldn't keep himself in the running. So even though he's played in smaller markets, the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, he seems confident in the possibility of leading Toronto from behind the bench.
Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy is another former star player in the mix for the Maple Leafs' head coach role. However, he also comes with multiple years of experience as a coach in the NHL.
His latest tenure with the New York Islanders ended near the end of this past regular season. In what was his third year with the Isles, Roy was fired with four games remaining in the campaign to make way for Pete DeBoer.
However, Roy's dismissal at an odd time of the season shouldn't highlight his time in Long Island.
Though he never made the playoffs with the Islanders, he was on a great path this past year, exceeding the team's expectations going into 2025-26. With the help of the 2025 first overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, the Islanders were competing for the post-season until the very end. In fact, the day before Roy was let go, New York was actually in a playoff spot.
Roy deployed Schaefer effectively, putting the rookie in positions to succeed, which ultimately led to him winning the Calder Trophy and setting the stage for what looks to be a long and successful NHL career.
That reputation may be enough for Chayka and the rest of Toronto's brass to seriously consider hiring Roy as the Leafs' next head coach.
"Patrick Roy is still in this process, I'm told," LeBrun reported.
Also, with the goaltending talent and depth that the Maple Leafs organization have in their system, who better to guide them than Roy, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history.
John Gruden
John Gruden is a candidate who hasn't been confirmed to be among the final list of candidates for the Maple Leafs, but there could be a very good reason for that.
Gruden is currently in the midst of a deep AHL Calder Cup run, as his Toronto Marlies have just advanced to the final following Sunday's win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, eliminating them in six games.
Because of this important stretch for the Marlies, it would make sense if the Maple Leafs kept any contact with Gruden under wraps. Any talk of a potential role in the NHL could become a distraction for the Marlies and hurt what could be a Calder Cup-winning campaign, which would only strengthen Gruden's case.
Are The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup ChampionsWith the Toronto Marlies advancing to the Calder Cup final, how does this team compare to the 2018 Calder Cup champions, and what staff members or players are destined for the NHL?The 56-year-old has never been a head coach in the NHL, but does have experience as an assistant bench boss with the Islanders and Boston Bruins for five straight years before joining the Marlies in 2023-24.
But it's worth noting that coaches who go on to win the Calder Cup typically get a chance at coaching at the NHL level. That would apply to the likes of Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar, Jeff Blashill, Manny Malhotra, Sheldon Keefe, Ryan Warsofsky, and plenty more.
So, while no reports can confirm Gruden to be among the remaining names for the Maple Leafs' head coaching position, it wouldn't be absurd or shocking if he is a finalist.
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Logan Stankoven Sees Joe Pavelski 'Being Very Successful’ If He Got NHL Coaching Job With Maple Leafs
LAS VEGAS — If the Toronto Maple Leafs go with someone like Joe Pavelski to be their next head coach, Logan Stankoven could see it working.
One day before the Carolina Hurricanes face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Logan Stankoven sat down for a one-on-one with The Hockey News after the team’s practice at T-Mobile Arena.
Acquired by Carolina from the Dallas Stars in a midseason trade, the young forward believes Joe Pavelski would thrive if he chooses to pursue a coaching career in the NHL.
“I mean, if that’s the way he wants to go, I see him being very successful,” Stankoven said, citing the veteran’s personality, recent experience and proven ability to connect with younger players.
Stankoven’s endorsement carries some weight because of the time he spent living with Pavelski during his early days in Dallas, an arrangement that also included Dallas Stars teammate Wyatt Johnston and gave him an inside look at what made the longtime NHLer so effective.
“It was nice just being able to live there and learn from him and you could see why he played so long, just the way he takes care of his body and whatnot, and, yeah, that was a blast for me. It was a good learning experience,” Stankoven said.
NEWS: Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive mentioned that Joe Pavelski is 'one of the five candidates' for the Maple Leafs' head coaching position #LeafsForever 👀
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) June 8, 2026
Those months reinforced to Stankoven why Pavelski earned such widespread respect around the league, even from players who never shared a locker room with him. Stankoven pointed to his leadership, hockey sense and willingness to mentor as standout traits.
“I think just his leadership. He’s not a flashy guy, the way he plays, like, he’s so good with his stick. He’s not the fastest guy. He’s not the biggest guy. But he reads the game so well, and he’s really smart, Stankoven said about Pavelski. “For me being a smaller guy, it was cool to learn from him. Like, even before or after practices, he’d kind of pull me aside and we’d work on tips and stuff. And he was, like, he’s the best in the game at that. So it was just cool to learn from him and see what made him successful.”
There is talk that Pavelski’s next steps has included potential NHL coaching opportunities, with reports indicating interest from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Stankoven mentioned seeing those reports.
Would The Maple Leafs Hiring Joe Pavelski As Coach Be Like Throwing Him To The Wolves?As new Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka searches for his next coach, a familiar face has reportedly entered the race, as former Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks star Joe Pavelski will be interviewed. Could Pavelski thrive in a spotlight as intense as Toronto's?“I think just his personality and his demeanor, it’s easy to see why he could get a coaching job. Yeah, I mean, just shortly removed from the NHL.
Stankoven, 23, sees a clear advantage for coaches who have only recently left the playing ranks, especially in an era when the game continues to speed up and systems evolve.
“Teams do play a different way. Each team has their own system, but just the way the new era is, I mean, younger guys coming up and the way the game’s gotten a little bit faster and systems have kind of changed from back in the day a bit. So I think, if younger guys that are shortly removed from the league, I think they’d have a better understanding of what they need.”
He added that recent players often relate more naturally to today’s roster because they have lived through the same modern demands.
“I think from just personal experience, coaches that have played in the league, like, recently they relate to, they understand you, being through it all.”
Stankoven’s own rapid rise from that Dallas living-room mentorship to contributing in the Stanley Cup Final shows the lasting impact of learning from someone still fresh off the ice.
With guys like Martin St. Louis having success with the Montreal with no coaching experience other than pee-wee hockey, a template has been established. It’s not clear yet if that’s the way the Leafs want to go, or if they’d rather swing in the direction of experience.
3 Flyers Trade Alternatives to Dylan Larkin
While the Philadelphia Flyers may have missed the boat for a potential Dylan Larkin trade, all hope is not lost for finding a top-six center this offseason.
Larkin will turn 30 next month, and while is talent and leadership are undeniable, the Flyers can find themselves better long-term fits elsewhere.
Plus, they need their young players, such as Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone, to find their stride and reach their maximum potential at the NHL level before adding a veteran star.
Those two, at the peaks of their powers, are the whole appeal to Philadelphia's operation anyway.
One of the more intriguing names the Flyers have been linked to in recent weeks and months is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, who, 331 games into his NHL career, has yet to finish a season with 30 goals or 60 points.
Beniers, 23, was the esteemed No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, and a 57-point rookie campaign helped earn the Hingham, Massachusetts, native a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken.
Heading into Year 3 of that deal, the Kraken are still very much a mess of an expansion team. Beniers, with just four full seasons under his belt, has already played for two different general managers and three different head coaches.
Lost in Seattle's island of misfit veterans and prospects, the Kraken pivot could very well do with a change of scenery, which the Flyers can and should be willing to provide for Beniers.
Flyers Trade Targets: Best Alternatives to Unobtainable RFAsThe Philadelphia Flyers have no chance of getting a top RFA, but they can buy low on other talented centers available around the NHL to secure their future.With Michkov, Martone, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, and Trevor Zegras in the fold, the Flyers have significantly more talent, and more dynamic talent, than the Kraken do, and that would help Beniers ascend offensively.
He may not ever be more than a Nico Hischier-type at his absolute peak, but Beniers is a player the Flyers can win with if they continue to build properly.
The player picked right after Beniers in 2021 was Mason McTavish, who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks.
We've already seen this movie with Zegras, where a young player succeeds early but struggles with coaching changes and additional responsibilities that don't mesh with play style.
McTavish, a swashbuckling power forward with very little speed, looked like he was turning the corner last year with 22 goals and 52 points, but his ice time and opportunity decreased significantly with Joel Quenneville taking charge of the Ducks.
Still, McTavish did finish the season with a respectable 41 points in 75 games, plus six points in 10 playoff games.
Comparatively, though, Noah Cates did finish with 47 points for the Flyers this season.
With a McTavish trade, the Flyers are betting purely on potential.
The 23-year-old is already a questionable fit due to his skating, but the Flyers are reportedly interested and they are in a position where they can afford to be patient.
Such a move has already paid dividends with Zegras, and Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet is the type of coach who can find parts of himself in McTavish and coax those elements out of him onto the ice for quantifiable results.
McTavish has five years remaining on his contract at a $7 million cap hit, and his trade value may very well never be lower than it is now.
Last but certainly not least is Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton, who just limped through the worst statistical season of his NHL career.
Hayton, a 26-year-old pending RFA, broke into the NHL under Tocchet in 2019-20, and he was the fifth overall pick back in 2018.
Hayton, of course, has some talent to him to earn that draft slot, and he did score 20 goals and 46 points for Utah just a year ago, establishing career-highs in both categories.
After the way this season went, though, a change of scenery is in order.
Tocchet knew heading into last season that veteran center Christian Dvorak, who played for Tocchet in Arizona and was teammates with Hayton, had more offense in his game.
Dvorak promptly responded with 18 goals and 51 points for the Flyers this season in a top-six role, and Hayton, four years younger, could follow a similar path.
Hayton struggles with playmaking and finishing, at times, but he's a fairly decent skater at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, and knows where he needs to go to put himself in a position to score.
As was the argument for Beniers, Hayton would thrive in a new environment with more skilled, dynamic talents to support him.
With the 26-year-old in need of a new contract, now is a natural time for the Flyers to buy low and invest in Tocchet, his coaching skills, and a former top-five draft pick.
2025-26 Season in Review: Avery Hayes
Vitals
Player: Avery Hayes
Born: October 10, 2002 (age 23)
Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 180 pounds
Hometown: Westland, Michigan
Shoots: Right
Draft: Undrafted
2025-26 Statistics: Five goals, zero assists in 16 regular-season games
Contract Status: Hayes is signed through the 2026-27 season on his $867,500 entry-level contract.
Story of the Season
Hayes played 16 games with the Penguins this season, but he still led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 24 goals in 42 games.
The winger made his NHL debut on Feb. 5, during which he scored two goals in the first period of a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres just before the Olympic break.
That made him one of seven NHL players to score twice in the first period of their debut in the league.
Hayes had a harder time finding immediately success during his next stint in the NHL, a 10-game post-Olympics stretch during which he didn’t mark the scoresheet.
He was called up again at the end of March and scored his third NHL goal in a win at the New York Islanders.
Although he struggled to find ways to mark the scoresheet, Hayes was regularly visibly for his heavy hits and for his penalties (he recored 12 penalty minutes in just 16 games).
Hayes stayed up with the Pens for the final three games of the regular season, during which time the Penguins had already locked up a playoff spot. He recorded another two-goal night in the regular season finale against the St. Louis Blues.
Hayes didn’t crack the Penguins lineup during the playoffs. He added another three goals in 15 AHL playoff games as the WBS Pens made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before Sunday’s Game 6 overtime elimination loss by the Toronto Marlies.
Monthly Splits
Hayes made his Penguins debut just before the NHL paused the season for the Olympics from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24. When NHL play resumed, he appeared in the lineup for 15 of the Penguins’ 25 remaining regular-season games.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
Corsi For%: 44.98% (18th)
Goals For%: 46.67% (16th)
xGF%: 50.23% (14th)
Scoring Chance %: 51.5% (7th)
High Danger Scoring Chance%: 49.33% (11th)
5v5 on-ice shooting%: 12.28% (6th)
On-ice save%: 90.12% (8th)
Goals/60: 1.75 (1st)
Assist/60: 0 (18th)
Points/60: 1.75 (11th)
The Penguins didn’t spend a lot of time in the offensive zone when Hayes was on the ice, but his five goals in just 178 total minutes of ice time technically made him the most efficient scorer on the roster. He also recorded 23 hits in 25 games, per Hockey Reference.
Highlights
Questions to Ponder
Can Hayes crack the Penguins roster to start the next NHL season?
He’ll join Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen as fringe roster players who got a taste of NHL playing time last season and could get another shot at the roster next training camp.
The potential departures of players like Noel Acciari and Kevin Hayes could open up some bottom-six spots for a player like Hayes.
If he doesn’t make it in on the October roster, Hayes will likely continue starring for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the AHL team braces for the potential loss of Sergei Murashov to the NHL next season.
At the time of his February debut, Hayes was one of 12 rookies who played for the Penguins last season. Turning some of those players into full-time NHLers alongside Ben Kindel would help Kyle Dubas restock the roster at a relatively low cost this offseason.
Ideal 2026-26
Hayes struggled to make an impact on offense throughout most of his time in the NHL last season. An ideal 2025-26 campaign would include him finding a way to contribute on offense, earning a roster spot in training camp and then providing a physical presence in the Pens lineup next season.
It was obvious throughout the WBS Penguins’ run in the Calder Cup playoffs that Hayes knows how to get other under players’ skin. The Penguins could use a pest-like player like that if Hayes is able to make the jump to the NHL next season.
Bottom Line
Hayes has spent two seasons as one of the top forwards in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will get his best shot yet at a season-opening spot on the Penguins’ roster next fall.
The 23-year-old showed sparks of potential last season, particularly in his historic two-goal debut and with his consistent heavy hits, but he’ll need to find a way to make more of an impact on offense to carve out a more permanent place for himself on the Penguins’ bottom six.
Final Grade
C
Hayes would likely get an A for his work with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, especially during the regular season before his drop in production during the playoffs. In the NHL, he struggled to regularly contribute on offense but showed flashes that will likely get him another audition during training camp this fall.
What grade do you think Hayes deserves for his first 16 games with the Penguins?
Today In Canadiens History: The 24th Conquest
On June 9, 1993, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 to capture their 24th Stanley Cup, defeating Wayne Gretzky and his team in just five games. After the win, Patrick Roy was awarded the second Conn Smythe Trophy of his storied career. He would go on to win another one with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, becoming not only the first player to win the playoffs’ MVP title three times, but also the first player to win it in three different decades, with his first win coming in 1986.
This 1993 conquest by the Canadiens is also the last time a Canadian team won Lord Stanley’s Mug, but it has to be said that the American teams that have triumphed since have always had more than their fair share of Canadian players. This year, the Vegas Golden Knights have 18 Canadians on their roster while the Carolina Hurricanes have nine, ensuring that Canada will once again leave its mark on the Cup.
Canadiens Dobes Vows To Be Even Stronger
Canadiens Report Card Bottom Six Edition
Canadiens’ Gallagher Given Permission To Speak To Other Teams
It’s been 33 years since the Habs have won the big prize and in those years, they’ve made the Cup final once while their journey was stopped in the Conference Final three times, against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Halak spring of 2010, against the New York Rangers with the infamous Carey Price/Chris Kreider collision and this season, against the Hurricanes in what could rightfully be called the Dobes spring.
While this latest journey to the Conference Final came as a surprise with Montreal being ahead of schedule in its rebuild, it feels different from 2010 and 2014. Back then, it felt like the organization was banking on great goaltending and rolling the dice on offense; it’s no longer the case. With Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, and Lane Hutson, the Canadiens have more firepower than they’ve had since their last Cup conquest, and it certainly feels like they have reasons to hope their 25th championship could come soon. If you ask Demidov, he’ll even tell you he believes this team will win a few Cups in the not-so-distant future.
Ivan Demidov on the Habs future:
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 6, 2026
“This is a team that’s going to win, not only one Stanley Cup, but I think a couple more. That’s my expectation. That’s what I see in this team.” pic.twitter.com/4rySL0HIdL
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Why The Avalanche Can’t Afford To Let Brent Burns Walk
Every organization searches for talent, but the truly special ones find someone who quietly changes the culture the moment he walks through the door.
That’s exactly why the Colorado Avalanche shouldn’t hesitate to bring Brent Burns back for another season.
More Than An Iron Man
At 41 years old, Brent Burns is much closer to the final chapter of an extraordinary NHL career than the beginning, yet his value to the Colorado Avalanche extends far beyond his minutes on the blue line.
His greatest contribution isn't measured by goals, assists or blocked shots. It's measured by habits.
Burns is routinely among the first players to arrive at the rink and one of the last to leave, carrying the same relentless work ethic that first turned heads when he broke into junior hockey with the Couchiching Terriers in 2001.
During training camp and throughout the season, Burns could regularly be found staying long after practice had officially ended, working through extra drills with prospects. The Hockey News watched him spend additional time on the ice with Nikita Prishchepov, offering instruction after most of the rink had already emptied.
There are countless ways to teach the game, but the most effective lessons are often demonstrated rather than spoken.
For a generation of younger players trying to establish themselves, those routines become impossible to ignore.
The Standard Never Changes
Hockey continues to evolve with speed, skill and technology, but one ingredient remains constant on every championship contender: veterans who refuse to lower the standard.
Burns embodies that philosophy.
Despite battling multiple injuries throughout the season, he appeared in every single game, extending his consecutive games played streak to 1,007 regular-season contests. Only Phil Kessel's 1,064-game iron man streak stands ahead of him in NHL history.
That level of consistency cannot be manufactured.
Colorado's younger players see someone who has spent a quarter century preparing the same way every day and understand exactly why longevity isn't an accident.
He can still flatten an opponent when necessary, still fire pucks through traffic and still provide the emotional lift every contender needs during difficult stretches.
Talent helps teams reach the postseason.
Character helps them survive it.
A Locker Room Built On Character
One interaction away from the cameras perfectly illustrates why Burns has earned so much respect throughout the hockey world.
After practice one day, this writer was unexpectedly stopped by Burns inside the locker room. The conversation had nothing to do with systems, analytics or hockey strategy.
Instead, Burns was genuinely interested in hearing my life story, how I arrived at The Hockey News and where the sport fit into my journey.
It wasn't a brief exchange born out of obligation. It was authentic curiosity from someone whose reputation as one of hockey's friendliest personalities is every bit as real as advertised.
That mindset carries over to everything he does, whether it's mentoring prospects, interacting with staff members or setting the daily example for teammates.
Nathan MacKinnon summed up Burns' longevity with a smile before the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“I think with Burnsy, he just sleeps a lot — more than anybody,” he stated prior to the beginning of the Western Conference Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights. “He’s like a big bear. He’ll nap between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then go to sleep for another 10 hours. It’s crazy. I think that’s a big reason why he’s played so long.”
Whether he's training relentlessly or eating meat harvested from hunts on his ranch, Burns has remained committed to the same disciplined lifestyle that has carried him through 25 professional seasons.
The Perfect Mentor For Colorado's Future
The only major accomplishment missing from Burns' remarkable résumé is a Stanley Cup championship.
His place in the Hockey Hall of Fame feels inevitable.
His impact on Colorado, however, is already happening.
While his 12 goals and 23 assists won't resemble the offensive numbers from his prime, they remain productive contributions from a defenseman entering his 40s. The turnovers became more noticeable as the season wore on, but injuries almost certainly played a role. The Hockey News learned earlier this season that Burns was dealing with an undisclosed injury that would normally sideline most players for weeks.
Instead, he did what he's always done.
He kept playing.
Like a throwback cowboy refusing to quit, Burns fought through the pain and continued launching pucks toward the net, even during Colorado's Western Conference Final sweep against Vegas.
His point wrist shot in Game 2 created Ross Colton's opening goal after generating a rebound in front of Carter Hart, briefly giving the Avalanche momentum before the Golden Knights rallied with three third-period goals to seize control of the series.
Colorado’s future is beginning to arrive.
College standouts T.J. Hughes and Matthew DiMarsico are joining the organization, along with undrafted prospect Nikita Novosyolov. Their development will depend on skill, opportunity and patience.
It will also benefit from sharing a dressing room with someone who has spent decades proving that professionalism is a daily choice.
The numbers will eventually stop.
The iron man streak will eventually end.
One day, Brent Burns will skate off an NHL ice surface for the final time.
But that day doesn’t have to be today.
The Avalanche don’t need him to score 20 goals or play 27 minutes a night. They need him to show the next wave of players what it takes to survive—and thrive—in the world’s best hockey league.
Re-signing Burns for one more season isn’t simply about rewarding a future Hall of Famer. It’s about preserving a culture that championship organizations spend years trying to build.
If Colorado wants its young talent to develop alongside one of the game’s most respected professionals, the decision should be an easy one.
Bring Brent Burns back for another year, let him keep firing pucks from the blue line and mentoring the kids after practice.
If the youngsters leave the ice carrying even a fraction of Burns’ work ethic, humility and attitude, the Avalanche will have gained something far more valuable than another defenseman.
They’ll have inherited a standard.
Penguins Forward Signs Contract In SHL
A Pittsburgh Penguins forward is heading overseas.
Joona Koppanen has signed a contract with the SHL's Lulea in Sweden. It was officially announced one day after the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were eliminated by the Toronto Marlies in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs.
WBS was two wins away from advancing to the Calder Cup Final, but couldn't get enough scoring in the series.
🚨 Vi välkomnar 195 cm finsk center till Luleå Hockey!
— Luleå Hockey (@LuleaHockey) June 8, 2026
💬 "Jag ser verkligen fram emot att bli en del av Luleå Hockey och att få spela i SHL – där många av mina kompisar spelat sedan tidigare och gillat det..."
ℹ️ https://t.co/UpJeO0a5Zupic.twitter.com/vPBRcX0NRX
Koppanen spent the last three seasons with the Penguins' organization. He played in 44 AHL games during the 2025-26 season, compiling eight goals and 25 points. He also played in 13 NHL games, finishing with one point (an assist).
Koppanen played in 11 NHL games during the 2024-25 season, scoring one goal. He played in 56 AHL games during that season, racking up eight goals and 23 points.
Overall, Koppanen appeared in 28 NHL games over the last three seasons with the Penguins and compiled two points.
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