It was a magical 2025-26 season for new head coach Dan Muse and the Pittsburgh Penguins, as the team made the playoffs against all odds and were, legitimately, one of the league's best offenses.
As such, Muse was rewarded when he was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year.
And, unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be this time around.
On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was named the winner of the 2026 Jack Adams award, earning 226 points. Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff (223 points) was the runner-up, while Muse was third behind the other two with 199 points.
According to NHL PR, the race between the three candidates was the closest it has been since 1983-84, when the balloting results were first published for folks to see.
Muse, 43, was a first-year NHL head coach for the Penguins, and he quickly became popular with his players, who lauded his communication skills and tireless work ethic all year long. He led the team to a 41-25-16 record (98 points), and Pittsburgh reached the postseason for the first time in four years.
The Penguins' 98 points tied a franchise record for the most points earned by the team during a coach's first season behind the bench.
For a small period of time, it looked like Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Toronto Marlies was destined for overtime, but Rutger McGroarty had other ideas.
With the game knotted at three, McGroarty intercepted a pass from Easton Cowan and then beat Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov through the wickets to give WBS a 4-3 lead with 2:59 left in the third period.
He made sure to give everyone one heck of a celebration after scoring that goal. McGroarty now has two goals and five points in his last five games.
GOALL. Rutger McGroarty steals it and goes five-hole on Artur Akhtyamov to put #WBSPens back in front with 2:59 left in the 3rd period.
It was a huge moment for McGroarty and it's exactly what Penguins fans should want to see from one of the top prospects in the system. McGroarty's game-winning goal tied the series up at two, forcing a Game 6 back in WBS on Sunday evening.
The Penguins showed a lot of grit and determination in winning this game. They got off to a slow start in the first period and goaltender Sergei Murashov made matters worse when he misplayed a puck behind his cage and it popped back in front for an easy shorthanded goal for the Marlies.
The Marlies made it 2-0 later in the period and had all of the momentum going into the middle frame. However, the Penguins woke up and got right back into the game when Scooter Brickey fired a shot from the point, beating Akhtyamov just 3:14 into the second period.
GOAL. Scooter Brickey? Joona Koppanen? 2-1 game.
Looks like Joona Koppanen & a Toronto defender at the net-front double-deflect Scooter Brickey's shot to get #WBSPens on the board early in the 2nd period.
Chase Pietila tied the game for the Penguins with a shot from the point a little less than six minutes after Brickey's goal before Gabe Klassen gave them the lead with 51 seconds left in the period.
Owen Pickering dumped the puck deep from the blue line before Ville Koivunen fired a gorgeous pass to the front of the net and the puck was knocked in by Klassen.
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 4, 2026
WBS tried to hang on to the 3-2 lead in the third period, but Toronto tied it with 6:56 left in regulation. Murashov initially made a save before he was interfered with, and Luke Haymes scored. The play was originally ruled no goal due to goalie interference, but the refs huddled and ruled it a good goal.
Here's the play:
Referees converge and rule this is a good goal with 6:56 left in regulation, tying the game at 3-3.
Unlike the NHL, goaltender interference cannot be reviewed by video in the AHL.
It was a bizarre call, but the Penguins weren't phased by it, and it ultimately led to McGroarty's game-winner.
It was awesome seeing some of the depth players like Brickey and Pietila step up to help the top prospects in this game. If you want to win a title, you need your depth players to make a difference at times.
The Penguins are now 5-1 on the road in the Calder Cup Playoffs and all four games in this series have been won by the road team.
A win on Friday would give the Penguins a 3-2 lead in the series and a chance to advance to the Calder Cup Final in Game 6 on Sunday.
Puck drop for Game 5 on Friday is set for 7 p.m. ET.
NHL Valuations—Nashville Predators – Jan 2, 2026 - David Boclair
NHL VALUATIONS
$1.6B FORBES
$1.6B SPORTICO
$1.75B ROUSTAN
OWNERSHIP
BILL HASLAM
BILL HASLAM’S NET worth has grown dramatically in recent years, largely due to the sale of his family business. Berkshire Hathaway acquired Pilot Flying J truck stops from the Haslam family in three transactions, the last in 2024.
And Haslam immediately began to spend that windfall on sports. The former Governor of Tennessee (2011-19) acquired a majority share of the Predators in four purchases over three years, a process that concluded in 2025 and coincided with a dramatic increase in his personal wealth.
Now worth a reported $5.7 billion, Haslam has already pursued a WNBA franchise for Nashville. His attempt to secure a team in that league’s latest round of expansion was unsuccessful, but he has made it clear he plans to pursue future opportunities to get a women’s professional basketball team, which he intends to call the Tennessee Summitt, for Nashville.
It will take some time, though, before he acquires enough professional-sports assets to match his brother. Jimmy Haslam purchased the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 2012 and, since then, has added the Columbus Crew in MLS and a minority share of the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA.
To date, Bill Haslam has exercised patience and restraint with the Predators. He has not made any significant changes to the business or hockey-operations departments, even though Nashville fell well short of expectations in 2024-25, its second season under coach Andrew Brunette. That places Bill in stark contrast to his brother, who had three different coaches in his first four full seasons as owner of an NFL team.
That measured approach should not be surprising. Haslam, a Republican, has maintained his connection to the political realm through a podcast he co-hosts with another former Tennessee Governor, Phil Bredesen, a Democrat. It is called You Might Be Right and is based on the idea that humility and respect for opposing viewpoints are essential to solving problems.
In other words, regardless of his enormous wealth or achievements in the business and political worlds, Haslam hasn’t shown the need to put his personal stamp on a franchise that has been to the playoffs nine times in the past 11 seasons and has developed a deep connection with the local fan base, which fills Bridgestone Arena (or comes close) for every game.
FEATURED BUSINESS EXECUTIVE
SEAN HENRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
IT WAS NEARLY A decade ago Sean Henry first publicly floated the idea of a dramatic transformation of Bridgestone Arena to ensure the building remained a viable part of a rapidly growing downtown.
Soon, his vision will be a reality. Earlier this year, Henry revealed the details of a $750-million project that will dramatically change the look and feel of the only building the Preds have ever called home. The plans include a near doubling of concourse size, relocation of the primary entrance, a transition from a primarily concrete exterior to glass, the addition of a 60,000-square-foot rooftop event space and more. The project is slated to begin after 2025-26 and to be completed in 2030. Henry hopes it will ensure Bridgestone Arena remains a place that connects generations of Preds fans.
ALTERNATE GOVERNORS: Tom Cigarran, Sean Henry, Michelle Kennedy, Barry Trotz
FEATURED HOCKEY EXECUTIVE
BARRY TROTZ
GENERAL MANAGER
BARRY TROTZ’S TIES TO the Predators – as the first coach in franchise history – had a lot to do with his hiring as the second GM in franchise history. It is clear, though, that his approach to his current role was shaped more by the four seasons apiece he spent as coach of the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, which included a Stanley Cup with the Capitals.
Trotz has eschewed the patient approach that defined the 17 seasons working with his predecessor, David Poile, and has aggressively retooled the roster through trades, buyouts and free-agent spending.
To date, his approach has not had the desired impact, but it has yielded four first-round selections and three second-round picks in the past two drafts. The hope is that the resulting talent haul will pay big benefits in the not-too-distant future as a sizable part of the current roster ages out of the league.
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
WHAT SETS THE Predators apart from many other pro-sports franchises in social-media performance is the presence and activity of CEO Sean Henry on X. His account, @PREDSident, offers fans a direct connection to one of the franchise’s primary decision-makers.
Henry provides glimpses behind the scenes of the front office, a personal touch to some of the team’s business dealings, and even the occasional opportunity for lucky followers to earn last-minute tickets. On top of that, his bio includes his email address, so anyone who really wants to get in touch with him can. That accessibility has been critical to the team’s connection with a fan base that took some time to form a meaningful bond with the team, and his deft touch has kept the account from becoming simply a place for fans to air their grievances.
The focuses of the Predators’ primary social-media activities are the team’s X and Instagram accounts. Nashville ranks in the bottom third among the league’s 32 teams in X followers but provides a steady stream of content about all things related to the team on and off the ice. Particularly on game days, there is enough content (highlights, graphics, updates, etc.) to make fans feel up-to-date and informed even if they are not in the arena or tuned into the radio or television broadcasts.
There is nothing unique or cutting-edge about the approach, nor is there a sizable staff devoted to that aspect of the operation. Instead, the account showcases the efforts of others in the organization, such as team photographer John Russell, whose work from the earliest days of the franchise was greatly underappreciated but now is available to a much wider audience.
The Nashville Predators' new general manager Chris MacFarland met the media in Nashville today for the first time.
It took the organization nearly four months to find a new GM; however, they got arguably the best one available.
MacFarland was hired as both the GM and the President of Hockey Operations, which was a step up from the role he previously had with the Colorado Avalanche.
It was a day that most Predators fans won't forget. As MacFarland talked through what is next for the organization.
First, he expressed just how happy he is to be a part of the Predators' organization.
“We can't wait to become part of the community here and dig in with my new teammates in the organization, and I’m super excited,” MacFarland said of his new opportunity. “We want to build something here…and make hockey something that's in the blood of every young Tennessee fan and build something really special.”
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After, Predators Chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam explained how they ended up landing on MacFarland to lead the club.
“When you talk to other great general managers and presidents of hockey ops around the league, and I said, ‘If you were me, who would you go get?’ Haslam recalled. "And Chris’ name came up time and time again from the very best people in the League. And then you talk to other folks who are just associated and knew him from his time with the [Avalanche]; they all said the exact same thing. So, it took patience and took a little persistence, but I'm really thrilled to announce Chris MacFarland as our new General Manager and President of Hockey Operations for the Nashville Predators.”
“I said, ‘Mr. Haslam, is the goal here to make the playoffs, make a Wild Card, feel good about that and high five each other? Or is the goal here to build a team that can compete and try to bring a Stanley Cup to Broadway?’ MacFarland asked. “And he didn't hesitate. [He said], ‘The goal here is to try and win [a Stanley Cup].’ And that's really, quite honest, all I needed to hear.” “Obviously there's work to do here, and we're not where we want to be, but there's a lot of good pieces here, and there's a lot of draft capital,” MacFarland said. “But, ultimately the results happen on the ice, and we just want to put our players and the team in the best position to have success and make life as easy for them off the ice so that they can focus on the job at hand, which is trying to win hockey games - which is not easy to do in this League.
“We're going to look to get better. How quick that happens? The players will dictate that… [Winning] is a really hard thing to do. But I think the first step first is to build, get the foundation right, get the right people in place on the hockey side and to work with the players to help them maximize their abilities. And then, we’ll go from there.”
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As a Predators fan, this has to sound encouraging. They waited four months and got one of the league's best GMs to lead the team back in the right direction. And, based on what he said when he met the media, MacFarland is aware it's not going to be easy, but he is prepared to build this organization the right way, and that starts with a solid foundation.
Mar 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper enjoys a light moment on the bench during a time out against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year.
The Lightning announced the honor Wednesday. Cooper finished ahead of Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff and Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse in voting by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
It is the first Jack Adams Award for Cooper, the longest-tenured coach in the league at 13 years. He is widely considered among the best at the profession and has two Stanley Cup rings to show for it.
Cooper led the Lightning into the playoffs despite missing several key players for long stretches because of injuries.
The winner of the 2025-26 Jack Adams (Coach of the Year) award was announced, and it was Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Along with the winner, the NHLPA released the voting breakdown, showing how the top 14 coaches received first-, second-, and third-place votes.
Jon Cooper is this year's recipient of the Jack Adams Award, which is presented to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. pic.twitter.com/71BF8CSQdk
First-place votes are worth five, second place is worth three, and third place is worth one point, among all members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association who were permitted to submit their own ballots. The final result had Jared Bednar fourth in voting, with four first-place votes, 13 second-place votes, and seven third-place votes, for a total of 66 points.
Despite the historic season the Colorado Avalanche had, he had some tough competition, with the three head coaches voted above him. Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins took a team that many, myself included, did not think would make the playoffs, but helped them finish second in the Metropolitan Division and break a three-season drought of missing the playoffs.
Arguably, if I had a vote, it would have gone to Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabers who helped break a 14-year playoff drought, win a very tough Atlantic Division, and advance to the second round and almost the Conference Final in a tight Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Though the winner ended up going to John Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who you could argue should've had two or three of these awards already, but took his first home this season. Despite an injury-filled season for the Lightning, he still managed to help the team to the playoffs, finishing second in the division, before being eliminated by the Canadiens.
The last time Bednar was a finalist for the award was during the 2017-18 season, when he helped the team finish with a 43-30-9 record and 95 points, earning a playoff berth. A significant jump from their previous season, where they finished with 48 points, dead last in the NHL.
One of the biggest areas of need for the Detroit Red Wings is the addition of another top-six forward to supplement their center depth.
During his season-ending press conference after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a franchise for the 10th straight season, general manager Steve Yzerman acknowledged that his club needs better players in order to end what is now the NHL's longest active drought.
That's where an acquisition of a bona fide top-six center would come in handy, and the Red Wings could soon have an opportunity to explore that possibility.
According to multiple reports, the New York Islanders are said to be interested in shopping forward Mathew Barzal, who would represent an immediate upgrade to Detroit's forward units.
Barzal, whom the Islanders selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, scored 19 goals with 53 assists for the Islanders in 2025-26 and has twice reached the 80-point threshold in his career.
Barzal has five years left on his contract that carries a $9.15 million salary cap hit, and also has a 22-team no-trade clause. An acquisition of Barzal would not only take some of the pressure off top center Dylan Larkin but would also help supplement Lucas Raymond's playmaking.
While Detroit would likely ask for the Islanders to retain a small portion of Barzal's salary, the rising salary cap would help the Red Wings absorb the hit.
The cost to acquire a player of Barzal's caliber certainly wouldn't come cheap for the Red Wings, who would likely have to include multiple blue-chip prospects such as the likes of Nate Danielson and/or Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, along with a current young roster player - perhaps Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
While a player like J.T. Compher would likely be Yzerman's first choice to deal away if it meant acquiring Barzal, it's hard to say if New York would accept him as part of a package, considering his dwindling stats over the last two seasons.
Additionally, Detroit does not have a first-round pick in this year's NHL Draft to offer in return, as that was traded to the St. Louis Blues in March as part of the deal to acquire Justin Faulk.
Despite this, the Red Wings have no shortage of prospects with the Grand Rapids Griffins that they could dangle as part of a package for Barzal, especially if the Islanders plan on building around Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Whether Yzerman ultimately chooses to use his bevy of prospects in an acquisition that could help the team immediately remains to be seen.
But based on what he had to say during his season-ending press conference, the door could be open for a significant acquisition in the coming months. If Barzal is available, there wouldn't be any harm in inquiring.
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Three original misfits, three Stanley Cup Final appearances, and now three wins away from becoming just the fourth franchise in the NHL's expansion era to capture multiple Stanley Cups prior to its 10th season.
The longest-tenured Vegas Golden Knights, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and William Karlsson were key to dragging them back into the fight Monday night.
Down 2-0 and wobbling, Vegas was searching for a spark, and Theodore lit it up with a point-shot one-timer at 13:28 of the first period. His three-point performance (1G, 2A) extended his total to 14 postseason points (5G, 9A). During the regular season, Theodore racked up 39 points in 70 games and logged nearly 23 minutes a night. The 30-year-old is now part of the first defensive pair in Stanley Cup Final history to have both partners record three points in a Game 1.
🎥 Hear from Shea Theodore, William Karlsson, Colton Sissons, Brett Howden, Brayden McNabb, Tomas Hertl, and Head Coach John Tortorella following Tuesday’s Stanley Cup Final Game 1 win against the Hurricanes.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 3, 2026
Who’s the other half of that defensive pair? McNabb. Known more for bruising, McNabb delivered a career-first three assists and a game-high +3 rating. Each touch? Simple, efficient, and perfectly timed. A tap to Theodore, a keep-in that extended the shift leading to Karlsson, and a pass that started the sequence for Brett Howden’s third-period tip-in helped define the game. In the regular season, with about 20 minutes of ice time a night, McNabb had 12 points over 63 games.
And then there was Karlsson. A heartbeat that is felt across the team and the community, his second-period strike, finishing off Mitch Marner’s backhand feed gave Vegas its first lead of the night and marked his first go-ahead goal of the postseason. Despite an injury-shortened regular season, he had seven points over 14 games, while creating efficiency during the initial playoff push with five points over 10 games. He’s been smart and opportunistic, two things the team needed to create a pivot point.
Together, the three combined for seven points, a +6 rating, and were on the ice for four of Vegas’ five goals. Nine years after the expansion draft these misfits are not too shabby – not too shabby at all.
PHOTO CAPTION
Jun 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates scoring with teammates during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
One of the Chicago Blackhawks' biggest objectives this off-season should be to add a proven star forward to their top six. It is clear that Connor Bedard needs more help around him as the Blackhawks look to be more competitive in 2026-27.
Due to this, the Blackhawks should strongly consider targeting New York Islanders star forward Mathew Barzal this off-season. The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch recently reported that the Islanders have been exploring Barzal's market.
"A league executive told The Citizen that the New York Islanders are exploring the market for forward Mathew Barzal," Garrioch wrote.
While that does not mean the Islanders will automatically trade Barzal this summer, the Blackhawks should still consider making a push for him. He would have the potential to be an excellent addition to their top six due to his elite playmaking skill. This is especially so when noting that he can play both center and right wing.
Barzal could thrive playing on a line with a superstar center like Bedard. The Islanders star forward would also give the Blackhawks another major weapon to work with on their power play.
Barzal would be more than a rental for the Blackhawks if acquired, too. This is because he has a $9.15 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season.
In 81 games this season with the Islanders, Barzal recorded 19 goals, 53 assists, 72 points, and a plus-10 rating.
The NHL All-Star Game is going to look a little different next season.
On Tuesday, the league unveiled the format for the 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend, which is set to take place Feb. 5 and 6 at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.
The All-Star Game itself will feature five different teams: the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden and what the league is calling a “world” team which will be comprised of international players from countries outside of the other four nations.
And yes, the league likely is making this transition based off the success of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Each of the five teams will be made up of 11 players, with nine skaters and two goalies.
Based off comments from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly during a press conference ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, it does not sound like Russian players will be included with the “world” team, not until a time if/when the IIHF allows Russia to compete again.
The NHL will select 30 players from each of the five teams for fans to vote on in order to create the rosters, with the 2027 NHL All-Star Fan Vote officially opening in December.
Fans will select eight players for each of the five teams, leaving the NHL and NHLPA to jointly select one forward, one defenseman and one goaltender to fill out each squad.
All five teams will play four 5-minute games as part of a round-robin tournament, and then the top two teams will advance to a 10-minute final match. The tournament will follow a point system of two points for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. There will only be overtime for the final match.
The winning team will take home a cool $2 million prize.
Additionally, the NHL All-Star Skills competition is undergoing some changes as well.
There will be eight total events and only ten players will participate.
All players will all be 25 years old or younger, with each participant selected jointly by the NHL and NHLPA.
The first six events are pretty traditional: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Passing Challenge, One-Timers, Stick Handling and Accuracy Shooting.
After that, the top four players advance to a shootout, where they’ll have to face the All-Star goaltenders, and then the top two competitors will battle in the last event, which is called the Obstacle Course Finale.
The player crowned Skills Competition champion will be awarded a prize of $1 million.
So, in a nutshell, there’s your All-Star Weekend for next season.
Assuming the Florida Panthers aren’t decimated by injuries again, it’s reasonable to think that there could be some solid South Florida representation at the annual gathering of talent.
Interestingly, just as it was when the NHL held its 4 Nations Face-Off, the Panthers are likely to be represented by only those same four countries.
Looking at potential All-Star candidates from Florida’s current roster, Matthew Tkachuk and Seth Jones could easily get tapped by Team USA, and it’s not hard to imagine youngster Mackie Samoskevich making a case for himself to be a part of the 25-and-under Skills Competition.
The Panthers have several Canadians on their roster who could easily receive All-Star consideration with strong showings next season.
Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad have all participated at the NHL All-Star Game before, and we’ve seen what happens when Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe get going.
Florida has one of the deeper Finnish contingents in the NHL, as evidenced by their representation at both 4 Nations and this year’s Winter Olympics.
With the All-Star rosters being quite limited in size, though, it’s likely that only a fraction of Florida’s Finns receive consideration.
Obviously that includes Panthers captain and world class two-way center Sasha Barkov, who also captains the Finnish National Team. Fellow Florida centerman Anton Lundell continues to improve and impress year-over-year, and he could easily find himself on the short list of potential All-Stars should he continue on that path and have a strong start to his season.
Team Sweden will take a good look at Panthers blueliner Gus Forsling, as he has grown into one of the top two-way defensemen in the game.
Again, considering its an All-Star game with a limited roster, Forsling could end up an odd-man out among some very good Swedish defensemen such as Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin and Erik Karlsson.
Now keep in mind that plenty of things could change between now and next season, though.
Florida’s roster could end up looking a bit different depending how things shake out between the NHL Draft at the end of the month, free agency opening on July 1 and the days and weeks that follow.
Let us know in the comments below which Panthers players you think will be heading to Long Island for next season’s All-Star festivities.
Photo caption: Feb 3, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Team McDavid center Sam Reinhart (13) of the Florida Panthers skates during the warmup before the 2024 NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
The Carolina Hurricanes dropped Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, losing 5-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Despite a strong start, Carolina couldn't fend off Vegas' push and eventually made the critical mistake in the final minutes.
Here are 7 takeaways from the loss:
1. Top Line MIA
The Hurricanes' top line has struggled to find consistency all postseason and now, on this stage, that effort is just not going to cut it.
They just haven't been as dominant as we're used to seeing them and they've just been unable to really sustain offensive pressure.
"They've got to play in the other teams end," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "They're too much one and done and not even one and it’s not a lot of time. So they got to get a little more offensive zone time. Kind of like that last shift they had. That was one of the shifts you could say, "Okay, there you go. That's how it needs to look." So we need them to get going."
The trio have only combined for two 5v5 goals all postseason and while they were at least strong defensively in the early rounds, they're now struggling to contain their opponents as they were one of the worst defensive lines for Carolina in Game 1.
The line had just a 48.16 expected goals for percentage, the highest expected goals against total and surrendered the most high-danger chances to Vegas.
"When it goes your way, it's never easy, but it may be easier," Aho said. "There's also a part that we almost sometimes try to do too much instead of just letting the game happen and come to us. So there's being that too a bit of it. So I think it's just go out there tomorrow with the highest confidence possible, both just kind of play the game and trust it'll happen. Obviously, like I said before, you've got to be a little bit smarter as well."
2. Second Line Continuing To Show Up
On the flip side, Carolina's best postseason trio, Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall, were once again the team's best line.
Everyone is expecting them to fall off at some point, but they just continue to show up for the team.
They had a 15-6 edge in chances in their 5v5 minutes in Game 1 and they were the line on the ice for Shayne Gostisbehere's tying goal in the third period.
Unfortunately, they were also out there for the eventual game-losing goal as well though, one of the few mistakes the line made.
"A lot of what happened was self-inflicted, but they're a good team, so they can force you into some bad spots and maybe some bad situations," Hall said. "This is going to be a good series. This is two teams that are playing their best at this time of year. If we can manage some of the plays a little bit better, some of their physicality and some of their guys that aren't physical but do some amazing things out there, we'll be OK."
3. Nikolaj Ehlers Is A Difference Maker
It's abundantly clear that Nikolaj Ehlers is a big game player.
He's been great for Carolina all year long, but this postseason has seen him rise again and again in the moment.
Game 1 was a great showing for him as he utilized his speed and dynamism for the games opening two goals. He also had a screen in front for Jordan Staal's goal and all game long he looked like he was taking over the game.
"He might have been the most dynamic player out there," Brind'Amour said. "Certainly got us two goals on his own. I mean, that's a special player and he's been like that all playoffs all year for us."
"I think it's been a really good fit for him right away," Hall said. "I think the style that we play and his speed, he's not a physical guy, but he can forecheck really well and he creates turnovers. So, I think stylistically it was a really good fit for him and I think he was excited to get somewhere new and have a new opportunity. He's a really easygoing guy that can fit in well with any situation and we've really enjoyed playing with him and getting to know him."
4. Turnovers Galore
The two teams combined for 34 turnovers in Game 1 as both forechecks gave the defenses hell.
Both Carolina and Vegas are forecheck heavy teams that thrive in disrupting the other teams exits.
The Hurricanes were very effective at it, especially in the first period, and the Golden Knights were good in the second and third.
There was no real feeling that one team was much better than the other, it was just that in the end, the Hurricanes made one more mistake than the Golden Knights did.
"Just some of the things execution-wise we can do a better job of, key points being breaking out the puck," said Sean Walker. "You look at most of their goals, they were scored from the inner slot there on quick plays. That's something we'll be looking to shut down next game, for sure."
5. Shortside Hart
The Hurricanes seem to making a conscious decision to attack Carter Hart from the left side of the ice.
Three of the Hurricanes' goals in Game 1 came from that side of the ice and the bulk of their shots were also from that side of the ice.
Perhaps it's a one-game oddity or where the Vegas defense is weaker, but it's still an interesting trend to keep an eye on as the series moves on.
6. One More Save
While you can't really put the blame on Frederik Andersen for any of the goals against, being that they were mostly in-alone looks in and around the slot, but at this stage, you need a guy to make improbable saves too.
Andersen had to make a few big ones for Carolina, but everyone needs to step up their game at this stage and bail guys out if need be.
The veteran netminder has been so good for the Hurricanes this postseason, but they need him to elevate just a little bit more.
"Listen, you're playing hard hockey," Brind'Amour said. "That's what it is and you're going to make mistakes because the other team forces you to make them. They made some mistakes too. If you want to be on a positive, go with 30 seconds before we gave up the game winner, Jarvy has the exact same shot, the exact same spot. It doesn't go in, they come down and they get it there. Is it a one play game? I don't know. We got to he better. We were not as good as we need to be if we're going to win. And there's certainly areas we got to clean up, but we're still right there.
7. Power Play Has To Produce
Another sore spot this postseason has been the power play's struggles.
For a unit that finished the regular season as the fourth best group, the way they've fallen off in the playoffs has been puzzling to say the least.
Part of it probably ties into the top line's offensive struggles, being that they're three of the main guys on that top unit, but they have to find a way to be difference makers, especially with how Vegas' man advantage looks.
Even if you don't score, you have to build momentum not kill it, sort of like how the Golden Knights' fourth goal came about.
After the power play expired, they kept the pressure on and found a way to get a goal.
"It's definitely something that we want to fix and fix quickly," Hall said. "I don't think it was about turning down shots. It was more about execution, more about being a touch more patient in spots. We had some shots blocked, some shots that really didn't need to be taken at that time. You've got two minutes. I know you want to be a shooter, but with the way they're killing, they're giving us room to move the puck around and create space and we have to do that, obviously, a lot better than we did."
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One of the Montreal Canadiens' goals this off-season should be to add another right-shot defenseman who is capable of playing top-four minutes. When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba stands out as an interesting potential option for the Canadiens to consider.
If the Canadiens signed Trouba, he would give them a hard-nosed defenseman with plenty of experience. This would not be a bad thing for a Canadiens club that is entering its Stanley Cup window.
If the Canadiens signed Trouba, he would be a candidate to play on both their second pairing and penalty kill. Yet, even if he had a bottom-pairing role for the Canadiens, he would still have the potential to provide their roster with a nice boost if successfully signed.
Trouba showed this season with Anaheim that he is still capable of providing a bit of everything from the point. In 81 games this season with the Ducks, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, 143 hits, and 149 blocks. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Canadiens with a bit more offense from the point. Yet, his physicality and toughness are the main reasons why Montreal should consider pursuing him.
With Trouba being 32 years old, a three-year deal is probably the longest that the Canadiens should consider signing him for. He still has some good hockey left in him, and it will be intriguing to see if the Canadiens sign him this summer from here.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, that Florida Panthers winger A.J. Greer will likely test the free agent market this off-season.
It’s a wise decision for the 29-year-old, who is coming off a career season in an elevated role with a rising salary cap. In 2025-26, Greer posted 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points in 78 games.
With his physical nature, scoring touch around the net, and experience helping the Panthers win the Stanley Cup during the 2024-25 season, Greer could be in line for a major payday.
With all that being considered, today we are going to look at three teams that could sign Greer this off-season.
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils missed out on the playoffs again last season, largely due to the fact that they couldn’t produce enough offense when Jack Hughes went down with an injury.
The Devils need to get stronger and more difficult to play against in their bottom six, and the addition of Greer would do so.
The Devils received fairly strong depth scoring from players like Connor Brown, Cody Glass, and Arseny Gritsyuk, but it simply wasn’t enough to change the fortunes of the Devils. If Greer replicates his production, he could be a game-changer for the Devils.
Few teams are as familiar with Greer as the Edmonton Oilers are. Facing off in the finals, Greer was a thorn in the side of every Oilers player he came across.
The Oilers are a match for Greer because he provides all the elements they are missing and that they were hoping to receive from Trent Frederic. The Oilers want players who play physically, hunt down pucks on the forecheck, and can also provide depth scoring in a third- or fourth-line role.
Greer has done so with Florida, and out West in the Pacific Division, there are plenty of reasons to believe he can do so with the Oilers.
Dubas and the Pens had plenty of success finding players similar to Greer last season and getting the best out of them. Could Greer be the next case of the Penguins doing so?
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year.
The Lightning announced the honor Wednesday. Cooper finished ahead of Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff and Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse in voting by members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
It is the first Jack Adams Award for Cooper, the longest-tenured coach in the league at 13 years. He is widely considered among the best at the profession and has two Stanley Cup rings to show for it.
Cooper led the Lightning into the playoffs despite missing several key players for long stretches because of injuries.
Build it and they will come. | NHLI via Getty Images
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman used his traditional Stanley Cup final media availability to crow about growing revenues and TV ratings — fuel to increase the next rights fee contracts and boost revenues further — and brag that the game’s never been better.
And with the dramatic back-and-forth between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights in Game 1 of the final, it’s hard to claim he’s wrong.
It was also an occasion to unveil the format for next season’s All-Star weekend, which takes place on Long Island after this year’s was postponed due to Olympics participation.
With the conference-vs.-conference format a thing of the past, the league will lean into the international theme again by holding a five-team, 10-game mini tournament of round-robin, 3-on-3 games. That means teams representing the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Finland…and then “the World,” which would include any Putin apologists and targets who are otherwise currently banned from international competition due to their country of origin.
Islanders News
Isles business head Kelly Cheeseman calls the All-Star thing a “tentpole” event, notes that the building has now been open five(!) years. [NHL | Isles]
As the Leafs coaching search continues, reportedly they have interviewed ex-Isles coaches Patrick Roy and Peter Laviolette. [Dreger on Twitter]
Who could or should be moved to clear up Islanders cap space? [THN]
Elsewhere
After the Ehlers-fueled Canes burst out to a 2-0 lead in Game 1, Vegas came back and got the last goal in a back-and-forth classic. [NHL]
Brandon Bussi was a revelation this season at age 27, now he’s patiently playing the part of loyal backup for Carolina. [NHL]
Stan Fischler: It’s a “gentler” John Tortorella behind the Vegas bench. Sure. [NHL]
Yes, Russians but not “Russia” can participate in the All-Star thing. Interestingly, they had polled players about the matter. [Sportsnet]
Manny Malhotra has earned trust by coaching through highs and lows to win the Canucks job. [Sportsnet]
And the Avalanche have graciously allowed Chris MacFarland to leave to become GM of the Predators, and closer to his family. [NHL]
Brendan Gallagher knows his days in Montreal are done, and it hurts. [Sportsnet]
Does Michael Kesselring Make Sense For The Penguins?Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins plan to take a big step next season, and it starts with improving the blue line - something Buffalo Sabres' defenseman Michael Kesselring might be able to help with. 
