The Montreal Canadiens’ blueline isn’t exactly the most physical in the league, and Martin St-Louis doesn’t have a lot of trust in Arber Xhekaj, whether he wants to admit it or not. The gritty blueliner even played just 1:52 in his last game in the playoffs, and it looks like he could be moved this summer, even if he is an RFA.
If that’s the case, Kent Hughes should take a long, hard look at Jeremy Lauzon. The Vegas Golden Knights blueliner won’t fill the net; he’s a stay-at-home blueliner, but he’s one that definitely has his coach’s trust, and he’s a Quebecer.
If Vegas doesn’t sign him to a contract extension, Hughes should pounce. The 29-year-old might be a left-shot defender, but he would steady the Habs’ third pairing. He’s 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, and over his 384 career games in the NHL, he has averaged 17:34 of ice time.
In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final, which went to double overtime, he spent 25:08 on the ice, blocked six shots and landed four hits. He’s also used on the Knights' second penalty killing unit, which would lighten the load on Lane Hutson. While the sophomore defenseman has shown that he can play on the PK, it would be ideal if St-Louis didn’t have to use him when Montreal is down a man; he could rest him and get more offensive minutes out of him.
Lauzon is coming off a four-year contract with a $2 million cap hit. Granted, he’ll be after a raise, but he might still not be all that expensive and with the cap going up again this upcoming season, the Canadiens could afford to make the move. The one red flag may be his injury history, but it would be worth digging into it to establish if he’s injury prone, or just unlucky.
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 16: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Colorado Avalanche during the game at Ball Arena on January 16, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
As we wait for a Stanley Cup champion to get on with the rest of the offseason, the name of Detroit Red Wings’ top center is percolating in the rumor mill. Word is Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. Most teams should be interested but it seems there’s only three teams he’s willing to waive his No Trade Clause to join — Florida, Minnesota and Vegas. Will he get what he wants or will Steve Yzerman get the upper hand?
One organization that is making moves is the Nashville Predators and Chris MacFarland quickly added former LA Kings GM Rob Blake to his staff. Apparently there were thoughts of Blake joining the Avalanche and that option is now removed.
Welcome to Smashville, Rob! 👋
We've hired Rob Blake as the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
It’s also awards season since the in-person show got nixed. There were mixed reviews on how Tampa Bay Lightning’s star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy received the Vezina trophy. The NHL set up a prank and stuffed the trophy in his very small car, saying the police needed to raid it. All was good in the end but was it necessary?
A special surprise for Andrei Vasilevskiy! 🏆 #NHLAwards
Andrei Vasilevskiy is the winner of the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender for the second time in his career! pic.twitter.com/mZw1WVXF8I
The 29-year-old centerman, who won gold with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is entering the fourth season of an eight-year deal worth $8.7 million annually.
Per Helen St. James of the Detroit Free Press, the New York Islanders, who are looking to add a top-six scorer, are not one of the teams on Larkin's shortlist, which was submitted to Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman.
Those three teams are believed to be: Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights.
While this list can be expanded on, and likely will be, it's clear that Larkin wants to join a Stanley Cup contender, as he should, after years of waiting for Yzerman to build a winning hockey club in Michigan.
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli has cited The Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James, and confirmed that Dylan Larkin has submitted a three team list for a trade out of Detroit.
The three teams are the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and, to no one's surprise, the Vegas Golden Knights. Shocker, right?
This means that the Columbus Blue Jackets are effectively out of the running for Larkin's services.
Many fans considered it a pipe dream anyway, but with the Zach Werenski connection, many believed that it could be a move that very well might happen. Other fans knew from the start that Larkin would never come to Columbus, as the soon-to-be 30-year-old had no interest in a team like Columbus.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hit the end of the line in the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs last night, dropping a 2-1 overtime game to the Toronto Marlies in Game 6. It was a bitter pill for a team to swallow to run out of gas and yield to an older, stronger opponent, but one that planted many promising seeds for the future.
Here were the lines for the Pens, this graphic isn’t even accurate as Owen Pickering (who took warmups) was a very last minute scratch, adding to the injury pile on the blueline. Alex Alexeyev returned from injury, but with Pickering, Phil Kemp, Sebastian Aho and Finn Harding all unavailable, WBS needed to rely on ECHL callups in Emil Pieniniemi and David Breazeale in an elimination game.
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 7, 2026
Ultimately it would be the final goal of the WBS season. Toronto’s Easton Cowan scored in the second period to tie the game, leaving the teams clinging to that 1-1 battle for a large portion of the night.
In overtime, it was former Penguin (and WBS Penguin) Alex Nylander delivering the goal to end the series and send Toronto to the Calder Cup Final.
In the end, it wasn’t meant to be for WBS, and their season comes to an end as a result. They had some chances, including Tanner Howe getting a great look just a minute prior to Nylander ending the game. The opponent had something to do with the outcome as well, have to give credit to them. Toronto was a very well-coached team playing a 1-1-3 neutral zone trap that was difficult to fight through to earn quality scoring chances (not to be confused with the high number of shot total that Wilkes usually ended up with). The Marlies got great goaltending along the way from Artur Akhtyamov and had some savvy vets who could pop out and make WBS pay at key moments. That all contributed.
The team would probably not blame the injury situation, but there’s no doubt that played into things. It’s hard, if not impossible, to win a playoff series with four of a team’s top six or seven defensemen all hurt by the end of it. And yet, the Pens only conceded two goals in almost 74 minutes in Game 6, a testament to Sergei Murashov (37 saves on 39 shots for the game) and their team will to keep battling.
In the end, WBS fell short and their season is over. In the wider picture, there’s much to be proud of for the players and see a lot of promise for the future.
Murashov has to be at the top of that list as an emerging young goalie. Last season Murashov only got to play one AHL playoff game, this spring he got in 15 of them (posting a .931 save% and 2.11 GAA along the way). This run will likely provide direct, tangible benefits for Murashov’s future and development as a player.
Harrison Brunicke’s topsy turvy season trying to find a place to stick ended on a sweet note. Many considered him the best player on the ice in more games than not down the stretch. With all the defensive injuries and then ECHL callups in the lineup, the Pens often resorted to double-shifting defensemen. Brunicke was a beast, a big development change from about six-eight months earlier when he played choppy in the NHL and then not much better in a short AHL stint in late 2025. Fast forward to the middle of 2026 and it was like a different player for how much growth he was able to inject into his game.
Tristan Broz led the team in points, with 11 (3G+8A) in the 15 games. As always in his career, when a team that Broz is on scores a big goal in a crucial moment, he has that knack of having something to do with it. Who knows what that means for his future next season, but as always he acquitted himself well in the AHL once again.
Bill Zonnon turned pro on the fly in the middle of the AHL playoffs and ended up with four goals and three assists in 11 games. Very impressive stuff from him, the youngster will need some time to round out his game but the best part is that he’ll never be as inexperienced or in as peripheral a role in the future as he was in this playoff and Zonnon still managed to make a difference.
Mikhail Ilyin in some ways was even less experienced than Zonnon for AHL playoffs in terms of lack of familiarity with the North American style, rink sizes and all that after five AHL regular season games, and Ilyin still ended up tied for second on the team in playoff scoring (2G+7A). Ilyin’s talent level is legit and there’s good reason to be hopeful about how the adaptation process is going to show he can succeed in this environment. Early signs are pretty good.
Agreed with the note here from Jonathan Bombulie about Ville Koivunen standing out after the whistle. Next training camp (when he needs waivers to go to the AHL) is literally now or never for him, here’s to hoping he shows up with the same moxie and nerve to try and stand out, which he hasn’t done much at the NHL level.
Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes played like players who aren’t long for the AHL. Both, you would think, will be under serious contention for an NHL roster spot out of camp. It can always be dangerous to pencil anyone in right now (especially before trades and free agent signings flood the deck with plenty of options) but at the same time, you would also have to think these two have done everything asked of them to show what they were supposed to show.
In all, that’s a wrap on the 2025-26 WBS Penguins team. They fall a little short of the promised land, which is a big shame for an organization that has never won a Calder Cup. While they will benefit in the years to come from what Pittsburgh hopes is a continuing stream of talented young players, the immediate future probably won’t be as bright for WBS next year if they have to deal with the immediate or eventual NHL graduations of players like Murashov, Brunicke, McGroarty, Hayes, Broz and Koivunen. One way or another, this was sort of the crest of the wave for this mini-generation of those prospects, a trough could follow before the next batch gears all the way up again. It’s never a fun ending to come up short, but this team has a lot for the organization to be proud of both on individual and overall areas of growth and achievement following this AHL season.
Craig Conroy is about to enter his fourth NHL Draft as the general manager of the Calgary Flames, assuming the duties on May 23, 2023. He inherited the role from Brad Treliving, who held only three draft picks in the 2022 NHL Draft, none of whom have reached the NHL as of the 2025-26 season.
Meanwhile, Conroy had a month to prepare for the 2023 NHL Draft, with the 16th overall pick, and five more for a total of six that first year. He restocked the team's 2024 draft pool, selecting 10 prospects, including two first-rounders at 9th and 28th overall.
In 2025, Conroy trimmed his selections down to eight, once again with two first-rounders at 18th and 32nd overall. Overall, the Flames general manager has made 24 selections at the NHL Draft, with 11 more on tap at this year's event, including 6th overall and eight picks in the top 68 spots.
Today, many could call Conroy a veteran at the draft table, which raises the stakes with every selection he makes in Buffalo. While many will look towards the future, let's revisit his previous draft picks and catch up with where they are in 2026.
2023 NHL Draft
Samuel Honzek (16th overall) LW/C
Samuel Honzek made his NHL debut during the 2025-26 season, skating in 18 games, tallying two goals and four points. At the moment, he's on the Flames roster for next season, with two years remaining on his entry-level deal.
Samuel Honzek (Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
Étienne Morin (48th overall) D
Étienne Morin became an AHL regular with the Calgary Wranglers last season, scoring his first goal and adding six assists in 42 games. He also spent seven games in the ECHL, but is going to be a lock to remain with the Wranglers in 2026-27.
Aydar Suniev (80th overall) LW/RW
Aydar Suniev earned a one-game NHL call-up in 2024-25 and has seven games of experience with the Flames, but is currently a mainstay with Wranglers. Last year, in his first full AHL campaign, he scored 16 goals in 57 games.
Jaden Lipinski (112th overall) C/RW
After parts of four seasons in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants, Jaden Lipinski went on to play for the University of Maine in 2025-26, scoring three goals and totaling 12 points in 30 games. As of right now, he remains unsigned by the Flames, and his rights expire on July 1, 2027.
Yegor Yegorov (176th overall) G
Yegor Yegorov is one of two netminders that Conroy has drafted, and the Russian-born puckstopper is ready to make the move to North America, committing to Miami University for the 2026-27 season. Like Lipinski, Yegorov is unsigned, but his rights remain with the organization until July 1, 2027.
The Swedish-born Axel Hurtig has found a home in Calgary, joining the WHL's Hitmen squad for the 2024-25 season and serving as team captain last year. After 35 points in 119 games in the WHL, Hurtig is getting called up and slated to be in the Wranglers' lineup for the upcoming season.
2024 NHL Draft
Zayne Parekh (9th overall) D
Zayne Parekh doesn't need an introduction to Flames fans. After dominating the OHL for three seasons, including 107 points in 61 games as a defenseman in 2024-25, he became an NHL regular in 2025-26 and is a core player in Calgary's rebuild. In 37 games with the Flames, the 20-year-old had four goals and nine points.
ZAYNE'S PLAYING 🏒
Zayne Parekh, the first defenseman since Bobby Orr to record multiple 30-goal seasons in the OHL/OHA, will make his NHL debut tonight!
Matveii Gridin was busy in 2025-26, skating 37 games with the Wranglers and another 37 with the Flames, tallying a total of 16 goals and 50 points in his first season of professional hockey. As another key prospect in the rebuild, Gridin has two years left on his entry-level deal.
Andrew Basha (41st overall) LW/RW
Andrew Basha won a Memorial Cup with the Medicine Hat Tigers, skating with the club for parts of five seasons before making his AHL debut last year. In 27 games, he had a goal and five points, and he will be a regular in the Wranglers' lineup next season.
Jacob Battaglia (62nd overall) RW/LW
Jacob Battaglia has yet to play outside of the OHL, amassing 230 points in 265 games over the past four seasons. However, he is no longer in the Flames organization as Conroy traded the winger to the New York Rangers in exchange for Brennan Othmann on Mar. 6, 2026.
Henry Mews (74th overall) D
Henry Mews' first season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan Wolverines lasted only ten games, but he managed to collect nine assists in those contests. In the OHL, he averaged 0.93 points per game with the Ottawa 67's, collecting 174 points in 188 games. He's still recovering from a knee injury and may not be ready for the 2026-27 season.
Kirill Zarubin (84th overall) G
Kirill Zarubin continues to skate in his native Russia, serving as the starting netminder for AKM Tula in the MHL, posting a 26-13-3 record last year with a .930 SV% and 2.17 GAA. According to his Elite Prospects profile, the 20-year-old is in line for a promotion to the VHL for the upcoming campaign.
Trevor Hoskin (106th overall) RW/C
Trevor Hoskin swapped NCAA jerseys last season, moving from Niagara University to Merrimack College. His production stayed the same, with 35 points in 39 games, a slight dip from the previous year, 39 points in 36 games. Hoskin is returning to Merrimack for the 2026-27 season.
Luke Misa (150th overall) C/LW
Luke Misa was a teammate of the projected No. 1 overall pick, Gavin McKenna, at Penn State University last year, where Misa, a freshman, scored 8 goals and 19 points in 37 games. After producing at almost a point-per-game pace (0.91) in the OHL, his numbers dipped down to 0.51 in the NCAA.
Hunter Laing (170th overall) C/RW
Hunter Laing had his best season as a WHL skater in 2025-26, scoring 24 goals and 55 points in 64 games, the first time he surpassed 50 points in the league. Interestingly, the Flames did not retain Laing's draft picks, making him eligible for reentry in this year's draft.
Eric Jamieson (Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Eric Jamieson (177th overall) D
Eric Jamieson is currently the only player drafted by Conroy to go on and win an NCAA National Championship, achieving the feat last season with the University of Denver. In addition to a championship, Jamieson was named to the NCAA (NCHC) All-Rookie Team, thanks to 18 points in 43 games with only 47 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating.
2025 NHL Draft
Cole Reschny (18th overall) C/LW
Cole Reschny is committed to staying at the University of North Dakota and looks to improve on his six-goal, 35-point performance in 36 games last season. As a former 20-goal scorer in the WHL, he'll look to get back to double digits in his second NCAA campaign.
Cullen Potter (32nd overall) C/LW
Cullen Potter will begin his third NCAA season in 2026-27, transferring to Michigan State University after two years with Arizona State. Despite a career minus-2 total, he's producing at a 0.81 points-per-game pace, with 48 points in 59 NCAA games.
Cullen Potter (Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Theo Stockselius (54th overall) C/LW
Theo Stockselius, a Swedish native, has yet to skate in North America, but finally made his SHL debut in 2025-26, collecting an assist in 16 games with Djurgårdens IF. Additionally, he earned a spot on Sweden's U18 club in 2025 and, most recently, the country's U20 team in 2026.
Mace'o Phillips (80th overall) D
Mace'o Phillips is another Flames prospect poised to take a jump in their career this season, agreeing to skate at the University of Minnesota after several seasons in the USHL. As an alternate captain with the Green Bay Gamblers, he scored one goal and had ten helpers for 11 points in 44 games.
Ethan Wyttenbach (144th overall) LW/RW
Ethan Wyttenbach had a great first season in the NCAA, scoring 25 goals and 59 points with Quinnipiac University, totals slightly higher than his previous year in the USHL. At 19, he's going to return to Quinnipac for another campaign in 2026-27.
Aidan Lane (176th overall) RW/LW
Aidan Lane made his NCAA debut last year with Harvard, scoring six goals and 13 points in 34 games. He's bounced around, skating in the PHC, USHL, OHL, and now the NCAA since 2024. At the time of this writing, Lane remains unsigned by the Flames, who retain his rights until 2029.
Jakob Leaner is another Swedish prospect in the Flames system, who is still skating at the U20 level in his native country. As of spring 2026, he has yet to make his SHL debut, but he reached double digits for the first time since age 16, with two goals and 12 points in 36 games. The Flames retain his rights until 2029.
Yan Matveiko (18th overall) C
Yan Matveiko made his VHL debut last year, earning an assist in his only appearance. Down in the MHL, he tallied 15 goals and 37 points in 50 games with the second-best plus/minus rating (plus-23) on Krasnaya Armiya Moskva. Like several of his 2025 draft classmates, Matveiko remains unsigned by the Flames, who maintain his rights until 2029.
How would you rank Conroy's draft history through three years? Which players are you hoping will make an impact somewhere in the organization next season? Who will be the next one to make their NHL debut with the Flames? Let us know what you think in the comments.
"It was great. We had a great meeting," Novotny said. "I would say it was my best. And now I like the organization, for sure. And yeah, it was fun for sure."
What about the interview made it his best?
"As a person, you could just feel it when the conversation is just like flowing, you know?" Novotny said. "You can feel relaxed and just feel more confident at the interview. And I thought I had a feeling, so that was good."
The Islanders hold the 13th selection at the 2026 NHL Draft, and Novotny, a Czech forward, could go anywhere from No. 10 to No. 23.
Novotny, standing at 6'1 ", 205 lbs, has a heavy shot but also tremendous defensive ability that projects him as a middle-six winger at the NHL level.
This past season, after being selected by the Peterborough Petes in the CHL Import Draft, Novotny recorded 34 goals with 31 assists for 65 points in 58 regular-season games before adding one assist in six playoff games.
The 18-year-old did play for Czechia at the U20 World Junior Championships, recording three assists.
Novotny led all prospects with 18 pull-ups at the combine.
LAS VEGAS — There they stood along the glass during warmups for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, two Thornhill lifers in full Mitch Marner Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys amid a sea of Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes colours. One held a simple, handwritten sign high above his head: “My Therapist Recommended This Trip.” The other had flipped his jersey backwards so that Marner’s name and number faced forward across his chest, the familiar blue-and-white crest now pressed against his back.
David Krowitz and Al Sager flew across the continent not for the spectacle alone, but because they needed to be here. had season tickets in the family since 1968. Between them they had attended more than 500 Leafs games. They had lived through every era of hope and heartbreak, and when the core they believed in most, Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares, failed to deliver a Cup, they understood the pain in a way only true believers can.
So when the playoff bracket opened a door to Vegas, they walked through it.
The decision was made in the middle of the night. After Carolina eliminated the Montreal Canadiens, Krowitz and Sager were texting at midnight, both sitting in bed next to their wives. “Dude, you want to do this?” one asked. “Yeah, let’s do this,” came the reply. Their wives, Lily for Krowitz and Mel for Sager, didn’t push back. Lily’s only instruction was simple: “Don’t worry, go. You’ll have the best time ever.”
It was Krowitz’s anniversary weekend. The fact that both women said yes without hesitation became its own story.
“Every wife should be this good,” Krowitz told the The Hockey News in a telephone call from the road on Sunday afternoon.
They booked the trip on Tuesday, flew out Thursday, spent two days taking in Vegas, and then settled in for Game 3. The plan after the game was to drive to Phoenix to visit a friend before flying home, a route that would take them through the mountains and, coincidentally, through the same phone call that would become this story.
By the time the puck dropped, the two friends had already become minor celebrities in the concourse. People stopped them constantly. Some rubbed the backwards Marner jersey for good luck. Others did double-takes.
One man asked Krowitz, “Hey man, are you lost?” Toronto fans walking by scratched their heads until Al turned around and showed them the name on his chest. Then the lightbulb went on.Mi
David Krowitz outside T-Mobile Arena, courtesy David Krowitz
The backwards jersey wasn’t a gimmick. It was deliberate.
“It wasn’t about the Leafs of Marner’s,” Sager explained. “I wanted to wear his team on the front, not the Leafs on the front.”
They wanted Marner’s identity front and center, the franchise that Marner parted ways with, not the crest that had defined a decade of their own lives. Just the player.
Inside T-Mobile Arena, the night unfolded exactly as the two friends had somehow sensed it would. Earlier that afternoon, around 1 p.m., Al had called a 5-4 double-overtime win for Vegas. The only detail they got wrong was who would score the winner. They thought it would be Marner. Instead, he delivered a hat trick and played the most dominant game of his postseason.
The Golden Knights won 5-4 in double overtime. The playoff towels handed out that night all carried Marner’s face. Krowitz and Sager each kept one.
“It was very fitting that the playoff towels were all Marner,” Krowitz said. “We had Marner’s face on the playoff towels. It was just fitting that we were there on that night for a double-overtime win in Vegas. And record-setting points, hat trick — Marner performs the best he’s ever performed. It was a very quintessential of the way everything worked out.”
They had predicted the score. They had predicted the drama. They had not predicted how perfectly the night would align with the reason they came.
\Krowitz and Sager were still buzzing. They had been lined up to appear on Hockey Night in Canada during the third period of Game 3, but the broadcast pivoted when Carolina mounted its furious comeback to erase a four-goal lead. The on-ice story took precedence. No one complained. That was hockey.
What they did want to make clear, repeatedly, was that their presence in Vegas did not mean they had abandoned the Toronto Maple Leafs.
They remain diehard Leafs fans. They remain Marner fans. The two things are not in conflict for them. What they saw in Vegas only reinforced what they had always believed: Marner is one of the best playmakers in the world, a top-five talent on most nights.
“We ran him out of town,” Krowitz said.. “Yeah, it’s hard for him to be there. We made it hard. The media made it hard for his family. People are crazy. They’re going to his house with death threats and bullsh*t. What kind of fan base is this? We’re out of our minds.”
Al Sager wearing his Marner jersey the right way before flipping it aroud, courtesy Al Sager.
He said it without malice, just as fact. He and Sager had lived it. They had watched the pressure build year after year. They had seen what it did to players. And still they showed up in another team’s building, wearing that player’s jersey, holding a sign that read like a confession and a prescription at the same time.
It was funny because it was absurd. It was also funny because it was true. Sometimes the only way to process a decade of near-misses and one devastating off-season is to get on a plane, stand along the glass in enemy territory, and cheer for the guy who gave you everything he had.
Before they left to their seats and before the warmups, they saw the player they had come to support. Marner looked at Krowitz holding the sign, laughed, shook his head, and gave a small nod.
It was enough.
They own their own company, CF Solutions in Richmond Hill, and they have wives and kids and full lives. They could have stayed home. Instead they flew to Vegas, stood along the glass, flipped a jersey, held up a sign, and reminded everyone watching that the loudest, most toxic voices do not speak for every Leafs fan who has been there from the beginning.
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On June 8, 1955, the Montreal Canadiens appointed Hector “Toe” Blake as their new coach. The 5-foot-10 winger had marked the Habs' history as a player, winning two Stanley Cups and competing in 577 NHL games, only eight of which weren’t with the Canadiens, but with the Montreal Maroons. It’s in his time with the Habs that he gathered his 527 points, making him the 21st highest scorer in franchise history.
Blake would go on to coach the Canadiens for 13 seasons with great success. He was behind the bench for 914 NHL games, all with the Habs, compiling a 500-255-159 record, leading the Canadiens to eight Stanley Cups, a third of their total championships. Montreal drank out of Lord Stanley’s mug for Blake’s first five seasons at the helm. His 500 wins make him the winningest coach in franchise history and the 30th-winningest coach in league history. Of course, seasons have a lot more games these days than back in the day.
With him behind the bench, the Canadiens never finished lower than third overall in the league, but it’s worth saying that the league only had six teams for all but one of his years in charge. Blake’s last season was in 1967-68 when the league welcomed six new teams. The Canadiens ended that season first overall with 94 points in 74 games and won Blake’s last Stanley Cup, going 12-1 in the playoffs, allowing their coach to retire at the top of his game.
During his tenure, the legendary bench boss coached the likes of Jacques Plante, Jean Beliveau, Bernard Geoffrion, Maurice and Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, and Jacques Lemaire, to name a few. While Blake was behind the bench, the Canadiens had only two general managers: Frank J. Selke, who was in post from July 1946 to May 1964, and Sam Pollock, who took over and remained in post for 14 years, winning nine Stanley Cups.
There are a lot of ways that the 2026 NHL Draft could go, especially at the top. Everything you think you know about the upcoming draft can change with one trade or “off the board” selection. The Chicago Blackhawks have the 4th overall pick as we stand.
If the first three picks are the top three forwards, Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra, then the Blackhawks are likely going to select a defenseman. There are lots of options, all of whom play a different style, including Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits, and Carson Carels.
For the Blackhawks sake, an argument can be made that Keaton Verhoeff is the proper selection. The Blackhawks have a crop of young defenders who are good players, but nobody has emerged as that top power-play offensive driver that they need on the back end.
Verhoeff has the tools to be that guy. For a while, he was the consensus number two pick behind Gavin McKenna, but things have changed. Each of them saw their stock drop just a bit due to playing NCAA (much more difficult) after dominating in the CHL.
On Friday, Verhoeff spoke alongside McKenna at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, and he was an impressive responder. He understands his game, wants to get better, and seems honored to even be in this situation.
Although Verhoeff isn't a lock to be the number two pick like he seemed to be early in the season, he is okay with it. He understands that there are some incredible players available and every team has different needs. He's also incredibly confident in his abilities.
"They're all so talented," Verhoeff said of his fellow draftees. "The biggest thing I bring every night is my compete level. You won't always have your best game, but bringing that compete level and character to the rink every day."
If the talent doesn't match the compete level, the talent won't transform into success in the NHL, and Verhoeff is well aware of that.
"Playing against those bigger and faster guys has been really important for me," Verhoeff said. "It's helped to round out my game a ton."
At the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff had 6 goals and 14 assists as a freshman for a total of 20 points in 36 games played. There was an adjustment period for him in college, but as he said, it was good for his long-term development.
If the Blackhawks are not the team that selects him 4th overall, he will be off the board before the top-ten, likely top-seven, is complete.
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MONTREAL, CANADA- APRIL 5: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils passes the puck to Dougie Hamilton #7 during the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Arianne Bergeron/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“The New Jersey Devils need to make some changes this offseason, but they will have to clear some cap space to do so. General manager Sunny Mehta will enter the offseason with $13.125 million in cap space, and that’s without a contract extension for Arseny Gritsyuk. Fortunately, there are a few cap-clearing candidates that Mehta can move to give the Devils a bit more financial flexibility if he wants to add players such as Mason McTavish or Dylan Larkin.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“…The Devils should certainly be calling Detroit about Larkin. He’s an excellent hockey player, and one the Devils would be lucky to get if the price was right.” [Devils’ Advocates]
“At 23 years old, 6-foot-3, and carrying a generous $7.75 million cap hit through 2031 in the rising cap era, Knies has emerged as one of the NHL’s more intriguing young wingers. His blend of size, physicality, and growing offensive production makes him the type of player who can anchor a top-six group for years. For teams like the Devils, who are perpetually hunting for that blend of youth and heft up front, the conversation naturally turns to whether they could step up and get a deal done. The short answer? They absolutely have the pieces.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
Hockey Links
Vegas takes Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final:
VEGAS WINS GAME 3 IN OVERTIME AND TAKES A 2-1 LEAD IN THE SERIES‼️ #StanleyCup
Milan Lucic is officially announcing his retirement following 1,177 career NHL games played – wishing all the best to the 2010-11 #StanleyCup champ👏 pic.twitter.com/X4QF1dWqt3
“Listen, no one can know yet how this Larkin situation will play out. But one thing I won’t do is doubt Yzerman’s ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat in this particular set of circumstances.” [The Athletic ($)]
“From Sunday’s 32 Thoughts podcast: out of nowhere, an unexpected name surfaces in Toronto’s coaching search — Joe Pavelski. According to multiple sources, the Future Hall-of-Famer is on the Maple Leafs’ radar as the team begins the next phase of its interview process, with one describing him as a ‘Martin St. Louis-style candidate.’” [Sportsnet]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 02: Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) skates with the puck during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators on February 2, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Ben Kindel Born: April 19, 2007 (Age 18 season) Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 182 pounds Hometown: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada Shoots: Right Draft: 2025 first round (11th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins 2025-26 Statistics: 77 games played, 17 goals, 18 assists = 35 points ; 6 games played, 0 goals, 0 assists in playoffs. Contract Status: Kindel has two years left on his entry level contract valued at a miniscule $986,250 against the salary cap.
Story of the Season
When the Penguins drafted Ben Kindel 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, there was frustration among the fan base at what appeared to be a reach by Kyle Dubas, forgoing some more popular names still on the board in favor of selecting Kindel at this spot. As it turns out, Dubas and his scouting department did their homework and Kindel quickly made everyone forget about their angst from draft night.
Throughout the course of the summer and into the fall, it became clear that Kindel had something special about him and was going to figure into the Penguins rebuild in a significant way, but no one expected his impact to happen this soon. He stood out among the other prospects at development camp and the Prospects Challenge, but training camp is where he made his case to be on the opening night roster.
Even when Kindel made the team out of camp, most figured it was just going to be for a nine-game trial run before returning to the Calgary Hitmen for another WHL season to continue his development. That plan quickly went out the window and it was clear Kindel was set to be in Pittsburgh for the long run.
In just his third NHL game, Kindel scored his first career goal, the lone Penguins tally in a 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers. He will forever hold the distinction of being the first player from the 2025 draft class to score an NHL goal, beating out top overall pick and eventual Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer by a few minutes.
Even as Kindel blew through his nine game window and it was clear he was going to be with the team for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign, it was still expected that he was going to have his work load managed as he acclimates to playing in the NHL.
That turned out to not be the case as well, with Kindel playing 77 games as a rookie, recording 17 goals and 18 assists. His 17 goals made him just the 12th player over the last 20 years to reach that number as an 18 year old, joining the likes of Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, and fellow 2025 first round pick Shaefer just to name a few.
While many figured Kindel to be a major piece of the Penguins future, he actually turned out to be a major part of their present as well. As the season went along and it was clear the Penguins were going to be in position to at least contend for a playoff spot, Kindel kept getting opportunities to prove himself and he kept making the most of every chance he got.
Although the season ended in a six game playoff series loss to the Philadelphia Flyers where Kindel did not record a point, he will enter his second NHL season in 2026-27 with valuable experience under his belt and a clear role with the Penguins as not just a part of the future, but with what the franchise is trying to accomplish right now.
It was a pretty consistent run across the board for Kindel in his rookie season when breaking it down by month. January was his strongest month with 10 points in 15 games and his solid March output was big for the team during its toughest stretch of the season and missing key pieces from the lineup. It’s not every day an 18 year old becomes a lineup mainstay in the NHL, but Kindel did just that and was performing on a consistent basis all season long.
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.
While Kindel’s score effects don’t jump off the page here, it’s a solid base to build off of for a 19 year old who will be entering his second NHL season in 2026-27 in a few months. If that shooting percentage trends upward then everything else should jump right along with it. He creates a ton in the high danger areas on the ice and helps drive possession overall.
It’s tough to not preface every statement with “he’s only 18” but my goodness, this type of offensive and defensive impact from an 18-year old center that wasn’t even a top-5 pick is almost unheard of. Kindel’s still got growth opportunities in terms of finishing and finding a comfort level on the power play, he’s got one heck of a base to work from at even strength.
Kindel is an active player all over the place. The goals and assist totals are nice but far from his only contribution. His defensive aptitude with puck touches are high. He’s good at exiting the zone, he’s pretty decent at entries. Rush offense, particularly setting up teammates is a hallmark of Kindel’s game. A lot of fine details under the hood that demonstrate value to the team. Even when going through some rookie struggles and cold production streaks that type of detail-oriented value add made him a lineup regular throughout the season and reliable player to send on the ice.
All around fun stuff here, as mentioned above Kindel is an active player that gets coverage all over the rink. He trusts his shooting talent with plenty of mid-range shots and has a pretty good one from the left side of the ice with the right handed blade seeing a lot of the net to score on 23.5% of his shots from that area.
One area of improvement detailed in these stats would be getting a little more efficient and frequency towards the front of the net. In this league players have to get to that area near the goal to boost their stats. Kindel frequently had some big bodies like Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau to fill that role, in the future seeing if he can attack the net more will be a big signal and shift towards unlocking even more.
Level of skating ability was something of a knock, if not question mark on Kindel during the draft process. He’s certainly not a burner that is going to pull away from opponents with straight-line speed, but he’s young and fresh enough to have plenty of jump and crafty enough to maneuver his way to being effective as a skater. Again, with age, experience and adding some muscle, this is an area that already is pretty decent but could be expected to show improvement as he continues to grow as a player.
In addition to being a good passer, responsible defensively and decent skater, Kindel’s wrist shot is another tool in his toolbox. (As you can tell, it’s a pretty full toolbox). He knows how to subtlety manipulate his shooting angle by drawing the puck in to fool goalies enough on the direction and timing of his shots, in the style like so many of his young contemporaries tend to do. Kindel won’t be confused for Auston Matthews as a total master of that skill, but he was able to find the time/space to get quite a few shots away to beat goalies from distance as a rookie and presumably will be able to use that experience for the future.
Highlights
Ben Kindel’s first National Hockey League goal… they don’t get much prettier 🤌🏻 pic.twitter.com/VF9Bv1Jcg8
Ben Kindel, who we have discussed at length, made his mark on the Penguins first power play unit as he extended the Penguins lead to 3-1 in the third period! The teenage phenom! Here's @Joe_Brand1's call. pic.twitter.com/cm0fFA2fCH
You’ll hear a lot about a sophomore slump for Ben Kindel next season, so whether or not he can avoid falling into one will be the big question worth answering for him. Everything we saw from him in 2025-26 points to a long and productive career, but there will be bumps in the road and he will have to learn to adjust and work his way through those moments.
At one point this past season, Kindel went 19 games between goals, but once he broke out of that slump, he scored in three straight games along with four in six as well. It was a tough stretch of hockey for the rookie, but he never gave up on himself or got too down. The goal scoring touch returned and he gained his confidence back.
Expectations will be rightfully high for Kindel entering next season, but even the best players can go through slumps or dry spells. It will be how he reacts to those moments and learns from them that will ultimately determine how his 2026-27 plays out and what we are saying about his future this time next year.
Ideal 2026-27
Continued development should be a key focus for Kindel next season. He’s already established himself as an NHL player and has a full season plus playoff experience under his belt at just 19 years old. He’s coming off one of the best goal scoring seasons for an 18 year old in the last two decades, so building off of that will be incredibly important for himself and the franchise this coming season.
Where exactly Kindel will slot into the lineup remains to be seen and we should have a better idea of how it will all shake out once the summer slows down and rosters become clearer post free agency. If the plan is for Kindel to be a top-six player starting next season, then getting him as much ice time with a preferred set of linemates will be crucial to his continued development.
Bottom line
When Ben Kindel was drafted, there was angst among the fan base at the supposed reach for him at the 11th pick. That angst was washed away quickly when it became clear exactly what the Penguins were getting in Kindel. Of the ten players drafted before him, just six played an NHL game this season, only three played in 12 or more games, and one of those players is a potential generational talent.
Removing Shaefer from the equation, Kindel led all first round picks in games played, goals, assists, and points. His rookie season was a smashing success by every metric and he’s only going to get better as a player. There were ups and downs throughout the season, including the previously mentioned 19 game goal drought, but those are the types of growing pains you get with an 18 year old in his first professional season.
Final Grade
A.
What Ben Kindel did as a rookie at just 18 years old is not typical in the NHL. He exceeded every expectation by just making the team out of training camp, then just continued to trend upward as the season went along. His linemates varied throughout the season but he proved he could play with just about any body Dan Muse placed next to him.
When he was drafted, Kindel was seen as a major piece for the Penguins future as the plan was still to rebuild in 2025-26. That rebuild may now be ahead of schedule and Kindel is a major reason why, showing everyone why the Penguins valued him so highly to take him 11th overall.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 16: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring against Akira Schmid #40 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to a new week, folks!
It’s the first full week in June, if you count a full week as being from Sunday to Saturday, which I think is how it works?
Either way, we’re moving toward the first day of summer, but we still have plenty of on-ice action to discuss.
A wild Final thus far
For a neutral observer, this year’s Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes has been a blast to watch thus far.
A late Vegas game-winning goal in Game 1, an OT win for Carolina in Game 2, then a chaotic Game 3 that had just about everything: a natural hat trick, a blown four-goal lead, and a ping-pong OT winner.
After all that, Vegas has a 2-1 lead and it remains anyone’s series, but the entertainment factor has been through the roof.
And while I’m sure many of you scoff at the mere mention of the NBA, that final has been very entertaining as well.
It’s a nice treat for sports fans until we have to settle into the darkness (in Boston, at least) of baseball season.
Hey, at least the World Cup is coming!
Lucic calls it a career
Two-time Boston Bruin Milan Lucic officially announced his retirement on Sunday, ending a 17-season NHL career that spanned a handful of organizations.
Lucic finished with 233G-353A-586PTS in 1,177 games.
He was a force to be reckoned with in his prime years with the Bruins and was pretty much worth the price of admission on his own during that time with an ability to fight, hit, and score.
Lucic’s second stint with the Bruins ended when he was placed on indefinite leave after he was charged with domestic assault, charges that were later dropped due to inadmissible evidence/lack of testimony.
Lucic briefly played in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) over in the United Kingdom, but that didn’t last long.
Odds and ends
Joe Pavelski, who I honestly thought was still playing, is apparently a name that has come up during the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching search.
Jeremy Swayman finished third in Vezina Trophy voting, with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning taking home the top spot.
Fans of every NHL team not named the Detroit Red Wings are currently conjuring up the wackiest possible trade proposals for Dylan Larkin. I think Spooner, Khokhlachev, and a first gets it done.
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -115, Golden Knights -105; over/under is 6
STANLEY CUP FINAL: Golden Knights lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Saturday for the sixth time this season. The Golden Knights won the last matchup 5-4 in overtime. Mitchell Marner scored three goals in the victory.
Vegas has a 39-26-17 record overall and a 27-14-9 record on its home ice. The Golden Knights have gone 50-7-12 when scoring three or more goals.
Carolina is 53-22-7 overall and 30-12-6 on the road. The Hurricanes are 28-9-3 in games they score at least one power-play goal.
TOP PERFORMERS: Pavel Dorofeyev has 37 goals and 27 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has seven goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Nikolaj Ehlers has 26 goals and 45 assists for the Hurricanes. Shayne Gostisbehere has three goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-1-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 7-2-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, four penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.
Hurricanes: William Carrier: day to day (upper body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had plenty of chances to force Game 7 in their Eastern Conference Final series against the Toronto Marlies on Sunday night, but couldn't find the game-winning goal.
Alex Nylander scored with 6:16 left in overtime to send the Marlies to the Calder Cup Final, ending a remarkable season for the Penguins. Harrison Brunicke tried to block the shot, but it still got through and beat goaltender Sergei Murashov.
Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov was unbelievable in this game, robbing several point-blank opportunities and keeping his team alive long enough for Nylander to win it.
Aidan McDonough opened the scoring for WBS in the first period before Easton Cowan tied the game in the second period. The third period featured great chances for both teams before both Akhtyamov and Murashov stood on their respective heads in overtime. It was non-stop action at both ends before Nylander's game-winner.
Now that the Penguins' season is over, here are some of my takeaways from their playoff run.
- I think there's a strong chance that Brunicke and Murashov are on the NHL roster to start the 2026-27 season. Brunicke was the best player during this playoff run for WBS and was fantastic in all three zones. His play looked night and day compared to what we saw during his nine-game NHL trial at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Murashov had a few uncharacteristic performances in this series, but he was still very good overall for WBS in these playoffs, finishing with an 8-7 record, a 2.11 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. He made a lot of key saves in big moments throughout the playoffs and was matching Akhtyamov in Sunday's overtime. I expect him to at least be the backup to Arturs Silovs for next season.
- Bill Zonnon only played in 11 games during these playoffs, but he made his mark, finishing with four goals and seven points. He had a remarkable end to his junior season in the QMJHL and carried that momentum into the Calder Cup Playoffs. I still think he needs a full season in the AHL before he's ready for the NHL, but he was fantastic in these playoffs.
- Tanner Howe deserves a big shoutout, too. He missed a good chunk of the 2025-26 season since he was recovering from ACL surgery, but showed in these playoffs that he can be a player down the line. He loves to hang out in front of the net and is a pest in the best possible way. He finished the playoffs with three goals and five points in 14 games, and I'm excited to see what he can do now that he's fully healthy heading into next season.
- Mikhail Ilyin spent the 2025-26 regular season on loan in the KHL, racking up 14 goals and 44 points in 68 games. After his KHL season ended, he joined WBS, and it didn't take him long to adjust to North American ice. He finished the playoffs with two goals and nine points in 15 games, showcasing his strong vision and playmaking.
He'll be in WBS to start the 2026-27 season, and I'm excited to see him continue to develop. He has the chance to be a solid contributor in the NHL.
It wasn't the end that the players wanted, but this was still a heck of a run by WBS. It's now on Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas to keep adding talent across the organization.
