Category: NHL

In possession of the 13th pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, the New York Islanders will have an opportunity to bolster their already strong prospect pool.

General manager Mathieu Darche made three first-round selections in his first draft with the team in 2025, selecting Matthew Schaefer (No. 1), Victor Eklund (No. 16), and Kashawn Aitcheson (No. 17).

Islanders Prospect Kashawn Aitcheson: Eating Minutes In OHL PlayoffsBarrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson is redefining endurance, logging an astounding 50 minutes in a single playoff game while anchoring the blue line with elite offensive production.

With draft season here, one name that has been linked to the Islanders is Ryan Lin, a 5-foot-11, right-shot defenseman from the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Lin is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman known for his hockey IQ.

While his ability to frequently join teammates on the rush has given fans the impression he is an offensive defenseman, he also knows when to prioritize his defensive responsibilities, truly lacking any glaring weaknesses, including in his own zone.

Love this clip from the U18s. Oliver Suvanto pushes 6-foot-4 Lucas Ambrosio out of the way like it's nothing so he can drive the puck behind the net, but 5-foot-11(ish) Ryan Lin says "Nope, not on my watch" pic.twitter.com/tThNSIQndh

— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) May 6, 2026

As an alternate captain for the Giants, he recorded 57 points (14 goals, 43 assists) in 53 games this season, the second-highest point total on the team and the highest among defensemen, as well as six points (one goal, five assists) in five games for Canada at the U18s.

Lin's 57 points ranked third among draft-eligible WHL defensemen, trailing only Daxon Rudolph (78 points) and Carson Carels (73 points), who are each projected top-10 picks.

Islanders scouts are likely already familiar with Lin's game, as he has spent the past two seasons in Vancouver alongside goaltender Burke Hood, the New York's 170th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Looking ahead, Lin is committed to the University of Denver for 2026-27, one of the most esteemed NCAA programs in recent seasons.

Denver could be the perfect long-term fit for Ryan Lin’s development. Sebastian High breaks down why below 👀 #2026NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/9k3x281PiZ

— Locked On NHL Prospects (@LO_NHLProspects) May 11, 2026

Under head coach David Carle, Denver has won three of the past five national championships while developing some of the top defense prospects to come out of the NCAA in Zeev Buium and Eric Pohlkamp, the 2025 and 2026 Hobey Baker Award finalists, respectively.

It is also worth noting that, like Lin, Buium and Pohlkamp are undersized, standing 6-foot and 5-foot-11, and they each spent two seasons with Denver.

Pohlkamp played his freshman season at Bemidji State University before transferring to Denver. During that season, he won gold at the World Junior Championship while playing for Carle.

With both Buium and Pohlkamp playing professionally, Lin will have some big shoes to fill, but there is no better place than Denver for a defenseman to develop.

Projected to play alongside at least three other drafted defensemen, Lin is projected to develop his game as a top-pairing option for Carle while competing for a national championship.

In the long-term, Lin projects as an NHL top-four defenseman, capable of leading a power-play unit.

The Islanders organization is weak on the right side of the defense, so Lin would provide an immediate boost to the team’s long-term outlook.

Notably, the Islanders have not selected a right-shot defenseman in the draft since Tomas Machu (No. 221) in 2021, and the only right-shot defensemen under contract for the 2026-27 season are Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield, who are 31 and 33 years old, respectively.

With Lin’s NHL ETA projected closer to Spring 2028 or the 2028-29 season, the Islanders would need to be patient, but if all goes according to plan, they could add another young defensive piece to an already exciting group led by Schaefer and Aitcheson.

Rankings have Lin projected to go in the 8-18 range, so he may not be available for the Islanders at 13.

5/14/26 - 7:00 pm at KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY 

TV - US - TNT/TruTV/HBOMax, Canada - CBC Hockey Night In Canada

Buffalo – 50-23-9 | - 109  points – 1st place in the Atlantic Division

Montreal  – 48-24-10 | - 106 points – 3rd place in the Atlantic Division

 

Special Teams

Buffalo

Power Play(Reg) – 19.5% (21st)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 6 for 40 - 15.0% (11th) 

Penalty Kill(Reg) – 81.9% (4th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 30 for 36 - 83.3% (9th) 

Montreal

Power Play(Reg) – 23.1% (10th)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 9 for 46 - 19.6% (6th)

Penalty Kill(Reg) - 78.2% (18th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 35 for 45 - 77.8% (13th)

Top Scorers

Buffalo

Tage Thompson: 10 GP, 4 G, 7 A, 11 PTS

Josh Doan: 10 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 PTS

Zach Benson: 10 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS

Montreal

Lane Hutson: 11 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS

Nick Suzuki: 11 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 PTS

Cole Caufield: 11 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS

 

Starting Goalies

Buffalo – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2-1, 3.37 GAA, .873 Sv %)

Montreal  – Jakub Dobes (6-5, 2.22 GAA, .914 Sv %)  

Other Sabres Stories

Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings 

Forwards

Peyton Krebs   - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch

Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh Doan 

Jason Zucker - Konsta Helenius - Jack Quinn  

Jordan Greenway - Ryan McLeod - Beck Malenstyn

Ex., Tanner Pearson,, Josh Dunne, Tyson Kozak

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power - Bowen Byram 

Luke Schenn - Conor Timmins 

Ex. Logan Stanley, Michael Kesselring, Zach Metsa

Goaltenders

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Alex Lyon

Colten Ellis

Injuries

Justin Danforth (lower body, Oct. 18; injured reserve)

Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season) 

Noah Ostlund (lower body, Apr 28; week-to-week)

 

Sabres Playoff Stats Leaders 

Shots: Dahlin/Tuch (35), Thompson (32), Doan (24) 

Hits: Samuelsson (42), Malenstyn (31), Tuch (30) 

Blocked Shots: Timmins (25), Samuelsson (19), Dahlin (13)

 

Notes

This season marks the first time the Sabres have advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they advanced to the 2007 Eastern Conference Final. The Sabres have earned three playoff series victories over the Canadiens in franchise history. Buffalo last faced Montreal in the playoffs in the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series in which the Sabres won four games to none. 

The Sabres also defeated the Canadiens three games to none in the 1983 Adams Division Semifinals and four games to two in the 1975 Semifinals. Buffalo’s win in Game 4 marked the first Sabres playoff victory in which their opponent had at least seven power-play opportunities since May 4, 2007 vs. NY Rangers (7). The win marked the third time Buffalo has earned four wins in the team's first five road contests in a single playoff year. The Sabres also did so from April 11 to May 2, 2001 and April 22 to May 14, 1998.

 In his last five games, Zach Benson has registered six points (3+3), including the game-winning goal in Game 4 at Montreal on Tuesday.  Benson has four goals in the playoffs and is the first Sabres skater age 21 or younger to register four or more goals in a single playoff year since Pierre Turgeon in 1988 (4; 18 years old). With one more goal, Benson would become the first Sabres skater age 21 or younger to register five or more goals in a single playoff year since Danny Gare in 1976 (5; 21 years old). 

Josh Doan and Peyton Krebs’ plus-5 ratings are tied with Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad from April 22 to May 11, 2006, and Matthew Barnaby from May 8, 1993 to May 7, 1997 for the best mark by a Sabres forward in the first 10 games of their playoff career. In his last seven games, Doan has registered nine points (2+7), including at least one assist in each of his last five contests. An assist tonight would make Doan the first Sabres skater since Alexei Zhitnik from May 14 to 27, 1999 (six games; 1+6) to register an assist streak of six or more games in the playoffs (within a single playoff year).

He would become one of five Buffalo skaters (Dale Hawerchuk, Pat LaFontaine, Gilbert Perreault, Zhitnik) to record an assist streak of six or more games in the playoffs at least one time. • Any point tonight would make Doan the first Sabres skater to post a point streak of six or more games in the playoffs since Thomas Vanek from April 14 to 27, 2007 (six games; 5+2). 

Tage Thompson has tallied 11 points (4+7) in 10 playoff games thus far, including two points in each of the last two contests. Thompson’s four multi-point games in the playoffs were tied for the second-most among all NHL skaters entering play on Wednesday. A multi-point effort tonight would make Thompson the first Buffalo skater to register three or more consecutive multi-point games in the playoffs since Miroslav Satan from April 14 to 17, 2001 (three games; 2+4). A goal in tonight’s game would make him the first Sabres forward to record a goal streak of three or more games in the playoffs since Jason Pominville from April 18 to 25, 2007 (three games; 3+0). Thompson is the first Sabres skater to record at least one point per game through the first 10 playoff games of their career since Tim Connolly from (April 22, 2006 to April 14, 2007; 5+7).  Thompson is the only Buffalo skater to do so in a single playoff year. 

In his last six games, Rasmus Dahlin has posted six points (2+4), including an assist in back-to-back games. With an assist tonight, Dahlin would join Doan, Thompson and Owen Power as the only Sabres skaters who have registered an assist streak of at least three games in this year’s playoffs. 

Bowen Byram has recorded four goals in the playoffs and is one goal away from recording the most goals by a Sabres defenseman in a single playoff year all-time. 

Mattias Samuelsson (42 hits; three goals) was the only NHL defenseman with 40 or more hits and three or more goals in the playoffs entering play on Wednesday. He was one of just two NHL skaters who had both (Ivan Barbashev; 61 hits and three goals).

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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The Montreal Canadiens travel the short distance to KeyBank Center on Thursday, May 14, for Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres.

My Canadiens vs. Sabres props tackle an abundance of valuable markets, highlighting the likes of Alex Newhook and Josh Doan, who have significantly elevated their play at the perfect time.

Let's dive into my NHL picks for a pivotal Game 5 in Buffalo on May 14. Be sure to also read our full Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions.

Best Canadiens vs Sabres props for Game 5

Game 5 Prop #1: Alex Newhook Over 0.5 points

+130 at BET99

Few players are as red-hot as Alex Newhook is at this very moment. Although the Newfoundland native entered this series with just two points in seven first-round games, his explosive speed has exposed an offense-hungry and inexperienced Buffalo Sabres defensive corps.

He's scored five goals and registered 17 shots on goal in four games this series, providing value in virtually any market. I'll side with the point market, as his linemates in Jake Evans and Ivan Demidov can find the back of the net too.

Game 5 Prop #2: Josh Doan Over 0.5 assists

+155 at BET99

Josh Doan was quietly the Sabres' top U24 scorer this season, and has notched an assist in five consecutive games — the longest active assist streak among all players tonight.

Three of his five assists this series have come via the power play, as Buffalo has scored a PPG in three of four games. Doan is also playing on a third line that's been red hot since the postseason.

The trio of Doan/Norris/Benson has combined for 18 points through 10 postseason games.

Game 5 Prop #3: Nick Suzuki Over 2.5 shots

+110 at BET99

Nick Suzuki's confidence did not waver amid 5-on-5 struggles in Round 1.

The Montreal Canadiens' captain has 13 shots on goal this series, notching three or more in four of his last five. Buffalo ranked 23rd in shots allowed during the regular season, and the likes of Suzuki and Newhook have been pouncing on the opportunity.

The 101-point man ranks third on the team in shots this series and is the only Canadien listed at plus odds with this line.

These three props can be parlayed to +1000 at Bet99.

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Although the Philadelphia Flyers largely stuck with the same group of players throughout their run in the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, the team hopes that many of the young players who watched on standby will benefit from the experience.

Top Flyers prospects like Spencer Gill, Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body), Carson Bjarnason, Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, Jack Berglund, and David Jiricek were all present in the press box for the Flyers' five home games in the postseason.

Only Bonk and Luchanko managed to play in a game, the Flyers' Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, and Jiricek was a participant in warmups.

All of the players, however, got to see and hear what playoff hockey was like in Philadelphia.

The intensity of the games against seasoned opponents like Pittsburgh and Carolina, the cheers and boos from the crowd, and the boisterous standing ovation following the end of the season, which Flyers general manager Danny Briere lauded multiple times in his end-of-season press conference.

"We always ask a lot about our fans, and we ask them to invest in the team and spend money and time to come and see us. What they did last game was truly, truly amazing," Briere said to start his press conference.

Flyers Release Big Injury UpdateThe Philadelphia Flyers played through some major injuries in the NHL playoffs.

"I wanted them to know that it was our players who took notice of that. I probably had seven or eight guys in my exit meetings that specifically mentioned how the fans reacted at the end of the game. They knew how special it was to play in the playoffs in Philadelphia. They didn't realize how special it was."

Now that the Flyers have gotten a taste of that, they want everyone to be hungry to get back to the playoffs every year and continue to learn and improve.

That includes the prospects who will be important parts of this process in the near future.

"We didn't know our fans would react the way they did, which was fantastic. That was amazing. Along the way, we didn't know if Oliver Bonk or David Jiricek would play games, but they got the chance to go on the ice for a few warmups. That was all part of the experience," Briere said.

"We had Jack Nesbitt and Spencer Gill here at the end of the season. Even though they couldn't play, they came in, spent a few days being around the team to see what it was like, the atmosphere of the playoffs, and get a taste of how exciting it could be. It goes beyond just the guys who were playing. A lot of our young guys were here. To have them around to experience that, we hope will help their development."

Flyers Playoff Rooting Guide: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend?Which former member of the Philadelphia Flyers will go on to win the Stanley Cup this year?

With Noah Juulsen a pending free agent and the future of Rasmus Ristolainen uncertain, it would certainly seem that Bonk and Jiricek have strong chances to parlay that experience into roster spots and improvement in their games next season.

Luchanko, who replaced Matvei Michkov for Game 4 against Carolina, will assuredly make his bid to make the Flyers out of training camp for a third consecutive season.

Berglund played seven playoff games with the SHL's Farjestad BK before helping the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with their playoff push on an AHL tryout, then watched the Flyers from afar.

The Flyers hope that all of these prospects will take something from the two-round playoff run and apply it in the near future.

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Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinal between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks shifts back to Orange County tonight, with Vegas up 3-2 in the series. 

In my Golden Knights vs. Ducks props, I'm targeting Jack Eichel, Cutter Gauthier, and Pavel Dorofeyev.

Read more in my Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions and NHL picks for Thursday, May 14. 

Best Golden Knights vs Ducks props for Game 6

Game 6 Prop #1: Jack Eichel Over 0.5 assists

-160 at BET99

Jack Eichel has been killing it this postseason for the Vegas Golden Knights. After leading the team in 2025-26 with 63 assists, he's notched 14 helpers in the playoffs, which is also first on the Golden Knights roster.

Eichel has cashed the Over in assists in four straight games, and he has four helpers across Games 4 and 5 combined. 

The veteran was a key factor on Tuesday, setting up two of the Golden Knights' three goals. He's also notched 10 SOG across his last three contests.

Opportunities continue to present themselves for Eichel, and he's skating alongside the red-hot Pavel Dorofeyev, who cannot be stopped right now. 

Game 6 Prop #2: Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 assists

+175 at BET99

The Anaheim Ducks may be on the brink of elimination, but Cutter Gauthier is certainly doing all that he can to keep his squad alive.

The youngster has five of his eight playoff assists across the last two contests. He tallied a pair of helpers in the heartbreaking Game 5 loss, and he also had his hand in three of Anaheim's four goals in Game 4. 

Gauthier also had four SOG in each of the last two games, and he's been important in generating opportunities for the red-hot Beckett Sennecke on the power play.

Sennecke scored with the man advantage in Game 5 thanks to a helper from Gauthier, and his line also scored Anaheim's second goal of the contest. Gauthier's line — on even strength and the power play — has netted five of the last six goals for the Ducks, with Gauthier assisting on all five.

Game 6 Prop #3: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal

-125 at BET99

Dorofeyev played hero for the Golden Knights in Game 5, scoring the OT winner thanks to an apple from Eichel.

The Russian has three goals across his last two games, and he's cashed the Over in SOG in back-to-back outings. Dorofeyev put four pucks on net in Game 4, and another four in Game 5.

Dorofeyev is averaging 2.63 SOG per contest in these playoffs, and his confidence is sky-high right now after a two-goal performance on Tuesday. That also means Vegas will be looking to get him the puck as much as possible, and playing alongside an elite playmaker like Eichel only strengthens this play.

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Two more free agents in the New Jersey Devils system are forwards Xavier Parent and defenseman Topias Vilen. While both are restricted free agents, that’s where a lot of the similarities end. Parent plays up front in a scoring role for Utica after not hearing his name called in his draft year while Vilen was 129th overall in 2021 and spends more of his time trying to keep the puck out of his team’s net, although he does have some offensive skill to boot. So with both up for new contracts this summer, let’s learn a bit more about them and look into whether or not the Devils should be bringing either or both back.

Who is Xavier Parent and What Has He Done as a Devil?

Xavier Parent is another undrafted forward that the Devils found and signed into their system, although he’s had to work his way up a bit more than most. Parent began his professional career with the Adirondack Thunder, the team’s ECHL affiliate. He would put up 51 points in 50 games, earning him a 14 game AHL stint with Utica that same season where he would put up three goals and three assists. This would result in him being promoted to the AHL full time for 2023-24, where he would play 71 games with 15 goals and 30 assists. His 2024-25 season would see a dip in his point total to 36, but he would actually score more goals (19) in 10 fewer games. These two seasons of being a strong AHL contributor would result in Parent being signed to a one year NHL entry level contract for 2025-26.

This most recent season saw Parent start in the AHL and by season’s end he would hit 20 goals for the first time, as part of his 39 points in 63 games. His performance the past three seasons finally earned him a shot with the Devils in mid-December. Parent would go scoreless in five appearances, and in all honesty, wasn’t given much opportunity to showcase anything, as he played less than 10 minutes in four of those games.

What Will Parent Do Going Forward? What is His Value?

As an RFA, it’s likely Parent is brought back to the Devils; he’s been a strong contributor for the Comets and there’s still potential that entering his age 25 season, Parent could still carve out an NHL role for himself. That’s not to say that it is a guarantee, but the potential for him to be a bottom six player in New Jersey is absolutely a number above zero. Regardless of whether he gets to that level or not, the Devils still need their farm team(s) to not be a dumpster fire. Parent has been a strong contributor for a weak Utica team, so with him still being under team control, there’s little to no reason for the Devils to not bring him back.

Parent is guaranteed at least a modest raise, as he will be coming off of his entry level deal, however he probably isn’t anything more than a league minimum player. He hasn’t done anything at the NHL level, so he more than likely gets another two way deal that sees him on a different salary structure depending upon which league he is in. Still, a raise is probably in order, even for Parent’s AHL salary; it won’t be a huge increase, but the raise is still due.

Who is Topias Vilen and What Has He Done as a Devil?

Vilen, unlike Parent, was an NHL draft selection of the Devils back in the fifth round in 2021. He would spend two more seasons post-draft in his native Finland before signing his entry level deal at the end of 2022-23. He would not make any appearances for Utica that season, meaning the start of his entry level deal slid to 2023-24. His first season would be spent mostly in Utica (aside from a six game stint in Adirondack) where he would put up 29 points (two goals, 27 assists) in 58 games. He would have similar stats in 2024-25 (58 games, one goal, 23 assists) while spending his entire season with Utica this time.

Vilen would get a bit more opportunity in 2025-26, as he would again post consistent numbers (61 games, four goals, 23 assists) for the Comets, but he would also earn a quick end of season cup of coffee with New Jersey. While Vilen would get more ice time in his games with the parent club than Parent did (somewhat naturally due to the positional difference), he also was kept off the score sheet.

What Will Vilen Do Going Forward? What is His Value?

Vilen still has quite a bit of room for unlocking some untapped potential. He just completed his age 22 season, and defenders typically do not hit their prime until closer to their late 20s. He’s shown himself to have some good offensive skills and his defense doesn’t appear to be a detriment either. At the same time, he hasn’t established himself as a true difference maker, because if he had, he would/could have been a regular in New Jersey by this point. Perhaps some of that is due to him being blocked by the Devils having a number of veteran left shooting defenders, but he also wasn’t given any NHL action until the end of this past season either.

Vilen’s value isn’t much different from Parent’s; perhaps the argument could be made he gets an extra year on his next deal, or a bit more money due to being younger and holding more potential, but in terms of accomplishments, both are pretty even. This upcoming season could be an important one for Vilen, as his play could determine if he is on the path to being an NHLer (either in New Jersey or as a trade asset for the Devils) or if he projects as a long-term AHLer.

What I Would Do With Them and What I Think the Devils Will Do

This is the rare week where I say to bring both players back. Vilen and Parent are both restricted free agents, and since neither is due more than a raise to league minimum for non-entry level contracts, it’s not costing the team much to keep both in the fold. If contract spots are the concern, there are other players the Devils should be ridding themselves of before either of these guys are on the chopping block. Vilen intrigues me a bit more since defensemen take longer to progress towards their potential, and the fact that he’s only played in two NHL games. Parent I think will be more of an AAAA player: really good at the AHL level, good enough to be a spot/fill-in player at the NHL level. I think the Devils will probably have the same thoughts as myself in terms of bringing both back. It will be interesting to see if either takes another step or leap in their development (particularly Vilen) and how that could help both Utica and New Jersey.

Your Take

Now I’d like to hear your thoughts as to what the Devils should do with Topias Vilen and Xavier Parent. Do you agree both should be brought back since they are restricted free agents under team control? Could you see Parent as a depth contributor in New Jersey? Do you think there’s more to Vilen than what he’s shown so far and could that result in him eventually being an NHL regular? Leave any and all comments down below and thanks as always for reading!

The San Jose Sharks' young stars are keeping themselves busy over the summer. While Macklin Celebrini heads to the IIHF World Championship with Team Canada, his teammate Will Smith will be doing something a little less conventional.

Smith has been announced as a guest at the NHL's third annual Stanley Pup competition. The Stanley Pup is a friendly competition designed to help 32 adoptable rescue dogs find their rescue homes. Essentially, it's the NHL's version of Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl, which has been held around the same time as the Super Bowl every year for over two decades.

The Stanley Pup will air during the Stanley Cup Final. In the United States, it'll be broadcast for the first time on June 8 at 6:30 PM PT on TruTV and HBO Max.

At this time, it's unknown how Smith will be involved with the Stanley Pup, but he will be joined by two fellow NHL players, Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes and former San Jose Sharks netminder Devin Cooley, now of the Calgary Flames.

Legendary broadcaster Doc Emrick and comedian Kenan Thompson have also been announced for the Stanley Pup. Elias Weiss Friedman, known professionally as "The Dogist" will also be involved with the production for the first time.

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Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has two years left on his contract, and Priority No. 1 for the organization is cashing in on a Stanley Cup championship while No. 97 is still on the books.

The Edmonton brass is on the hunt for a new bench boss afterfiring Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, May 14, and Stanley Cup and Jack Adams winner Bruce Cassidy (+100) is the frontrunner in the Oilers next head coach odds.

Bruce Boudreau (+300) and Peter Laviolette (+400) are also top candidates to take over coaching duties, while David Carle (+600) is widely considered the most progressive coaching mind and voice outside the NHL.

Next Oilers head coach odds (2026)

Odds via Bet99 as of Thursday, May 14.

The Edmonton Oilers exited stage right in the opening round of the playoffs this year after consecutive unsuccessful trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, and an inability to keep the puck out of their net was on full display during their six-game series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Edmonton allowed 3.5 goals per game with 3.71 expected goals against per 60 minutes, and the Oil also posted a postseason-low 50.0 penalty-kill percentage.

The Oilers will begin the 2026-27 season with a new voice behind the bench, and a number of roster moves are likely coming, as the championship window might be closing quicker than expected in the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era.

Who'll coach McDavid, Draisaitl?

While I think the best candidate for the job is David Carle, Edmonton went with a first-time head coach when they hired Kris Knoblauch, so I’m expecting them to bring in a proven head coach with championship pedigree. The Oilers have already requested permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to interview Bruce Cassidy.

Bruce Cassidy (+100)

While Cassidy’s disciplined 200-foot defensive system could be an answer to the Edmonton defensive woes, there is also definitely competition around the league for his services. Though the Golden Knights reportedly denied the Oilers permission to speak with Cassidy, the coash has noted it would be “cool to coach in Canada,” and the Toronto Maple Leafs are also expected to formally ask for permission to speak with Cassidy about their own coaching vacancy. 

Let’s not forget Cassidy still has a year remaining on his contract with the Golden Knights that’s worth $4.5 million guaranteed, and the Vegas brain trust have been hesitant to grant interview permission to other teams until they’re guaranteed the hiring team will absorb Cassidy’s entire salary for the 2026-2027 season.

I’m hesitant to recommend a Cassidy bet right now because this process is going to draw on, and the +100 odds Cassidy is the next Oilers head coach carry a 50% implied probability, which is far too short given all the balls in the air.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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After losing the last game against the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves back to square one with the series tied 2-2. In the last two games, the Habs had a slow start and allowed the Sabres to take the lead; that’s something they need to avoid tonight in Buffalo. If Montreal can manage to take an early lead and silence the crowd, they’ll have a much better night.

Historically, when a series is tied 2-2, the home team has a 177-127 record for a .582 winning percentage. As for Buffalo, they have a 15-20 record in the fifth game of a series (.429), and when they started the round at home, they are 8-7 for a .533 winning percentage. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have a 57-41 record in game 5 (.582), but on the road, they are 17-21 (.447). However, in these playoffs, the Habs are 4-2 on the Road and have outscored their opponents 18-14. As for the Sabres, they are 2-3 at the KeyBank Center and have been outscored 16-12.

Two Canadiens Rookies Top 4 In Calder Trophy Voting
Canadiens’ Newhook Stays Hot Despite Loss
Canadiens’ Power Play Could Have Made The Difference

There were shots fired by Lindy Ruff in his media availability on Wednesday. When he was asked about the penalties his team is taking, he replied:

I know Montreal's got a good power play, but I think they're going down easy. […] It's playoff hockey; every team in this league does it.

When his answer was relayed to Martin St-Louis, the Canadiens’ coach smiled and said:

So, he was talking about his team as well? That’s what he sees through his lenses. I won’t comment on how he sees through his own lenses. It’s his view.

When he was asked how he saw things through his own lenses, he added:

I think calls for one side or the other even themselves out; I don’t care.

The coach may not care, but it stands to reason that he will most probably relay what Ruff said to his players and use it as motivation. To get the win on Thursday night, Montreal will need to open the shooting lanes. On Tuesday, Buffalo blocked 27 shots; if the Habs had gotten more pucks on net, the result might have been different.

The Sainte-Flanelle has yet to lose two games in a row in these playoffs; they have a 4-0 record and have allowed only six goals in the four games immediately after a loss. They’ll aim to keep that perfect record. Jakub Dobes has only lost two regulation games in a row once during the regular season. He had an 8-1- 1 record after a regulation loss, with a .928 save percentage. Needless to say, that must help the Canadiens’ confidence ahead of this must-win game.

The Canadiens will not have a morning skate today, but they will hold a media availability from their hotel at around 11:45. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Chris Rooney and Graham Skilliter will be officiating, while Bevan Mills and Kiel Murchison will be the linemen. Win or lose, Game 6 will be played on Saturday at 8:00 PM at the Bell Centre. The first Saturday night playoff game in a packed building since 2015, expect an electric atmosphere once more.

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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, dismissing him after a first-round exit followed him guiding the team to consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

Knoblauch coached the Oilers to the playoffs three times since taking over as a midseason replacement when Jay Woodcroft was fired following a bad start in November 2023. They won 166 of their 286 total games behind the bench, and Knoblauch's .623 regular-season points percentage ranks sixth among active NHL coaches.

The Oilers are now set for their sixth coach since Connor McDavid entered the NHL in 2015 and became the best player in the world, skating alongside fellow MVP Leon Draisaitl. The two still have not won a championship, now going into their 12th season together.

Moving on from Knoblauch comes in the aftermath of a report earlier this week that Edmonton had sought and were denied permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak to Bruce Cassidy, whom they fired as coach in late March but is still under contract. Teams making offseason changes typically wait until there is a vacancy before reaching out about prospective candidates.

General manager Stan Bowman getting to make this move seems to indicate he will keep his job, along with president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson, who joined the organization in August 2023. Jackson took over control of hockey operations following the team’s first trip to the final in 2024 and hired Bowman as GM that summer. Assistant coach Mark Stuart was also fired.

“Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed,” Bowman said. “We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization and we wish them the best moving forward.”

The Oilers fell behind 3-0 in their first final matchup against Florida before pushing the Panthers to a Game 7 and losing by a goal. They made it back the following year and had home-ice advantage but seemed to regress in a six-game series defeat that could be blamed on poor defense and goaltending.

Those problems continued this season, before and after Bowman made a goalie swap to get Tristan Jarry and send Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. It made the situation worse, as Edmonton ranked 29th out of 32 teams in the league in save percentage at .883.

McDavid late in the season heaped praise upon Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper after the Lightning beat the Oilers 5-2. Even if it was not meant as criticism of Knoblauch, it stood out from a player who usually speaks more about taking responsibility for losses.

Edmonton was eliminated by the less-experienced Anaheim Ducks, when he was unable to find someone to stop the puck between Jarry and backup-turned-starter Connor Ingram. They combined for an .880 save percentage, worst in the playoffs, and the Oilers’ 4.33 goals allowed also ranked last.

The three-year contract extension the Oilers signed Knoblauch to in October kicks in next season and runs through 2028-29. They are obligated to pay him until another team hires him and would be on the hook for any differential in salary over that time.

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

The Edmonton Oilers have fired coach Kris Knoblauch after the team took a step back from consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final, according to multiple reports.

The move follows the Oilers' first round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks this season. After the loss, captain Connor McDavid said that the Oilers "were an average team all year" and "just never found it."

Knoblauch had replaced Jay Woodcroft early in the 2023-24 season and led the Oilers to back-to-back 100-point seasons. They advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in each of Knoblauch's first two postseasons, reaching Game 7 in 2024. They lost to the Panthers both times.

The Oilers dropped to 93 points this past season, finishing second in the Pacific Division, and lost in six games to the Ducks.

A report emerged recently that the Oilers sought permission to talk to fired coach Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights declined.

McDavid will begin a two-year contract extension next season, so it's imperative for the Oilers to show that they can be a Stanley Cup contender before his deal expires.

The Oilers' move follows the Toronto Maple Leafs' firing of Craig Berube on Wednesday, May 13. The Los Angeles Kings also also looking for a coach and said interim coach D.J. Smith would be in the mix.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Edmonton Oilers fire coach Kris Knoblauch after three seasons

Ben Kindel picked up votes and finished ninth in the Calder voting. The award was announced early and handed to the unanimous winner, Matthew Schaefer live on national television.

Final voting breakdown on the 2025-26 Calder Trophy: pic.twitter.com/HNAAlZ4Ndf

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 13, 2026

Considering Kindel in his draft+1 wasn’t even expected to be in the NHL until his training camp performance forced his way into the picture, it’s a nice little recognition to pickup votes. It would have required a lot more points to standout as a top-3 choice in the voting but doesn’t take anything away from the bright future that Kindel has.

While Kindel was stacked up against all rookies for this voting, for added nuance it helps to consider what playing as an 18-year old in the NHL might mean for the future. Via Sportsreference.com we looked at 18-year old forwards since 2005-06, taking out the ringers of this category like first overall picks like Sidney Crosby (102 points), Nathan MacKinnon (63), Macklin Celebrini (63) and Connor Bedard (61) who belong a notch above the ’common’ type of performers at this incredibly young age.

Kindel had the sixth most points of this group, and would rank 12th when including all age-18 forwards. Of this list, only Cole Silinger (picked 12th), Zach Benson (13th), David Pastrnak (25th) and Ryan O’Reilly (33rd) were lower draft picks in their respective drafts than Kindel was, which speaks to the rarity of a forward outside of the top-10 producing points as an 18-year old. In the last 20 years most of the draft+1 forwards are going to be top-10 picks, only a very select handful are going to be in the sample.

This chart can be useful to show areas of growth. There was once a world where Pastranak, a future 60-goal scorer, scored 10 goals in a season (albeit, in 46 games since he spent time in the AHL that season). Jack Hughes, Andrei Svechknikov, Steven Stamkos, Valeri Nichushkin, Ryan O’Reilly and Aleksander Barkov weren’t always the point-producing monsters that they turned into during their first season. There still can be a lot of growth and development for a young player that gets to the NHL on an accelerated path. What you see today isn’t the finished product, plenty of players have doubled, tripled or expanded their production to even greater heights.

Of course, on the flip side the list shows success is not guaranteed by getting to this point either. Players in this sample like Jesper Kotkaniemi, Cole Silinger and Alex Galchenyuk had wonderful rookie seasons that didn’t turn into tremendously impactful careers. Kindel’s age-18 sample doesn’t point him straight to the top, but it’s a good grouping of players to work his way into after being the 11th pick of the draft (that even many observers and experts thought was a reach on draft night, no less).

The Penguins have a lot of reason to be excited about Kindel moving forward. One reason he stuck in the NHL, beyond counting stats, was displaying a good work rate and poise away from the puck. He played center all season and was a boost to the team. The next step should come shortly to integrate him into a scoring line and an increased role on the power play so that he can keep developing his offensive game and hopefully get on the path of some of the other 18-year old NHLers who have gone onto become key players on their teams.

The results of Calder race show that Kindel still has a ways to go in that department, but it’s also worth emphasizing and remembering the rare and impressive accomplishment of sticking in the NHL and having a solid season at such a young age.

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named the 2025-26 Calder Trophy winner on Wednesday. 

Schaefer became: 

• The sixth Islanders player to win the Calder: Mathew Barzal (2018, Bryan Berard (1997), Mike Bossy (1978), Bryan Trottier (1976), and Denis Potvin (1974). 
• The 13th first overall pick to win the Calder
• The eighth player to win the award during his age-18 season
• The fourth-ever defenseman to win the award
• The youngest Calder winning in NHL history at 18 years, 223 days old (Nathan MacKinnon, 2013-14 was 18 years, 224 days)t
• The first unanimous Calder winner since Winnipeg Jets forward Teemu Selanne in 1993
• The youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach 20 goals and 50 points in a season
• The first rookie defenseman to score 20 goals and just the fourth rookie defenseman to ever reach that milestone
• The youngest player in league history to score an overtime goal
• The youngest blueliner to record a power-play goal, game-winning goal, multi-goal game, and have a point in his NHL debut
• The fifth Islanders rookie to play in all 82 games and just the third rookie defenseman in franchise history to do so

Schaefer:

• Recorded the most points by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history (59)
• Avegared 24:41, the most by an 18-year-old skater in NHL history
• Recorded the most overtime points by a teenager (4)
• Logged 31:59 TOI on March 24, the most by a teenager since TOI tracking began
• Led all rookies in average time on ice, power-play goals (8), and shots on goal (222), while tying for first in goals and overtime goals (2)
• Ranked second in goals (23), shots on goal (222), and power play goals (8) amongst all NHL defenseman
• Ranked ninth in takeaways (38)
• Drew 38 penalties, the most by a rookie defenseman since P.K. Subban (40 in 2010-11)
• Set the Islanders' rookie defenseman franchise record for goals, points, power-play goals, overtime goals, and game-winning goals
• Scored the sixth most goals by an Islanders defenseman in a season and the most by an Islanders blueliner since Denis Potvin (1981-1982)

Nobody will be shocked to hear that the Colorado Avalanche eliminated the Minnesota Wild last night. However, they will most probably be surprised to hear who scored the overtime goal that sent Jared Bednar’s men through. It was none other than former Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Brett Kulak.

The 32-year-old Edmonton native blueliner has had a good time in the NHL since the Canadiens traded him to the Edmonton Oilers back in the 2021-2022 season. He was signed to a four-year contract extension by his hometown team, and he also made two Stanley Cup finals playing alongside two of the best players in the world, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

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Earlier this season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Stuart Skinner, as the Oilers sought to address their goaltending woes by acquiring Tristan Jarry. He got to play with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang for 25 games before being sent to Colorado in exchange for Samuel Girard and a second-round pick. He’s now just one round away from another Stanley Cup final.

However, the Kulak trade was a great one for the Canadiens as well. When they flipped him to the Oilers, they received William Lagesson, a seventh-round pick in 2024 and, more importantly, a second-round pick in 2022. Who did the Canadiens land with that second-round pick? None other than Lane Hutson, who has since become a franchise cornerstone for the Canadiens.

The Canadiens’ front office won’t lose any sleep about trading Kulak, second-round winning goal or not, especially since Kent Hughes did manage to ink Hutson to a team-friendly long-term deal earlier this season. The slippery offensive blueliner will be in Montreal for another eight years or until the 2033-34 season for an $8.85 million cap hit per year.

BRETT KULAK IS THE @ENERGIZER OVERTIME HERO!!! 🤩

HE SENDS THE AVS TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL!!! #StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/JUrOYV6PoW

— NHL (@NHL) May 14, 2026

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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