NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils reacts during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 7-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Is there a case to be made for keeping Dougie Hamilton? “He may not be at his pinnacle anymore, but he is a high-end blueliner nonetheless, and, if given the deployment he has had throughout his career, he should be a 50+ point-getter despite the possibility of him playing on the second power-play unit. Sunny Mehta and the Devils sure seem headed to make the right call in keeping No. 7 around.” [Infernal Access]
“In what is conventionally regarded as a weak free agent class, there are three names in particular that the Devils should be keen on if they’re looking to add a third-pair caliber puck-mover in the stead of one of Hamilton or Nemec.” [Devils’ Advocates]
Marty talks here about Claude Lemieux:
"He had such a big heart." ❤️
Martin Brodeur joins the broadcast to chat about the life of teammate and longtime friend Claude Lemieux 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/Q0JOSylmjW
Stan Fischler remembers Claude Lemieux: “If there ever was a New Jersey Devil who deserved the nickname ‘Mister Clutch’ it was Claude Lemieux.” [Devils NHL]
On the Simon Nemec situation: “Perhaps the middle-ground solution would be a cheaper bridge deal, projected at a $4.5 million AAV over two years. You could then try trading Hamilton and elevate Nemec into a surefire top-four opportunity and see what he’s got. On the other hand, if the Devils don’t believe he’ll reach his long-term ceiling (especially defensively), there’s strong merit to the idea of leveraging Nemec as a trade chip while his stock around the league is still high to land the high-end, top-six forward the club needs.” [The Athletic ($)]
Hockey Links
A nightmare Stanley Cup Final if you ask me:
Here’s how both teams in this year’s Stanley Cup Final stack up to one another 👀📊
“Any time a team falls short of expectations, the finger-pointing will inevitably start, and usually that begins with the head coach. Jared Bednar is the second-longest tenured coach in the National Hockey League and guided the Avs to a Cup just a few years ago, but some are wondering if the team needs a new voice after this spring’s disappointment.” [Sportsnet]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 17: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at Lenovo Center on January 17, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The stage is set for the 2026 Stanley Cup now that only Vegas and Carolina remain.
The Hurricanes bulled into the final by dropping Montreal in five games in the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina spotted the Canadiens the first game following a 12-day layoff in between series. Once the Canes got back in with the program, it was just a matter of time until they folded up the Habs based on the domination. Goalie Jakub Dobes put up a heck of a fight to keep some of the games close, by the end there was nothing more he could do to stop the mismatch from ending in a one-sided result.
On the other side of the bracket out west, the process wasn’t as one-sided but the results were perhaps even more shocking for the Golden Knights to sweep away the regular season champ Colorado Avalanche. Vegas won one-goal contests in Games 1-3 (until late empty net goals sealed the deal) and then jumped up 2-0 in Game 4 and held onto win 2-1. Game 3 was probably their finest moment, erasing a 3-0 deficit and coming back to score five unanswered goals to shock Colorado all the way out of it. (In a way, the Avs conference final appearance mirrored the Penguins in ‘13 against the Bruins. A couple close games didn’t go their way, then before they knew what happened the hole got so deep there was no way out).
Vegas sweeps Colorado 4-0
The Knights got better and better as the series went on, outchancing the Avs 46-36 in the final two games.
Three different models see this ultimately this matchup with the exact same result on a 56-44 split in favor of the Hurricanes. It’s hard to argue against the 12-1 path they’ve cut through the Eastern Conference. The gambling market is in close step with that analysis, the Knights at +130 to win is an implied probability of 43.5% (Carolina’s line of -155 is at 60%. That math doesn’t add up to 100%, because no matter what happens the house always wins).
That sounds like a good baseline to think about when trying to predict or analyze this one. Both teams obviously have reason to be confident heading into the final round of the playoffs, either is capable of winning four more games if the next few days/weeks go the right way. The Hurricanes are probably a marginally stronger side on paper, with home ice advantage to boot. Games, of course, won’t be decided on paper so they’ll play them to see what happens.
One area to watch – and potentially challenge previous results – will be what happens with the power play for Vegas. The Golden Knights have a 23.6% power play (2nd best in the playoffs for teams that won a round). That’s going to have to be a difference-maker and will have quite the challenge. Carolina has the penalty kill working to the tune of four goals allowed this playoff on 53 chances (92.5%) and beyond that are yielding 4v5 expected goal rates per 60 in the 3.7-4.2 range in their first three series. By contrast, the Vegas power play has 8.71 actual goals/60 on the power play this playoff to show the stark difference of this strength-on-strength area.
That will put an onus on Mitch Marner (seven power play points this playoff) and Jack Eichel (6 PPP) to create something that can hit the back of the net to throw the games off schedule for what Carolina has been doing this spring. The stars have to shine bright at this time of year, and with how stingy the Hurricanes have been that will be a huge telling point for just how much of a chance the slight underdogs have to make noise.
Both teams have been excellent late when they have a lead, Carolina is 7-0 in the playoffs when leading going into the second intermission, Vegas is 8-0. The Hurricanes have scored first in a shocking 11 out of their 13 games, and are 10-1 when they do take that first lead. The first goal has been important for Vegas, they’re 7-1 in playoff games when they strike first, but still an impressive 5-3 when they trail 1-0.
That too could be a crucial piece of information; the Hurricanes aren’t used to giving up goals while shorthanded and they’re not used to falling behind. Vegas has more experience in terms of dealing with adversity to get to this point, starting with the fact they only won 39 regular season games, had a late coaching change and have had to be in a clawing/survival type of mode for quite a while.
The question becomes is Carolina able to perform so well that they don’t even have to figure out how to deal with falling behind in a game or series? Or can Vegas take advantage of planting some seeds of doubts and putting the Canes in an unaccustomed tough spot?
We’ll shake up the ball a little and say that the Hurricanes won’t cruise to the championship, though there’s a decent possibility that they will. All of their lines are clicking, including the impressive second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake that’s helped push Nik Ehlers into the ‘Phil Kessel type of ’third’ liner’ territory. Carolina is built to suppress their opponents, the missing piece for them has seemingly been found to get enough production to make it count. That means we’ll say that Jordan Staal gets a successful trip back to the SCF, his first since being with the Penguins in 2009.
While the Montreal Canadiens’ defense was much better than last season, it is still plagued by a few big question marks. Kaiden Guhle playing Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final despite being obviously injured was just the latest evidence that Martin St-Louis doesn’t really trust Arber Xhekaj. The fact that Lane Hutson played the entirety of the playoffs on his off-side is further proof that the Canadiens still need a right-shot defenseman, even if it’s only a depth one. There’s also the fact that neither Xhekaj nor Jayden Struble can establish themselves as regulars, which is also a concern.
Xhekaj is the only defenseman who needs a new contract for this upcoming season; he’s an RFA with arbitration rights. His qualifying offer stands at 1.3 million, and there’s no doubt that the Canadiens will qualify him. However, it’s far from certain that he will still be in Montreal when the next season starts.
While the gritty defenseman brings a physical element his teammates can't, St-Louis has shown time and again that he doesn’t really like that side of play, and that even if Xhekaj has adapted to the coach’s preferred style, the bench boss doesn’t really trust him. In his last game, number 72 spent less than two minutes on the ice. On a Stanley Cup-winning team, no defenseman spends so little time on the ice. It’s not sustainable for the other five defensemen to shoulder an increased workload because the coach essentially only trusts them.
Dylan McIlrath lays a BIG hit on Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj comes FLYING in to take exception 😳👊 pic.twitter.com/UBH7G85Fr1
If the coach isn’t going to use him, it may be tempting for Kent Hughes to use him in a deal to fill another organizational need. Despite not playing that much, there is little doubt that there would be interest in him on the market; his toughness would be attractive to many teams.
The Canadiens also need a right-shot defenseman. While Hutson has proven that he can play on his off-side if needed, that’s not putting him in the best position to succeed. It would make sense for the Habs to get another right-shot defenseman. Of course, they do have David Reinbacher in their system, but the fifth overall pick at the 2023 draft has been dealing with so many injuries that his development has been affected. Will he be ready to make the jump in the NHL this coming season? It remains to be seen.
While prospect Bryce Pickford has been dominant in the WHL this year, it doesn’t guarantee that his game could eventually translate to the NHL. We’ll get a better idea of what he can really do when he plays in the AHL in 2026-27.
There are also some question marks around Guhle. The defenseman has had a roller-coaster season, with just as many highs and lows. When he’s at his best, he’s a great part of the team, but consistency is an issue. Furthermore, he’s also often injured, and it’s hard to build a team around a piece that will only be there part-time. If the Canadiens do decide to hang on to the defensive defenseman, they have to plan for safe backup options. A seventh defenseman who won’t be a liability on the ice and will be able to shoulder the load when the Albertan is sidelined. Adam Engstrom is knocking on the door, but he doesn’t have the physicality Guhle has.
It’s June! It must be Stanley Cup Final season. That’ll kick off tomorrow with the Hurricanes and Knights. And check back later this morning for the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast, with Sean Cuthbert joining Dan and Mike.
Islanders News
The Islanders named former NHL defenseman and successful OHL coach Jay McKee to lead their AHL affiliate in Hamilton. [Isles]
And at the NHL level, Pete DeBoer feels “ahead of the curve” for next season since he was able to join and see the team before the end of this past season. [Isles]
The latest Weird Islanders podcast covered a murderer’s row of mostly forgotten, short-time goalies. [LHH]
Reviewing the many Long Island-roots NHL players from this season and playoffs. [News]
Elsewhere
Rod Brind’Amour demands a consistent brand of Hurricanes berserker hockey and he’s fortunate to have dressing room leaders who make sure new players follow along. [NHL]
And after his “low point” in Buffalo, Jack Eichel is feeling grateful for a shot at a second Cup just a few months after getting an Olympic gold. [NHL]
Frederik Andersen, one of Claude Lemieux’s first clients once he became an agent, reflected on the ice after advancing to the finals 48 hours after Lemieux’s death. [Post]
At the Worlds, Canada missed out on bronze by losing to…Norway? [Sportsnet]
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 01: Conor Sheary #43 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal to defeat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 during overtime in Game Two of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Consol Energy Center on June 1, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ten years ago today, Conor Sheary scored an overtime goal to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-0 lead in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
Pittsburgh was riding high heading into Game 2 of the Cup Final, having beaten the Sharks in a Game 1 thriller and were looking to defend their home ice and head to California with a 2-0 series lead.
The HBK Line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel teamed up for the game’s opening goal in the second period after a scoreless opening frame.
The Penguins held onto their 1-0 lead as time started ticking away into the third period but with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game, Justin Braun struck for San Jose, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
The overtime period didn’t last all that long however, as Sidney Crosby won an offensive zone faceoff and Kris Letang, almost seemingly catching him off guard, got a pass to Conor Sheary, who took advantage of a screened Martin Jones to pick the corner of the net.
Just like that, it was a 2-0 series lead for Pittsburgh, putting San Jose on the back foot and heading home to California facing a tall task.
Plenty of former Pittsburgh Penguins' players have made their mark lately, whether in the Stanley Cup Playoffs or during the IIHF World Championship, which ended Sunday.
And an ex-Penguin was an integral part of Finland's gold medal-winning team.
Forward Jesse Puljujarvi - who played in 48 games for the Penguins in parts of the 2023-24 season and 2024-25 season - was Finland's second-leading scorer in the tournament (four goals, nine points in 10 games) behind only Florida Panthers superstar Aleksander Barkov. Puljujarvi last played in the NHL as Barkov's teammate with the Florida Panthers in 2024-25, when he had one point in five regular season games.
The former first-round pick - selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 - joined the Penguins on an amateur tryout agreement after undergoing double hip surgery during the 2023-24 season. He was signed as a free agent on Feb. 4, 2024, and re-signed with the team the following summer.
However, healthy scratches and AHL demotions eventually wore on both Puljujarvi and the organization, so the two parties agreed to a mutual contract termination that allowed him to sign as a free agent with Florida on Mar. 5, 2025. He spent this past season with Geneve-Servette HC of the NL, registering 19 goals and 52 points in 52 games.
During his Penguins' tenure, he notched six goals and 13 points in those 48 games. Over the course of his NHL career, Puljujarvi has 58 goals and 128 points in 387 games.
The Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes by the numbers:
87%
Of the 76 playoff games so far were decided by one goal or by two with the second being an empty-netter. That's the second-highest rate in a playoffs in NHL history.
68
Different unique matchups in the final now with Vegas against Carolina, after Florida and Edmonton faced each other back to back in 2024 and '25.
22
Years since John Tortorella coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup title. There was no champion the following season because it was wiped out by a lockout.
20
Years since now-Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour captained the team to the Stanley Cup. That was Carolina's last trip to the final.
16
Previous sets of brothers have won the Stanley Cup with the same franchise. Carolina's Jordan Staal is looking to join Eric from 2006 to make it 17.
13
Players in the series who participated in the Milan Cortina Olympics, the first involving NHL participation since 2014.
12
Players on the rosters who have won the Stanley Cup before. Eleven were on Vegas during its 2023 title run, including Carolina's William Carrier. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal won it in 2009 with Pittsburgh.
11
Days the Hurricanes had off between the second round and the Eastern Conference Final, the longest gap between rounds since at least 1920. They lost Game 1 to Montreal 6-2 before winning four in a row to advance.
10
Goals apiece for Vegas' Brett Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev, who are tied for the most in the playoffs. Carolina's Logan Stankoven is next with nine.
9
Seasons of existence for the Golden Knights. They are in the final for a third time and are going for their second championship.
5
Combined losses between the teams in the playoffs, the fewest by the finalists since the NHL went to four rounds of best-of-seven series in 1987.
4
Players who have the chance to get retribution after losing in the Olympic gold-medal game. Vegas’ Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore and Carolina’s Seth Jarvis played for Canada, which outshot the U.S. 42-28.
3
Players who have the chance to pull off the Olympic gold medal-Stanley Cup double. Vegas' Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin were all part of the U.S. team that beat Canada in overtime in the final in Milan.
1.62
Goals-against average for Carolina, the best in the playoffs. It's the lowest since the 2012 Los Angeles Kings, who won the Cup.
1
Loss by Carolina through the first three rounds, following sweeps of Ottawa and Philadelphia and a five-game series victory against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes are the first team to do that since the change to four rounds of best of seven in '87.
0
Coaches before Tortorella who swept the Presidents’ Trophy winner in two different playoff series. Tortorella’s Golden Knights did so to NHL-best Colorado in the West final, seven years after his Columbus Blue Jackets swept Tampa Bay in the first round in 2019.
During the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins saw a changing of the guard at the goaltending position after Tristan Jarry had held that starting post for the better part of six-plus seasons.
In shipping Jarry off to the Edmonton Oilers in mid-December, they received veteran Stuart Skinner in return. They also had rookie goaltender Artūrs Šilovs via a trade from the Vancouver Canucks during the summer of 2025, staying afloat and playing well enough to keep making appearances throughout the season.
And, for the rest of the regular season, Skinner and Šilovs experienced some peaks and valleys, both posting .888 save percentages. Of course, Šilovs lived up to his big-game reputation in three games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving the Penguins a chance to come back from down 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round with a .939 save percentage and 1.52 goals-against average.
As promising as Šilovs's playoff performance was, there is even more promise in the Penguins' system, so much so that it's becoming more apparent that they may have multiple options at the NHL level.
Well, at least, that's the hope — and, really, the Penguins' hopes kind of depend on it.
Of course, it starts with 22-year-old Sergei Murashov, the most NHL-ready goaltending prospect in their system and, by a wide margin, their most promising up to this point. And Murashov is certainly proving himself in the Calder Cup Playoffs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), putting up a .938 save percentage with a 1.84 goals-against average in 11 postseason games.
There is a ton of pressure on Murashov to live up to lofty expectations, especially as he's already been annointed as the next "great" Penguins' goaltender by many fans despite playing in just five NHL games so far. And, not only that, he has an internal target on his back, too.
Joel Blomqvist, 24, fell into a bit of a backup role behind Murashov by the time playoff time came around, but he still posted a respectable .913 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average in 26 regular season games this season. Taylor Gauthier put together another outstanding season in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailers with a .929 save percentage in 36 regular season games and a .922 save percentage in 17 Kelly Cup Playoff games, also breaking the franchise's regular season shutout record.
Then, there is Gabriel D'Aigle — unrefined yet as quick and athletic as Murashov in addition to being 6-foot-5 in the goal crease. The 19-year-old got peppered on a nightly basis with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL and still had a .908 save percentage in 39 appearances, and he joined Wheeling at the end of his junior season and appeared in three games, facing 106 shots on goal and recording a .925 save percentage in the process. He turns 20 this year, so there's a good chance he will play in Wheeling next season.
With all this goaltending depth in their system, it seems like the Penguins are pretty set. If things don't work out with Šilovs or Murashov, they have Blomqvist, Gauthier, and D'Aigle behind them. Right now, they have depth at the position to spare.
And that's a good thing because the future success of the franchise depends on at least one of these guys panning out.
Yes, goaltending isn't the end-all, be-all, but it's typically the x-factor in what separates a mere playoff contender from a true Stanley Cup contender. The Penguins don't win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 without the lights-out play of rookie Matt Murray. The Tampa Bay Lightning don't back-to-back in 2020 and 2021 without Andrei Vasilevskiy in his prime as the best goaltender in the league. The Vegas Golden Knights don't win in 2023 without Adin Hill and his .932 save percentage.
The teams with the best goaltending are the teams that are not only able to perenially contend, but also get over the hump and hoist the Stanley Cup. That places an immense amount of expectation and pressure upon the young Penguins' goaltenders, fair or not.
At the end of the day, the biggest factor in whether or not the Penguins and Kyle Dubas will rebuild successfully and contend sustainably lies between the pipes. And teams with a solid tandem have an even better chance at success.
No matter what it entails, the Penguins need to be fully invested in the proper development of their netminders. There is a whole lot of potential, but potential is all it is at this point — and it is up to the organization to give these guys the best chance to succeed and march Pittsburgh back to sustained contention.
The 2026 NHL Draft is quickly approaching, and that means it's time for another Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect profile.
It's also great timing, since the NHL Combine is set to be held in Buffalo starting this Monday and running through Saturday. It will be a great chance for teams to meet with some of the top prospects in the draft and get to know them. Teams will also be able to review players' medical reports.
It's also a chance for teams to kickstart trade conversations since the full offseason is set to get underway in a couple of weeks, but the main order of business is getting to meet with the top prospects.
I kicked things off with defenseman Ryan Lin last week, who would be a really solid pick if he were to fall to No. 22 overall, and we're now shifting to forward Nikita Klepov.
Klepov spent the 2025-26 season with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and had a tremendous campaign, finishing with 37 goals and 97 points in 67 games. It was his first season with the Spirit after spending the 2024-25 season with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers.
Klepov plays on the right wing and the first thing that stands out is his skating. It's extremely powerful and he absolutely flies up the ice once he gets going. He'll also showcase some dangles that players won't see coming and his shiftiness is one of my favorite attributes of his game.
His playmaking skills are through the roof, and he has excellent vision, especially on the power play. His office on the man-advantage is the right circle and made some outstanding passes that led to goals from there this season.
Don't sleep on his one-timer, either. He can really rifle the puck and scored some sick goals from the right circle this season as well, including one against the Flint Firebirds. The Spirit were trailing 3-0 at the time when Klepov passed the puck to the left point before drifting over to his office. He got the puck back a few seconds later and uncorked a one-timer to make it 3-1. The Firebirds' goaltender had no chance on it.
Another example of his nasty one-timer came from the Spirit's game against the Brampton Steelheads. It was a 1-1 game in the second period when Klepov changed that with an unbelievable shot from his office on the power play. The puck went in and out of the net in what felt like a millisecond.
Klepov also isn't afraid to drive to the net and get to the dirty areas. Yes, he does a lot of his best work a bit further out, but he's more than willing to get his hands messy and score/set up some greasy goals.
Outside of his play on the power play and at 5v5, Klepov also showed the ability to play on the penalty kill at times, making some nice shorthanded plays that showcased his speed and deception.
Klepov does a lot right offensively, but I wasn't overly impressed by his two-way game on tape. It definitely needs some improvement, and he'll have the chance to work on that when he plays for Michigan State during the 2026-27 season.
MSU is one of the top college hockey programs in the country, and for good reason. It knows how to churn out some really good NHL players.
Heck, Flyers forward Porter Martone played for MSU during the 2025-26 season, and look how that turned out for them. Martone was fantastic for the Spartans before making his NHL debut at the end of the year, and he helped the Flyers make the playoffs, compiling 10 points in nine games.
Overall, I'd be thrilled if the Penguins had the chance to select Klepov in the first round. He's a hard-working, electric winger with a ton of offensive upside and is still developing. He wouldn't be ready right away like Ben Kindel was this year, but he'd have the chance to crack the NHL roster in a couple of years if everything went right.
Vancouver Canucks prospect Gabriel Chiarot and the Kitchener Rangers have won their third Memorial Cup in franchise history.
After a dominant round-robin that saw them win all three of their matchups against the Everett Silvertips, Chicoutimi Sagueneéns, and Kelowna Rockets, Kitchener advanced to their seventh Memorial Cup Final and took the WHL champion Silvertips down by a score of 6-2. This is Kitchener’s first Memorial Cup win since 2003.
Six different players found the back of the net for the Rangers in today’s win, with goals coming from Luke Ellinas (Ottawa Senators), Dylan Edwards, Jared Woolley (Los Angeles Kings), Jack Pridham (Chicago Blackhawks), Sam O’Reilly (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Christian Humphreys (Colorado Avalanche). On Everett’s side, 2026 draft prospect Matias Vanhanen continued his stretch of solid play by scoring a goal, as did Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear.
Kitchener advanced to the 2026 Memorial Cup after winning the 2026 OHL championship with series wins against the Saginaw Spirit, Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires, and Barrie Colts. During their OHL playoff run, Kitchener did not lose more than one game per series, sweeping both Saginaw and Barrie. The Rangers finished the 2025–26 regular season with the second-best record in the OHL with 101 points (47–14–5–2).
Photo Credit: Steve Dunsmoor-CHL
Chiarot, who was selected 175th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by Vancouver, made an impact in his team’s dominant Memorial Cup run by scoring a goal and an assist in four games. He played on Kitchener’s top-line featuring O’Reilly and Edwards.
"Just the resilience and the belief in this group was unreal. All game, I know they had their moments, had their pressure on us, but we stick to the fight, and we found a way to get it done, and that's what this team's been all about, just finding ways to get it done," Chiarot told The Hockey News post-game.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Even if the Senators break through next season, they'll still be ten years removed from winning their last playoff series. So it can be easy for Sens fans to feel like they cheer for a hard-luck franchise.
But it hasn’t always been that way.
In 2002-03, the Senators finished with a 52-21-9 record and 113 points, capturing the NHL's Presidents' Trophy as the league's top regular-season team. Led by head coach Jacques Martin, Ottawa finally avoided another playoff collision with Toronto when the Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Leafs in the first round.
The Senators would go on to defeat both the Islanders and Flyers, reaching the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. Looking back now, it was the high-water mark of an era that featured stars such as Daniel Alfredsson, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara and Patrick Lalime.
One of the team's greatest strengths was on the right side, where Alfredsson, Hossa and Martin Havlat gave opponents matchup nightmares.
“Our right side was awfully scary,” winger Shaun Van Allen said. “We had basically three number one right-wingers right there. On one team. So it didn’t matter who you tried to cover. Someone’s getting a very good matchup.
“We were deep. We weren’t really missing a whole lot. Maybe just a bit of experience, but talent was definitely not a problem. And you don’t win the league without being really consistent and really good.”
Despite their dominant regular season, there were still nerves heading into the playoffs. Ottawa opened with a 3-0 loss to the Islanders before winning four straight. Centre Todd White said their expectations were huge.
“I think every year you always think that you have the team to get it done," White recalled. "Because 16 teams make it, and usually all 16 teams are capable. I know LA won it from the 8th seed. St. Louis won it after being dead last in December.
“I remember Game 1 against the Islanders. It was kind of a stinker (a 3-0 loss). I think Garth Snow was the goaltender for the Islanders and they shut us out in our rink. And, it was kind of like, ‘Uh-oh, is this gonna happen again?’ We were fortunate we were able to end up winning the next four games and get through them. But it was definitely a little bit of nerves in that first game.”
One of White's favourite memories remains his double-overtime winner in Game 3 on Long Island.
“That was my most exciting individual moment ever,” White said. “We go back to New York, the series is tied, and being able to get the overtime winner, I don’t think I ever had a feeling like that on the ice.”
After dispatching Philadelphia in six games, Ottawa finally broke through to the conference final.
“The second round had been kind of a roadblock for us,” White said. “I think once we got through there, we were pretty excited, in terms of seeing what we’d be able to do. And that was a big moment for the fans as well to get to the conference finals and playing further than the team has ever gone. So it was pretty exciting.”
The city embraced the team like never before.
“Everywhere you went in the city, it was all about the Sens,” Van Allen said. “It gives you an extra jolt. Like, there’s nothing better. Before the game starts and you step on the ice and the flags are going, the people are going crazy. The whole city was involved. It was a community affair and you didn’t want to let them down because they were so supportive of us.”
Ottawa opened the Eastern Conference Final against New Jersey with an overtime victory, thanks to Van Allen.
“That’s the backyard rink or street hockey dream,” Van Allen said. “To score an overtime goal in the playoffs. It was a D to D pass, then up to Peter Schaefer, over to me, I passed it back to Marty Havlat, and then just went to the net. And Marty put it right on my tape like he does all the time. And then it’s just a tap in.”
But the Devils responded by winning the next three games.
“I think we were pretty disappointed,” White said. “It wasn’t like we’d played terribly in the next three games, but the Devils had a way of finding ways to win. And it’s not necessarily the best team that always wins games, but they would find a way to make the right play at the right moment.
“And I remember Game 4, we were tied going into the third period and we ended up losing that game. So it was a real disappointing time, knowing how close we were to every player’s ultimate dream and it was kind of slipping away. I remember we obviously still had belief but, at the same time, it seemed like it was such a huge mountain to climb.”
“We missed the boat on Games 2, 3 and 4,” Van Allen said. “We won the first one. I think we just played okay in that game. We needed to raise our game just a little bit more, which is a lot easier said than done. And we tried to do that, but it’s tough to beat experience and New Jersey definitely had that.”
“I think that we gave away two games too easily to the Devils in that series,” Sens winger Magnus Arvedsson said. “I still think about what a great chance we had created for ourselves. I think about the atmosphere, the fans, and the hype in the city around the club. That was something really special.”
The Senators refused to quit. Jason Spezza helped spark a Game 5 win before Chris Phillips delivered one of the most iconic goals in franchise history, scoring in overtime of Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7.
Fans still remember Gord Wilson's famous radio call:
"I don't know where he knifed in from, but he knifed in!"
Back in Ottawa for Game 7, the Sens got off to a perfect start when Arvedsson scored just three minutes in.
“At that point, I was like, ‘Oh boy,’” Van Allen remembers. “Usually, when we get that lead and momentum like that. Like, it’s coming. Two, three goals… we’re gonna blow these guys out.”
Arvedsson still thinks about another chance he had later in the game.
“Later on, I passed up on a great chance to score,” Arvedsson said. “I decided to pass the puck instead, and that would maybe have put us up 2-0 in that game.”
The Devils rallied to take a 2-1 lead, leaving Ottawa with one final period to save its season.
“We were down 2-1 going into the third,” Van Allen said. “I remember us saying in the dressing room, we’d just played about 100 games to get here. And to get back here, we’re going to have to play another 100. So we gotta pour everything we can into this last 20 minutes. But New Jersey was as tough a defensive team as you’re probably gonna play and it’s not easy to score. And that’s why everything has to fall right when you’re playing those teams.”
Radek Bonk tied the game early in the third, and it was bedlam in the Ottawa rink.
But with just over two minutes remaining, Sens fans had their hearts ripped out when Jeff Friesen scored the goal that ended Ottawa's season.
White says he later learned the setup of the winning goal was partly accidental.
“Two years later, we were at a charity event down in the Utica area,” White recalled. “Grant Marshall was there, and he was telling us he was actually trying to shoot the puck there, and his stick actually broke. So when his stick broke, instead of it being a shot at the net, the puck slid through Wade's feet and ended up being a perfect pass to the guy streaking to the net. And I’m guessing that Patty (Lalime) probably thought it was a shot as well.
“Obviously, it’s sports and anything can happen. But there’s luck involved as well, because who knew that a broken stick shot attempt would end up being the perfect pass to a guy for a mini-breakaway? And he was able to put it in.”
More than 20 years later, the players still remember both the excitement and the disappointment.
“I hate to say it, it’s kind of what might have been,” Van Allen said. “What would the city be like? We would be remembered a lot differently in the city other than just being a good team. We would be recognized as a great team if we went on to win the Stanley Cup.”
“For me, it’s the disappointment of being so close,” White said. “I think it’s so easy to think about what might have been. I think back on whether there was something you could have done a little bit differently to change the outcome. From the time I started to play hockey, it was my dream to be able to win a Stanley Cup and to be that close is pretty difficult.”
Despite the heartbreak, the spring of 2003 remains one of the most memorable, exciting seasons in Ottawa Senators history, and it all might have ended quite differently if not for a single broken hockey stick.
*Portions of this flashback article originally appeared in Faces Magazine.
Soon-to-be former Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham is a Memorial Cup champion. He won it with his Kitchener Rangers teammates over the Everett Silvertips with their 6-2 victory in the Memorial Cup Final.
In the win, Pridham had one goal and one assist. From the beginning of the season through to the very end, he has been a driver offensively.
Winning the Memorial Cup is one of the highest honors a developing player can achieve with his team. Pridham and Kitchener will remember this win forever.
Now that the season is over for Pridham, there is a bit of a storyline surrounding his hockey future. If he doesn't commit to the NCAA, presumably Boston University, by Monday, June 1st, or sign and entry level deal with Chicago, he will re-enter the draft.
He is almost certainly not signing his entry-level deal with the Blackhawks before the night of his Memorial Cup win is over, and it is unlikely that he re-commits to BU before the night is over either.
The Blackhawks selected Pridham with a third-round pick (92nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. This is a moderately big loss for the Blackhawks, who have seen Pridham develop well since selecting him.
Pridham's ceiling projects to be a solid middle-six forward who can score goals in bunches. Playing with a playmaking center will serve him well once he makes the transition to pro. Sadly for the Blackhawks, it is likely not going to be in Chicago.
Landon DuPont
Landon DuPont, a defenseman on Everett, may have lost the Memorial Cup Championship, but being a runner-up in this tournament is never something to hang your head over.
DuPont was granted Exceptional Status by Hockey Canada so he could have an early start to his career in Major Junior, and his six points in the Memorial Cup are the most a player with that status has ever had.
He is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, which shouldn't be considered out of the question for the Chicago Blackhawks.
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The Golden Knights return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time since debuting in the NHL for the 2017-18 season, as they'll meet the Carolina Hurricanes, who are also making their third appearance in the Cup Final.
Both teams are 1-1 in the Stanley Cup, with the Golden Knights hoisting the Cup in 2023, and the 'Canes winning in 2006.
Here's a glance at what you need to know with this series:
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES
Oct. 20: Golden Knights 4-1 in Vegas
Oct. 28: Golden Knights 6-3 in Carolina
ALL-TIME SERIES NUMBERS
RECORD: Golden Knights are 7-6-3 against Carolina
GOALS: Golden Knights 51, Hurricanes 47
RECORD (in Vegas): Knights are 3-3-2
GOALS (in Vegas): Golden Knights 22, Hurricanes 22
RECORD (in Raleigh): Knights are 4-3-1
GOALS (in Raleigh): Golden Knights 29, Ducks 25
HURRICANES STRENGTHS
If anything, Carolina will be one of the most complete teams the Golden Knights have faced during the postseason, and realistically, all season. The Hurricanes' strengths show up both in numbers and in how they play on the ice. Coach Rod Brind’Amour has the Hurricanes playing with a disciplined and system-driven style that saw them turn in a 12-1 mark during the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hurricanes provide a strong emphasis on forechecking, puck possession, and defensive responsibility, a structure that makes them consistent each game and tough to break down. This team has a balanced scoring attack with multiple scoring threats, including Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, Nikolaj Ehlers and Sebastian Aho - the team's top five goal scorers during the postseason. The Hurricanes ranked second in the league during the regular season with 291 goals scored, and ranks fifth in the postseason with 42. The team's structured defense limits chances by keeping pressure on opponents, which is why it ranked tied for fifth during the regular season in allowing 236 goals. Goaltender Frederik Andersen ranks first in the postseason with a 1.41 goals-against average.
HURRICANES WEAKNESSES
Because Carolina plays a structured system based on speed and skill, rather than a bruising one, it could struggle if Vegas employs its physicality and decides to play heavy with its bruising forwards and big defensemen. Carolina's finesse game opens the door for a bully-like team to crowd the crease, win board battles and disrupt puck movement. With physicality ramping up in the Cup Final, and the Knights bringing experience in from their 2023 championship team, they could have the edge in that area. Also, by playing with their controlled pace and with clean breakouts, the Hurricanes might struggle in broken-play situations amid chaos. The Knights tend to wreak havoc in front of the net, and it might limit Carolina's chances with rebounds. So despite high-shot volume, finishing inconsistency on the part of the Hurricanes could prove to be a detriment.
SCHEDULE (all times pacific)
1. Tuesday, June 2, 5 p.m., Raleigh, NC
2. Thursday, June 4, 5 p.m., Raleigh, NC
3. Saturday, June 6, 5 p.m., Las Vegas, NV
4. Tuesday, June 9, 5 p.m., Las Vegas, NV
*5. Thursday, June 11, 5 p.m., Raleigh, NC
*6. Sunday, June 14, 5 p.m., Las Vegas, NV
*7. Wednesday, June 17, 5 p.m. Raleigh, NC
* if necessary
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) gets the shot away against Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Domenick Fensore (89) during the third period at Lenovo Center on Oct. 28, 2025.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights will be going head-to-head for the Stanley Cup, as the final two teams remaining in the 2025-26 season.
It's the third Stanley Cup Final appearance for each franchise and both teams are also looking to capture their second ever Stanley Cup.
Every game will be broadcasted on ABC in the U.S. and Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.
As the higher seed, the Hurricanes will open up the series at Lenovo Center on Tuesday.
Here's the full schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday, June 2 at 8 p.m. (Lenovo Center) Game 2: Thursday, June 4 at 8 p.m. (Lenovo Center) Game 3: Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. (T-Mobile Arena) Game 4: Tuesday, June 9 at 8 p.m. (T-Mobile Arena) Game 5: Thursday, June 11 at 8 p.m. (Lenovo Center) Game 6: Sunday, June 14 at 8 p.m. (T-Mobile Arena) Game 7: Wednesday, June 17 at 8 p.m. (Lenovo Center)
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The Edmonton Oilers have reached the point where every offseason move has to thread a needle, or whatever.
They need to improve. They need to get younger. They need to stay competitive around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And they need to do it without a whole lot of cap space or draft capital.
The funny thing is, the future Edmonton has been trading away for years isn't really the future anymore. Some of those first-round picks would already be in Bakersfield. A couple might even be pushing for NHL roles. Instead, the Oilers are once again looking for creative ways to patch holes around an expensive core.
And if there's one area that still feels unsettled, it's the blue line.
If Stan Bowman decides to make a significant move this summer, three names jump off the page.
Let's start with the one that makes the most sense.
Jacob Trouba.
A few years ago, this would've been a much tougher sell. His contract was bloated, and his offensive numbers didn't match his reputation. There were nights where the game seemed to be moving faster than he was.
But hockey players age, roles change and expectations shift.
The version of Trouba available now isn't being asked to carry a defensive core. He's being asked to bring something Edmonton has lost.
A little menace.
There was a time when Darnell Nurse played with a certain snarl. Opposing forwards knew they'd pay a price around the crease, and scrums didn't end until Nurse decided they were over.
But that version shows up less and less these days.
If you were building a playoff defenceman in a lab, he'd check a lot of boxes. Right shot, good skater, competitive, moves the puck, plays tough minutes, and doesn't need to be sheltered.
Every contender would love to have him. Which is exactly the issue.
The moment Andersson becomes available, the line forms quickly.
The Oilers would undoubtedly have interest, but interest and ability aren't always the same thing. Edmonton has spent years moving picks and prospects in pursuit of immediate help. That's understandable when you're chasing Cups. It's also why acquiring a player like Andersson becomes difficult.
Right-shot defencemen don't grow on trees. Neither do affordable ones.
He moves the puck well, skates efficiently and can handle a serious amount of minutes on any given night. Those players tend to become more valuable the deeper a team gets into the playoffs.
The Oilers know that better than most.
Of course, before Edmonton can realistically add anyone, there's the uncomfortable conversation.
Maybe that's Darnell Nurse, whose contract continues to grow past his game. To be clear, Nurse is still a useful NHL defenceman, and the problem isn't whether he can play. It's whether he's providing value relative to the cap hit.
Or maybe it's Mattias Ekholm.
This is where hockey gets cruel.
Ekholm is still smart enough to defend half the league. He cares more than most defencemen on that team, but there were stretches this season where you could see the clock ticking.
The legs are always the first to go, and teams chasing a Stanley Cup in the next two years have to make tough decisions.
The Oilers don't need a complete makeover on defence. They need another option, another layer of defenceman who can pressure offence without creating problems.
Of the names available, Andersson is probably the best player. Raddysh might be the best value.
But if Edmonton is looking to change the personality of its blue line, Trouba is the most interesting fit.
Because for all the skill on this roster, there are still nights where the Oilers look a little too easy to play against.
Trouba wouldn't solve every problem. He'd just make sure the other team had a few more of their own.
