Category: NHL

Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend (if your country does that) and enjoyed hanging out with friends and watching NHL playoffs like I did.

Somewhat shockingly, John Tortorella’s Knights have the Avalanche on the brink of a sweep. Meanwhile, the Carolina-Montreal Offer Sheet Series continues to be a close one.

Islanders News

We already linked it before the weekend but man, I’m not inspired by that Hamilton Hammers logo. “Subtle hockey puck details on the hammer knobs pay homage to the iconic puck in the New York Islanders logo, linking the sport’s identity with the craftsmanship of the tools and nodding to the franchise’s origins, including the fisherman logo era.” Alright, okay, sure. [Isles]

Keeping up at the Worlds: Danny Nelson gets a point in the loss (to Latvia!?!) and is scratched for the win over Hungary (???). How is Hungary even in the… [Isles]

Elsewhere

• It was another dominant Hurricanes performance (12 shots allowed!) yet close game as Carolina needed overtime to get past the Canadiens in Game 3. [Sportsnet]
• Cale Makar returned and was a force in Game 3 logging over 27 minutes, but not enough. [NHL | Sportsnet]
• But Nathan MacKinnon, who was injured blocking a shot in Game 3, is a question mark. [NHL]
• Spinning the right cliches: The Avs say they’re “embracing” the 0-3 challenge while the Knights say they’re taking nothing for granted. [NHL]
• Color of Hockey: profiling draft prospect Ryan Lin, who upped his offensive game for WHL Vancouver. [NHL]
• Elliotte Friedman’s sources say the Leafs’ meeting with Auston Matthews was “positive.” [Sportsnet]
• Meanwhile, his old running mate Mitch Marner is building a Conn Smythe candidacy. [Sportsnet]
• Bad news for Max Domi, who must be reevaluated in training camp after complications from an unspecified surgery. [NHL]
• Chris Pronger on failed Maple Leafs interview blah blah blah. [TSN]
• Say what you will about PK Subban as a commentator (we sure will), he was an electric player who made an astounding charitable commitment, and kept it. [NHL]
• The Oilers have signed Aku Raty, and I share that just so you can help keep straight that it’s not Aatu Raty, the former Islander and current Canuck who is Aku’s brother. [Sportsnet]
• F Bettman and the NHL: A Quebec town could not hold a Canadiens playoff watch party because it’s in Senators “territory.” [TSN]

Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division)

Montreal, Quebec; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hurricanes -141, Canadiens +118; over/under is 5.5

STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Hurricanes lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 3-2 in overtime in the last matchup.

Montreal has a 48-24-10 record overall and a 26-18-4 record on its home ice. The Canadiens are fifth in the league serving 10.4 penalty minutes per game.

Carolina has a 53-22-7 record overall and a 29-12-5 record on the road. The Hurricanes rank second in NHL play with 291 total goals (averaging 3.6 per game).

TOP PERFORMERS: Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Alexander Newhook has six goals and two assists over the last 10 games.

Seth Jarvis has 32 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has six goals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 5.3 penalties and 17.4 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.

Hurricanes: 9-1-0, averaging three goals, 5.7 assists, 5.9 penalties and 13.4 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game.

INJURIES: Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).

Hurricanes: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 3-2, in overtime on Monday night at the Bell Centre.

When the Canes needed them most, the top line stepped up. Andrei Svechnikov’s shot 14 minutes into overtime gave the Canes their second straight 3-2 overtime win and a 2-1 series lead. Only two wins separate the Canes from a Stanley Cup berth. The road to the Stanley Cup in the East once again runs through Raleigh, with the Hurricanes taking back home ice advantage in the series.

Much of the first half of the first period was controlled by the Hurricanes’ relentless forecheck that hardly allowed Montreal any clean breakouts. 

Shayne Gostisbehere put the Canes on the board first, finding the back of the net less than 10 minutes into the game on a great pinch in. For the third straight game, Carolina took a 1-0 lead early in the first period. 

Carolina’s forecheck seemed to let off the gas a bit in the first period. That lull in action allowed the Canadiens to tie the game on a pinch in of their own, as defenseman Mike Matheson found the top corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1. 

Just as quick as the Habs tied the game, the Canes took the lead right back. Taylor Hall notched his fourth goal of the playoffs on a tap in up close with a little over three minutes left in the opening period. 

Following the first period, the Canes held a 14-5 shot advantage. 

In the second period both teams continued to trade offensive chances, a stark change to the series. 

After Jordan Martinook took a slashing penalty around five minutes into the  period, Carolina’s penalty killing streak came to an end on a give-and-go resulting in a Lane Huston goal. 

The Canes were able to counter with a 3-on-1, but Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes made a save on a shot from Svechnikov to keep the game tied. 

Carolina was unable to convert on their second power play of the night, with Seth Jarvis ringing a shot off the post.  

For the first time in the series, the game was tied heading into the third period.

After a slow start to third period, it looked like the Canadiens had taken the lead after Noah Dobson banked it in. But after the Hurricanes challenged the play, it was determined Cole Caufield went offsides prior to the goal, keeping the game knotted.

The Hurricanes were unable to convert on their third power play of the game, bringing their series total to 0-for-8.

For the second straight game, overtime was needed to break a 2-2 tie.

After a Montreal turnover, the shot from Svechnikov sealed the game for the Canes and gave them their second straight overtime victory. The Hurricanes are now 5-0 during the playoffs in overtime games.

Game 4 is set for Wednesday at 8 PM, with a chance for Carolina to take a demanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Raleigh.

The Carolina Hurricanes have taken the lead in the Eastern Conference finals because they have figured out how to win the territorial battle and the overtime.

Game 3 was the second consecutive overtime game in the series and the Hurricanes prevailed again, this time on an Andrei Svechnikov goal, for a 3-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead.

The Hurricanes have found their game again after a 6-2 blowout loss in the opener that could have been the result of 11 days off following back-to-back sweeps.

But the past two games have seen a return to Hurricanes hockey of aggressive forechecking and firing plenty of shots. It was evident from the start of Game 2, in which Carolina outshot Montreal 26-12. It was more pronounced in Game 3 with a 38-13 shot edge. And that was with Montreal blocking 33 shots.

The Hurricanes, who won Game 2 on a Nikolaj Ehlers goal, and Canadiens alternated goals in Game 3.

Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere opened the scoring in the first period, but Mike Matheson tied it for Montreal. Taylor Hall scored less than a minute later to put Carolina ahead 2-1 before the end of the period.

Lane Hutson tied the game in the second period and a waved-off Montreal goal (for offsides) forced the 20th overtime game of the 2026 NHL playoffs.

Though the Canadiens had a couple early chances, Carolina outshot them 6-1 in the extra period.

The winning play started when Carolina intercepted a pass and entered the zone. Seth Jarvis found Svechnikov, whose shot beat a screened Jakub Dobes. Sebastian Aho, was battling Juraj Slafkovsky for position in front of Dobes, was initially awarded the goal but it later was given to Svechnikov.

"There's a chance that it went off my hip," Aho told TNT. "But I don't care who gets the goal. We'll take the win."

The Hurricanes improved to 5-0 in overtime this postseason while the Canadiens fell to 3-4.

Montreal also fell to 2-5 at home. The Canadiens will have to figure out to beat the Hurricanes' aggressive forecheck, as they did in Game 1, if they are going to be able to tie the series in Game 4 on Wednesday, May 27.

Here are highlights from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals:

Final score: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)

The Hurricanes dominate in shots for the second game in a row. The Canadiens push it to overtime for the second game in a row. And the Hurricanes prevail again for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

Andrei Svechnikov scores

The Hurricanes enter the zone after a turnover and the puck eventually gets to Andrei Svechnikov, whose shot beats a screened Jakub Dobes at 14:06 of overtime. Sebastian Aho, who had been setting the screen, was originally awarded the goal, but it was changed to Svechnikov.

CANES TAKE GAME 3 IN MONTREAL 🔥

A PIVOTAL WIN FOR CAROLINA TO PULL AHEAD IN THE ECF 🙌 pic.twitter.com/oqW1n3yvbh

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 26, 2026

Missed penalty?

The Canadiens appeared to have too many men on the ice, but the on-ice officials huddle and nothing is called.

Midway through overtime

Carolina leads 5-0 in shots in overtime as the ice crews come out to scrape the ice.

Jakub Dobes save

Jakub Dobes makes a shoulder save as Jalen Chatfield gets off a shot on a 3-on-2 break.

3 minutes in

The Canadiens have had the best chances. Nick Suzuki misses on a breakaway and Mike Matheson hits the crossbar.

Hurricanes, Canadiens overtime records

Hurricanes are 4-0 and Canadiens are 3-3 in the 2026 playoffs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canadiens vs Hurricanes highlights: Carolina prevails in OT

When the Vegas Golden Knights learned that their captain would be available for Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, his first game in 16 days, it seemed like it would be an automatic boost for a team that already held a 2-0 series lead.

But when Vegas fell behind 3-0 in Game 3 on home ice, it briefly felt like the return of former Ottawa Senator Mark Stone hadn't changed much.

But that feeling didn't last long.

Five unanswered goals later, with Stone right in the middle of it all, the Golden Knights skated away with a 5-3 victory and now, quite shockingly, hold a 3-0 lead in the NHL Western Final.

"Obviously it wasn't a good start," Stone told the media after his first game since May 8. "We knew they were coming; they're down 0-2 in the series. So they knew that that was gonna be probably their best period of the season. And we just didn't find it, I guess. We still had some looks, but we just couldn't get out of our own way almost."

Stone said the key for Vegas was simply to keep playing their game after the rough opening period. Interestingly, that was the same message Travis Green tried to hammer home to Stone's old team in Ottawa for the entire season.

"You start turning it into a track meeting against (Colorado), they're just gonna make it 4, 5, or 6 to 1. I thought we did a really good job at getting back to just playing our game and not getting away from what was successful in the first two."

Captain stuff.

Stone was also asked how he felt physically after missing more than two weeks with an injury.

"Yeah, just rehabbing in the last couple weeks and trying to push back,” Stone said. “It makes it a lot easier when the team’s playing the way they're playing. So yeah, I was inching closer. I tried to buy a little bit more time and felt like yesterday, there was no reason to not jump back in there. So tonight felt great."

There certainly weren't any signs of rust or injury.

With Vegas trailing 3-0, Stone kickstarted the comeback with a power-play goal. Later, he helped set up Tomas Hertl for the game-winner as the Knights completely flipped the momentum of both the game and the series.

Vegas head coach John Tortorella was asked about the return of his captain and what he means to the team.

"Stoney's such an important guy," Tortorella said. “And I've said it to you guys. And before you even step on the ice, just to have the presence in the room. And he's a pretty good player, right? On the ice. So I'm not sure, I think he got 15 or 16 minutes. He scores a huge goal on a pretty goal on the power play to get us, at least back in the game.

"But he put in some big minutes, put in some big minutes towards the end of the third period too for us at key times."

For Senators fans, though he was traded away seven years ago now, it was another reminder of exactly what made Stone such a special player in Ottawa. Even after over two weeks on the shelf, he just stepped back into the lineup and immediately changed the tone as he so often did here. 

With the Avalanche down 0-3 and dealing with superstar injuries, they already have two big strikes against them. But Vegas getting their captain back on Sunday may be strike three.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Report: Red Wings Expected To Move On From Three Former Senators
Senators Weekend Roundup At The IIHF World Hockey Championships
Jason York Would Love To See Senators Target Pending UFA Viktor Arvidsson
Will Carter Yakemchuk Make The Senators Out Of Camp Next Season?
Senators 2020 Draft Pick Back On NHL Prospect Radar After 50-Point Season

The Florida Panthers social media team had some fun with the star player from another local sports franchise.

On Sunday night, Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo was spotted at the Vegas Golden Knights home game against the Colorado Avalanche.

It was Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, and Adebayo was there with his girlfriend A’ja Wilson, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA.

Both Wilson and Adebayo were wearing custom Golden Knights jerseys with their names and basketball jersey numbers, seemingly gifted to them by the home team.

Still, when a photo of the couple began making the rounds on social media, the Panthers’ team on X was quick to respond with a playful post.

Bam… wyd 🥀 https://t.co/McovhLGcHz

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 25, 2026

To his credit, Adebayo was quick to set the record straight.

He posted a video of his own, one in which he clarified what he was doing in Vegas wearing Golden Knights gear while pledging his true allegiance to the Panthers.

@FlaPanthers don’t ever disrespect my loyalty https://t.co/SUULiX684Ypic.twitter.com/vwAZ0EmOEy

— 13am Adebayo (@Bam1of1) May 25, 2026

“I just couldn’t wear it in there because I was in there with somebody,” Adebayo said, holding up a Panthers jersey. “But ya’ll know what it is.”

Over the years, Adebayo has shown his Panthers fandom on multiple occasions.

It was less than a year ago that he was at Amerant Bank Arena, banging the pregame drum and getting the fans hyped up ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The crosstown fandom goes both ways, too, as Panthers captain Sasha Barkov has been spotted at many a Heat games over the years.

The Panthers didn’t take long to respond to Adebayo’s video, calling him “forever a real one.”

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

All Panthers At World Championship Pushing To Reach Quarterfinals, Tkachuk Has Big Game For US

Could The Panthers Reunite With Former Goaltender Anthony Stolarz?

On This Date: Matthew Tkachuk Scores Epic Last-Second Goal Sending Panthers To Stanley Cup Final

Matthew Tkachuk, Sandis Vilmanis Combine For 3 Goals In Matchup Between US, Latvia At World Championships

The Hockey Show: Conference Finals Off To Surprising Starts, 'Off Campus' Keeps Things Steamy

Panthers Prospect Wins WHL Championship; Set For Memorial Cup Debut

Photo caption: Jul 18, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and boyfriend Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo watch the three-point contest during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks should be looking to add some proven NHL talent to their roster this summer. When looking at potential trading partners, the Colorado Avalanche stand out.

The Avalanche are entering the summer with limited cap space and may need to move out at least one player. Due to this, the Blackhawks should consider targeting these two Avalanche forwards if they become available this off-season. 

Ross Colton 

The Blackhawks moved on from valuable veteran talent this season, like Jason Dickinson and Nick Foligno. Because of this, they could use an experienced forward who could be a good mentor for their younger players as they continue their rebuild.

With this, a player like Ross Colton could be a nice pickup for the Blackhawks. The 29-year-old forward is a former Stanley Cup champion who plays multiple positions and works in all situations. He is a potential trade candidate to watch due to his $4 million salary until the end of next season, so he could be a player worth bringing in. If he performed well in Chicago next season, he would also give the Blackhawks a valuable trading asset at next year's deadline. 

Jack Drury 

If the Blackhawks want to improve their bottom six this off-season, a solid all-around center like Jack Drury could grab their attention. The 2018 second-round pick is a pending restricted free agent who could be worth taking a chance on.

Drury would have the potential to be a nice replacement for Dickinson due to his solid defensive play and penalty-killing ability. Furthermore, at 26 years old, he is young enough that he could fit in well on a team on the rise like the Blackhawks. 

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson should be watched closely this off-season. After a tough season that saw him finish with an .870 save percentage, it would be understandable if the Flyers looked to upgrade their backup goalie spot.

If the Flyers end up making Ersson available for trade this summer or decide not to tender him a qualifying offer, he could generate some interest if teams believe he can be better next season.

Due to this, let's look at two teams that potential landing spots for Ersson if the Flyers decide to move on from him this off-season, whether through trade or free agency. 

Ottawa Senators 

The Senators could be a team to keep an eye on if Ersson becomes available. Their backup goalies, like James Reimer and Leevi Merilainen, struggled this season. Due to this, Ottawa could use another goalie, and Ersson would have the potential to be a decent backup for them if he bounced back from getting a change of scenery. 

Florida Panthers 

The Panthers are entering the off-season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov as pending unrestricted free agents. If they end up losing Tarasov specifically, Ersson could make sense as a buy-low backup goalie target for a Panthers club with limited cap space. 

The Kings had their share of positives and negatives throughout the season. While the positives are easier to bring into the offseason and next season, the negatives make it much more challenging. For the Kings to continue their success in making the playoffs, they may need to adapt their Offensive game, special teams, and Overtime Play. 

Offense

This was the most apparent issue for the Kings this season, and it was the opposite of how the defence played for the Kings this season. The Kings' goals per game ranked 4th-lowest in the NHL, averaging 2.68. The Kings also scored the 4th-fewest goals in the entire season, with 225. At the same time, the Kings did make changes to help their offence, such as acquiring Artemi Panarin, who became a point-per-game player for the Kings in the short time he spent with them in the regular season.

While this aspect is not the easiest to fix, it is definitely the Kings' priority to improve their offensive game. 

Special Teams

The second aspect the Kings could improve on is both the penalty kill and the power play. The power play fits into the offence aspect for the Kings, but it did not generate any additional offence most of the time. The Kings were ranked 28th on the power play and 30th on the penalty kill.

The Kings' power-play percentage was 17%, and the penalty kill was 74%; both need to improve next season. Both of the Kings' special teams need to improve next season, as being near the bottom of the NHL does not allow them to succeed. 

Overtime

The Kings set an NHL record for the most overtime losses in a single season with 19 and tied an NHL record for most overtime games played in a single season with 31. While the Kings did end up making the playoffs due to the points they earned for reaching overtime, if they had won half of those games, their first-round matchup could have been very different, and this is an aspect they need to improve on. 

The Kings need to be better in 3-on-3, and they also shouldn't be going to overtime 31 times in an 82-game season. This factor can be altered by the improvements to their offence, which, if they can produce more offence, can lead to more regulation wins. 

Overall, the Kings' biggest area for improvement is their offence, and with the addition of Artemi Panarin, they are heading in the right direction. Still, it does not solve the entire problem, and heading into next season, the Kings' biggest focal point for improvement has to be their offensive game, as improvement there can help their play on special teams and in overtime. 

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs say forward Max Domi will be out indefinitely after offseason surgery for an undisclosed issue.

The team said Monday the 31-year-old experienced complications following the procedure after playing through the injury during the 2025-26 season.

Toronto said Domi will continue working with the club’s medical staff and will be reevaluated at the start of training camp.

The Winnipeg-born forward had 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) and 95 penalty minutes in 80 regular-season games last season.

Domi signed a four-year, $15 million contract extension with Toronto in June 2024.

Selected 12th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2013 NHL draft, Domi has 486 points (150 goals, 336 assists) in 815 career regular-season games with Arizona, Montreal, Columbus, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas and Toronto.

___

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

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Colorado Avalanche will look to stave off elimination with a road win over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, May 26.

My top Avalanche vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks call for just the opposite with Vegas goalie Carter Hart doing the heavy lifting to sweep Colorado with a low-scoring win in Game 4.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 4 prediction

Avalanche vs Golden Knights best bet: Under 6.5 (-125)

I recommend the Under 6.5 to -130.

The Colorado Avalanche have lost the overall expected goals battle (46.9%). Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart has been lights-out with a .942 SV% and 4.57 goals saved above expected during the series. 

Colorado has only scored four times at 5-on-5, and go-to scorers Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) and Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) are dealing with injuries. Star defenseman Cale Makar is likely at less than 100%, too.

Vegas is allowing the lowest projected goal rate against this postseason, buying into head coach John Tortorella’s defensive system.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 4 same-game parlay

Hart’s highlighted excellent play alongside the highlighted postseason-best defense from Vegas pave the way for the Golden Knights pulling off the sweep.

Turning to star center Jack Eichel, he’s recorded three or more shots in eight of 15 postseason games for a rock-solid 7.35 shots per 60 minutes, in addition to a 51.8% shot share at 5-on-5. He’s also ripe for statistical correction in the shots column after converting just three of his 11 attempts into shots (27.3%) the past two games.

Eichel converted 54.3% of his attempts into shots through the first 13 games of the postseason, after all.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights SGP

• Golden Knights moneyline
• Carter Hart Over 28.5 saves
• Jack Eichel Over 2.5 shots

Avalanche vs Golden Knights odds for Game 4

• Moneyline: Avalanche -115 | Golden Knights -105
• Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+210) | Golden Knights +1.5 (-270)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)

Avalanche vs Golden Knights trend

The  Avalanche have hit the Under in 15 of their last 25 away games (+6.70 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Golden Knights.

How to watch Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 4

Avalanche vs Golden Knights latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

It’s hard to believe that a city that proudly bills itself as “Hockeytown” hasn’t seen NHL playoff hockey in 10 straight years. With the Buffalo Sabres finally ending their drought this spring, the Detroit Red Wings now stand alone as the team with the NHL’s longest active playoff drought.

With a stretch like that, changes are inevitable.

Veteran reporter Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now posted on social media this week that the only unrestricted free agent the Red Wings are probably interested in re-signing is Patrick Kane.

If that’s the case, it could mean the end of the line in Detroit for a crowded 35-and-over group that includes former Ottawa Senators David Perron, Cam Talbot, and Travis Hamonic.

When Perron signed with Ottawa in 2024, he was coming off a strong season in Detroit that saw him post 47 points in 76 games. But after two fairly average seasons with the Senators, both impacted by injuries and family matters, Ottawa dealt him back to the Red Wings at the trade deadline for a fourth-round pick.

According to most Detroit observers, Perron wasn't quite the same player who left the Wings in 2024. In his 16 games after the trade, he managed just three goals and no assists. Perron turns 38 on Thursday, and it will be interesting to see whether another NHL opportunity comes about or if the sun has set on an excellent career.

Senators Will Reportedly Add Another Alternate Jersey Next SeasonFanatics is reportedly launching "Hometown Remix" uniforms for every NHL franchise next season.

Talbot’s Ottawa tenure lasted just one season in 2022–23. Former Senators GM Pierre Dorion acquired the veteran goalie from Minnesota in exchange for Filip Gustavsson in an effort to add experience between the pipes. Talbot was one and done in Ottawa and the Sens allowed him to walk into free agency.

After leaving the Sens, Talbot signed with the Los Angeles Kings and posted respectable numbers there, including a .913 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. But in 34 games with Detroit this season, his numbers slipped to an .883 save percentage and a 3.10 goals-against average.

Talbot is currently representing Canada's men's national ice hockey team at the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, likely hoping to showcase himself for one more NHL opportunity. He’ll turn 39 this fall.

Finally, it will come as no surprise to most Senators fans that Detroit appears ready to move on from Travis Hamonic. It looked like he'd reached the end last summer before the Wings made a late call and signed him to a one-year deal in mid-August. He played in just 26 games this season.

In all, Perron played 1239 NHL games, Hamonic played 926, and Talbot played 567. So whenever these three former Senators hang up their blades, whether it's now or later, all three will be able to look back on long NHL careers they can be extremely proud of.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Senators Weekend Roundup At The IIHF World Hockey Championships
Jason York Would Love To See Senators Target Pending UFA Viktor Arvidsson
Will Carter Yakemchuk Make The Senators Out Of Camp Next Season?
Senators 2020 Draft Pick Back On NHL Prospect Radar After 50-Point Season

The Edmonton Oilers signed another European free agent on Monday, bringing in Finnish forward Aku Raty on a one-year, two-way deal worth an AVV of $850,000. Low risk. Maybe something, maybe nothing.

But the Oilers keep doing this now, because well, they have to.

Raty joins a growing list of European free-agent swings by Edmonton. This is a strategy that’s become one of the organization’s primary methods of adding young talent. And the reason is pretty straightforward: they don’t really have draft picks anymore.

That’s the cost of claiming they're only concerned about right now, not five years from now. Picks get moved out for immediate help, prospects get dealt because the window is open now, and nobody in Edmonton is interested in hearing about patience.

But there’s a difference between sacrificing the future and eventually running out of ways to replenish the present.

That’s where these European signings are coming from.

Oilers Sign Finnish Forward Aku RatyFresh off a dominant point-per-game season in Finland, the former Coyotes draft pick returns to North America on a two-way deal to bolster Edmonton's offensive depth.

Raty is a 24-year-old, right-shot, coming off a strong season with Kärpät in Finland’s Liiga, where he led the club with 57 points in the 2025-26 season and tied him for seventh in the entire league.

Before returning to Finland, he also spent two years in the AHL, putting up 69 points across 120 games between Tucson and Rockford. There’s enough skill there to justify the bet, especially on a contract with almost no downside.

And to be fair, Edmonton isn’t alone here. Teams across the league are mining Europe more aggressively because mature players in pro leagues can sometimes step into NHL depth roles faster than draft picks. You’re getting older prospects, who are more developed physically, often with pro experience already built in.

Should Vegas' Success Under Tortorella Shift Oilers Thinking About Cassidy?Vegas’ sudden resurgence under John Tortorella raises red flags for Edmonton. As the Oilers wait on their top target, one scribe argues the Golden Knights’ turnaround suggests Cassidy might have lost the room.

But this is a method to compensate for the loss of drafting, not a way of replacing it.

First-round picks aren’t distant futures anymore. Not in today’s NHL. More and more often, players are NHL-ready within a year or two, especially if they’re taken high enough. The Oilers have spent years moving those opportunities away.

And that’s where the criticism around general manager Stan Bowman and the organization starts to set in. Edmonton isn’t just thin on long-term assets five years from now. They’re thin on young, cheap impact players right now.

Blues Top-Six Forward Linked As Trade Target for Oilers This OffseasonInsider Jeff Marek links a dynamic winger from the St. Louis Blues to Edmonton, suggesting his elite speed and offensive creativity offer the perfect high-end skill set to complement Connor McDavid.

Some of those players could already be here.

A first-rounder from two drafts ago might already be pushing for NHL minutes. A pick from last year could already be developing in Bakersfield. Instead, Edmonton keeps searching for value externally because internally, there aren’t enough prospects coming.

Now, to be fair again, this is also the reality of competing for a Cup in the McDavid era. Nobody complains about traded picks when a team is making deep playoff runs. Fans wanted aggressive management, and aggressive management usually means futures leaving town.

Oilers Fans Left Wondering ‘What If’ Former Prospect Shines Again at Memorial CupSam O’Reilly’s dominant Memorial Cup and junior hockey run is giving Oilers fans another reason to wonder what might have been.

But there’s a balancing act every contender eventually faces. You can’t just keep spending future picks without finding alternative ways to replace them. That’s why these European signings matter more than they normally would.

The Oilers need them to work.

Not necessarily as stars, but as contributors. Third-line forwards. Penalty killers. Cheap middle-six options. Guys who can outperform their contracts because Edmonton desperately needs value around its expensive core.

Oilers UFA Market And Where To FocusThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> are working with $16.5 million this summer before they even get to their own pending free agents. In a league where contenders are scraping for $800,000 in wiggle room to ice a fourth line, it's an enviable position to be in.

That’s the gamble with Raty. At 24, he’s old enough that you probably know what kind of player he is physically, but young enough that there may still be another level offensively. Maybe he becomes NHL depth. Maybe he turns into a useful bottom-six forward with some secondary scoring. Maybe he’s just organizational depth.

But the Oilers are taking these swings because they have fewer traditional ways to find players now.

And that’s the larger conversation here. Is this smart adaptation by a team fully committed to winning now? Or is it the consequence of pushing too many chips into the middle for too long?

Oilers Fans Left Wondering ‘What If’ Former Prospect Shines Again at Memorial CupSam O’Reilly’s dominant Memorial Cup and junior hockey run is giving Oilers fans another reason to wonder what might have been.

Probably both.

The Oilers aren’t rebuilding. They shouldn’t be rebuilding. As long as McDavid and Draisaitl are here, the priority should be maximizing the chance to win. But eventually, those aggressive moves create holes elsewhere in the organization, and those holes need to be filled somehow.

Right now, Edmonton’s answer seems to be Europe.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.