Category: NHL

With the offseason officially in full swing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's fair to wonder what this roster is going to look like next season.

Fresh off a season where they defied expectations and made the NHL playoffs, the Penguins will have some big decisions to make this summer regarding some uncertain situations. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has done a masterful job in collecting assets and draft capital, and there's a good chance he will target and favor young talent to help this team take the next step in 2026-27.

So, which pending restricted and unrestricted free agents figure to be part of that focus? There is a pretty long list of them, and not all of them will be wearing black and gold next season.

Here is who the Penguins should lock up - and who they should let go.

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Restricted free agents

F Egor Chinakhov: Sign

This is a no-brainer, and it doesn't require too much explanation. Chinakhov said during locker cleanout day that he wanted to sign in Pittsburgh and be "part of the organization for a long time."

Well, his 18 goals and 36 points in 43 regular season games with the Penguins certainly earned him a multi-year deal, even if it is more along the lines of a two- or three-year bridge deal. The Penguins really like Chinakhov and his potential as a star top-six winger, and Chinakhov really likes the Penguins.

I would be shocked if he is not in Pittsburgh next season, and I think three years, $4.5 million per sounds about right given the salary cap spike. 

'There's A Lot To Build On': Penguins Confident 2025-26 Season Is Just The Starting Point For ContentionAfter being eliminated from the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins are confident that they'll be back in the post-season in the years to come.

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G Arturs Silovs: Sign

I can't say I've seen a player literally earn a new contract at the last minute before. But Silovs did just that.

His .939 save percentage and otherwordly performance in the playoffs gave the Penguins a chance to come back from down 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and his playoff success is nothing new. He was tournament MVP during the Abbotsford Canucks' AHL Calder Cup run in 2025, and he gave the Vancouver Canucks a chance to win against the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series in 2024 with next to no prior NHL experience. 

Finding goaltenders who can turn it up five notches in the playoffs isn't an easy thing. It's a rarity. Even if there are some ups and downs as Silovs searches for regular season consistency, re-signing him as a playoff surety is a worthwhile gamble. 

There's a greater than decent chance that he and Sergei Murashov are the Penguins' NHL tandem next season. 

Penguins' Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs Showing Big-Game Prowess In Series Against FlyersAfter going down 3-0 in their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned to rookie goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, who has some big-game experience under his belt - and he has delivered.

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Unrestricted free agents

F Noel Acciari: Walk

Acciari had a nice season for the Penguins, registering 13 goals and 25 points, which were each the second-highest totals of his career. He did that as part of a fourth line that was very formidable for the Penguins, generating momentum from the forecheck, turning in strong defensive plays and physicality, and successfully killing penalties.

But Acciari is 34, and he's the exact kind of player who would block a worthy young player like Avery Hayes or Tristan Broz. Those guys are at a point in their development where NHL playing time is essential if they've earned it, which they largely have.

For that reason, there's no sense in bringing back Acciari in terms of where the Penguins are at.

D Connor Clifton: Walk

Clifton started to come around at the end of the season, and his physicality is a unique aspect of his game and something that the Penguins could definitely use more of. 

However, his performance didn't stand out enough to justify re-signing, and his re-signing would only further the logjam on the right side and make it more difficult for a youngster like Harrison Brunicke to stick at the NHL level. 

At the end of the day, he's replaceable - and the Penguins may just add to their blue line this summer, anyway. Even if they don't, Brunicke can effectively replace those minutes on the Penguins' bottom pairing, assuming he has a strong camp. 

Penguins' top defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke takes a few liberties on Hershey player in Game 1 of AHL playoffs - Community PostPenguins fans remotely familiar with top defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke's game know he is strong in transition and creates a fair share of offensive opportunity with his elite skating. 

F Connor Dewar: Sign

After putting together a nice season - posting career-highs in goals (14) and points (30) to go along with a plus-16, the highest mark among forwards on the Penguins - there is a chance that another NHL team offers Dewar something above what the Penguins are willing to. And, like Acciari, he's a fourth-line player, and Pittsburgh has plenty of younger players who will be vying for NHL roster spots.

It's also worth noting that Dewar's production dropped off significantly in the second half of the season. 

But I think this is a player they bring back. Dewar likes it in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins are very happy with what Dewar has brought to the fourth line alongside Blake Lizotte. He'll be 27 next season, which is still young enough to have around for several more years as a key depth contributor.

F Kevin Hayes: Walk

Hayes is a great locker room presence. The guys love him, and he's a very positive and honest influence in that room.

But he played in only 28 games this season and was healthy-scratched otherwise. He's 33, and he still has a set of hands, but his footspeed is an issue. There's not really much point in keeping him around. 

Maybe The 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins Were A Surprise. But This Is Only The Beginning.The Pittsburgh Penguins may have had a disappointing first-round exit this season, but the future looks bright.

F Evgeni Malkin: Sign

There are a lot of narratives out there about Malkin right now: He's too old, he's too injury-prone, he's too unpredictable, the Penguins need youth, they shouldn't commit to term, etc.

Well, here's the thing. Malkin - who will be 40 next season - was over point-per-game for the first time in three years this season, is willing to play wing, has declared he wants "one more year," probably won't ask for a lot of money based on past comments, and is not currently blocking any "younger player" from top-six minutes because Ben Kindel is going to stay put at center and no one else has pushed. 

So, there is no good reason not to bring him back for one year. It's what Malkin wants, and it will have little to no effect on what Dubas is trying to accomplish. Quite frankly, I fail to understand why an extension hasn't happened yet. 

That said, I think it will. It may just drag out a bit, whether that's fair to a franchise legend like Malkin or not. 

'I Don't Know Life In The NHL Without Him': Penguins' Teammates Share Thoughts On Malkin And His FutureWith the future of Pittsburgh Penguins' veteran star center Evgeni Malkin's future up-in-the-air, his teammates shared their thoughts on playing with him, getting to know him, and whether they think he'll be back next season.

F Anthony Mantha: Walk

While folks didn't seem to be overly impressed with Mantha's playoff performance - he recorded just one point in six post-season games - this is a guy who still led the Penguins in goals this season with 33 and was a huge reason they ended up making the playoffs, especially during the stretch run of the season. 

But, Mantha is going to get paid - and he should get some term, too. Even though the Penguins have a lot of cap space, committing term to a 31-year-old winger coming off a career year and who is prone to injury probably isn't the smartest move. 

Had the Penguins not been in playoff contention, flipping Mantha would have been an easy choice. Not flipping him at the deadline isn't going to set back their future, however, so neither will letting him walk and cash in elsewhere.

D Ryan Shea: Sign

Shea - like many - also had a career year for the Penguins. He had six goals and 35 points and was a team-high plus-30, and he helped shore up the Penguins' bottom defensive pairing. The 29-year-old will be due for a relatively significant pay raise from his current $900,000, and he is likely to sign for more than one year.

I do think Shea will sign an extension with the Penguins for two or three years, but I don't necessarily think that means he'll stick around. I believe the Penguins are going to try to upgrade their blue line this summer - particularly, on the left side - and it would be a crowded place with a new face, Parker Wotherspoon, Shea, and Sam Girard.

It's more likely that Girard or Wotherspoon is dealt as part of a package, but there is a chance that Shea could be the odd-man out. The only way I don't see the Penguins signing him in the first place is if a team wants to throw stupid money at a third-pairing defenseman, and I can't entirely rule that out.

3 Penguins Who Likely Won't Be Back Next SeasonThere is a chance that these three Penguins won't be back next season.

D Ilya Solovyov: Sign

Speaking of the left side, Solovyov is another option. While he very well may leave for a better opportunity outside of Pittsburgh, I kind of see him as a Jack St. Ivany replacement of sorts: He'll be young enough at age 26 that there is still more upside potential, he'll come cheap, he can play both sides, and he is a good depth option.

Again, if another team comes knocking and offers Solovyov the chance to get more minutes, he'll probably bite. But I don't necessarily think that's going to happen. If the Penguins can retain him, I think they will. 

G Stuart Skinner: Walk

The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh will be sure be an interesting one to watch. Skinner played well in the playoffs and was good enough down the stretch for the Penguins to help them reach the playoffs in the first place. He's also a great locker room presence and has said numerous times that he loves the family environment in Pittsburgh.

However, the play of Silovs during the playoffs may have just pushed Skinner out. Silovs is younger - technically, he was still a rookie this season - and he has a proven track record at this point of being able to perform in the playoffs.

Again, Murashov is pretty likely to be full-time in the NHL next season. I'm sure the Penguins would love to have Skinner back in a veteran mentor capacity to guide their most promising goaltending prospect.

But I'm not sure Skinner would settle for that. Goaltending is always needed across the league, and the 27-year-old can probably find a better opportunity elsewhere. Plus, I think the Penguins would be generally comfortable with a Silovs-Murashov tandem next season, especially with Joel Blomqvist and Taylor Gauthier likely to be waiting in the wings in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Kelly Cup Playoffs: Wheeling Nailers Advance To Second Round With Thrilling Double OT Win Over Reading RoyalsThe ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers in double overtime on Saturday

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When the Senators parted ways with head coach DJ Smith and GM Pierre Dorion during the 2023–24 season, it was fair to wonder if they'd get another opportunity. The two men were at the helm through some pretty dark days for the franchise, including a seemingly never-ending rebuild.

But after a couple of seasons as an assistant coach in L.A., Smith resurfaced this season as the Kings' interim head coach when Jim Hiller was fired, and helped guide them to the post-season.

It was a reminder that everyone is usually better in their second job because of the lessons learned in their first.

The Vancouver Canucks, with the worst record in the NHL this season, think there’s a chance that may also be true for Dorion.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Canucks, after firing Patrik Allvin on April 17, have interviewed Dorion for their GM vacancy.

Former Ottawa Senators GM, Pierre Dorion was in Vancouver last week and has interviewed for the Canucks GM vacancy.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 4, 2026

Dorion was fired in 2023 because of the Senators’ botched communications during their 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sens failed to disclose Dadonov’s no-trade list, which derailed the Knights’ later attempt to trade him to Anaheim.

The NHL penalized the Senators by docking them a first-round draft pick, a debt they were scheduled to pay off this year until Gary Bettman recently let them off the hook. The Sens will draft 32nd overall this summer, no matter what.

Dorion certainly had a long list of missteps as GM in Ottawa, but it’s not hard to imagine that, under the late Eugene Melnyk, there was considerable meddling in hockey matters.

Interestingly, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Dorion's former assistant GM may be competing with him for the Canucks job. After Dorion was fired in Ottawa, Ryan Bowness spent another year and a half with the Sens as associate GM under new Sens GM Steve Staios.

Dorion did have some highlights, though, including arguably the most lucrative first round in Sens history. He took Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson in the 2020 Draft and eventually signed both to team-friendly long-term deals. He also grabbed Ridly Greig in the first round that year.

The 53-year-old Ottawa native made the most of the 2018 Erik Karlsson trade to San Jose, acquiring Josh Norris, Dylan DeMelo, and Chris Tierney, along with a 2020 first-round pick that became Stützle, and a 2019 second that was packaged so they could draft Mads Søgaard.

He also has an ace in the hole.

While the Canucks have interviewed other candidates, no one will be able to match Dorion’s GM experience in navigating the pitfalls of an NHL rebuild while dealing with challenging ownership.

That job experience would almost certainly come in handy in Vancouver.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Tkachuk's Future In Ottawa Hinges On Senators Taking A Big Step Next SeasonThe Senators' Atlantic voyage next season will likely determine whether their captain stays with his ship.

There were 24 NHL teams at the start of the 1992-93 season. When Gary Bettman took over as commissioner of the National Hockey League in early 1993, he had a vision. He wanted to bring hockey to non-traditional markets, and he wanted those teams to experience great success.

It didn’t happen overnight– for years, poor management and low attendance made these teams the punchline of every joke around the league– but Bettman’s dream has finally become a reality. There are 32 teams in the NHL, 10 of which are based in non-traditional markets. And as for success, five of the last six Stanley Cup Champions have hailed from non-traditional markets.

The Vegas Golden Knights were perhaps the greatest of Bettman’s many accomplishments. He’d long since wanted to put an NHL team in Las Vegas, and finally got his wish in 2016. The team’s success speaks for itself– they made the playoffs in their first season, and won the Stanley Cup in their sixth. 

In 2026, the Golden Knights are no longer the new kids on the block. In 2024, the Arizona Coyotes relocated to Salt Lake City; now, all eyes are on the Utah Mammoth.

In a poetic turn of events, the Golden Knights drew the Mammoth in Utah’s first-ever postseason run. Ultimately, the Golden Knights proved they’re still the team to beat, eliminating their opponent in six games. But in those six games, the Mammoth made their mark, impressing the Golden Knights with their play and their fans.

“It was a really cool experience playing there; it was a pretty rowdy building,” said defenseman Noah Hanifin. “I think it’s good for the league. It’s good for the game, and there’s a bright future there.”

“It was a lot of fun playing in Utah,” agreed forward Brett Howden. “The crowd is so good. They’re really into the game, which is really fun… And their stands, they’re really over top of you, so you can really feel them. But yeah, it was really cool. It was fun.”

As many teams do during the postseason, the Delta Center provided every Mammoth fan with a rally towel, and the resulting scenes were electric.

“Me and Keegan [Kolesar] both said it kind of reminded us of the Winnipeg series,” Howden said. “When we played there, they had the White Out, and they all had the white towels. So, it kind of had the same vibe.”

Following the series win, several Golden Knights players acknowledged how much they enjoyed getting to experience a team’s first postseason run. They also drew comparisons between Utah and Vegas’ early days.

“It was awesome, it was really cool to see,” said Noah Hanifin. “I remember when Vegas [entered the league], and just what a cool environment it was to play in, and how much pride and passion the fans had, and I felt the same way in Utah.”

Brett Howden also compared playing in Salt Lake City to the times when he played in Vegas as a visitor.

“When I wasn’t with Vegas, we’d come to play here, and it was just so much fun,” he said. “Like, the crowd was so engaged, and it made it a lot of fun as an away team.

“It’s even better as a home team playing here,” Howden added with a wry smile.

The Golden Knights will visit one of the first non-traditional hockey markets in the Second Round. The Anaheim Ducks, who entered the league in 1993, are back in the postseason for the first time since 2017. Southern California hasn’t exactly become an arctic tundra in the 33 years since the Ducks entered the league– but that means very little, as is the case in Vegas.

“I’ve seen some of the games in Anaheim, and it looks like they’ve got a great crowd,” said Howden.  

Another name can be added to the long list of candidates interviewed for the Vancouver Canucks' open general manager job. In a post on social media, TSN's Darren Dreger wrote, "Former Ottawa Senators GM, Pierre Dorion was in Vancouver last week and has interviewed for the Canucks GM vacancy." Dorion has not been listed with an organization since 2023, when he was let go by the Ottawa Senators. 

Dorion has plenty of experience as an NHL executive. He served as the Senators' GM from 2016-2023, and before that, was with Ottawa in different capacities since 2007. Dorion also spent time as a scout with both the New York Rangers and the Montréal Canadiens since 1994. 

Under Dorion's leadership, the Senators posted a regular-season record of 225-261-59. During that time, Ottawa made the playoffs once, which was in 2017. Some notable draft picks made during Dorion's time as GM include Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk.

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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TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs hired former captain Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager Sunday.

The moves mark a reset of the club’s front office after a season that ended with Toronto missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The team said Sundin will provide support across hockey operations, with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support.

“This fan base deserves greatness and I am grateful for the opportunity to help this team, organization and city achieve that,” Sundin said in a release.

Toronto fired GM Brad Treliving in March, near the end of the disastrous campaign for the Maple Leafs, who entered the season among the Stanley Cup favorites.

The club also did not replace president Brendan Shanahan after he was let go in May 2025.

Sundin and Chayka arrive with the organization still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967.

The Maple Leafs’ career points leader, Sundin had a complicated Toronto exit in 2008 before a brief stint with the Vancouver Canucks, but remains a fan favorite for his 13 seasons in blue and white.

The 55-year-old Swede, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and returned home to start a family after retiring, has never held a formal management position in the game.

The 36-year-old Chayka became the NHL’s youngest GM when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes a decade ago. His time in the desert was marked by an analytics-heavy push and bold trades.

“I’m honored to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and excited to work alongside Mats and the entire organization,” Chayka said in a statement. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base who want to win."

Chayka abruptly resigned in July 2020 on the eve of the league’s pandemic restart and was subsequently suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for one year in 2021 for “conduct detrimental to the league and game” after pursuing job opportunities with other teams while still employed by the Coyotes.

Arizona was also docked first- and second-round picks for holding unauthorized workouts with draft prospects under his watch, in breach of the league’s scouting combine policy.

Chayka hadn’t worked in the NHL since.

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

After a 3-0 Game 1 trouncing at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers must recognize that the game has changed for them in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A mediocre Flyers offense was already cooling off in the second half of the Round 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins and, by the end, needed a Cam York prayer to beat an injured Arturs Silovs.

The Flyers' staunch defense, which was initially tasked with marshalling and silencing the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson, now faces an entirely new task altogether.

Instead of worrying about defense and fundamentals, the blueline corps now has to learn how to play fast under pressure. It's the only way they'll bypass the Hurricanes' disruptive forecheck and subsequently retain possession and create offense.

The problem, though, is that they aren't built for that, and the Flyers will have to adapt.

Veteran defenseman Noah Juulsen, who has done a solid job for the Flyers in limited action, struggles to move the puck and isn't capable of using his legs as a weapon.

The same, to a lesser extent, applies to Nick Seeler, too.

Flyers Savaged by Hurricanes in Game 1, Concerns ValidatedWithout prompt adjustments, the Philadelphia Flyers could be eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs fast.

Juulsen, in particular, was victimized by the Hurricanes' intensity in Game 1, as he was forced into an error with the puck in his own zone that led to Logan Stankoven cashing in for his second goal of the night, making it 3-0 and effectively burying the Flyers where they stood.

The Flyers have options, though there is risk involved.

Youngsters Emil Andrae and David Jiricek each boast premium puck-movement skills; Andrae is more nimble, while Jiricek is overall more talented.

The Flyers probably won't want to throw someone like Jiricek, who has yet to make his playoff debut despite playing in 85 NHL games, into the fire, but other prospects who are considered important parts of the franchise's future have felt the flames already.

Players like Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Porter Martone, and Matvei Michkov are all 22 or younger and going through this for the first time, but that isn't the case on defense.

Jiricek, 22, is virtually penciled in for a roster spot on the Flyers next season, if for no reason other than being unable to be sent to the AHL without passing through waivers first.

NHL Star Admiring Flyers' Porter Martone From AfarTop <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> prospect Porter Martone has impressed his teammates, the organization, and fans with how well he's played so far, but he's quickly earning the respect of his peers, too.

The recent trade acquisition is the Flyers' most talented defender with the puck on his stick, and it isn't close.

Will Jiricek struggle with defending and the pace of play in the playoffs? Sure, but didn't everyone else in Game 1?

If the Flyers want to have a fighting chance for the rest of the series, they would be wise to turn to Jiricek, who can at least buoy the disgraceful power play and help the team move the puck up the ice in transition with his passing skills.

Juulsen has done a solid job defensively, but he's played more than 12:29 just once this postseason--the Game 6 win over the Penguins that went deep into overtime (14:46).

Those minutes should be going to a player who needs the experience, if they're going to be so limited.

It's clear the Flyers are going to need more juice to weather the Hurricanes, and Jiricek has the ability in spades.

The Los Angeles Kings are searching for a head coach, according to GM Ken Holland. While D.J. Smith is a candidate for the job after filling in as the interim coach of the Kings from March 1 to the end of the season, there's a good chance Holland will look for new blood.

There is a selection of head coaches that are available for hire, and some great veteran bench bosses at that. But what if the organization wants to go a different route and hire someone who isn't a household name?

Sometimes, teams will look to bring in an assistant coach from another, relatively successful team, and that could be the case here with Los Angeles.

Here are three NHL assistant coaches who could wind up being the Kings' head coach for the 2026-27 campaign.

Jay Woodcroft, Anaheim Ducks

For Jay Woodcroft he's actually a well-known coach in the NHL, especially in the Kings community, as he was the bench boss of the Edmonton Oilers. 

He led the Oilers from behind the bench for just one full regular-season campaign, and two stints in the post-season, none of which were Edmonton's back-to-back Stanley Cup final appearances.

Therefore, Woodcroft does have experience in running a team behind the bench, even if it wasn't a lengthy period.

Former Oilers Coach Woodcroft May Be Next In Line As Kings Coach, Per InsiderWhile D.J. Smith is the current interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, there's no guarantee he'll remain past this season. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said to look out for former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft.

In his one full regular season, he helped the Oilers register a 50-23-9 record, accumulating 109 points in the standings, finishing two points off Pacific Division winners, the Vegas Golden Knights.

In the playoffs, Woodcroft took the Oilers as far as a Western Conference final sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

This season, he joined the Anaheim Ducks' coaching staff as an assistant coach to Joel Quenneville. In Anaheim, his duties are with the offense and power play.

An offense-minded coach could be the shakeup the Kings need after sitting back and playing defensive hockey for several years to this point.

Todd Nelson, Pittsburgh Penguins

Todd Nelson is coming off his first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach to Jack Adams Trophy finalist Dan Muse.

Muse doesn't become the coach with one of the most impressive campaigns of this NHL season without a competent coaching staff around him, and Nelson has a say in that.

In terms of other NHL experience, Nelson's most recent role was as an assistant with the Dallas Stars for four seasons from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Dallas made a Stanley Cup final appearance in that span.

Nelson has also spent many years as a head coach in the AHL, including stints with the Hershey Bears, Grand Rapids Griffins, and the Oklahoma City Barons. 

Furthermore, in the last 10 years, Nelson has won three Calder Cups as the champion of the American League. Others who have won the Calder Cup and gone on to be respectable NHL coaches include Jared Bednar, Jon Cooper, Sheldon Keefe and Ryan Warsofsky.

How Todd Nelson Has Transformed The Penguins' Power PlayThe Pittsburgh Penguins have the top power play in the NHL, and Todd Nelson is a major reason why.

Neil Graham, Dallas Stars

Neil Graham has spent the past eight years in the Stars organization, most of which in the head coaching role with the AHL's Texas Stars.

In his final three seasons as Texas' coach, they've made the American League post-season. The team's best campaign came in his last year when the AHL Stars advanced to the third round of the playoffs.

Three Veteran NHL Coaches That Must Be On The Kings And Ken Holland's ListLos Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland revealed that he will be searching for a new head coach for next season. Though he'll be looking at a variation of candidates with different levels of experience, here are three veteran coaches who should be on his list.

Following that tenure in the minors, Graham then became a prime candidate to become the head coach of Dallas, following the sacking of Peter DeBoer in the aftermath of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Graham was considered a finalist for the job, but the Stars organization decided to go with Glen Gulutzan, who used to be the Stars' head coach back in the early 2010s.

Nonetheless, since Graham was close to landing the job with Dallas, he could very well be a name that Holland is keeping a close eye on as the next head coach of the Kings.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have an impressive crop of young talent throughout the organization. With a top-four pick coming in the 2026 NHL Draft, it is about to become an even stronger pipeline. The prospects already in place give the Blackhawks a bright future outlook. 

One of those prospects, Roman Kantserov, was a second-round pick (44th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Kantserov is a forward who has spent the last couple of seasons in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. 

In this most recent KHL regular season, Kantserov had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points in 63 games played. It was one of the best seasons a 21-year-old has ever had in the KHL. 

Over the weekend, Kantserov and his Metallurg team lost their series to Ak Bars 4-1 in the Gagarin Cup semifinals. After being one of the best teams in the league all season long, they are now eliminated. In 15 playoff games, Kantserov had 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points. 

Now that his year is done, he is free to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks this summer. His KHL deal will officially expire on May 31st, but negotiations may take some time. The decision is still being made on whether he will do it right away, but all signs point to him becoming an NHL player by next season. 

When Kantserov first comes to North America, it will be a major transition for his overall game. Once he is used to the pro game on this side of the world, the talent is there for him to make an impact quickly. 

Kantserov has the goal-scoring skills to take full advantage of good playmakers like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, or Anton Frondell. He can also make plays himself, which will benefit the goal-scoring abilities of those aforementioned teammates.

It might take some time for this all to click, but bringing him over on his entry-level deal will mark a big milestone in his NHL career. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Following their 1-0 loss in the Central Division Semifinal of the Calder Cup Playoffs against the Manitoba Moose, the Grand Rapids Griffins responded in kind. 

The Griffins evened up the series at one game apiece on Sunday afternoon, earning a 2-0 victory at Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. 

Go Griffs 👊 #GRGALLINpic.twitter.com/SJ8UjiTIyM

— y-Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) May 3, 2026

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Leading the way on the scoreboard for the Griffins were a pair of Detroit Red Wings draft selections that the club hopes will someday soon be making a postseason impact for them.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Detroit's first round (14th overall) pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, opened the scoring in the second period by capitalizing on a three-way passing play with Sheldon Dries and John Leonard.

Brandsegg-Nygård initially made the Red Wings roster in the fall out of Training Camp and appeared in 12 total NHL games, registering an assist. Both Dries and Leonard also saw action with the Red Wings at various points in the season. 

The Griffins then got an insurance goal from defenseman William Wallinder, who was the first pick (32nd overall) of the second round in the 2020 NHL Draft. 

Goaltender Michal Postava was solid between the pipes, picking up his first career postseason shutout by stopping all 30 shots that he faced from the Moose. 

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Former Vancouver Canucks forward and Hall-of-Famer Mats Sundin has officially been hired for a front-office role. 

Sundin, longtime Toronto Maple Leafs captain from 1997–98 to 2007–08, was announced as the Maple Leafs’ senior executive advisor of hockey operations on Sunday afternoon. Alongside his announcement was the news that former Arizona Coyotes General Manager and President of Hockey Operations, John Chayka, would be joining the Maple Leafs as GM. 

This news comes around the same time that the Canucks take part in their own search for a new General Manager, during which many Maple Leafs candidates had also been linked to the Canucks. Names such as Boston Bruins Assistant General Manager Evan Gold were also reported to be in consideration for the Maple Leafs’ role as well as Vancouver’s. 

While known primarily for his time with Toronto, Sundin also spent 41 games as a member of the Canucks during the 2008–09 season. Vancouver signed him to a one-year deal worth $5.626M back on December 18, 2008. Though his tenure was short, the forward scored nine goals and 19 assists in his time with the Canucks, while also putting up three goals and five assists in eight post-season games. Most notably, he scored the shootout winner in his return to Toronto, helping the Canucks win the game by a score of 3–2. 

With Sundin and Chayka now hired, the Maple Leafs are now off the board when it comes to open GM positions in the NHL. 

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Logan Stankoven has been one of the stars of the playoffs, recording seven points and 23 shots on goal through five games.

My Flyers vs. Hurricanes predictionssee Stankoven having another productive showing in Game 2.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Monday, May 4.

Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 2 prediction

Flyers vs Hurricanes best bet: Logan Stankoven Over 2.5 shots (-125)

Logan Stankoven has turned it up a couple of notches in the playoffs. He's averaged 4.6 shots on goal while clearing this line in all five games. Stankoven had at least four shots in four of five, often getting the job done with room to spare.

He’s been even more productive on home soil, producing 5.3 shots on 7.7 attempts through three games in Carolina.

What’s especially impressive is that the bulk of his games came against Ottawa, an even stingier shot suppression team than Philadelphia.

There’s no reason to expect a dip in Game 2.

Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 2 same-game parlay

Stankoven has points in all five playoff games thus far, including multi-point efforts in two of three home dates. He's getting easier matchups on home soil and, clearly, taking advantage of it.

Taylor Hall is a natural fit to round out the parlay. He has eight points through five playoff games and is attached to the hip of Stankoven, playing together at both 5-on-5 and on the man advantage.

Nobody has come up with an answer for this duo.

Flyers vs Hurricanes SGP

• Logan Stankoven Over 2.5 shots
• Logan Stankoven Over 0.5 points
• Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points

Flyers vs Hurricanes odds for Game 2

• Moneyline: Flyers +190 | Hurricanes -230
• Puck Line: Flyers +1.5 (-135) | Hurricanes -1.5 (115)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (+100) | Under 5.5 (-120)

Flyers vs Hurricanes trend

Carolina has won nine of the last 10 games against Philadelphia. Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Hurricanes.

How to watch Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 2

Flyers vs Hurricanes 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.

Believe it or not, Logan Stankoven has yet to be named the Carolina Hurricanes “Player of the Game” for Canes Country in these playoffs. I’m fixing that right now.

He only led the team in notching goals in round one and scored first in the first three games, tying NHL records for that. But his teammates did so well we had to look somewhere else.

Not so for Saturday night. He not only scored the first goal of the game again, this time off a nice tip of a Mike Reilly shot, he scored again later in the game giving him a total of six goals in the five playoff games so far this postseason.

Talk about being hot, Stankoven now has a 13 game point streak going back to the final eight games of the regular season. He certainly picked the right time to be hot.

The center opened the scoring just 1:31 into the game with his tip. Later in the period, Jackson Blake made a beautiful move and guided the puck behind goalie, Dan Vladar.

The center scored again in the second period after Andrei Svechnikov broke up a play and got the puck to Seth Jarvis who found Stankoven wide open cross ice. The youngster made no mistake as he beat Vladar bar down to make it 3-0 to virtually end the game in Carolina.

Not only did he score his two goals, in just 13 minutes of play he also led the team with 5 shots on goal and had a 64% winning percentage in the faceoff circle. (7 of 11).

Honorable mention goes to Fred Andersen, who notched his second shutout in these playoffs. Usually a shutout earns you a “player of the game” shout out, but he had a inactive game for much of it. Through two periods the Flyers only had nine shots on goal. They picked up a lot of offensive zone time and shots when they had a two man advantage late in the game and finished with 19 for the game.

K’Andre Miller continues to shine for Carolina. He made the defensive play of the game when he caught up to Garnet Hathaway who broke free when he got out of the penalty box. Miller dove on the ice and with his long reach, used his stick to knock away the puck from Hathaway before the Flyer could get a shot on goal. The defenseman avoided taking a penalty and also did not slide into his goalie on the perfect play.

Mike Reilly also played well as he substituted for Alexander Nikishin. A decent 7th defenseman is something the Hurricanes missed dearly last year.

———————————

In other news, we will be publishing the new thread for the “Canes Country Pick’em Contest” after the Lightning/Canadiens game tonight. I will leave it open until Carolina’s 7 P.M. start time on Monday night. Hopefully that gives everyone who wants to participate a proper chance. Two second round opening games will be completed by then but everyone is on equal footing so I believe this is the best way to go.

Finally, our own Al Hood was a repeat guest on Adam Gold’s YouTube channel after last night’s game. You can check that out next.

Last share-in case you missed me with Adam Gold and you want to see a few of my many caps. https://t.co/BS6ZKaKiUx

— Al Hood (@albhood) May 3, 2026

The Montreal Canadiens are about to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh and final game of a series that has been insanely entertaining. Martin St-Louis’ men have been able to hold their own against Jon Cooper’s battle-tested side, but not because of the usual suspects. Everyone has chipped in for the Canadiens, and while Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky have managed to get five, four, and three points respectively, they’ve been muzzled at even strength.

However, it has been even harder for Russian rookie Ivan Demidov. The 20-year-old only has one point, an assist. It’s not that he hasn’t been trying, but the intensity and physicality of the playoffs haven’t been easy to handle for the youngster.

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In Game 6, it felt like he had a breakthrough. He was much more visible on the ice and had eight attempts on goal. Five of those shots found their way to Andrei Vasilevvskiy’s net, and he came painfully close to giving the Canadiens the lead, but the veteran netminder had the last laugh.

Judging by the look on his face after that couple of saves, he must have had nightmares about that since Friday night. To make matters even worse, he was called for goaltender interference late in the game, a call that was generally considered questionable by the hockey world. Thankfully for him, the Canadiens were able to kill the penalty, but they still lost the game, setting up the stage for a seventh and final game between the two teams.

Andrei Vasilevskiy robs Ivan Demidov twice in a row. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/2KSl6qD8hE

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 2, 2026

Even if Demidov must have been frustrated after Game 6, it felt like he had taken a step forward in that game and was getting the hang of playoff hockey. If he can come up with the same kind of effort for Game 7, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were key to a Canadiens’ win.

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The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning close out their series in Game 7, while the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild begin the second round tonight with Game 1.

My NHL player props highlight Brandon Hagel, Matt Boldy, and Lane Hutson.

Keep reading my NHL picks for Sunday, May 3, for the full analysis.

Best NHL player prop bets today

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Our best NHL player props for Sunday, May 3

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Brandon Hagel anytime goal

+150 at BET99

Brandon Hagel has been an offensive force this series with six goals in six games, and at least one tally in each of the first four contests. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward is also getting tons of opportunities, ranking second on the team in ice time per game (25:21).

Tampa Bay’s power play is converting at just 15.4%, but the Lightning are getting plenty of chances. In fact, their 26 power-play opportunities are the most in the NHL this postseason.

Hagel has two goals with the man advantage and could add another tonight.

• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CBC, TNT

Prop #2: Matt Boldy Over 3.5 shots on goal

-140 at BET99

The Minnesota Wild are in for a tough battle against the Colorado Avalanche, but they proved they could hang with the NHL’s top teams in the first round.

The Stars were among the league’s stingiest teams during the regular season, but Matt Boldy racked up 33 shots in six games during their series.

Boldy logged Over 3.5 shots in every contest vs. Dallas, and cleared it in each of his last three meetings vs. Colorado this season.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: TNT

Prop #3: Lane Hutson Over 1.5 shots on goal

+100 at BET99

Lane Hutson has been the best defenseman on either team this series, generating a ton of offense from the back end for the Montreal Canadiens.

Hutson’s 14 shots are tied for second on Montreal, while his 39 attempts lead the team by far. Hutson has logged Over 1.5 shots in four of six outings while skating over 28 minutes per game.

The Habs blueliner will come out flying in tonight’s must-win contest, and he’ll fire at least two pucks on net in Game 7.

• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CBC, TNT

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

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.