Category: NHL

Back in 2020, during their rebuild, the Ottawa Senators famously held three picks in the first round of the NHL Draft. But it wasn’t the first time Ottawa had three first-round selections, nor was it their first rebuild.

This year’s NHL Draft marks the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Draft, when the Senators also owned three first-round picks. Before we look back at how those selections turned out, let’s dig into the The Hockey News archives and revisit how people viewed the Senators at the time, leading into that draft.

The team was being run by general manager Bryan Murray, who had just hired Paul MacLean as the club’s new head coach.

From The Hockey News Archive, June 2011

SWINGING SENATORS

A TEAM THAT CAME within three wins of the Stanley Cup four years ago has completely bottomed out. Now the Ottawa Senators must set about reclaiming their perch as one of the most consistent performers in hockey by developing the young players in their system and making good on the bundle of draft picks they’ve collected.

SHORT-TERM NEEDS: Firm direction and a truckload of patience, two essential elements in pulling off a rebuild. Goaltending had been a black hole for the Sens before pending UFA Craig Anderson brought some hope to the cause via a mid-February trade, but the real optimism rests with 19-year-old Swedish protégé Robin Lehner.

LONG-TERM NEEDS: Daniel Alfredsson is the all-time face of the franchise, but he’ll turn 39 halfway through next season. Jason Spezza is a big, wonderfully talented center, but he has yet to assume the mantle of go-to guy. This team desperately needs high-quality forwards and it will get a chance to draft some with 12 total picks in 2011, including five in the first two rounds.

CAP SITUATION: The great purge of 2010-11 has left the team with almost $17 million in cap space for next season, which can be put to some good use adding scoring depth to a team that finished 29th in offense.

IN THE SYSTEM 2011-12: A cluster of forwards, Zack Smith, Bobby Butler, Erik Condra, Colin Greening, Jim O’Brien, got NHL playing time with all the bodies cleared out of Ottawa. They’ll get a shot to prove they’re legit big-leaguers next fall, as will towering blueliner Jared Cowen. 2012-13: Top prospect David Rundblad already plays against men in Sweden and fellow D-man Patrick Wiercioch will be close after another year in the AHL.

DRAFT TENDENCIES: Until this season, trading picks away. The Sens had just four total selections last year, the same paltry total they had in 2007. As demonstrated by the void of tantalizing forwards, Ottawa’s recent hits tend to be with D-men and goalies. - R.D.

Also from the Draft Preview in The Hockey News from 2011, let's take a look at how the THN rankings shaped up with the Senators’ actual first round draft class at 6, 21, and 24.

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (THN Rank: 1) — Edmonton Oilers
2. Gabriel Landeskog (THN Rank: 3) — Colorado Avalanche
3. Jonathan Huberdeau (THN Rank: 5) — Florida Panthers
4. Adam Larsson (THN Rank: 2) — New Jersey Devils
5. Ryan Strome (THN Rank: 6) — New York Islanders
6. Mika Zibanejad (THN Rank: 11) — Ottawa Senators
7. Mark Scheifele (THN Rank: 41) — Winnipeg Jets
8. Sean Couturier (THN Rank: 4) — Philadelphia Flyers
9. Dougie Hamilton (THN Rank: 10) — Boston Bruins
10. Jonas Brodin (THN Rank: 22) — Minnesota Wild
11. Duncan Siemens (THN Rank: 12) — Colorado Avalanche
12. Ryan Murphy (THN Rank: 7) — Carolina Hurricanes
13. Sven Bartschi (THN Rank: 8) — Calgary Flames
14. Jamie Oleksiak (THN Rank: 17) — Dallas Stars
15. J.T. Miller (THN Rank: 59) — New York Rangers
16. Joel Armia (THN Rank: 15) — Buffalo Sabres
17. Nathan Beaulieu (THN Rank: 18) — Montreal Canadiens
18. Mark McNeill (THN Rank: 16) — Chicago Blackhawks
19. Oscar Klefbom (THN Rank: 37) — Edmonton Oilers
20. Connor Murphy (THN Rank: 55) — Phoenix Coyotes
21. Stefan Noesen (THN Rank: 39) — Ottawa Senators
22. Tyler Biggs (THN Rank: 20) — Toronto Maple Leafs
23. Joe Morrow (THN Rank: 34) — Pittsburgh Penguins
24. Matt Puempel (THN Rank: 21) — Ottawa Senators
25. Stuart Percy (THN Rank: 70) — Toronto Maple Leafs
26. Phillip Danault (THN Rank: 31) — Chicago Blackhawks
27. Vladislav Namestnikov ((THN Rank: 36) — Tampa Bay Lightning
28. Zack Phillips (THN Rank: 9) — Minnesota Wild
29. Nicklas Jensen (THN Rank: 19) — Vancouver Canucks
30. Rickard Rakell (THN Rank: 25) — Anaheim Ducks

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In 2020, the Senators held the third, fifth, and 28th overall selections and came away with Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, and Ridly Greig.

It didn’t go quite as well in 2011, partly because the picks weren’t nearly as high. Ottawa selected sixth, 21st, and 24th overall.

The Senators did fairly well with their first pick, selecting Swedish center Mika Zibanejad sixth overall.

Five years after his draft day, and 281 games with the Senators, Ottawa traded Zibanejad to the New York Rangers, where he eventually blossomed into a star on Broadway.

In hindsight, Mark Scheifele, taken one pick later by the Winnipeg Jets, would probably have been the slightly better choice, but not by a ton. The pick was fine. The lack of patience with the player was not. Zibanejad has gone on to better things as a core piece of the Rangers over the past decade, hitting 1000 games this season. 

Things began to thin out once the first round reached the half way point and can you can see based on pre-draft rankings, how unpredictable it became. 

At 21st overall, the Senators selected Stefan Noesen, which was considered a bit of a reach according to The Hockey News, which had him ranked 39th. Noesen didn’t last long in Ottawa, and never played here, as he was later included in the 2013 trade that brought Bobby Ryan over from the Anaheim Ducks.

Noesen took a long time to establish himself as an NHL player, but over the past four seasons he has become a dependable forward. This season, however, was largely a write off. Injuries limited the New Jersey Devils winger to just seven points in 38 games. The year before, he had reached career highs hitting the 20 goal, 40 point mark for the first time.

Finally, at 24th overall, the Senators selected Matt Puempel, whom The Hockey News had ranked 21st. After being drafted, Puempel spent two more seasons in the OHL and nearly two more years with the Binghamton Senators before beginning to get NHL opportunities.

Over parts of three seasons with Ottawa, Puempel played 52 games, but never came close to recapturing his junior scoring touch. In November 2016, the Senators placed him on waivers and he was claimed by the Rangers.

One month later, he enjoyed probably the highlight of his NHL career, recording a hat trick in a Rangers win over Arizona. But that proved to be the peak of his time in the league.

After several seasons overseas in Sweden and Germany, Puempel announced his retirement from pro hockey last month. He has since become the head coach and general manager of the Essex 73's in the PCJHL near his hometown of Windsor, Ontario.

Matt Puempel (@mpuempel) has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

After two stellar seasons with the Peterborough Petes, including OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2010, Matt was selected by the Ottawa @Senators in the first round of the 2011 @NHL Entry… pic.twitter.com/owoWeCE7hP

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) April 18, 2026

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Report: Senators Winger Claude Giroux Makes His Decision On Playing Next SeasonAccording to Pierre LeBrun, the veteran forward has committed to a 19th NHL season. With free agency looming July 1st, now it's up to the Senators.

The Columbus Blue Jackets found out where they would land in the upcoming NHL Draft, and to no one's surprise, they didn't win the lottery. For the second straight year, they will pick #14, and for the second straight year, they might actually get lucky. 

Welcome to draft speculation season, where we will talk about all the potential draft targets for the CBJ. Could someone fall to them at #14, or will they reach for a player who is projected to be lower? Who know, but it's fun to speculate.

So, here we go. 

Target: Caleb Malhotra - Toronto, ON, CAN

Height/Weight: 6'1.75" - 185 lbs. 

2026 Team: Boston University - NCAA

Position: Left Shot Forward

2025-26 Stats With The Brantford Bulldogs of The OHL: 84 points in 67 games. He also had 26 points in 15 playoff games. 

THN Ranking: 5th - Kennedy; 15th - Ferrari

NHL Central Scouting: Ranked 6th among North American Skaters.

What Scouts Have Seen

• Elite Hockey IQ & Playmaking - Malhotra’s greatest attribute is his advanced mind for the game. Scouts consistently praise his high-end spatial awareness, patience, and puck-manipulation skills. He is highly deceptive, frequently freezing defenders with shoulder fakes, posture shifts, and eye manipulation before slicing open defenses with precise passes. He controls the pace of play, slowing it down to his liking and excelling under intense pressure. 
• Complete 200-Foot Game - Unlike many high-scoring junior players, Malhotra operates as a reliable, detailed defensive presence. He is comfortable matching up against opponents’ top lines in a shutdown role, winning hard puck battles in the dirty areas, and taking care of his own zone with structured stick detail. His combination of effort and defensive responsibility has drawn favorable style comparisons to Jonathan Toews from some talent evaluators.
• Power & Playoff Driver - Malhotra’s stock soared in the second half of the year. When games grew tighter in the OHL playoffs, he took over Brantford's offense as a dual-threat asset, using an increasingly accurate shot to complement his primary pass-first instinct. He has a relentless motor and constantly driving attacks toward the inside of the ice.

Weaknesses & Areas for Development

• Physical Strength: While he possesses an ideal 6'2" frame, he is still relatively lean and needs to add muscle mass to compete with NHL-sized centers.
• Shot Power: While accurate, his release does not yet carry elite velocity and will require mechanical refinement as he matures.
• Skating Mechanics: Though he has good top-end elusive speed, his overall stride is a work in progress and can still look a bit rigid.

What Scouts Are Saying

DobberProspects - "Caleb Malhotra has NHL bloodlines; he is the son of former NHL player Manny Malhotra, and he is showing that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Caleb has been a standout player for the Brantford Bulldogs early in the 2025-26 season, showcasing his abilities across the entire 200 feet of the ice surface with sound defense and high-energy offense. He is a high-end two-way centre who looks to hear his name called on the first day of the 2026 NHL Draft."

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Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14. 

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On Tuesday night, the Colorado Avalanche were eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals. 

Colorado's elimination does have an impact on the New York Islanders, given that they traded the 2026 first-round pick they acquired from the Avalanche in the Brock Nelson deal to the St. Louis Blues in their 2026 NHL Trade Deadline deal for Brayden Schenn. 

At the time, that pick wasn't known, but now we know it will be No. 29. 

Here are the last 10 players to be selected with the 29th overall pick:

2025: Mason West — Chicago Blackhawks

2024: Emil Hemming — Dallas Stars

2023: Theo Lindstein — St. Louis Blues

2022: Maveric Lamoureux — Arizona Coyotes

2021: Chaz Lucius — Winnipeg Jets

2020: Brendan Brisson — Vegas Golden Knights

2019: Brayden Tracey — Anaheim Ducks

2018: Rasmus Sandin — Toronto Maple Leafs

2017: Henri Jokiharju — Chicago Blackhawks

2016: Trent Frederic — Boston Bruins

Does this change the way you view the Schenn deal?

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

On a potential Nico Hischier contract extension: “All things being equal, it would appear an extension is the most likely outcome, but things are at an early and delicate stage.” [The Athletic ($)]

“Hischier will be 28 before playing a game on a new deal and he has made 22 playoff appearances. Of course he wants to hear the roadmap to more success. There’s no denying the team has an excellent core, which he is aware of, and Mehta’s winning pedigree should have Hischier confident the front office can make the right moves. I don’t envision this negotiation being much of a struggle, and expect the captain to sign a lucrative extension before reporting to training camp in September.” [Infernal Access]

“Trading Nemec may make the most sense because if he returns to the Devils and struggles as he has the last two seasons, his trade value will plummet. And with the Devils needing some scoring help, Nemec may be their best trade asset. We’ll see what GM Sunny Mehta and the Devils decide to do.” [Devils on the Rush]

Hockey Links

The Golden Knights are on to the Stanley Cup Final:

ANOTHER SHOWTIME ON THE STRIP!!! 🤩

The @GoldenKnights are heading to the #StanleyCup Final!

Presented by @NavyFederalpic.twitter.com/tQYfAv7iiW

— NHL (@NHL) May 27, 2026

The Hurricanes take Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final:

CAROLINA TAKES GAME 3 🔴⚫ #StanleyCup

Game 4 between the @Canes and @CanadiensMTL is Wednesday at 8p ET on @NHL_On_TNT, @Sportsnet, & @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/fF0TE5PanA

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2026

Evgeni Malkin will return to the Penguins:

Evgeni Malkin is returning to the Penguins for his 21st season with the team. He’s signing a one-year, $5.5M extension.

(per @reporterchris) pic.twitter.com/vDwb6jvwli

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 26, 2026

A look at the top remaining free agents in this summer’s class: [Sportsnet]

“Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is out indefinitely after complications arose during an offseason surgery. Toronto announced the news Monday and shared that Domi — who played through his undisclosed ailment during the 2025-26 regular season — will continue to work with the club’s medical staff until being reevaluated ahead of training camp in September.” [ESPN]

“Veteran forward Claude Giroux is looking to come back for a 20th NHL season this fall, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports. Giroux is a pending unrestricted free agent after spending the past four years with the Ottawa Senators. He said after Ottawa’s first-round playoff exit last month he would need time to weigh his future, but it appears he’s not ready to hang up his skates just yet.” [TSN]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Just over a year after being fired by the Philadelphia Flyers, John Tortorella has already done several things many thought impossible.

Tortorella, 67, hopped out of the ESPN booth and behind the bench, taking over for Bruce Cassidy as head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights.

The result was a 7-0-1 finish to the regular season, and now a scintillating run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

At the time of Tortorella's hiring by the Golden Knights, many were concerned about the fit with former Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner, given the public's general view of Marner as a "soft" player who ran from the spotlight.

Instead, Marner is the playoffs' leading scorer with seven goals, 14 assists, and 21 points in just 16 games, with teammate Jack Eichel right behind with his 18 points in 16 games.

One Potential Flyers Free Agent Target Nobody Is Talking AboutThe Philadelphia Flyers should have star defenseman Rasmus Andersson on their NHL free agency shortlist this summer.

Even in Philadelphia with the Flyers, Tortorella made things work with Matvei Michkov, even if there were battles and benchings along the way.

In Vegas, Tortorella has also been reunited with former Flyers goalie Carter Hart, whose sudden departure to tend to the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case in 2024 was something Tortorella pointed to as the team crumbled in the months that followed.

After being found not guilty of the sexual assault charge and serving a suspension levied by the NHL, Hart has returned to form under his old Flyers coach, leading all goalies who have played past the first round with a .924 save percentage and a 12-4-0 record.

Now in the Stanley Cup Final, Tortorella, Hart, and the Golden Knights await the winner of the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens series.

One week ago, the Colorado Avalanche looked like they were cruising toward another deep playoff run. Now they’re heading home earlier than anyone expected after getting swept out of the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Avalanche fell 2-1 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena, completing a four-game series win for Vegas that few people saw coming given how the playoffs started for Colorado.

This was supposed to be the year Colorado pushed all the way. They opened the season on an incredible 31-2-7 run, rolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and entered this series as one of the clear favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Instead, everything came apart in just over a week.

Vegas, meanwhile, found its rhythm at exactly the right time. A team that was fighting just to stay in the playoff picture late in the regular season ended up completely controlling the series and punching its ticket back to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Game

It was a cautious start by both teams but Vegas got on the board first as Mark Stone got behind the defense just under five minutes into the game. It was one of their first shots on goal and Mackenzie Blackwood settled into the net from that point forward. Still, Vegas took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission after a fairly balanced first period.

In the second the Avalanche couldn’t get much going and fired only six shots on goal despite earning a power play and then controlling play for a little while after. Vegas also didn’t score and had a power play themselves. A 1-0 Vegas lead wasn’t insurmountable at that point after 40 minutes of play.

The third period was a continuation of the first but both teams weren’t generating much offense. Vegas got the crucial second goal, though from Coke Smith. From that point on they could lock down the game. Gabe Landeskog gave Colorado a glimmer of hope with three minutes to go and cut the lead but they never could find the equalizer. A sweep, a completely collapse and a final 2-1 loss.

A Series That Got Away From Colorado Fast

Game 4 summed up the series pretty well. Vegas struck early when Mark Stone got behind the defense and scored on a breakaway just a few minutes into the first period.

Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, making his first start of the series, kept things from getting out of hand early. He made several big saves and was probably the reason the game stayed close as long as it did. This series was never about goaltending, though.

But offensively, Colorado just never really found its footing.

There were long stretches where the Avalanche couldn’t generate much of anything. At one point, they went nearly 30 minutes of game time with just one shot on goal. For a team that’s built around speed and scoring, that’s a tough stat to explain.

Injuries, Pressure, and a Quiet Offensive Struggle

It’s worth noting the Avalanche weren’t at full strength. Nathan MacKinnon played through an injury he picked up in Game 3, and Valeri Nichushkin was out after getting hurt earlier in the series. Other key players like Cale Makar and Artturi Lehkonen also weren’t at 100%.

Still, even with that context, this was a tough series for Colorado’s offense overall.

They weren’t able to consistently break through Vegas’ defensive structure, which clogged up the middle of the ice and made it hard to create clean chances. That part isn’t surprising — Vegas has been doing that to teams all postseason — but the extent of the struggle definitely was.

And honestly, the overall effort in Game 4 will be hard to ignore. For a team with this much talent, it just wasn’t there often enough when it mattered.

A Painful Finish to a Promising Season

The Avalanche had built a reputation this season for being nearly unbeatable in certain situations. Before Game 2 of this series, they were 45-0 when leading after two periods. Before Game 3, they were 52-0 when leading by multiple goals.

But those numbers didn’t matter once the series got away from them.

Game by game, Vegas chipped away at their confidence. Colorado had leads slip away, momentum disappear, and eventually just couldn’t recover.

Last year ended in heartbreak too, but this year feels different — more abrupt, more complete, and harder to explain.

Blow it all up. No one should feel safe after this historic embarrassment.

Is it finally time for Tomas Hertl to raise the Stanley Cup? It's certainly a possibility, as his Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night when they completed a sweep of the President's Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche.

Hertl isn't the only former Shark on the hunt though, as former Sharks winger Joel Ward, an assistant coach for the Golden Knights, is also looking for his first championship. Neither one were able to raise the prestigious trophy in San Jose, now they'll have the opportunity to do so with one of their greatest rivals. 

As a 32-year-old center with a long injury history, Hertl is running out of opportunities to etch his name on the grandest trophy in hockey. He's halfway through a massive contract that he signed with the Sharks back in 2022 and his name has been in trade rumors ever since he arrived in Sin City. 

Ward, on the other hand, never had the chance to win the Stanley Cup during his playing career. He retired as a member of the Sharks organization following the 2017-18 season, just a couple of seasons after the team in teal came up just short and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final. 

By eliminating the Avalanche, the Golden Knights did crush a pair of former Sharks' Stanley Cup dreams though. Both Brent Burns and Mackenzie Blackwood will have to wait at least one more season to raise the trophy. 

A change of scenery has benefitted former Nashville Predators forward Cole Smith, forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon as the trio will play in the Stanley Cup Finals. 

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 2-1, on Tuesday to sweep their way to their third Stanley Cup Finals appearance in nine seasons. 

Smith scored the game-winning goal with 5:45 left in the game, tipping in a shot from Dylan Coghlan for his third goal of the playoffs. 

Sissons and Lauzon were traded to the Golden Knights in late June for defenseman Nicolas Hague and a 2027 third-round draft pick, which was later upgraded to a second-round selection after Vegas advanced to the Western Conference Finals. 

Smith was dealt at the trade deadline in March for a 2028 third-round pick and defenseman Christoffer Sedoff. 

VEGAS HAS SOME BREATHING ROOM AS COLE SMITH SCORES WITH 5:45 TO GO, KNIGHTS UP 2 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/lMlnaJ2l5G

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 27, 2026

Sissons has six points (two goals and four assists) in 15 playoff games, and Lauzon has played in six games. Smith has four points (two goals and two assists) in 15 games. 

While this will be Smith and Lauzon's first trip to the finals, Sissons will return for the first time since 2017, when the Predators faced the Pittsburgh Penguins and fell in six games.

In the run to the finals, Sissons had 12 points (six goals and six assists) in 22 games. 

The Golden Knights have been seen as the winner of the trade with the Predators. Hague played 62 games with the Predators this season, scoring 15 points (three goals and 12 assists) and having a plus/minus of minus-10. 

Nashville also signed Jonathan Marchessault out of free agency in 2024, who had been with the Golden Knights for seven seasons. Since joining the Predators, Marchessault's play has declined, recording 31 points (12 goals and 19 assists) in 62 games this past season. 

The Golden Knights will await the winner of the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals is TBD. 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights sweep Colorado Avalanche in Western Conference final, advance to Stanley Cup Final.

After some speculation, the Pittsburgh Penguins made it official on Tuesday, re-signing franchise icon Evgeni Malkin to a one-year deal. 

Malkin's contract has an average annual value of $5.5 million, but it is structured really well. According to Pierre LeBrun, he has a $2.5M salary, a $3M signing bonus, $500K in games-played bonuses, a $1M bonus if the Penguins make the playoffs next year, and an extra $500K per playoff round won bonus.

Malkin could make up to $9M if everything goes perfectly next season. 

This contract was a long time coming, especially after Penguins president/general manager Kyle Dubas told the media earlier this month that the team would "love" to have him back. 

"We would love to have him back. We just continue to work with J.P. on it. That’s as clear as I can be," Dubas said during his end-of-season presser on May. 12. 

The two sides worked for the next couple of weeks before announcing the news on Tuesday afternoon. 

"We look forward to Geno continuing to provide great moments for the city of Pittsburgh, while helping us return the Penguins to Stanley Cup contention through his play on the ice and his leadership off the ice," Dubas said in a statement on Tuesday.

It has always made so much sense to bring Malkin back for next season, especially after the season he just had. He finished with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games before recording three points in six playoff games. This was his first point-per-game season since the 2022-23 season, when he compiled 27 goals and 83 points in 82 games.

There's no way the Penguins were going to replace his production from last year in free agency, given how poor this year's class is expected to be. The best free agent available is Alex Tuch, and he's going to sign for too much money and too long a term. 

Malkin will also get a full season to play with Egor Chinakhov after the two played together in the second half of the regular season. They showed instant chemistry on the second line and read off one another super well. 

You can also say the same about Tommy Novak's chemistry with Malkin. Malkin hinted during the 2025 offseason that he wanted to play with Novak in the 2025-26 season, and he got his wish, playing with him in numerous games. 

To take it a step further, the Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin line was together for 30 games and played 222:55 at 5v5 this season. When that line was on the ice, the Penguins had a +5 goal differential, 51.8% of the expected goal share, 52.8% of the scoring chances, and 52.1% of the high-danger chances.

There's a good chance that the Penguins go right back to that line when the 2026-27 season starts in October, which brings me to my next point. Malkin played on the wing for a lot of this past season and looked rather comfortable there. He can still play center if needed, but he was excellent after Penguins head coach Dan Muse moved him to the wing. That flexibility is super important. 

BREAKING: Penguins Ink Evgeni Malkin To One-Year ExtensionAfter a long period of anticipation, Pittsburgh finally signed the 39-year-old franchise legend for another NHL season.

Malkin also isn't blocking anyone on this roster. Do the Penguins have some young forwards coming? Yes, but they are players who will be pushing for some of the bottom-six spots. I see Avery Hayes filling Noel Acciari's role for next season, while Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and even Tristan Broz will be pushing for spots on the third and fourth lines. None of them is ready for a top-six role, yet. 

Dubas will still be able to accomplish his goal of getting younger and getting those difference-making players in their mid-to-late 20s while still having Malkin on the roster. He's not preventing any of that, especially since this upcoming season might be his final one in the NHL. 

This deal was one of the biggest slam dunks in the history of slam dunks, and now, the Penguins can turn their attention to other matters, including a new deal for Chinakhov. He's set to be a restricted free agent this summer, and the Penguins are expected to bring him back. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick).

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Five years ago, in May, a rookie Ilya Sorokin broke out nationally for the New York Islanders in their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sorokin went 4-0 in the series, with just sparkling numbers. He posted a goals against average of 1.95 and a save percentage of .943, leading the Islanders into the second round. 

Sorokin's magnum opus came in Game 5, when the Penguins had the home crowd in PPG Paints Arena rocking. The Penguins totally blitzed the Islanders.

The second period saw the Penguins rifle 20 shots on goal, yet they only came up with one tally, which kept the score at 2-1 and well within reach for the Islanders.

The onslaught didn't stop early in the third. The Penguins pushed hard for an insurance tally, but Sorokin kept everything out.

The shots read 37-14 with 11:30 to play in the third. Sorokin was all but perfect.

Then, Jean-Gabriel Pageau threw a big hit and knocked the puck to Leo Komarov. Komarov found Jordan Eberle all alone in front, and he outwaited Tristan Jarry, tying the game.

The Islanders and Sorokin never looked back. Sorokin made more herculean-like saves in overtime, all leading to Josh Bailey's famous 2OT winner.

Enjoy the highlights from Game 5, almost entirely a Sorokin highlight reel:

Five years ago today, May 26, the New York Islanders polished off their first-round upset of the-then division champion Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Nassau Coliseum shook as hard as it did in the glory days of the 1980s as the Islanders marched on.

Rookie sensation goaltender Ilya Sorokin led the way, dominating the Penguins in Games 1, 4, and 5 before a shaky start to Game 6 saved by his team picking him up.

Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey, and Anthony Beauvillier torched the Penguins in the series and especially in Game 6.

Nelson scored twice in the second period, while assisting on Beauvillier's first period tally. Josh Bailey notched two assists, including a jaw-dropping slap-pass assist to Nelson.

The Islanders trailed three separate times in Game 6, but never once backed down.

Ryan Pulock scored the game and series-winning goal in the second period.

Sorokin went 4-0 in the series, including making 48 saves in Game 5 in Pittsburgh to give the Islanders a chance to close out the Penguins in Nassau Coliseum.

Ex-Flyers Tortorella, Hart advance to Stanley Cup Final with Golden Knights originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Before the season, did anyone have John Tortorella and Carter Hart teaming up in Vegas and leading the Golden Knights to a Western Conference Final sweep?

You wouldn’t have found any odds on that. Tortorella didn’t have a coaching job in October and Hart wasn’t eligible to play yet. But the former Flyers head coach and former Flyers goaltender are headed to the Stanley Cup Final after Vegas finished off the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche on Tuesday night.

The Golden Knights completed a stunning sweep with a 2-1 win at T-Mobile Arena. Hart had 20 saves and nearly delivered his first playoff shutout since 2020, when he was with the Flyers in the bubble.

Vegas and Colorado shake hands after a thrilling Game 4 🤝 pic.twitter.com/MP3PanekEs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 27, 2026

Hart has won 12 of his 16 starts in these playoffs while posting a 2.22 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.

The 27-year-old couldn’t play for Vegas until December because of sanctions following the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. Hart and four others were found not guilty last July almost a year and a half after being charged with sexual assault, stemming from a June 2018 incident in London, Ontario.

The Flyers cut ties with Hart in June 2024 and a reunion was ruled out last September. Hart departed the club in January 2024 after being granted an indefinite leave of absence.

Tortorella took over the Golden Knights not even two months ago for the fired Bruce Cassidy. He has recorded 19 wins in 24 games with Vegas. He’s looking for his first Stanley Cup title since 2004, when he won with the Lightning.

The veteran coach was fired by the Flyers last season with nine games left.

After hiring Rick Tocchet last May, the Flyers snapped a five-year playoff drought this season and won a first-round series over the Penguins. Dan Vladar became the team’s all-important answer in net.

The Golden Knights will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Final matchup between the Hurricanes and Canadiens. After sweeping the Flyers in the second round, Carolina has a 2-1 series lead on Montreal.

Evgeni Malkin is back for another year in the Steel City. 

The beloved Penguins star signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract on Tuesday, marking his return for his 21st NHL season, and one that will likely be his last. 

Malkin will turn 40 later this summer and has spent his entire NHL career in a Penguins jersey. 

Best day ever. pic.twitter.com/qiqShuCEyH

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 26, 2026

In a video posted by the team, Malkin expressed his excitement to remain in Pittsburgh for another year, calling Tuesday the “best day of my life!” 

“Best city. Best fans. I stay one more year,” he said earlier in the video.

The new deal includes a possibility for Malkin to earn $3.5 million in performance bonuses, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and also includes a no-movement clause. 

The Penguins can seek a three-team approved trade list from Malkin for possible trades Feb. 1 and beyond, the outlet also reported.

“Over the last several weeks, myself and Dan Muse have had very open discussions with Evgeni and his camp about him returning for the 2026-27 season, how his role will evolve and what all of our expectations are at this stage of Evgeni’s career and the current stage in the evolution of the Penguins,” president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said in a statement. “The result of that process is Evgeni returning to the Penguins for his 21st season with the club.”

Malkin never wanted to leave Pittsburgh, though the team remained noncommittal publicly about the idea of keeping him for another season until recently. 

The Russian star told reporters after the Penguins lost to the Flyers in Game 6 of the opening round of the playoffs that he understood if the Pens wanted to change course. 

“It’s not easy for Kyle, maybe he wants new blood here,” Malkin said, per the Associated Press. “I understand business. I understand he wants maybe new team, see new faces here.”

Malkin has certainly had a Hall of Fame career with the Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups with the franchise in 2009, 2016 and 2017. 

He sits second in all-time games played with 1,269 games, third in goals with 533 and second in game-winning goals with 89. 

Only Sidney Crosby has played more seasons with the Penguins. 

Malkin was drafted second overall in the 2004 NHL Draft behind Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and made his NHL debut on Oct. 18, 2006.