The 2025-26 season came to an end for the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, in Game 6 of the second round, at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Ducks defeated the defending, back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in the first round. It was a series in which the Ducks and their coaching staff baited the Oilers into playing the Ducks’ preferred brand of hockey, and a series where the Ducks’ coaches played the right cards and made the right adjustments at the proper times.

Takeaways from the Ducks' 5-1 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas wins Series 4-2

Takeaways from the Ducks' 3-2 Overtime Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 3-2

In the first round, Anaheim had a clear and direct game plan against two of the world’s top centermen, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Specifically, against McDavid, the coaching staff hard-matched defense pair, Jackson LaCombe and Jacob Trouba, and as a five-man unit, pressured him the entire 200-foot ice surface, focusing on the backcheck and eliminating his ability to attack laterally.

After dropping Game 1 of the series, a game the Ducks felt was winnable, head coach Joel Quenneville made a sneaky last-minute lineup adjustment, swapping Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier on their respective lines just before puck drop. He went on to swap the two again at the last minute, after a Game 5 loss, going on to secure a Game 6 victory.

Every time now-former Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch made an adjustment of his own, Quenneville was there to match and eclipse. As the series progressed, Anaheim became more stingy defensively, doing well to keep Edmonton to the perimeter in the defensive zone and simplifying their breakout approach, electing to high-flip a higher percentage of pucks to the neutral zone, where forwards could win puck battles against retreating Edmonton defensemen.

The Ducks series against the Golden Knights played out nearly identically early on, but it was John Tortorella and the Vegas coaching staff that got the better of the Ducks as the series wore on.

After dropping Game 1, a tight affair where the Ducks could have easily been seen as the better team, both by eye test and underlying numbers, Quenneville made another cheeky surprise lineup change just before Game 2 puck drop, but this time, the adjustment was far more dramatic.

Quenneville scratched young $7 million AAV forward Mason McTavish and rookie defenseman Ian Moore, who had been slotted as a fourth-line forward for Game 2, in favor of energy fourth liners Ross Johnston and Jansen Harkins.

The Ducks won Game 2 handily, but dropped Game 3 decidedly. Quenneville reinserted Moore and McTavish for Game 4, along with Olen Zellweger, who made his NHL Playoff debut. Quenneville stuck with his Game 4 playing roster (minus Ryan Poehling, who exited Game 5 early with an upper-body injury) for Games 5 and 6, both of which the Ducks lost, ending their season.

The Knights saw the return of their long-time, middle-six, two-way center, William Karlsson, for this series against Anaheim. Tortorella tried him on the third line, but quickly found he was better suited for the second, and kept him there for the duration of the series.

Other than Karlsson’s return and fit, the only adjustments Vegas had to make were tinkering with their third defensive pair and navigating top-pair defenseman Brayden McNabb’s Game 5 ejection and Game 6 suspension.

Though Quennville’s lineup adjustments found some success in the second round against Vegas, they didn’t have quite the impact that they did in their opening series against Edmonton.

Tactically, Quenneville and the Ducks’ staff didn’t have an answer for the waves of the Knights’ offensive pressure and sound, stingy zone defensive structure.

Vegas was able to do to Anaheim what Anaheim did to Edmonton: force them to play their brand of hockey. Vegas is a cycle-heavy team on the offensive side of the puck, valuing possession time and using that time to break down opposing defensive structures and open dangerous lanes.

Defensively, Vegas plays contained. They keep opponents to the perimeter, block shots, and force mistakes, to which they aim to capitalize. The Ducks made those mistakes, and the Knights capitalized in abundance.

Anaheim failed to adjust, and their only answer offensively was to funnel more pucks and bodies toward Carter Hart and the Vegas crease. Those pucks were predictably blocked and cleared along with any semblance of traffic in front of Hart.

Hart showed vulnerability during Vegas’ first-round series against the Utah Mammoth when he was forced to defend rushes and when he was forced to move laterally. Anaheim wasn’t able to force him into doing either and made his job infinitely easier.

Vegas’ puck management negated Anaheim’s rush attack. Ducks’ defensemen were far less active and involved offensively than they had been during the season or their first-round series. Even if their ability to join rushes had been negated, activating defensemen down the halfwalls and having them jump to soft ice could have, in theory, been a factor in chipping away at Vegas’ seemingly impenetrable slot.

The Ducks have, for all intents and purposes, kicked their contention window open and will be aiming to at least return to the second round of the playoffs and contend for Stanley Cups for the foreseeable future.

These playoffs provided some unexpected success, and perhaps more valuable, offered a chance to learn what it takes to battle on a nightly basis and defeat the same opponent four times in seven games.

They also learned that each opponent offers vastly different styles from the previous, and they have to walk the tightrope of being willing to make tweaks to their approach without sacrificing their identity and what brought them to where they are.

The Ducks will have a long offseason of reflection. They will expect their young core pieces to take further leaps in their development and hit the ground running in October in a volatile Pacific Division.

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Samuel Ersson had a very rough 2025-26 season. Due to this, it would not necessarily be surprising if the Flyers looked to bring in another goalie this off-season to form a tandem with starter Dan Vladar.

Due to this, let's look at four goalies who the Flyers could consider targeting during the off-season. 

Joseph Woll, Toronto Maple Leafs 

If the Maple Leafs make Joseph Woll available for trade due to their surplus of NHL-caliber goalies, the Flyers would be wise to target him. The 27-year-old would have the potential to form a strong tandem with Vladar if acquired. In 117 career NHL games, he hasa 63-43-9 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 3.34 goals-against average.

Stuart Skinner, Pittsburgh Penguins

If the Flyers want to go the free agency route, Stuart Skinner stands out as a potential target. The 27-year-old has a ton of playoff experience and has shown in the past that he can make an impact when playing at his best. In 224 career NHL games, the former All-Star has a .902 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average. 

Connor Ingram, Edmonton Oilers 

If the Edmonton Oilers do not re-sign Connor Ingram, he could be an interesting backup option for the Flyers. The 29-year-old goalie had a solid bounce-back year with the Oilers this campaign, posting a 16-10-3 record and an .899 save percentage in 32 games. He also had a .907 save percentage in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, which adds to his appeal. 

Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

Could the Flyers look to make up for a big past mistake and try to bring back Sergei Bobrovsky? The 37-year-old had an ugly 2025-26 season but also led the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is a star when playing at his best and would have the potential to be an excellent short-term addition for Philly in a tandem with Vladar. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add to their forward group this off-season. It is clear that they could use another skilled winger in their top nine, and this will only be more of the case if Anthony Mantha signs elsewhere this off-season.

When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk stands out as a very interesting potential target for the Penguins to consider. 

With the Canucks being in a rebuild, DeBrusk's name has been in the rumor mill since leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. If he is made available by the Canucks this off-season, the Penguins would be wise to kick tires on him.

If the Penguins landed DeBrusk, he would have the potential to slot nicely in their top six. He would also give them another skilled forward on their power play. 

DeBrusk would be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired, too, as he has a $5.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season. 

In 81 games this season with the Canucks, DeBrusk scored a team-best 23 goals and recorded 42 points. This is after he scored a career-high 28 goals and posted 48 points in 82 games for Vancouver in 2024-25. With numbers like these, he would be a nice pickup for a Penguins club looking to continue to head into the right direction. 

The San Jose Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda concluded their team award announcements earlier this week when they revealed their Rookies of the Year, Igor Chernyshov and Quentin Musty.

Chernyshov, the Sharks' second round pick during the 2024 NHL Draft, had some previous professional experience, as he spent some time playing in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League with Dynamo Moskva.

Chernyshov split his time between the Sharks and the Barracuda during the 2025-26 season, appearing in 41 games for the Barracuda. During that time, he scored 13 goals and 33 points. Despite having limited time in the AHL, he still finished ninth on the team in points. 

Chernyshov also 28 NHL games, where he was just as impressive. He scored nine goals and 19 points.

Musty, on the other hand, was a true first year professional having previously played with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. The Sharks' 26th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Musty also had an impressive first season at the AHL level. In 61 games, he scored 21 goals and 45 points. He was tied for the third-most goals on the team and had the fourth-most points on the Barracuda. 

Of the two, Musty is the most likely to return to the Barracuda for the 2026-27 season as we'll likely see Chernyshov make the jump to the NHL on a full-time basis next season. Regardless, they both made a major impact for the Barracuda during their rookie seasons. 

The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made the playoffs in a non-COVID year in a long time. However, the rebuild, as it is known today, didn’t begin until 2022. No team with the accomplished version of Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews on it was truly rebuilding. 

It wasn’t until they started moving off all their top players that the rebuild was in motion. The two franchise icons, along with players like Alex DeBrincat, Brandon Hagel, Kirby Dach, and Seth Jones, amongst others, were all traded away for assets that help build towards the future. 

Across the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026 is proof that the Blackhawks can take their rebuild to new heights. On Monday night, two teams that are out of a long rebuild will face off in a winner-take-all game seven. This match will decide whether the Buffalo Sabres or Montreal Canadiens will meet the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. 

For Buffalo, they haven’t been in the postseason since 2011, but their current success stems only from the rebuild that mostly began after they traded Jack Eichel. Their disagreements over how to handle his injury forced him out, which in turn forced them to change their organizational plans. 

Buffalo made some big-time additions to their lineup over the year via trade and free agency, like Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Josh Doan, Bowen Byram, and Ryan McLeod. 

There were also a couple of number one picks to bolster their roster in Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, who are two very different defensemen that bring an element of the game that the team needs. Other top-ten picks like Zach Benson and Jack Quinn make a difference as well. 

On the Montreal side of things, they had a similar path when it comes to the roster. Juraj Slafkovsky was the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, one year after Buffalo selected Power first. Other first-round talents like Cole Caufield and Ivan Demidov play a key role in their prolific play. 

Montreal has also made big trades for players like Kirby Dach, Noah Dobson, and Philip Danault, amongst others, who help them win. Even their captain, Nick Suzuki, was acquired via a trade before he became a star NHL player, and now he's one of their main catalysts. Like Buffalo, all of this talent acquisition was the result of a strong rebuild. 

When it comes to coaching, the two sides couldn't have taken a more opposite approach. The Sabres brought back their old coach and franchise icon, Lindy Ruff, while the Montreal Canadiens hired former NHL superstar Marty St. Louis. 

With Jeff Blashill, the Blackhawks have a strong-minded coach leading the way who takes a calculated approach to his handling of the team. 

In terms of the roster, you can see the similarities between these two game seven clubs and the Blackhawks. With Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Artyom Levshunov, and Sam Rinzel, amongst others, all developing, they could become a winning core as they gain experience.

There is also a 4th overall pick coming into the mix this summer, which could add another contributing piece if they select and develop wisely. 

For each of these teams, Buffalo and Montreal, it clicked at different rates. For Montreal, there was a slow and steady climb. For Buffalo, it went from being horrible to elite in the middle of the 2025-26 season. 

The Blackhawks seem to be emulating the former after an 11-point improvement this year. As long as they keep adding talent, developing it, and making smart hockey moves to supplement their roster, they will have a turnaround like this eventually.

Game seven between Montreal and Buffalo can be seen on ESPN at 6:30 PM CT. 

Buffalo Sabres - Montreal Canadiens Game 7 Preview: Lineups, Stats, How To WatchStanley Cup Playoffs - Eastern Conference Semi-Final Canadiens Must Put The Pedal To The MetalThe Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres will face off for the last time in these playoffs in a do-or-die Game 7 in Buffalo at 7:30 PM.

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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As Met Area fans enjoy the thrilling playoff matches, it also must give each and every one of us pause to reflect on this question:

Can any of you recall a hockey springtime like this one when the Rangers,  Islanders and Devils all were out of the postseason before it ever began?

It's weird because say – just for the sake of argument – that the Blueshirts did make it. 

At least Devils and Isles fans would have some emotional involvement – rooting for the Rangers TO LOSE!

But even that little bit of joy has been removed. Which means that we root for either Buffalo or Montreal in this do-or-die game tonight in Sabreland.

The Mave picks the Sabres to win at home and I'll be rooting hard for Lindy Ruff's amazing sextet.

After that we have more classic hockey ahead, starting Wednesday.

Who do you pick between the Avalanche and Vegas on Wednesday; and I grant you that that's a tough one to call which means that it looms as a gem of all gems.

The Maven imagines that Isles fans will support the Avs because of Brock Nelson.

I'm pulling for Vegas because of John Tortorella and – get this – the formerly much-maligned but now heroic. Mitch Marner.

Zegras, fresh off career year, would love to be with Flyers for ‘long time' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As Trevor Zegras screamed to the boisterous crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena, you could see the enjoyment on his face.

He had just sent the building into a frenzy, tying Game 3 of the Flyers’ first-round series against the Penguins.

The 25-year-old was experiencing something he had not yet experienced in his NHL career.

Playoff hockey.

And that feeling was the punctuation on his career resurgence in Year 1 with the Flyers.

“To find that passion for winning and success as a team was big,” Zegras said last Tuesday at his end-of-the-season press conference. “I think I had lost a little bit of that, the drive and the passion to win and be a really good team. We definitely had, in my opinion, a great, successful season.”

Zegras never made the playoffs in parts of five seasons with the Ducks. He came to the Flyers in a trade last June after two injury-riddled, disappointing seasons. The change of scenery did wonders.

In a contract year, Zegras answered Rick Tocchet’s challenge with a career season of 26 goals and 67 points. He had five multi-goal games after having none the season prior with Anaheim.

“The one thing with Trevor I love is you can give it to him,” Tocchet said earlier this month. “It has been like that all year. Doesn’t pout, takes it. … He’s the last guy I’m worried about. He’s a very coachable kid.”

When Christian Dvorak signed a five-year extension with the Flyers in January, Zegras mentioned how he’d like to stay. He has a chance to sign long term with the Flyers this offseason.

“Personally, I would love that, I would love to be here for a long time,” Zegras said. “I hope that that would happen over the next couple of months or whatever the timeframe would be. I love playing here, I love the fans, I love the group that we have. That would be something I’d be excited for.”

Zegras is a restricted free agent coming off a three-year, $17.25 million deal ($5.75 million cap hit). Jamie Drysdale is also due a new contract as a restricted free agent. Dan Vladar has one more year left on his deal, but he’ll be eligible to sign an extension starting July 1.

“Negotiating contracts is a process, it takes time,” Danny Briere said last Thursday at his end-of-the-season press conference. “I don’t negotiate in public. But there’s not an order. When it can get done, it gets done. It all depends on sometimes the synergy. Sometimes you make ground faster with one than the other, things change along the way. It depends on the traction.

“I have nothing really that worries me at this point to say we’re not going to see those guys come back. I have no worries at this point in that regard. Hopefully it keeps going in that direction and we get them done later this summer.”

Trevor Zegras said what he appreciates about Rick Tocchet is that he’ll get in your face, but then he gets you back out there on the ice and gives you a chance to make up for stuff. pic.twitter.com/gDr2KzkCxm

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) May 8, 2026

Zegras led the Flyers with six points in the playoffs. He had two goals and four assists in 10 games. He was one of 13 players on the Flyers to appear in their first postseason. The Flyers beat the Penguins in six games before being swept by the Hurricanes.

“Excited for what’s ahead with this team,” Zegras said. “Such a good learning experience for myself and a lot of the other young guys that had never played a playoff game, kind of what it’s like to play a series, win a series, have a series against a team that maybe you shouldn’t beat. Know what to expect now. I think it’ll be good moving forward.”

The big question facing Zegras will be his position next season. Can he be a full-time center? Tocchet had Zegras on the wing earlier in the season to build his confidence, but the head coach moved him back to center as the Flyers made their playoff push.

“I’m fine with playing both,” Zegras said. “I liked playing in the middle down the stretch just because there’s a little bit more space and you can kind of pick and choose where you want to go a little bit more. I think playing center in the playoffs was a good experience for me just in terms of how different it was, how hard the battles are and all that type of stuff. But I thought it was good.”

Jordan Spence's time in Ottawa came with humble beginnings.

After two years as a regular in the LA Kings lineup, Spence was traded at the draft to the Senators for a mere third-round draft pick.

New Kings GM Ken Holland wanted to move off Spence because, "It's just hard to play him and Brandt Clarke right now," referring to the sameness of the two players. Holland wanted a different sort of right-shot D, so he later went out and signed former Senator Cody Ceci to effectively take Spence's spot on the roster.

After breaking the bad news to him and the feelings that go with that, the Kings took solace in the fact that Spence would have a better opportunity to play in Ottawa.

But a few months later, when the Senators opened their new season in Tampa Bay, Spence was a healthy scratch. Even with Tyler Kleven injured, Spence sat in the press box while Nikolas Matinpalo, Donovan Sebrango and a quick-healing Nick Jensen all suited up. 

How times have changed.

By the time the season was over, Spence established himself as more than an everyday defenseman. Among Sens defensemen, he finished fourth in time on ice per game, which is the very best measurement of what your team thinks of you. He finished with a career-high 31 points, and along with being an excellent puck mover, he didn't mind finishing his checks along the boards.

One of his biggest virtues, at least on this team, was availability. While the Sens endured one injury after another on the blue line, Spence managed to dodge the injury bullet all season.

Now Spence is a restricted free agent, and the Senators find themselves considering lucrative compensation packages for Spence that they probably never would have dreamed of at the start of this season.

Naturally, a lot will depend on what Steve Staios does this summer. If he goes out and gets another top-four defenseman, ideally a physical, shutdown guy, that might knock Spence down to a bottom-six pairing, which would certainly affect what the Senators want to pay.

Spence is also two years away from unrestricted free agency.

So the Sens could sign him to a one-year deal and see if Spence can impress again, and also see what everything looks like when everyone stays healthy for a season. In particular, that's been a challenge for Thomas Chabot, who plays a similar game to Spence on the opposite side. Chabot has missed 15-30 games in four of the last five seasons.

The Sens could also buy up some of Spence's UFA years and do something longer term. He's still only 25 with just three full NHL seasons under his belt. Now he'll have a big new contract and a greater sense of belonging next season, so we're betting the best is yet to come.

With the NHL cap going bananas over the next few seasons, Spence isn't likely to re-sign for the max seven years. But barring the offseason addition of another right-shot defenseman in Ottawa, a good bet for Spence would be four years at $4.5 million AAV.

Meanwhile, back in LA, the Kings might be reconsidering Spence's value these days.

After Holland put his stamp on the team for this season, which included dealing Spence away for a third-round pick, the Kings' goal differential this season dropped 66 points, going from +44 last season to -22 this season.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Our One-On-One With Senators Winger Drake Batherson
Senators Defenseman Goes From 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs To Signing In Switzerland
Rasmus Ristolainen: A Deeper Look Into A Potential Senators Trade Target
What’s The Plan For Senators UFA Lars Eller?
Archive: The Year Erik Karlsson Became Ottawa's First Norris Trophy Winner At 22

The Carolina Hurricanes have certainly had a long wait ever since their last postseason game.

The Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, May 9 and since then, they've just been finding ways to fill the time.

The Canes are awaiting the winner between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, but that series has gone all the way to a winner-takes-all Game 7 which will take place on Monday.

The Hurricanes had a six-game wait between the first and second rounds after sweeping the Ottawa Senators and by the time they next play, they'll have been off for a modern-NHL record 11 days.

Update / confirmation: Hurricanes have the modern NHL record for longest wait for their next series. pic.twitter.com/4QO3kh32WC

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) May 17, 2026

While the team may not know who their opponent will be, they do at least know when they'll be playing as the Game 7 situation forced them into schedule option B.

The Hurricanes will kick off their Eastern Conference Final run on Thursday at the Lenovo Center, although puck drop has still yet to be determined.

Here is the full list of dates for the Eastern Conference Final:

Game 1: Thursday, May 21 (Lenovo Center)
Game 2: Saturday, May 23 (Lenovo Center)
Game 3: Monday, May 25 (Bell Centre/KeyBank Center)
Game 4: Wednesday, May 27 (Bell Centre/KeyBank Center)
Game 5: Friday, May 29 (Lenovo Center)
Game 6: Sunday, May 31 (Bell Centre/KeyBank Center)
Game 7: Tuesday, June 2 (Lenovo Center)  

The games will be exclusively broadcasted by TNT (truTV, HBO MAX) in the U.S. and will be available on Sportsnet, CBC and TVAS in Canada.

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We have looked at bounce back candidates.

We have looked at potential regression candidates.

Now it is time to look at some of the Pittsburgh Penguins young players that could break out in a big way for the 2026-27 season.

The candidates are mostly obvious, but how high should we be setting the ceiling?

Let’s dig into it a little bit,

Ben Kindel

The most encouraging development for the Penguins during the 2025-26 season was the emergence and rapid development of center Ben Kindel. From the moment he arrived in training camp and started to play in the preseason there was obvious reason for excitement and optimism. And then he delivered on that far sooner than anticipated by not only making the team as an 18-year-old in his draft year, and not only sticking around for the entire season and playoffs, but also making a sizable impact.

He was not a passenger.

He was one of the drivers of the team’s success for a good chunk of the season.

He did have some moments where he ran into a rookie wall, especially later on, but that is to be expected for a player that age going through that sort of grind for the first time.

At the very least, he looks like an NHL player. The question is what his long-term upside is, including in his second season.

To try and get an idea I pulled up comparable rookie seasons over the past 20 years. The criteria: 18-year-old forwards in their rookie season, scoring between 12 and 25 goals, and finishing with between 25 and 40 points. It eliminates the 18-year-olds like Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini that were clearly on a different level, as well as the players that did not stick around long enough to contribute or simply did not contribute as much as Kindel did.

The comparable results were: Andrei Svechnikov, Cole Sillinger, Valeri Nichushkin and Evander Kane.

Kindel, Svechnikov and Nichushkin were the only ones that also exceeded a better than 50 percent shot attempt share in their rookie seasons, indicating an ability to drive possession.

It’s not exactly a big group of players to draw many conclusions or comparables from, which also kind of highlights how rare of a season it was for Kindel.

Svechnikov took a huge step forward in year two. Kane took a small step forward offensively. Nchushkin was limited to just eight games in his second season and took a few years to become an outstanding second-line winger. Sillinger took a massive step backwards and has not really taken a major step forward ever since.

It’s also not really an apples-to-apples comparison across the board because Svechnikov, Nichushkin and Kane are all wingers, while Kindel and Sillinger are the only centers on the list.

The ideal scenario here would be a Svechnikov-like jump offensively. But I am not sure he has Svechnikov’s shot, even if he might have the two-way game.

Sillinger is the example you do not want him to follow, but I also think his rookie year was significantly better and more well-rounded than Sillinger’s. Sillinger didn’t push play to the same degree that Kindel did and received slightly more favorable situations and matchups.

Kindel’s not likely to be a franchise-level player or star-level player. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be a really good, really important long-term piece. The sort of jump he takes next season will give us more insight into what that upside can be.

Harrison Brunicke

Brunicke’s 2025-26 season did not follow the path many people expected, getting playing time in the NHL, WHL and AHL. There’s been some concern that the Penguins didn’t really help his development this season by jumping him all around to three different levels, and having him sit for most of the first half of the season while they made a decision on him, but I’m not sure I agree with that take.

At the end of the day he is going to play more hockey games this season than he did in each of the previous two seasons.

He has also received a significant taste of pro hockey, including at the NHL level, and held his own as a 19-year-old.

He just wasn’t ready for full-time NHL action at that point. It’s okay. It happens.

He has been especially strong since getting an opportunity to play at Wilkes-Barre, including in the playoffs.

President of Hockey Operations/general manager Kyle Dubas has already made it clear that improving the team’s defensive play is going to be a huge priority this offseason, and I can’t think of a better place to start looking for that than internally with a player like Brunicke, even if it does not happen from the very start of the season.

Honestly, he checks every box for what the Penguins should be looking for on next year’s roster and would add youth, skating and a potential long-term defensive solution. He’s been a highly touted prospect from the moment he was drafted and has impressed at every step in the process.

They need somebody to emerge as a long-term piece on defense. Next year could be the start for him.

Sergei Murashov

There is not a young player in the organization that can change the Penguins’ timeline for contention more than Murashov.

I do not say that to put more pressure on the kid or raise expectations around him, but just to point out the reality of the situation and his position.

The Penguins farm system has improved significantly over the past few years in terms of depth and potential NHL players. But it is still lacking that one dude that can be a top-tier player. If Murashov reaches his ceiling, he could be that top-tier player. And given that he plays the most impactful position on the ice, and the one that can change an entire season for a team, he could be the most significant player they have.

That is what goalies do.

But goalies are also maddening, volatile beasts that can surprise in the best and worst ways. There are maybe five established goalies in the NHL that you should feel confident in from one year to the next. Or even within the same season.

Young goalies with no NHL track record are even more volatile and unpredictable.

The good news: Murashov looks NHL ready, at least in the sense that he has nothing left to prove in the AHL. He has dominated for two years down there, and entering play on Monday has a .938 save percentage this postseason in his first six games. He is almost certainly going to be in the goalie rotation next season with a chance to make a difference. I imagine there will be some rocky moments at times, but there is also the potential for a major contribution.

If they get back to the playoffs next season, my guess is he would be a big reason why.

Bill Zonnon

If you go back to the 2025 NHL Draft, the one Penguins player taken in the first round that seemed to get the most consistent praise for his game, and for being NHL-ready, wasn’t actually Ben Kindel, but instead Bill Zonnon. He’s been a favorite of prospect watchers all year and has received high-praise for his work ethic, two-way play and hockey IQ. He has done nothing but back all of that up on the ice in both the QMJHL and AHL. When it comes to the latter, he showed up having already learned the system on his own and was ready to be plopped into the lineup.

He then scored two goals in his first two games.

I don’t know if he will make the roster next season right out of training camp, but I could see a scenario in the middle of the season where he gets an opportunity and never returns to Wilkes-Barre.

After a complete collapse on home ice on Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves on the brink of elimination for the second time in these playoffs as they face a do-or-die Game 7 with the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Centre on Monday night. The last time the Canadiens had to play a Game 7, they came out on top, but they needed a little help from the Forum ghosts, who had apparently made the trip to Florida for their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They won, but they didn’t deserve to with just nine shots on net. They’ll need to be better than that tonight.

Tonight’s tilt will be the 203rd Game 7 in league history and only the second in these playoffs, with the Canadiens starring in both. The Sabres will be playing only their eighth Game 7 in franchise history, and so far they have a 1-6 record, but are 1-1 when the game is played at home. Both home games required overtime. Meanwhile, this will be the 26th Game 7 in Canadiens history and the 15th on the road. The franchise has a 16-9 record and is 8-6 on the road.

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The Habs will not be holding a morning skate today, but we may get some lineup hints if the healthy scratches take to the ice. Joe Veleno took an elbow to the head in the last game, and one can wonder if he’ll be dressed tonight or if Martin St-Louis will decide to make some changes after the disastrous Game 6.

That’s not a decision to take lightly, especially after using the same lineup for the last six games. Anyone you decide to bring in will be somewhat rusty. Brendan Gallagher has not played since Game 7 against the Lightning, while Oliver Kapanen’s last game was on April 26. When Gallagher entered the first round in Game five, he provided a much-needed spark and scored the first goal of the game. Can the veteran do the same against a much faster and younger Buffalo team? As for Kapanen, he has two goals against the Sabres in four games this season, but that was in the regular season.

St-Louis could also elect to mix his lines a little bit. The top line had an awful game in Game 6, and that was in large part because Juraj Slafkovsky was ineffective. On the other end, Ivan Demidov looks like he has finally found his rhythm in this series; perhaps he could cause some damage alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. There’s also the possibility of reuniting Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Zach Bolduc, who worked well as a unit against Tampa.

Whichever combinations St-Louis decides to put on the ice, though, the Canadiens’ top players will have to be better. Montreal also can’t afford to miss golden opportunities. Game 6 might have been vastly different if Texier hadn’t missed the pass that would have sent him on the breakaway on the first shift of the second period.

In the last two games, St-Louis started with Slafkovsky, Suzuki, and Caufield, and they were scored on following defensive-zone turnovers by Caufield on Thursday and Slafkovsky on Saturday. It might be an idea not to lead with that line, but with an energy line that can set the tone in this pivotal game.

While Saturday’s defeat wasn’t Jakub Dobes’ fault, the Czech netminder can play a much better game than he did, and on Monday night, he’ll need to have his A-game. So far in these playoffs, the 24-year-old netminder has always bounced back (or, as St-Louis would say, "forward") after a loss; he is 5-0 with a .911 save percentage. In those five games, the Canadiens have scored 19 goals and only allowed nine for a 1.80 GAA. That’s the kind of performance Montreal needs. With a win, Dobes would become only the fifth goaltender in franchise history with multiple Game 7 wins; he would join Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, Jaroslav Halak, and Carey Price in the very select club.

Arrêt miraculeux de Jakub Dobes!!!! pic.twitter.com/D9MH4QjGRs

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) May 17, 2026

In Game 7 against Tampa, Dobes allowed just one goal on 29 shots, while Suzuki scored the team’s first goal, and Alex Newhook scored the unorthodox game-winner. Kaiden Guhle assisted on both goals, while Lane Hutson, who leads the team in scoring, had an assist. The team that scores first in a Game 7 has won the game 75% of the time (152-50), which is what Montreal did against the Bolts, but in six games against the Sabres, they’ve only scored the first goal once. So far in this series, the home team has only won two of the six games.

Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM, and you can catch the game on ESPN, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Jean Hebert and Wes McCauley are set to officiate, while Scott Cherrey and Devin Berg will be the linemen. Whoever wins the game will head to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Conference Final on Thursday. It will be the Canes’ first game since May 9, when they completed the sweep against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Newfoundland native Alex Newhook gives the Montreal Canadiens a lead in the third period of Game 7.

Newhook is the only player on the Habs with his name already on the Stanley Cup. What a goal. pic.twitter.com/npd9fzJUnx

— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) May 4, 2026

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The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres will close out a thrilling, high-scoring series tonight at KeyBank Center.

I'm eying both captains – and top line winger Juraj Slafkovsky – to make an impact with my Canadiens vs. Sabres props and NHL picks.

Be sure to read our full Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions on Monday, May 18.

Best Canadiens vs Sabres props for Game 7

Game 7 Prop #1: Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 points

-150 at BET99

Juraj Slafkovsky is having a productive series, with six points through six games. What’s impressive is that he has managed strong outputs while scoring only once on 3.13 expected goals and 21 chances. He’s deserving of better. 

Open ice will be hard to come by in a Game 7, with every puck hotly contested in a meat-and-potatoes style of game. Slafkovsky’s ability to get to the net and operate in tight spaces will serve him well.

Game 7 Prop #2: Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 shots

-170 at BET99

Rasmus Dahlin is a one-man shooting gallery for the Buffalo Sabres. He has generated 3+ shots in eight of the last nine games and five straight in Buffalo. 

He’s been more productive at home, especially in this series. Dahlin combined for 12 shots on 21 attempts through three home dates, a stark contrast to the eight on 11 he mustered up over three games in Montreal.

Nobody on the Sabres has generated more attempts or shots than Dahlin at home. Likely to play 25+ minutes in Game 7, the volume should remain quite strong.

Game 7 Prop #3: Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists

-135 at BET99

Cole Caufield leads the Montreal Canadiens with 22 scoring chances against Buffalo, and right behind him is Slafkovsky at 21.

What do those two have in common? They're centered by Nick Suzuki at 5-on-5 as well as on the power play.

Suzuki is the best facilitator the Canadiens have up front and, clearly, he's helping create plenty of looks for his linemates. Given how much of the offense runs through Suzuki and the talented finishers on his wing, he's as likely as anybody to pick up a helper.

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