The Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 Tuesday night in Game 4 to edge the final series 2-2.
Carolina started hot with a 3-1 goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Two of those goals came within the opening four minutes that set the tone for the rest of the way.
But this has been a series of the comeback, so it wasn’t surprising that two Vegas goals knotted up the score in the second period. William Karlsson scored the first of the period before Brett Howden drilled one from a deep angle for the equalizer late on.
In the third period, Vegas made the most costly mistake of the game that got punished. A poor clearance in their own defensive area led to some opportune shots for Carolina.
Eventually it was Jordan Staal, a goalscorer from the first period, who capitalized with an angled diving effort. It could go on to be a memorable frame if Carolina gets it over the line for just the second time in franchise history (2005-06).
The goal would prove to be the winner as Vegas had to chase the action the rest of the way. Eventually, Nikolaj Ehlers added Carolina’s fifth in the closing minutes as Vegas had an empty net.
It’s been an incredibly even series so far with little margin for error on either side.
Both teams have exchanged wins since Vegas stole Game 1 on the road 5-4. Carolina responded with a 4-3 Game 2 win before the Golden Knights once again claimed a 5-4 final scoreline in Game 3. Game 4 was about to follow the one-score difference before Ehlers’ open-net finish.
If the victor trends are anything to go by, another tight game is in store for Thursday with Vegas in line for the win pattern. But Carolina is back on home ice and will be looking to defend it as the victor will be just one win away from hoisting the main prize.
Last offseason, Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes was a busy man, acquiring a right-shot defenseman from the New York Islanders in Noah Dobson and sending Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for help up front in the form of Zachary Bolduc. This summer promises to be more of the same as the young Habs are still in need of reinforcements to be real Stanley Cup contenders.
The playoffs have exposed a few needs for the Canadiens: a second-line center, some depth on defense that Martin St-Louis actually trusts and a real top-four right-shot defenseman who would allow Lane Hutson to play on his natural side. Right-shot defensemen are not easy to come by; it took Montreal some time to acquire Dobson, and now, there still seems to be a need. David Reibacher is a right-shot defenseman, but it remains to be seen if he’ll truly be top-four material.
The Blues have a right-shot defenseman that they were willing to move and actually tried to move in early March in Colton Parayko, but he has a full no-trade clause and refused to waive it to join the Buffalo Sabres. It’s easy to understand why. While the Sabres were on an unbelievable run this season and were heading for the postseason, they hadn’t been to the spring dance in 14 years, and players often ask out of town. Would the 33-year-old defenseman be willing to go to Montreal? It’s a possibility that cannot be ruled out.
The Canadiens have just made it to the third round of the playoffs; they have a great young core of stars signed to very reasonable deals who intend to stick together for a long time and win more than a single cup, as per Ivan Demidov. Furthermore, they are coached by Martin St-Louis, who’s a big selling point given how well he gets on with his players and how great a player he was in his heyday. Perhaps the veteran defenseman would also like the opportunity to be paired with a budding star like Lane Hutson.
Parayko has a $6.5 million cap hit, but for what he brings to the table, that’s more than reasonable. This season, he saw his point production halve, putting up only 18 points in 77 games compared to 36 in 64 games, which may be part of why St. Louis would like to move on. Still, he’s a really big body at six-foot-six and 228 pounds, and he plays like it as well. He landed 95 hits (he would have been seventh on the Habs) and blocked 172 shots this past season (he would have been second in that respect with the Habs).
He’s a stable presence on the blueline, one with plenty of experience and leadership, and the arrival of the Blues’ alternate captain could help make up for the fact that the Canadiens will, in all likelihood, be losing Brendan Gallagher this offseason. Sure, he’s not as fast as he once was, but the truth of the matter is, Hutson has speed for two, and the way he controls the puck makes being his partner a pretty cushy job, even for a defenseman who is getting older. The four years left on his contract could also allow Reinbacher to take some time to develop and play a full season, hopefully without any injury. Alexandre Carrier only has one year left on his deal and could make way for Reinbacher next year as the Austrian progressively goes up the Canadiens’ depth chart.
Of course, there’s still the matter of what the Blues would ask from the Habs, but it’s at the very least a proposition worth exploring.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes the save against Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights on a penalty shot in the third period of Game Three of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by RJ Forbus/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The goalie question is one that’s been lurking under the surface ever since the puck dropped for Round 1, Game 1 on April 18th. In each series it had been expected that the regular season savior Brandon Bussi would make an appearance. Frederik Andersen, however, did what you want a goalie to do and just seized control of the net. You could absolutely argue that Bussi should have had at least one appearance during one of the other series, but as they say in the Hangover, you never walk away from the table when you’re on a heater.
Unfortunately over the first three games, that heater has ended. Bob discussed it yesterday in the post linked above—by the raw numbers Andersen has just not been good and any time six pucks get past you in one period you can make all the excuses in the world, it’s not going to win you games. What is also easy to see with your own eyes is that despite not playing in a real game for over two months, Bussi came in and the team was able to tie the game in the third. He was exactly what that team needed, and honestly the goal to end the game wasn’t a real shot—just a very fluky bounce on a random push back attempt.
Thus we are now at the point of wondering who’ll be manning the crease. Fans thought they may have had a clue when the Canes came out for practice on Monday to this set up:
Of course it turns out that Brind’Amour is just messing with all of us.
Honestly, why not have fun with it? History tells us it’ll be Andersen but with a shorter leash. Then again the man who is supposedly stubborn had lines blended so wildly on Saturday to get the team to storm back, it is possible he recognizes for the team to play better defense, it has to be Bussi in net.
You think Bussi is going to give you any sort of lead? Think again.
Brandon Bussi says he hasn’t been told if he’s starting Game 4 or not.
Seriously, it is nice to see after how intense the first three games have been, there does seem to still be a sense of humor with this team. It’s a good thing because it’s only a 2-1 deficit the Canes are looking at, yet it feels worse in a lot of ways due to the three and four goal deficits that the Canes have had to overcome the last two games. Lost in all of the intensity of this is the fact that the goalie for the Golden Knights hasn’t exactly shone that brightly, either. Three goals in 39 seconds is something no goalie wants on their resume, and giving up significant leads in back-to-back games would normally have a team thinking about their strategy, too. But, because Vegas is up, no one is really talking about pulling him for Aiden Hill.
It does point to the biggest frustration for Carolina and one that should also give fans the most hope—Carolina has yet to play anything close to a complete game this series, and if they are able to the chances they can go on a run are high. The question, of course, is are they having trouble because they just can’t get out of their own heads or is Vegas just responsible for it? It’s probably a little of both, complete with one team reaching this level for the first time as a unit while the other has a lot of folks with recent experience.
The other question going into tonight was on William Carrier, who left early in Game 3. However, as everyone noted Carrier was on the ice and practicing with his usual line mates, and with the way Brind’Amour does things it means he’s playing. Also note K’Andre Miller out on the ice, as Ray Ferraro erroneously reported that he didn’t take a shift during the second overtime. Miller didn’t miss a shift then, but no one ever really corrected Ferraro.
On the Vegas side there’s a little more intrigue as neither Noah Hanifin nor Brayden McNabb took the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights’ public practice yesterday. For McNabb it’s doubtful he’ll miss a game after playing Saturday, so it’s likely it was just a move to try and limit his contact as he has to play with the full face cage. Hanifin is interesting if only because it’s clear he’s hurting, and the need to take a practice off could speak to just the level of injury he’s dealing with even though he’s probably playing.
Someone who is absolutely playing—the current Conn Smythe favorite Mitch Marner. The performance on Saturday may have sealed the award for him whether Vegas wins or loses, and either way the Hurricanes are going to have to try to account for him better. Does Carolina try to clog things defensively a little bit more, or sit back a little bit more to prevent his breakout ability? Does that open up the offense for the rest of Veags?
Perhaps the biggest question—after three ridiculous games do we have yet another classic brewing for tonight? The stakes are tighter as a Carolina win turns this into a best-of-three series with the Canes having home ice, while a Vegas win means the Stanley Cup will be back in Lenovo Thursday Night as the Golden Knights would be one win away.
As for how to watch—if you don’t have a ticket to tonight’s watch party at Lenovo, you’re now out of luck unless someone will transfer a ticket to you. If you have a ticket, a word of advice from someone there on Saturday night who had a blast—have a plan. The folks at the arena are treating this like a game with traffic control, full security, and everything staffed, but getting a seat is basically like an 1800’s land grab. All three levels are open, and every seat is general admission. If your plan is to get there at about 6:30, line up, and easily get your seat you are in for a surprise. People are lining up early to get their first choice, so account for rush hour traffic, and know what direction you’re headed for when you go through the door.
Inside, all the concessions should be open, at regular season prices, and be mindful the line for people to get the Stanley Cup patch on their jersey will be long, wrapping around half of the concourse. The game day staff put on an outstanding show, complete with pregame videos, siren sounders, entertainment during the commercials, and Stormy. During action, peep at the ice and you’re going to notice the live player dots that mirror the action on the screen.
If you aren’t going to be at Lenovo or another watch party, here’s how you can catch the action:
Time: 8 PM Eastern
TV: ABC with Sean McDonough handling play-by-play, Ray Ferraro between the benches for color, Emily Kaplan handling off-ice interviews, and Dave Jackson providing the officiating view. Note that The Point pregame show with Steve Levy, PK Subban, Mark Messier, and Erik Johnson will be on ESPN2 starting at 6 PM as ESPN has WNBA coverage.
Streaming Video: The ESPN App has the main feed, a skycast alt feed, ASL feed, and a Spanish feed.
Radio: Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy call the action. The pregame Storm Watch with Adam Gold on 99.9 The Fan starts at 7 PM and runs for 60 minutes. At 8 PM the Hurricanes Radio Network (consisting of 99.9, 730 The Game in Charlotte, ESPN New Bern 107.5/1490, and ESPN Greenville 107.5/1570). You will also be able stream this call through 99.9 on your smart device, app, or the Carolina Hurricanes app—and it’s not geolocked.
Former Stanley Cup champion Milan Lucic announced his retirement on Sunday, hanging up his skates after 17 seasons. Calgary Flames fans will remember Lucic as one of the few players ever traded from their provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers.
Milan Lucic has announced his retirement from professional hockey.
From Vancouver, British Columbia, Milan played junior hockey with his hometown Vancouver Giants of the WHL beginning in the 2004-05 season. Milan was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 2006… pic.twitter.com/4F62rLtPEE
After nine seasons with the Boston Bruins, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2011, Lucic went to Los Angeles for one year before signing a blockbuster deal with the Oilers in 2016. During his first season in the Alberta capital, Lucic scored 23 goals and never duplicated that production again, leading to a trade to Calgary for James Neal on July 19, 2019.
The official trade was Lucic and a conditional third-round pick (Kirill Kirsanov) for Neal.
At 31 when he made his Flames debut, Lucic tallied eight goals and 20 points, finishing with a minus-6 rating, as the team's 11th highest scorer. The following season, Lucic collected 10 goals, finishing 8th in scoring with 23 points in 56 games, with a minus-8 rating.
On a Pacific Division-winning club in 2021-22, Lucic had the second-worst plus/minus rating on the team at minus-9, collecting 10 goals and 21 points in all 82 games. In his final campaign with the Flames, 2022-23, Lucic once again posted the second-worst plus/minus at minus-13 and had only seven goals and 19 points in 77 games.
In 283 games with Calgary, Lucic compiled a stat line that included 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 points and a minus-36 rating, with 227 penalty minutes.
The native of Vancouver, BC, debuted with the Bruins at 19, in 2007-08, and became a one-time 30-goal scorer in 2010-11, the same year he'd win his only Stanley Cup title. Known as a power forward who loved to hit and score big goals, Lucic scored more than 20 goals on five occasions and reached double digits in at least 10 seasons.
Overall, the 38-year-old finished with 1,177 NHL games, 233 goals, 586 points, 1,301 penalty minutes, and 3,275 hits. According to NHL.com statistics, Lucic's 3,275 hits rank fifth among players during his time in the league (2007-2024).
It's the Stanley Pup that Vancouver managed to secure earlier this week. The puppy-themed tournament pits adorable, adoptable puppies from Brandywine Valley SPCA against one-another in a game of 'who can put the ball in the net first'. NHL stars and celebrities alike come together in support of dog adoption.
Last week, it was revealed that the Canucks' representative at the Stanley Cup would be none-other than Zeev Boop-Em, with the pup taking part as a member of the Pacific Division alongside Macklin Celewienie of the San Jose Sharks, Evan Boucharf of the Edmonton Oilers, and Cutter Go-Fetcher of the Anaheim Ducks.
During the high-stakes competition that aired on June 8, it was the Pacific Division pups that took home the 2026 Stanley Pup. En route to the win, they took down the Central Division by a score of 6-5, as well as the Metropolitan Division by 6-5 in the championship game. The Metropolitan Division advanced to the championship with a 5-4 win against the Atlantic.
Photo Credit: @NHL - X
The Pacific Division managed to erase a 5-3 deficit during their first game of the competition, with Jack Eich-Howl of the Vegas Golden Knights scoring the game-winner with guidance from actor Keenan Thompson.
In the championship game, the Pacific got off to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Jaden Snorts of the Seattle Kraken and Devin Collie of the Calgary Flames. Logan Chompson of the Washington Capitals scored to bring the Metropolitan Division within one goal before Matthew Schae-Furry of the New York Islanders tied it up at two apiece. Bone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Artemi Paw-Narin of the Los Angeles Kings brought the score up to three per team. Owen Nip-It of the Philadelphia Flyers scored twice to make it 5-3, but goals from Collie and Eich-Howl (2) put the game back in the Pacific's favour, securing the win.
Nearly every puppy who took part in this week's tournament has since been adopted.
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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The Los Angeles Kings didn’t just hire another head coach—they doubled down on a philosophy that has repeatedly failed to deliver lasting success.
A Familiar Gamble
Peter Laviolette was hired as the franchise’s next head coach on Monday, replacing interim coach D.J. Smith after Jim Hiller was dismissed in March.
On paper, it’s an impressive résumé. Laviolette enters Los Angeles as a Stanley Cup champion with 846 career victories, ranking seventh in NHL history, and more than two decades of NHL coaching experience.
But résumés don’t win future playoff series.
Since Darryl Sutter departed the organization in 2017, the Kings have now cycled through five different head coaches. Laviolette becomes the seventh man to occupy the position during that stretch, a revolving door that raises an obvious question: Is this another solution, or simply another reset?
More than anything, this hire feels less like a calculated move and more like a franchise hoping history suddenly changes.
Success And Inconsistency
To Laviolette’s credit, there is legitimate hardware on his résumé.
He guided the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006, delivering the organization’s first championship. Yet the celebration didn’t translate into sustained success. Carolina missed the playoffs in each of the following three seasons, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
A similar pattern followed in Philadelphia.
After replacing John Stevens during the 2009-10 season, Laviolette immediately sparked the Flyers, leading them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before losing in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks. The momentum gradually faded as Philadelphia suffered additional early playoff exits before eventually missing the postseason entirely, resulting in another coaching change.
His tenure in Nashville was arguably his most stable. The Predators reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, only to lose in six games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Less than three seasons later, Laviolette was fired midway through the 2019-20 campaign.
The trend continued in Washington. The Capitals exited in the first round in consecutive years before missing the playoffs altogether in 2022-23.
Then came New York.
In his first season with the Rangers, Laviolette guided the club to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Florida Panthers. One year later, the Rangers missed the playoffs entirely, ending his tenure after just two seasons.
The common thread isn’t that Laviolette never wins.
It’s that the success almost always arrives quickly before disappearing just as fast.
Was D.J. Smith That Bad?
That’s what makes this decision so puzzling.
What exactly was wrong with D.J. Smith?
The Kings may have been swept by the Colorado Avalanche, but the series was far more competitive than the final result suggests. Los Angeles battled in every game, and Anton Forsberg delivered everything he had between the pipes.
D.J Smith didn’t do a bad job filling in. Credit: Brad Penner
Smith also brought an identity that seemed to resonate throughout the locker room.
His message was straightforward: show up every day, compete relentlessly, and embrace the physical side of hockey.
Even away from games, Smith practiced what he preached. Behind the scenes, he could regularly be seen jumping on the stationary bike and completing workouts alongside his players. It wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—he led by example.
Players respect coaches who demand accountability while holding themselves to the same standard, and Smith embodied that philosophy.
For a franchise searching for consistency, that seemed like a foundation worth building upon rather than abandoning.
Chasing The Past Instead Of Building The Future
Nobody should question Laviolette’s accomplishments.
He’s a Stanley Cup champion. He’s reached three Stanley Cup Finals. He’s compiled one of the most successful regular-season coaching records in modern NHL history.
But in 2026, this feels like a significant gamble.
Los Angeles isn’t hiring the version of Peter Laviolette that lifted the Stanley Cup in 2006 or took Nashville to the Final in 2017. They’re betting that a coach whose recent stops have ended with declining results can suddenly reverse a trend that has followed him for nearly two decades.
And what is the ultimate objective?
Is it simply making it out of the first round every once in a while?
For a franchise that has spent years searching for stability behind the bench, this feels like another roll of the dice rather than a long-term vision.
Laviolette absolutely has the experience to prove critics wrong, and if he succeeds, the Kings will look brilliant.
But recent history suggests something else.
Lately, when the Kings gamble, they lose.
And betting on Peter Laviolette in 2026 might be their biggest wager yet.
The Colorado Avalanche offseason has been a roller coaster of emotions, and free agency hasn't even started yet. Chris MacFarland is leaving for the Nashville Predators on a reported massive offer, which forces Joe Sakic to take the mantle of General Manager back and adds even more pressure on this front office to make changes to a team many thought could/was better than the 2022 Stanley Cup team.
One contract that will need to be tackled this summer is that of forward Jack Drury, who is a restricted free agent. With the team having just under $3 million in cap space, he is a key depth piece to keep, given his on-ice work, and he's only 26 years old. The question is: what does he want, and what are the Avalanche willing to pay? Well, one major factor just got resolved that could play into their negotiations over how much Drury could be paid.
Minnesota Wild Already Making Moves
Earlier today, the Minnesota Wild announced they have re-signed pending unrestricted free agent Michael McCarron to a six-year, $20 million extension, with a $3.33 million cap hit. The contract includes a no-movement clause for the first three seasons, then a modified 15-team no-movement clause for the final three seasons.
McCarron started the season with the Predators and, in 59 games, scored five goals and seven assists for 12 points before being traded to the Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. In 20 games with the Wild, he scored three goals and two assists for five points, following that up with two goals and two assists for four points in 11 playoff games.
While his point production might not stand out, it needed to be evaluated given the Wild's lack of center depth. This is a signing that if the Wild can secure another bona fide top-six center, McCarron as a bottom-six center is tremendous value, considering his lineup with Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko was great for them in the playoffs.
The Avalanche Could Use The Wild As Leverage
If you're Sakic and start talks with Drury, this is the exact number range you want to sign Drury for, and it comes with greater benefits than the McCarron signing. While the size differential is noticeable, and how that was a major topic when the Avalanche lost to the Golden Knights, and how the team needed to get “tougher, bigger, grittier”. Drury plays like he's 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds.
He's not afraid to throw the body or get infront of the puck to block a shot, and is a great addition to the penalty kill. He's also great at the faceoff; he finished the regular season with a 58.1% win rate, which is the third-highest on the team. He's a pivotal guy you want on the penalty kill or for a defensive zone draw. Better than Nicolas Roy, Nazem Kadri, or Ross Colton. In the playoffs, he remained excellent, going 76-48 for a 61.3% win rate.
The biggest factor in getting an extension, and in the Avalanche being more open-minded about a longer-term contract, is his age. McCarron is currently 31 and will turn 32 on March 7, 2027. While yes, the Wild are in win-now mode, and the cap hit of $3.33 million over the next six years isn't awful with the cap going up, it's the no-movement clause that could be a factor if the Wild need to make drastic changes.
Drury is 26 years old and turns 27 on February 3, 2027, so even if the Avalanche match with the same contract and similar numbers, it helps lock in Drury, who can get better with time. When his contract is over, it opens up more possibilities for signing him when he's 32, by which time the team will ultimately be completely different, with a completely different cap situation.
Sakic and the Avalanche have some moves to make this summer. No doubt we will see some names start popping up around the NHL Entry Draft as the Avalanche look to free up some cap space. However, keeping Drury with the team for the long term should be a priority for the team if/when they open up some cap space this summer.
Former Montreal Canadiens forward Michael McCarron has landed a nice payday from the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild have announced that they have re-signed McCarron to a six-year, $20 million contract.
This is certainly a significant raise for McCarron. The former Canadiens forward just finished his two-year, $1.8 million contract, where he had a $900,000 AAV. Now, he has a $3.33 million AAV with his new deal from the Wild and will do so for a long time.
Clearly, Wild general manager Bill Guerin was very happy with what McCarron provided after they acquired him from the Nashville Predators ahead of the deadline. In 20 regular-season games with Minnesota following the trade, he had three goals, five points, and 40 hits. He also had two goals and four points in 11 playoff games for the Wild this spring.
McCarron was selected by the Canadiens with the 25th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 69 games with the Habs over three seasons, he posted two goals, six assists, eight points, 110 penalty minutes, and 185 hits.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights goal scorer predictions for Game 4
Player to score a goal
Odds
Jackson Blake
+315
Brett Howden
+275
Mitch Marner
+185
💲Goal scorer parlay
+2000
Goal scorer pick: Jackson Blake (+315)
Jackson Blake has been a breakout star for the Carolina Hurricanes in these playoffs, scoring five times. Blake leads the team with 6.33 individual expected goals and in individual great-danger chances with 28. Even though he's yet to find the back of the net in the Final, the opportunities are there.
Carolina is also scoring 4.67 expected goals per 60 minutes when Blake is on the ice, indicating his importance to its offense. Additionally, Carolina is generating more than 17 high-danger chances per 60 minutes with him in action.
Given the volume of quality chances he's generating, Blake is an appealing candidate to find the back of the net.
I'll play this pick up to +250.
Goal scorer pick: Brett Howden (+275)
Brett Howden has been doing it all for the Vegas Golden Knights this postseason, already scoring 13 goals. Three of them have come in the Stanley Cup Final. Howden has also generated 38 individual Fenwick attempts, ranking among the Top 5 players on the team.
His line was incredibly active in Game 3, accounting for four of Vegas' five goals in the overtime victory. More importantly, Howden's 21 individual high-danger chances lead the Golden Knights this postseason, highlighting how often he's finding dangerous scoring areas.
The veteran has also recorded eight shots on goal through the first three games of the Final. With his confidence high and opportunities continuing to come, Howden remains an attractive goal-scorer option.
I'll play this pick up to +225.
Goal scorer pick: Mitch Marner (+185)
Mitch Marner was the star of the show on Saturday evening, scoring a hat trick in the second period for the Golden Knights. The veteran has been a key piece for Vegas throughout the postseason, and the underlying metrics support his recent success.
Marner ranks second on the team with 4.1 individual expected goals and has generated 54 individual Fenwick attempts during the playoffs. He also erupted for 10 shots on goal in Game 4 and is averaging 4.66 shots per game in the series.
With the opportunities continuing to come at a high rate, Marner remains a solid candidate to find the back of the net again.
I'll play this pick up to +150.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights anytime goal parlay
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The San Jose Sharks will enter the 2026 NHL Draft with two first round draft picks, 2nd and 20th overall. We're going to start by taking a look at players likely available with the second overall selection.
The Sharks desperately need to fill their cupboards on the blue line, and they have a number of options to do so if that's the route they choose to go. Chase Reid is at the top of many experts' lists and he could fill a major need in San Jose.
Prospect Info
Name: Chase Reid
2025-26 Team: Soo Greyhounds - Ontario Hockey League
"Reid has some of the widest swings in his game. He can be the kind of defender who seems to be around the puck all game long, generating chances off the rush or in the zone. In other games, he occasionally looks like the game is just getting away from him, and he's trying to do a little too much. He should work some of that inconsistency out of his game as he matures. " - Tony Ferrari
"He’s an outstanding skater who averaged over 26 minutes per game of ice time with the Hounds and contributed 18 goals and 30 assists in 48 regular-season games. He provides a transitional element and a heavy/accurate shot from distance. Reid is active and hard to defend in the offensive zone, but agile and quick enough to retreat and defend on time when pucks are turned over." - Jason Bukala
"Reid possesses a great combination of size and skill across all 200-feet of the ice surface. He is an intelligent and mobile two-way, right-shot defenseman who knows when to act and where to be. He has a heavy shot which he likes to showcase from the point, especially on the man advantage. Inside the offensive zone, he knows when to pinch up and support the offense. He showcases a high-end level of vision with an ability to find open teammates in good scoring areas. These traits, combined with his mobility, help him as a puck transporter, sometimes opting to take the puck up the ice himself and carrying it across both bluelines" - Dobber Prospects
Reid is far from a perfect player at this stage in his career, but he shows signs of a future top-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. If he's able to become a more consistent player and work on some of the mistakes he occasionally makes, he could be a key part of the Sharks' blue line for many years to come if he's the player that Mike Grier opts to select.
After firing Kris Knoblauch following the 2025-26 season, the Edmonton Oilers were hoping that the reason they had to let him go -- leaking that they were trying to interview Bruce Cassidy -- would be made available by the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas had blocked Edmonton (and all other teams) from even speaking to him. As the messy situation unfolded, it was becoming clear that Cassidy was their top choice.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, and suddenly Mike Babcock is "their guy."
Say what?
Without confirmation that Cassidy would ever be permitted to interview, the Oilers have shifted their coaching search focus to an ex-NHL coach who hasn't won a playoff series since 2013 or coached a playoff game since November 2019. Oh, and that same guy, who also hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 2008, has a history of bullying players, treating human beings like garbage, and abusing his power for all the wrong reasons.
Sure, Babcock has an incredible resume that would put him in the conversation for the most decorated NHL coach ever. And yes, he might push this current group of Edmonton Oilers beyond their comfort zone, hold them accountable, and the team might win. This may also be one of the biggest blunders in recent coaching memory, all because the Oilers didn't want to wait a week to say if Vegas was going to change their minds.
Something Happened Here...
The NHL reaffirmed that Vegas is within its rights to deny Cassidy permission to interview with divisional rivals like Edmonton. It's certainly possible that the Oilers' first choice is completely off the table, at least for now. But did the Oilers know that? Was there another conversation with Golden Knights management and ownership that essentially guaranteed that the interview was never coming?
Maybe, but it seems far-fetched to imagine the same manager, Kelly McCrimmon, who said they wanted to focus on the playoffs, would suddenly take the time to speak with the Oilers during the Stanley Cup Final.
All the while, the Los Kings swooped in and hired Peter Laviolette, another possible option for Edmonton.
Somewhere along the way, a coach that no other team is even giving the time of day to entered the picture. Babcock was a rumor, a theory, a wild idea that no one really took seriously. It was a suggestion that garnered similar responses from analysts, fans, and media -- 'They better not do that.'
Then came Darren Dreger's report that the Oilers were consulting with the NHLPA to determine whether there were any objections that would need to be resolved before potentially hiring Babcock.
It was later revealed that the Oilers' leadership group had recently spoken directly with Babcock to discuss this possibility. They were on board.
Dreger added that if an investigation is warranted, the NHL would manage it, and that there was even a suggestion that D.J. Smith would likely join Babcock's staff if he's hired.
Clearly, this was much further down the road than anyone could have imagined.
How Desperate Are the Oilers That This Became Real?
There is no doubt that the inexplicable and illogical urgency is driven by the fact that the coaching pool got uncomfortably small. Pair that with Connor McDavid's timeline and his incredible urgency to win and you get to where things sit today.
The Oilers are waiting for the NHL to approve a move that just a few days ago, everyone thought was a bad joke.
McDavid signed a two-year extension, meaning next season is a critical one before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The first chance Edmonton had to make good on the gift he gave them ended in a first-round loss to Anaheim.
“I think it’s ownership driven… It’s a really desperate time there and there’s no room for error," said Elliotte Friedman. He added that Daryl Katz is pushing for this, which explains his willingness to pay a coach for three years after letting him go. It explains why the Oilers are willing to ignore the optics of this and do what they feel they need to. "It's a desperate time there. There's no room for error," he added. There is a feeling that the players "got away with too much."
Oilers Will Have to Lie in the Bed They're Making
The fact that Edmonton is no longer willing to wait for Cassidy, or go another route, means they're banking that his wildly unpopular choice is the right one. It's not; this is a decision they're going to have to live with and face the consequences of.
The fallout from this could be gigantic. Players may avoid the Oilers in free agency or via trade. Some current members of the roster might want out. If the Oilers don't win, it will look bad. If an incident happens that proves Babcock hasn't learned anything in his time away, it will look worse.
Ownership and the top players on the team don't seem to care. They believe this is the right choice, opinions be damned.
That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.
So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.
“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”
The Flyers have only five picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.
“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”
“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).
“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Ryan Lin
Position: Defenseman Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 180 Shoots: Right Team: Vancouver
Scouting report
While his frame doesn’t come across as imposing, Lin is a plus defender with strong offensive skills.
The Denver-bound prospect consistently has the puck, often making the right play up the ice or in the offensive zone. And when he doesn’t have the puck, he can hold his own in coverage.
“He has got the brain, he understands the way that defensemen play the game, transition and everything,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “I was a little bit harder on Ryan. When I say harder, in terms of watching him. What I realized, I think he’s a much better defender than he gets credit for. … That’s why you watch players over a period of time in different scenarios.”
Lin put up over a point per game this season in the WHL, recording 14 goals and 43 assists through 53 games. He had a minus-19 rating, but that came on a Vancouver team that sported a minus-86 goal differential.
At the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship that ended last month, Lin had six points (one goal, five assists) and a plus-7 rating in five games for Team Canada.
“In Vancouver in the Western Hockey League, he was asked to drive offense,” Button said. “When you’re asked to do that, you better do that. And he did it well, he did it really well. So the team isn’t as good and certainly he has got to do his part offensively; well, now you’re not asked to play defense as much. But I’ve seen him in other scenarios where he has been a really good, solid two-way defenseman.”
Button believes Lin has “a little bit of the Brandon Montour profile.” Montour owns a 73-point season and a Stanley Cup ring. The 32-year-old has played in 665 career NHL games.
If Lin is still there at No. 21, he would be a fine pick for the Flyers.
The club will draft the best player available, but it couldn’t hurt to replenish on the back end. The Flyers have taken just four defensemen over the last two drafts. They haven’t taken one in the first round since 2023, when they selected Oliver Bonk with their second pick.
Lin has the ingredients to be a top-four defenseman. His upside as a power play quarterback should also appeal to the Flyers. They’ve had an NHL-worst power play over the last five seasons combined at 14.1 percent. Lin would give them a good option to run the point in the future.
It’s no secret that the St. Louis Blues were engaged in trade discussions involving Robert Thomas, and a new report from Kevin Kurz reveals what the Blues were seeking in a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Kurz, a reporter for The Athletic covering the Flyers, reported that the Blues were asking for Porter Martone, Jack Nesbitt, and a first-round pick in exchange for Thomas.
The Blues set a high price tag for Thomas, but even this reported offer was too much for the Flyers to part ways with.
Martone was the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft and posted incredible numbers at Michigan State. The 19-year-old notched 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games in the NCAA before signing with the Flyers for the last nine games of the season.
In those nine games, Martone recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points. He then scored two goals and five points in 10 playoff games as the Flyers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Martone already looks stellar and projects to be one of the best power forwards in the NHL, and he was likely the reason why the Flyers wouldn’t agree to this trade.
Turning our attention to Nesbitt, he was also a first-round pick in the 2025 draft, selected 12th overall. The 6-foot-4 center posted 25 goals and 58 points in 55 OHL games, guiding the Windsor Spitfires to the playoffs. He projects as a two-way center with the ability to score around the net.
While losing Thomas would have been a major blow, adding Martone, who is considered by some to be the best drafted NHL prospect and one of the favorites to win the Calder Trophy next season, alongside a strong 19-year-old center in Nesbitt, as well as a first-round pick, would have been immense value for the Blues.
We now know that the Blues won’t be revisiting a trade like this, as Andy Strickland reported that the Blues won’t be trading Thomas, and he expects the 26-year-old to start the season with the Blues. This is also the second trade offer revealed this off-season involving Thomas.
As for the Flyers, Martone was still playing in college at the trade deadline, but after his hot start to his NHL career, they likely wouldn’t even consider revisiting this deal.
Although this deal would have benefited both sides, as the Flyers receive an established No. 1 center while the Blues get younger, the deal not coming to fruition benefits both sides as well.
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What - Game 4 (1-2) When - 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 9 Where - T-Mobile Arena; Las Vegas, NV How to Watch - ABC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to even up the series again tonight in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Hurricanes lost a heartbreaker in Game 3, falling in double overtime off of an unfortuante bounce after erasing a four-goal deficit.
Goals haven't been hard for the team to come by, but the issue has been defense and if they want to even this thing back up, they need to do a much better job limiting the high-danger chances they're giving up.
There's also the question tonight of who will be starting in goal?
Frederik Andersen was pulled in Game 3 and Brandon Bussi took the net, helping the team in their crazy comeback.
Rod Brind'Amour wouldn't reveal his hand at practice on Monday, so we'll just have to wait and see who will be in net.
Streaks
Jordan Staal (3g) has goals in three straight games.
Sebastian Aho (3a), Eric Robinson (2a), Seth Jarvis (1g, 1a), Logan Stankoven (1g, 1a) and Andrei Svechnikov (1g, 1a) have points in back-to-back games.
Game Notes
Carolina and Vegas have never met in the postseason before.
This is both team's third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history (CAR - 2002, 2006, 2026; VGK - 2018, 2023, 2026).
William Carrier played for the Golden Knights from 2017-2024, winning the Cup with them in 2023.
Noah Hanifin (2015-2018) and Dylan Coghlan (2022-2024) both played for Carolina.
The Hurricanes went 0-2 against the Golden Knights in the regular season, with both games taking place in October.
All-time, the Canes have a 9-7 record against Vegas.
Key Matchups
Projected Starting Goalies
Frederik Andersen: 13-3; 0.910 Sv%; 1.89 GAA
Carter Hart: 14-5; 0.915 Sv%; 2.44 GAA
Leading Scorers
Goals - Logan Stankoven (10) / Brett Howden (13)
Points - Taylor Hall (17) / Mitch Marner (28)
Power Play
Carolina - 15.6% (10/64)
Vegas - 21.8% (12/55)
Penalty Kill
Carolina - 91.9% (57/62)
Vegas - 83.9% (47/56)
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Jordan Martinook Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Seth Jarvis William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield K'Andre Miller - Sean Walker Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
Frederik Andersen Brandon Bussi
Injuries and Scratches: Mike Reilly, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov
Golden Knights Projected Lineup
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner Tomas Hertl - Colton Sissons - Mark Stone Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Keegan Kolesar
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Jackson Blake
Brett Howden
