Make no mistake: the Avalanche are the best team in the league, and on paper they’re the better team in the series. The Golden Knights have a steep hill to climb if they don’t want to get caught in the snowdrift. Here are the three biggest challenges they’ll face as they try to topple the big bad Avs.
1. Center Depth
The Golden Knights are a much stronger team with William Karlsson back in the lineup. However, there’s no denying that the Avalanche have some of, if not the, best center depth in the league. They made a buzzer-beater move for Nazem Kadri at the deadline, which took them from exceptional to elite. Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, and Jack Drury round out the rest of the center corps— they’re so deep down the middle, Nic Roy is slotting in on the wing.
The Avalanche centermen are all 200-foot players who are just as strong on the defensive side of the puck as they are offensively. Brock Nelson was a Selke finalist, and Nathan MacKinnon is no slouch defensively.
2. Offense from Defensemen
Shea Theodore has played like a man possessed through 12 postseason games with four goals, one an overtime game-winner, and nine points. Noah Hanifin, too, has six assists in 12 games. Otherwise, the Golden Knights haven’t gotten much from their defenseman in terms of offense this postseason. Rasmus Andersson has three assists in 12 games, and Kaedan Korczak has one in nine.
Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the world, but he’s far from the only offensively gifted defenseman on the Avalanche roster. Devon Toews, Makar’s Olympic teammate and perpetual d partner, is having himself a postseason with two goals and eight points in nine games.
It’s not just the usual suspects producing for the Avalanche. Sam Malinski, a 27-year-old undrafted free agent out of Lakeville, Minnesota, continues to impress in his elevated role and has a goal and three points in nine games. Brett Kulak is known more for his steady defensive play, but he brings quite a bit to the table offensively… and that’s before his overtime series-clinching goal against the Minnesota Wild.
3. Nathan MacKinnon
I know, I know, I already brushed on MacKinnon when discussing the Avalanche’s center depth. But what he’s doing this postseason is nothing short of remarkable, even by his standards. MacKinnon has seven goals and six assists– all primary– in nine games. He drives the offense both at 5-on-5 and on the power play, as he’s scored three of his seven goals on the man advantage.
But, as it often is with great players, it’s not just the goals and assists that matter when looking at MacKinnon. He’s also drawn six penalties and is 53.7% in the face-off dot. The Avalanche are a force of nature this year, and MacKinnon is more than doing his part to try and help his team get across the finish line. If the Golden Knights can’t contain him, or at least limit his impact, this could be a short series.
Among the top priorities for the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason is going to be finding a competent complement to starting goalie Dan Vladar.
The book is not necessarily closed on incumbent backup goalie Sam Ersson, who is a pending RFA in need of a new contract, but his performances and consistency have only gotten progressively worse during his three years in the NHL with the Flyers.
So, if the Flyers move on from Ersson and let him pursue other opportunities elsewhere, they have two options: sign a goalie from an underwhelming crop of free agents, or trade for one.
Their best choice, for all intents and purposes, is going to be the latter.
One of the first places the Flyers should consider looking is, perhaps surprisingly, Buffalo, where the Sabres have four goalies who could conceivably be NHL regulars, all of whom are under contract for next season.
Established veterans Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon lead the way there, and Colten Ellis, a waiver claim from the St. Louis Blues, made his NHL debut this season, going 8-4-2 in 12 games for the Sabres with a 2.90 GAA, a .903 save percentage, and one shutout.
And then there's Devon Levi, the critically acclaimed but undersized goalie prospect who has yet to gain a foothold on an NHL roster spot for an extended period of time.
The 24-year-old has played 39 NHL games across three seasons, going a modest 17-17-2 with a 3.29 GAA and .894 save percentage.
Comparatively, Ersson, 26, has a 3.01 GAA and a .884 save percentage to go with his 65-50-17 career record.
It's worth noting, too, that Levi's numbers are dragged down by a nine-game stint last season that saw him go 2-7-0 with a 4.12 GAA and .872 save percentage.
And, in fairness to Levi, the Sabres were never particularly good during his time in the NHL and only had things click this season after general manager Kevyn Adams was fired and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen.
So, heading into his age-25 season, Levi has no path to a roster spot in Buffalo despite having already played 175 professional games in the Sabres organization.
This is where the Flyers step in.
Behind Vladar, the Flyers currently have Aleksei Kolosov, who recently re-signed with the club for one year, and Carson Bjarnason.
It's possible that Kolosov could step in and play a full NHL season as a backup, but the idea of him taking over as the starter in the event of an injury to Vladar is a rather uncomfortable one.
Bjarnason, of course, is still just 20 years old and finished his first professional season, which came with an ECHL stint with the Reading Royals.
Longtime NHL media maven Jeff Marek recently claimed that things are "over" between Levi and the Sabres, so, all things considered, a huge opportunity would be waiting for him in Philadelphia.
The price to acquire the goalie prospect can't be that high, given that the Sabres have no leverage with three goalies clearly ahead of him in the pecking order, and Levi comes with only a one-year commitment at an $812.5k cap hit if things don't work out.
Plus, the Flyers could always insure themselves with lower-tier free agent options with experience, such as Matt Murray, Vitek Vanecek, and even old friend Cam Talbot, heading into training camp and the preseason.
If things really do work out for the Flyers and the franchise finally catches a break, Levi will have realized his potential as a starting-caliber NHL goalie, which would help form a robust tandem with Vladar.
The time is now for Levi, who is running out of runway to crack an NHL roster after a promising start to his pro career.
We can be certain that the 24-year-old will be extra motivated heading into a contract year after being cast aside, and the Flyers have had great success targeting such players in the recent past, including Vladar himself.
The Grand Rapids Griffins have no choice but to win three straight games against the Chicago Wolves, who lead the AHL Central Division Finals two games to none and can close things out on Tuesday night.
And the physical intensity has picked up in the first period of play, culminating in an on-ice melee following a dirty hit from behind on forward Amadeus Lombardi, who was already down in a vulnerable position, by Wolves defenseman Charles Legault.
Immediately, forward Carter Mazur, who scored for the Griffins earlier in the period, stepped in and began doling out some physical punishment to Legault as a scrum ensued.
Meanwhile, Lombardi was clearly shaken up and very slow to recover.
Insanely dangerous and dirty play. Hitting Lombardi as he’s already down sliding into the boards mazur steps up for him nice to see. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/J4OZZgoSu6
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) May 20, 2026
Lombardi, who was taken by the Detroit Red Wings with the 113th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has three assists in seven AHL postseason games this spring after having tallied 16 goals with 26 assists in 47 regular season contests this season.
Mazur, who got in several games of NHL experience under his belt in Detroit this season, has scored five goals for the Griffins in the postseason so far.
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The team confirmed Tuesday that Keefe will be back, while goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been fired and assistant Sergei Brylin is being reassigned to another position.
Keefe recently completed his second season behind the bench for New Jersey, which parted ways with longtime GM Tom Fitzgerald and missed the playoffs. The Devils made it last year, losing in the first round to Carolina without top player Jack Hughes, who was sidelined by shoulder surgery.
Mehta is sticking with Keefe and making coaching staff changes while also overhauling the front office. He hired Braden Birch to be one of his assistants after they worked together with Florida and were part of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. He decided not to renew the contracts of executives Chuck Fletcher and Dan MacKinnon.
A former head coach of the Florida Panthers is weighing in on the Brady Tkachuk rumors.
Doug MacLean was the second coach in Panthers history.
He led the team to their first two appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1996 and 1997, including a surprising trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996.
After being asked about several topics, MacLean was wrapping up his guest hit when he quickly pivoted to include one additional conversation point regarding Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.
“One final thing,” MacLean began. “Think about this. Everybody's trying to get in the top ten (at the NHL Draft). Florida has the ninth pick in the Draft. Where is Brady Tkachuk going to want to go? Think about this. The ninth pick of the draft, the top ten guys are great players. Florida will never have another top 10 pick for two or three years. This is the time when you've got to move on Florida. You pick up a couple of quality players, you pick up the ninth pick, and you know Brady wants to go to Florida. You know he's gonna probably go there within two years. Two years is the magic number. The two playoff series. I wouldn't be surprised that Brady Tkachuk is in Florida at the Draft."
Earlier during the offseason, it was reported that the Senators could explore trading Tkachuk sometime this summer.
The 26-year-old forward has two years remaining on his current contract that comes with an average annual value (AAV) of just over $8.2 million.
With the NHL Draft Lottery now behind us, we know that the Panthers hold the ninth overall selection at next month’s Draft.
It’s the first time Florida has held a first-round pick since 2021, when they selected Mackie Samoskevich 24th overall, and the last one they own until 2029.
If the Senators are open to trading Tkachuk, who would be in complete control of any deal as his contract includes a full no-movement clause, it makes sense that he would list Florida as a preferred destination.
Brady’s older brother, Matthew Tkachuk, is locked into a long-term deal with the Panthers, and the team is poised to contend for the Stanley Cup for the foreseeable future.
Photo captions: Jan 12, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks for the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are one game away from reclaiming the summit of the Western Conference, but they may have to take the first step without their best defenseman.
A Quiet Absence Speaks Volumes
Cale Makar did not take the ice Tuesday, one day before Colorado opens the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena — and in a sport where practices before pivotal games carry outsized meaning, his absence was impossible to ignore.
Martin Necas speaks following practice on Tuesday.
He was the only Avalanche player who didn't skate. Head coach Jared Bednar, appearing alongside general manager Chris MacFarland at a joint news conference, tried to tamp down concern. "No, not yet," he said when asked whether Makar's absence worried him.
Jared Bednar was asked if he was concerned about Cale Makar not being on the ice today for practice.
The qualification "not yet" did just enough to keep the door open on uncertainty.
Makar has been listed day-to-day since missing Saturday and Sunday practices, nursing what appears to be a shoulder ailment he sustained during the second-round series against Minnesota. The moment of injury was hard to miss: midway through the third period of Game 5 against the Wild, Makar absorbed a check, immediately grabbed his right arm, and skated straight to the locker room.
He'd been reaching for that same spot and consulting trainers throughout the game before that. He did return to the ice a few minutes later, but the image lingered. A hip issue has also factored into his availability this spring, a detail that only muddies the picture further. Through nine playoff games, Makar has posted five points — numbers that undersell how thoroughly he controls games from the back end.
Wednesday morning's skate will be the real tell.
Good News Everywhere Else
The injury report elsewhere was decidedly more encouraging. Defensemen Brent Burns, Sam Malinski and Josh Manson — along with forward Artturi Lehkonen — all returned to the ice Tuesday after missing time during the layoff between rounds, per Denver Sports reporter Will Petersen. Bednar stopped short of formally clearing any of them, but their presence at practice speaks for itself.
That depth will matter regardless of Makar's status. Colorado has been nearly flawless through two rounds — going 8-1 with a sweep of the Los Angeles Kings and a brisk five-game dismissal of the Wild.
The NHL's best regular-season team is back in the conference final for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2022, and Wednesday night at Ball Arena feels like the beginning of something. Puck drop is at 6 p.m.
DENVER (AP) — The NHL Coaches’ Association said Tuesday it is closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights have denied multiple teams permission to speak with him about working for them.
Cassidy was fired in late March and is still under contract through next season, so anyone wishing to interview him must get permission from the Golden Knights, according to league rules.
“It is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities,” the Coaches' Association said in a statement. "It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.
Vegas has reportedly not allowed Pacific Division rivals Edmonton and Los Angeles to talk to Cassidy when asked since their seasons ended. Word of the Oilers' interest in Cassidy leaked last week before they fired Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit.
It was not clear if teams in the Eastern Conference or elsewhere in the West sought or received permission to interview him.
Cassidy, who turns 61 on Wednesday, guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, helped Boston reach the final in 2019 and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the pandemic shortened '19-20 season. He was an assistant on Canada's staff at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Vegas is in the West final against Colorado, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon and coach John Tortorella are set to speak to reporters in Denver later Tuesday ahead of Game 1 at the Avalanche on Wednesday night.
The 2024-25 offseason for the Kings was a busy one, as they made 5 big signings last year to improve their roster: Joel Armia, Cody Ceci, Brian Dumoulin, Corey Perry, and Anton Forsberg. While Perry was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline, the other 4 players remained with the team. But looking at Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, their signings may not have been necessary had the Kings not traded away Jordan Spence and lost Vladislav Gavrikov to free agency.
Jordan Spence
Jordan Spence was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2025 3rd-round pick and a 2026 6th-round pick. The reason Spence was traded was that He may not have been a top-6 defenseman for the Kings, especially given the Kings' focus on Brandt Clarke. Jordan Spence found himself on the outside looking in, which prompted his trade.
Jordan Spence, in his first season with the Ottawa Senators, played in 73 games, scoring 7 goals, registering 24 assists for 31 points, while averaging 18 minutes of ice time. Near the end of the season, the Ottawa Senators were dealing with injuries throughout their defence, and Spence stepped up for them. In the playoffs, Spence played nearly 40 minutes, showing that he is more than capable of being a reliable defenseman.
Vladislav Gavrikov
The other defenseman the Kings lost was Valdislav Gavrikov, as he signed with the New York Rangers in free agency. The Kings wanted to keep Gavrikov and were interested in signing him to a long-term deal, but unfortunately, they were unable to, and he signed a 7-year, $49 million deal with the Rangers.
In his first season with the Rangers, Gavrikov played in all 82 games, scoring a career-high 14 goals and tallying 21 assists for 35 points. While the Kings wanted to keep him for his ability to play on both the left and right sides, they were unable to retain him.
Replacing Spence and Gavrikov
The Kings' losing both Spence and Gavrikov created holes in their defence, as they really only had a top-4 group that consisted of Andersen, Doughty, Edmundson, and Clarke. So on July 1st 2025, the Kings' general manager, Ken Holland, would sign 2 defensemen to become the 3rd pairing. He would sign Cody Ceci to a 4-year, $18 million deal and Brian Dumoulin to a 3-year, $12 million deal.
These signings for the Kings were viewed negatively, as Holland signed 2 older defensemen to multi-year deals that included 10-team no-move clauses, meaning that if they wanted to trade either Ceci or Dumoulin, they would have to pick teams that those players left out of their 10-team no-trade lists.
The Impact of the Kings Future
While the Kings were one of the better defensive teams in the NHL, the reason these signings have hurt the future of the Kings organization is that, had the Kings been able to sign Gavrikov and keep Spence, their defensive core would look much stronger than it is now.
Another problem with the signing of Ceci and Dumoulin is that Jordan Spence is 25 and Vladislav Gavrikov is 30, whereas Ceci is 32 and Dumoulin is 34. With the Kings already having a mix of young and older defensemen on their roster, signing Ceci and Dumoulin only made the team older.
The Kings have a mix of young and older players on the roster, and they need to keep getting younger. After losing Anze Kopitar to retirement and with Drew Doughty having a few seasons left, the Kings cannot rely on Ceci and Dumoulin to be the future of the team. Had the Kings been able to keep Spence and Gavrikov, their defence roster could have looked like:
Andersen-Doughty
Gavrikov-Clarke
Edmundson-Spence
While the problem between Spence and the Kings was over playing time, had they been able to sort that out, this defensive core would be a very strong one the Kings could rely on when needed, thanks to the combination of veterans and youth in the lineup.
Overall, while this defence core is seemingly better than what the Kings are today, the likelihood of this lineup ever truly existing was low due to contract and playing-time disputes. Had the Kings figured it out, they could have been in a much better position going forward.
On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks announced that they had relieved Adam Foote of his head coaching duties along with his staff.
Thank you Adam Foote, Scott Young, Kevin Dean, and Brett McLean for everything you gave to the Vancouver Canucks. We are grateful for your leadership and dedication. pic.twitter.com/Fo5r7sJwCh
This marked the third head coach to be fired since the conclusion of the 2025-26 regular season, with the Toronto Maple Leafs firing Craig Berube after their GM change, and the Edmonton Oilers letting go of Kris Knoblauch.
It also marked the sixth coach to be fired since the calendar changed over to 2026.
With 40 games to go in the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets fired Dean Evason.
With eight games to go in the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy.
And with four games to go, the New York Islanders fired head coach Patrick Roy.
The difference between the Islanders' situation and the rest of the hirings that came after the firing is who they hired.
The Blue Jackets got Rick Bowness out of retirement. The Golden Knights got John Tortorella, but only for the remainder of the season, as of now.
The Islanders got Pete DeBoer, who would have been the top choice on the market this summer, had he made it there. That's the biggest reason why general manager Mathieu Darche didn't wait until season's end to make a coaching change.
"Guys like Pete DeBoer don't stay on the market very long," Darche said. "His pedigree, I mean, he went to five of the last six conference finals. He's had success everywhere he's been. He's a very structured coach. I know with Hockey Canada, I've got a lot of friends on that group, he was in charge of the (defensive)-zone structure, of the (defensemen) and a lot of the systems. So, at this time, I think it's what we need moving forward."
Would DeBoer have loved to coach Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers or Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs if given the change?
As the owl says in the famous Tootsie Roll commercial, "The world may never know."
All the Islanders know is that they got their guy, someone they hope can lead the Islanders back into the playoffs after missing the last two postseasons.
Just days before the NHL trade deadline, reports revealed that the Buffalo Sabres were willing to match the St. Louis Blues’ high asking price for veteran defenseman Colton Parayko.
The deal ultimately fell through when Parayko exercised his no-trade clause to decline the trade. Parayko went on to finish the season with the Blues and formed a steady partnership with rookie Theo Lindstein.
Although Parayko wasn’t traded during the season, some insiders have indicated that the Blues could revisit Parayko trade discussions in the off-season.
Parayko just completed the fourth year of the eight-year, $6.5 million AAV contract he signed with the Blues. The 33-year-old will have the no-trade clause on his contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, after which it will become a modified 15-team no-trade clause.
While Parayko has the right to decline a trade, the Blues can still attempt to move him to a team he might be willing to go to.
A recent report from TSN’s Bruce Garrioch indicates that the Ottawa Senators could be one of those teams that make a push to acquire him.
That won’t be easy for the Senators, or any team interested in acquiring Parayko, as Garrioch reports that the Blues are asking for a high-end prospect and a first-round pick.
Parayko brings a skill set that very few players in the NHL can match. Standing 6-foot-6, Parayko is a solid defender, capable of using his size to protect the front of the net. Additionally, he moves well enough to defend the rush and move the puck fairly efficiently.
But Parayko also brings a wealth of experience from playing at the highest level. Parayko has skated in 800 NHL games, won a Stanley Cup in 2019, and recently represented Canada at the Olympics and the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Parayko has been a leader on the Blues for quite some time now, and could be a candidate to take the captaincy if soon-to-be-GM Alexander Steen elects to keep him on the roster.
Whatever happens with Parayko, all that is for certain is that he will help whatever team he ends up with. Whether he stays with the Blues as they attempt to regroup and make the playoffs in the coming years, or joins a Stanley Cup contender. Either an NHL club is better off having Parayko than not.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are searching for their next head coach after Craig Berube's dismissal on May 13.
Former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy remains to be seen as the No. 1 coaching candidate available. To the point where the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings have sought permission to speak to Cassidy.
However, the Golden Knights have withheld permission for those two teams to contact him. Part of that could be related to those teams being division rivals to Vegas.
As for the Maple Leafs, a recent report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman seems to imply that Vegas, to this point, has not denied a permission request from Toronto.
"Vegas is not inclined to give permission to Edmonton or LA. We will see about Toronto," Friedman reported on X.
Even though the Golden Knights fired Cassidy in March, he still has one more year on his contract with the organization. So, even if he's been dismissed, Vegas still have the contractual rights.
Cassidy stood behind Vegas' bench for just shy of four regular seasons and coached the team through three post-seasons. He won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in his first year coaching them in 2022-23.
He also helped the Knights to two Pacific Division titles. This past campaign would've marked a third occasion, but John Tortorella replaced Cassidy with eight games left in the year, finishing the regular season for Vegas.
When Maple Leafs GM John Chayka faced the media following his decision to fire Berube, he revealed that the organization's search for a new head coach will be vast. Some days later, reports suggested that Toronto would be looking for a "fresh" candidate rather than a veteran bench boss in the coaching carousel.
Regardless of the probability of a Maple Leafs and Cassidy marriage, the Golden Knights have not denied any requests from Toronto's brass.
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On Monday night, the Montreal Canadiens, who have an average age of 25.8, became the youngest team to advance to the Conference Final since the Habs in 1992-93. Back then, the Sainte-Flanelle had an average age of, you guessed it, 25.8.
While that’s an interesting similarity with the Tricolore’s last Stanley Cup conquests, there is one big difference between the two editions of the team’s journey in the playoffs. Back then, the Habs had to face the Quebec Nordiques, who were second in the then Adams Division, the Buffalo Sabres, who were fourth in the same division, the New York Islanders, who had finished third in the then Patrick Division, and the Los Angeles Kings, who had finished third in the then Smythe Division.
That year, the Canadiens didn’t have to face the toughest opponents, the Islanders having eliminated the Presidents' Trophy winners, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the second round. The Pens, who had Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Rick Tocchet in their lineup, were heavily favored but bowed out of the playoffs in a dramatic Game 7 overtime loss.
This year, the Canadiens have had to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were fifth overall in the standings, and the Sabres, who were fourth overall, and they will now face the second-ranked Carolina Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, the other semi-finalists had easier journeys. The Colorado Avalanche faced the 20th-overall Kings, the 7th-overall Minnesota Wild, and will now take on the 13th-overall Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights took on the 16th-ranked Utah Mammoth, the 15th-ranked Anaheim Ducks, and will face the 1st-ranked Avalanche. As for the Hurricanes, they had to overcome the ninth-overall Ottawa Senators and the 10th-overall Philadelphia Flyers and will now face the 6th-overall Canadiens.
If the Canadiens manage to get through the Hurricanes, they will have beaten three of the top five teams in the league in the regular season on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. That would be quite a feat.
In the late hours on the eve of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
The condition on the pick stated that if the Ducks missed the 2026 playoffs, they could elect to send Washington their 2027 first-round pick instead. The Ducks made the playoffs, so conditions were not met, and their 2026 pick now belongs to the Caps.
Carlson (36) was in the final year of his contract that carried an AAV of $8 million.
“I thought this was a time where I looked at giving this group another extra push, another little aid in helping us make this push to where we want to go,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said after the trade. “And so ultimately, if we get into the playoffs and we can have a nice run, I looked at it like this: it's worth it. It's worth it to give this group experience, give them a chance to make the playoffs, and to do well in the playoffs, with the hope that we'll be able to re-sign him when this season's over.”
Carlson was injured at the time of the trade, but wound up playing 16 games for the Ducks down the stretch of the regular season, where he was a fixture on both Ducks special teams units, averaged 24:11 TOI per game, and scored 14 points (3-11=14).
He played all 12 of the Ducks’ games in the playoffs, in the very same role as he did in the regular season, greatly factoring into the franchise’s first series win since their trip to the 2017 Western Conference Final. In those 12 games, playing primarily with partner Pavel Mintyukov, he averaged 24:03 TOI/G and scored six points (0-6=6).
Anaheim’s season came to an end on Thursday in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Carlson played a total of 28 games with the Ducks (including regular season and playoffs), and he will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if he and the Ducks do not come to an agreement on an extension before then.
Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
“I certainly loved it here, and there’s a lot of moving parts, but I’ve loved my time,” Carlson said during his exit interview. “It’s a special place here for sure, with some extraordinary talent and a bright future. So, that is certainly attractive to anyone, not just myself.”
The Ducks will now send the 18th overall pick in the 2026 Draft and their third-round pick in 2027 to the Capitals. Now that the dust has settled and the landscape is clear, the question of worth comes back to the forefront.
The idea of adding a player of Carlson’s caliber and experience to the Ducks’ roster made perfect sense at the time of the trade. The critiques of the trade lie in the price of acquiring a player on an expiring contract and the fit of said player on the roster he was joining.
Carlson had been Washington’s #1 defenseman for over a decade prior to the trade, was a force on both sides of the puck, and ate minutes on the power play, penalty kill, and at 5v5.
As his career has progressed and he’s found his way into his mid-to-late thirties, Carlson’s mobility has predictably declined, as has his defensive impact, while he’s maintained a high percentage of his offensive prowess.
With dynamic, albeit unproven offensive talents littered throughout their blueline (Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov) and defensive pipeline (Tristan Luneau), adding another offensive-oriented defender raised eyebrows and questions of whether it was the right add for this Ducks lineup.
“The things that I’ve liked a lot about him is he's a very intelligent player, very good puck mover,” Verbeek said of what he adds to his defense corps. “I like how he joins the rush in a real cerebral way. His 5-on-5 numbers this year have been outstanding. So I think moving forward, whether it's a playoff run or a playoff push, 5-on-5 play becomes very important, and it'll be important for our group to make sure that we can keep pushing to make the playoffs.
“When I look at what he's done, I think that was probably the most important part of all. Now, we can distribute the ice time in a different manner. We can get better matchups.
There's a lot that went into acquiring him and allowing us to have different looks, different options for our coaching staff.”
Carlson produced well in the regular season, and his underlying numbers were positive in the playoffs. When he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks accounted for 53.36% of the shots on goal, 54.59% of the shot attempts, and 51.55% of the expected goals, despite being outscored 11-7.
He was a key factor on the Ducks’ spectacular power play in their opening series against the Oilers, where they converted on eight of 16 opportunities. He was an important piece on the breakout, executing key first passes out of the zone to spark rush opportunities for his teammates.
However, his impact and the positive aspects he brought to the Ducks were somewhat negated in the Ducks’ next series against the Golden Knights.
Vegas was able to thwart the Anaheim power play, which only converted four goals on 22 opportunities through six games. The Knights played a stingy brand of defense in their end, blocking endless perimeter shots and limiting Carlson’s ability to produce from a relatively stationary position at the point. Lastly, they were able to eliminate his breakout impact, cycle for extended periods of time in the Anaheim zone, and exploit the Ducks’ overall lack of inner slot defensive prowess, an area where Carlson doesn’t exactly thrive.
Hindsight will always be 20/20, and Carlson did inarguably improve the Ducks’ blueline down the stretch of the regular season and into their playoff run. However, one can’t help but wonder if other reportedly available defensemen at the trade deadline, such as Colton Parayko, MacKenzie Weegar, or Brandon Carlo, would have been better stylistic and long-term fits on the Ducks’ back end than Carlson.
Until July 1, the Ducks will have exclusive negotiating rights with their three veteran UFA right-shot defensemen: Carlson, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas. This offseason will provide Verbeek a unique opportunity to address an area of need, both on the roster and on the ice, and decisions made could prove pivotal in determining how they can build off the success of the 2025-26 season and playoff run.
NEW YORK — The Vegas Golden Knights’ appeal to have their punishment reduced for breaking media access rules was denied by the NHL and they will lose a second-round pick in the draft this year, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league had not announced the result of the team’s appeal.
The league docked Vegas the second-rounder and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 for what it called flagrant violations of media regulations. Tortorella refused to speak to reporters and the team did not open its locker room following its second-round-series-clinching Game 6 victory at Anaheim.
Announcing the sanctions, the NHL said the Golden Knights had been warned previously about not following media and other policies. They were offered the chance to appeal in person to Commissioner Gary Bettman, and that ultimately was unsuccessful in getting the pick back or the fine reduced or rescinded.
The loss of a second-round pick is the strictest punishment for breaking media access rules in league history. Vegas opens the Western Conference Final at the Colorado Avalanche.
Asked about the punishment, Tortorella told reporters in Las Vegas, “We put out a statement as an organization, and so we’ll go back that. We have no more comment on that.” That statement said only that the team was aware of the announcement and would have no further comment.
Tortorella took over as coach on an interim basis when Bruce Cassidy was fired on March 29. The Golden Knights went 7-0-1 in their final eight regular-season games, then beat the Utah Mammoth and the Ducks to make it to the West final for a fourth time in their nine-year existence.
Now 67, Tortorella coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004. He has been fined $262,000 for various transgressions over his time in the NHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a huge off-season ahead. It already began with them being given the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks jumped up into first and second, pushing Chicago down two spots.
Now, what lies ahead is an important period of time in which the Blackhawks must use to improve their team ahead of the 2026-27 season. After an 11-point improvement in 2025-26, a strong off-season may allow them to get closer to being in the race.
There are plenty of moves that could be made to improve the team via trades, free agency, and the draft. Some moves would be more consequential than others.
In a perfect off-season, the Blackhawks would address at least four of their most important weaknesses. These five transactions would make it a perfect off-season:
Whether Ivar Stenberg or Caleb Malhotra falls to them, they choose a defenseman, or make a trade involving the pick, they must make the right decision.
The Blackhawks have already built up a strong young core. They have a lot of development left, but there is talent there. Adding another high-end prospect to the mix will only increase their chances of succeeding in the future.
Once they make the selection, assuming they make it, it will only become a strong pick with good development plans.
2. Sign Connor Bedard and make him the captain
Connor Bedard has lived up to being a first overall pick so far. His ability to generate offense for himself and his teammates has been noticeable from day one.
Whether it's Philipp Kurashev, Taylor Hall, Ryan Donato, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Greene, or Andre Burakovsky, Bedard has found a way to put up points in bunches with any linemate over his first three seasons. If they could find him a star to play with, he would take another step in production.
Before any of that happens, however, the Blackhawks must get Bedard extended. On July 1st, he will officially become a restricted free agent. The Blackhawks are likely to get him signed up to a long-term deal that includes an average annual value of over $10 million.
It will be a lucrative contract for Bedard, but he's worth every penny. At one point, he might be "underpaid" based on NHL standards.
After he is signed long-term to a massive contract, the Blackhawks are going to name him as the team's next captain. After Nick Foligno left the team via a trade, it became apparent that Bedard was next.
Bedard made it clear that being the next captain would mean a lot to him and would be a role that he embraces.
"It’d be an honor," Bedard said on being the captain. "It’d be extremely special. We have a lot of guys in this room who can lead and take on those kinds of roles. If I’m the one who is chosen for that, I’d be extremely grateful, and that’s not something anyone would take for granted. This is a special organization; it’s been around for 100 years now. You see the names that have gotten that honor, that would be amazing. But whatever fits the team best, and whatever Kyle and everyone is thinking on that. Whatever happens, happens with that."
3. Add a key veteran forward & defenseman
Whether it's a linemate for Connor Bedard or a middle-six forward, the Blackhawks need at least one veteran forward added to the mix. More scoring touch is going to help this team, but they need someone older who has a proven track record of consistency.
It may also come in the form of a middle-six forward if they believe that Connor Bedard will play with young players already in the organization. Regardless, another solid veteran forward is needed in one way or another.
This also applies to the defense without the Connor Bedard factor. After trading Connor Murphy and Matt Grzelcyk went down with an injury, Alex Vlasic became the oldest defenseman on the NHL roster.
It is time to look for another older player to bring a steady presence to the group. With Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, and Louis Crevier as the big-minute guys on the team, they can use some support from someone who has played big minutes elsewhere.
The Blackhawks don't have to increase their average age by 5 or more years, but it would be helpful if they weren't the youngest team in the league again. Being like Montreal, the youngest team to make the playoffs, is where you want to be.
32 Thoughts Monday morning playoff preview, news & interview pod. Not reported in it, but heard this morning: Oilers have permission to talk to Craig Berube.
Today's guest is Henrik Sedin. Great answers to terrible questions.
If that is true, he will be traded away to a team that is attempting to sign him before he officially becomes a free agent. That relieves the Blackhawks of another veteran who is one of the best penalty killers and a solid, even-strength two-way player. That's tough to lose.
If it is so certain that they have to let him go, they must replace him. If they don't, they will go from having a top-two penalty kill to being outside of the top ten.
That player who directly replaces Mikheyev may or may not already be within the organization. Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene are guys who have similar profiles, but the team must be sure that they are getting the equal production of Mikheyev from someone else if they are letting him go.
It makes sense that the Blackhawks are uninterested in giving him a long-term extension, and money has nothing to do with it, but a younger player must be ready to take on his role.
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