The 2026 NHL offseason continues as the Stanley Cup Final has a maximum of five games remaining, the NHL Draft approaches, and free agency follows closely. No major transactions have been completed, but the rumor mill continues to churn. 

Discussion surrounding the Anaheim Ducks has quieted a bit now that their season is further in the rearview and most of the major national outlets' offseason trade boards have been released. 

Anaheim Ducks a Tantalizing Potential Destination for Red Wings Center Dylan Larkin

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Metropolitan Division

Three items that remain in reports, rumors, and speculations are the future of young Ducks forward Mason McTavish (23), open head coaching vacancies, and the potential for a trade with the St. Louis Blues. 

Mason McTavish

Numerous NHL clubs are interested in adding to their center crop this offseason, but the list of available targets is minuscule. McTavish, as one of the few speculated as available, given his lack of production in 2025-26 and healthy scratches down the stretch, remains in potential trade discussions with reports of interested teams emerging. 

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen and TSN wrote about the potential of the Ottawa Senators acquiring McTavish. The speculation is driven by McTavish’s connection to owner Michael Andlauer and president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staois from their time together with the then Hamilton Bulldogs. The Sens also employ McTavish’s father, Dale, as a pro scout for the organization.

In his column, Garrioch reported teams who are believed to have an interest in adding McTavish. 

“Teams have been calling to see if he’s available,” Garrioch wrote. “It’s believed the Philadelphia Flyers would be among the teams that would show interest in McTavish because they need help in the middle, along with the Montreal Canadiens. But the Senators and any other suitors for McTavish would have to be willing to pay a high price, including a first-round pick and someone who can help the Ducks immediately, although the term and money left on McTavish’s contract may lower the asking price a bit.”

Philadelphia-based writer Anthony Di Marco from Daily Faceoff furthered the connection between the Flyers and McTavish in a piece on the club’s reported interest in Ducks pending UFA defenseman John Carlson. 

“The Flyers’ top priority remains finding a center capable of playing in the top-six,” Di Marco wrote. "The options for high-end centers who are available are few and far between across the league. But two targets that the Flyers like are the Ducks’ Mason McTavish and Seattle Kraken’s Matty Beniers.”

As the draft approaches, through free agency, and likely beyond, McTavish’s name will remain a fixture in potential trade discussion and speculation unless, of course, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek states he’s unavailable or a credible report surfaces claiming the same. 

Jay Woodcroft/Coaching Vacancies

The Vancouver Canucks recently announced the hiring of new head coach Manny Malhotra, leaving just three NHL head coaching jobs vacant for the 2026-27 season: Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights. The Los Angeles Kings have DJ Smith listed as their “interim” head coach, but they’re in the midst of a search as well. 

Conflicting reports have emerged out of Toronto on whether Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft interviewed with the Maple Leafs. Insider Frank Seravalli has stated Woodcroft interviewed via Zoom with Toronto, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the opposite and claimed Woodcroft is a frontrunner for the Kings’ job.

“I do not believe Toronto has asked permission to talk to him,” Friedman said on his ’32 Thoughts’ podcast. “I think it’s quite possible Toronto doesn’t ask to talk to him. He’s interviewed in LA, and I think he’s got to be a legit contender there.”

Friedman reiterated his thoughts later in the week on a more recent episode of his podcast, saying, “LA, it sounds like Jay Woodcroft and DJ Smith. But if there’s someone else there, I’m not seeing it right now.”

What it appears Friedman and Seravalli can agree on is that Woodcroft’s future as an NHL head coach to start the 2026-27 season is more of a “when,” not an “if.”

“I do believe he’s going to be a head coach in this cycle. The question is, where?” Seravalli stated on Sportsnet’s ‘Big Show with Rusic & Rose.’

The Leafs are reported to be casting a wide net when it comes to their coaching search. Names like Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy are reported to have been interviewed, as has a blast from the Ducks’ past, Dallas Eakins. 

“He (Eakins) interviewed with the Maple Leafs,” The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta stated on the ‘Daily Faceoff Rundown’ show. “Add him officially to the list of candidates in the mix for the job in Toronto.”

Eakins coached for eight seasons in the Anaheim Ducks organization from 2015 to 2023, including four as head coach of the San Diego Gulls from 2015 to 2019 and four as head coach of the Ducks from 2019 to 2023. For the last four seasons, Eakins has been head coach and sports manager for Alder Mannheim of the DEL, Germany’s top professional men’s ice hockey league.

Ducks X Blues

Lastly, the St. Louis Blues continue to have interesting rumors swirling around them in the infancy stages of the offseason. They were the NHL’s second-worst team (tied) at the 2026 trade deadline, but finished just four points out of a playoff spot. Roster pieces like Robert Thomas (26), Jordan Kyrou (28), and Colton Parayko (33) had surfaced as options to be moved as the team shifts to a younger core.

As of Friday night, Thomas’ name can be erased from that list, as St. Louis-based reporter/host Andy Strickland tweeted, “Robert Thomas trade rumors can be put to rest,” and to expect Thomas in a Blues jersey at training camp. 

However, Kyrou and Parayko remain seemingly available, with Pagnotta continuing to link the Ducks and Blues via thefourthperiod.com.

“The Anaheim Ducks were linked to the St. Louis Blues blueliner Colton Parayko prior to the trade deadline. It wouldn’t come as a shock if these talks are revisited,” Pagnotta wrote.

The NHL Draft Combine is in full swing, an event that has become a marquee date on the NHL schedule, as all 32 teams have front office representation at the week-long event. One has to imagine temperatures will be taken, tires will be kicked, and potential frameworks for deals will be discussed.

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Central Division

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Atlantic Division

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Shopping List

Ducks’ Granlund, Solberg Win Medals at 2026 Men’s Worlds

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The Stanley Cup Finals head to T-Mobile Arena for a pivotal Game 3 as the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes fight for a 2-1 series lead.

Some of the top scorers in the series are still undervalued, which is why my Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights goal-scorer props highlight Pavel Dorofeyev, Logan Stankoven, and Brett Howden.

Read my full NHL picks for Saturday, June 6, below.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights goal scorer predictions for Game 3

Goal scorer pick: Pavel Dorofeyev (+205)

Pavel Dorofeyev hasn’t found the back of the net yet in the Stanley Cup Final, but the Vegas Golden Knights winger is on the precipice of breaking out.

Dorofeyev leads all skaters in the Final in individual expected goals (0.94), with nine shot attempts and six scoring chances through the first two games.

He’s been a relatively slow starter in each series this postseason – he didn’t score until Game 4 of the first and second rounds. But when Dorofeyev does score, the goals tend to come in bunches.

I think he’s fairly priced tonight – don’t play this past +200.

Goal scorer pick: Logan Stankoven (+240)

Logan Stankoven has been one of the Carolina Hurricanes’ biggest breakout stars this postseason with a team-leading 10 tallies.

Eight of his goals have come at even strength, where he leads all players this postseason in shots (43). His 18 high-danger chances at even strength are tied for sixth among all skaters, and he’s had one in each game of the Final so far.

Stankoven is part of Carolina’s dangerous second line, which has been the best trio in the series. They controlled 74% of expected goals in Game 2 and 63% in Game 1.

Play Stankoven up to +200.

Goal scorer pick: Brett Howden (+280)

After scoring just 12 goals in the regular season, Brett Howden has been an unlikely source of offense for the Golden Knights these playoffs, leading the league with 13 tallies.

Howden has found the back of the net in each of the first two games of the Final, using his speed to get in behind the Hurricanes' defense.

His four high-danger chances at even strength are tied for the most among all skaters in the series, while his 19 high-danger looks this postseason are tops on Vegas.

I’ll play Howden’s hot hand up to +240 tonight.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights anytime goal parlay

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Rob Blake is taking on a new front-office role in the NHL, joining Chris MacFarland in Nashville as the Predators continue reshaping their leadership group.

The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman and longtime Los Angeles Kings executive has been named Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Nashville Predators, linking up with MacFarland shortly after his appointment as president and general manager. The move brings two familiar hockey minds together in a new market, rather than reuniting them within Colorado’s organization as some had speculated.

A Familiar Name In A Different Direction

Blake, a key member of Colorado’s 2001 Stanley Cup-winning team after arriving as a trade deadline addition, spent the final years of his playing career with the Avalanche through 2006. While Ray Bourque often drew the spotlight during that championship run, Blake provided steady, experienced defensive play that helped solidify Colorado’s push to another title.

Following his retirement, Blake moved into management and eventually became general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, a role he held from 2017 until 2025. His tenure ended after another first-round playoff exit, closing out an eight-year run at the helm of the franchise.

Rob Blake had talked to Chris MacFarland during the season about maybe joining him in Colorado next season. Instead, he joins him in Nashville. Excellent hire by the Preds who are on a roll. https://t.co/A5NjrYtOPJ

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 5, 2026

According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, Blake had also explored the possibility of joining the Avalanche in a front-office capacity under MacFarland. Instead, the opportunity in Nashville ultimately became the landing spot, pairing him once again with a familiar executive partner in a different setting.

Nashville’s Reset, Colorado’s Next Chapter

Colorado’s front office has also undergone change, with Joe Sakic stepping into general manager duties “for the foreseeable future” following Chris MacFarland’s departure. Despite regular-season success that included a Presidents’ Trophy, the Avalanche are now in a recalibration phase after falling short of expectations in the postseason.

The idea of a reunion between Blake and Sakic briefly surfaced as a natural extension of their shared history in Colorado’s championship era, but those plans never materialized. Instead, Blake’s arrival in Nashville strengthens a Predators leadership group attempting to accelerate a return to contention.

For both organizations, the move represents a quiet but meaningful shift—one team leaning into continuity, the other betting on a newly formed executive partnership to change its trajectory in a competitive Western Conference.

NEW YORK (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender.

The league announced the award Saturday. It is the second Vezina honor of Vasilevskiy’s career after he also won the award in the 2018-19 season.

The 31-year-old Russian was a runaway winner in voting by the league’s general managers. Vasilevskiy received 17 first-place votes among the 31 ballots cast.

Vasilevskiy led all goalies with 39 wins, going 39-15-14 to backstop Tampa Bay to a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance.

With a 2.31 goals-against average and .912 save percentage, he ranked second to Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood in those categories but started 15 more games, 58 to 43.

The New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin was second, Boston’s Jeremy Swayman was third, Washington’s Logan Thompson fourth, Wedgewood fifth, Philadelphia's Dan Vladar sixth, the New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin seventh and Dallas' Jake Oettinger eighth.

___

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

Gerry Meehan, one of the rare figures whose influence bridged the birth of a franchise and its rise into a contender, has died at 79, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the Buffalo Sabres from expansion curiosity to hockey institution.

Meehan’s connection to Buffalo began in 1970 when he was selected in the NHL expansion draft, joining a brand-new organization still searching for identity and direction. He immediately became one of the team’s most productive forwards, finishing third in both goals and points during the Sabres’ inaugural season and recording the first assist in franchise history, an early marker of his place in the team’s foundation.

We are sad to announce the passing of former Sabres captain and general manager Gerry Meehan.

The thoughts of the entire Sabres community are with his friends and family. 💙

As we remember Gerry and all he did for our organization, read more on his Sabres legacy →… pic.twitter.com/SmpW3aAMbE

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 6, 2026

Early Leadership And Buffalo’s First Playoff Step

By his second season, Meehan had already become a central voice in the locker room and was named captain, only the second in franchise history. He held that role through October 1974, guiding a young roster through growing pains and into its first postseason appearance in 1972-73. That year, he also delivered a career-best 31 goals, anchoring Buffalo’s early competitive breakthrough.

Over the course of a 10-year NHL career, Meehan played for Toronto, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Vancouver, Atlanta, and Washington. Though his journey took him across the league, his identity remained closely tied to Buffalo, where his playing days first took shape and where his most lasting contributions would eventually emerge.

Following his retirement, Meehan shifted into law, earning his degree from the University at Buffalo before rejoining the Sabres organization in a front office role under Scotty Bowman in 1984. That move marked the beginning of a second career that would prove even more impactful than his time on the ice.

Building A Powerhouse In Buffalo

Meehan rose to become Buffalo’s fourth general manager during the 1986-87 season, taking over a franchise ready to transition from promise to expectation. His tenure became defined by a series of bold, franchise-altering decisions that reshaped the Sabres’ competitive core and elevated them into one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams in the 1990s.

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Gerry Meehan, a man whose impact on hockey extended far beyond the scoresheet.

On the ice, Gerry enjoyed a distinguished professional career in the National Hockey League, playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers,… pic.twitter.com/84htBCGkEC

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) June 6, 2026

He was responsible for acquiring several cornerstone players, including Pat LaFontaine, Dale Hawerchuk, and Dominik Hasek, moves that fundamentally changed Buffalo’s trajectory. His pursuit of Alexander Mogilny also became one of the most significant international acquisitions in NHL history, as Meehan and Sabres staff navigated the complex and risky process of bringing the Soviet star to North America in 1989.

Meehan’s role in that operation extended beyond scouting and negotiation, involving direct coordination during Mogilny’s defection and transition to the NHL. That move helped open the door for other Soviet players to follow in subsequent years and marked a turning point in league history.

He also played a decisive role in one of the most consequential trades in Sabres history, insisting on retaining Mogilny during discussions with the New York Islanders and instead sending Pierre Turgeon the other way. That decision directly set the stage for the formation of one of the league’s most explosive offensive duos, as LaFontaine and Mogilny combined for historic production in the early 1990s, including a 1992-93 season in which LaFontaine posted 148 points and Mogilny scored 76 goals.

Perhaps his most defining move came in the acquisition of Dominik Hasek, then an overlooked backup goaltender in Chicago. Meehan’s conviction in Hasek’s potential proved transformative, as the netminder evolved into one of the most dominant goaltenders in NHL history, capturing six Vezina Trophies and two Hart Trophies during his time in Buffalo.

Meehan remained in the Sabres’ front office through the 1995-96 season before continuing his involvement with the organization through alumni events and community engagement. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

He is survived by his wife, Mirella; their children Dan, Adam, and Kate; and their grandchildren Christian, Alexander, Nathan, and Juniper.

Things did not go well for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night, dropping Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Finals series to the Toronto Marlies by a 5-1 margin. It was close game into the third period before the Marlies erupted late in the game to take over.

It sends the series back to Northeast Pennsylvania on Sunday night for Game 6 with the Penguins facing elimination in a 3-2 series hole.

The series is by no means over, but it is going to take back-to-back wins to get through to the Calder Cup Finals.

Whether they pull that off or not there have been some big developments for the Penguins prospect pool during this playoff run.

First, there’s been the play of the young forwards that are in that “NHL Tweener” category in Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty. While they have yet to establish themselves as NHL regulars, they have been excellent AHL producers and have continued that through the playoffs. Both players have matching stat lines of four goals, five assists and nine total points in 14 games, while McGroarty just scored a huge game-winning goal late in Game 4 of the series, forcing a turnover and then finishing the play with a slick goal.

They still need to translate that over to the NHL, but seeing them perform in bigger games and bigger moments is an encouraging development.

Defenseman Harrison Brunicke has also been, by all accounts, an absolute force on the blue line and at 19 years old, with only 32 games of pro hockey experience (AHL and NHL combined) entering this playoff run, has become the team’s unquestioned, without-a-doubt, No. 1 defenseman.

And he is impressive in that role.

Here’s what Wilkes-Barre coach Kirk McDonald told Josh Yohe about Brunicke’s play earlier this week:

“Since I saw him in Buffalo two years ago (at the 2024 prospect tournament) until now …” MacDonald started, shaking his head. “He’s been doing a great job. The physical tools have always been there. But now he’s recognizing when to go (jump into the play), and when not to go. He is realizing he doesn’t have to do everything for everyone on the ice. You can see it.”

And also:

“Everyone talks about his skating ability,” MacDonald said. “And how he can move pucks. But did you see how many shots he blocked (in Game 4)? That, to me, is what separates him. The way he competes in the D-zone. He makes great players offensively for us at this level. But he’s great on the penalty kill. He’s great down low. Great stuff.”

Given the Penguins lack of elite prospect depth on defense, and given the ages of their current right-shot defenseman, the development of Brunicke might be one of the most important elements of their prospect pool at the moment. Especially given his age, talent and upside. Stepping right into an AHL role at 19, with little pro experience, and taking over games as your team’s “go-to” defenseman is a massive development.

Hopefully a big confidence boost as well.

Then there is starting goalie Sergei Murashov.

While he has had a couple of shaky moments over the past few games, he has been a big part of getting the Penguins to this point of the playoffs and is still owning a .930 save percentage through 14 playoff games.

His AHL numbers continue to pop off the page, and he is still making highlight reel saves (and a lot of them) on most nights.

There have also been some new faces making immediate impacts at forward.

Mikhail Ilyin, the Penguins’ fifth-round draft pick in 2023, came over from Russia late in the regular season, and after appearing in just two regular season games the 20-year-old forward has wasted no time making an impact in the AHL. He is up to nine points in 14 games this postseason after scoring his second goal of the playoffs on Friday night.

Mikhail Ilyin gets Game 5 of #WBSvsTOR started👀@WBSPenguins | #CalderCup

📺💻📲: https://t.co/xslzIvekI0pic.twitter.com/swOR6tmxY6

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 6, 2026

Heck of a shot, as well.

The player that might be one of the most positive developments, however, is 2025 first-round pick Bill Zonnon.

After showing up at the start of the playoff run, having already studied and learned the Penguins system before he even arrived and sat down with the coaches, Zonnon simply started producing right from the word go and is up to seven points in 10 games. From the moment he was drafted there was a belief that he might have been the most NHL-ready and most sure-thing (as if such a thing exists in the NHL Draft) of the Penguins’ three first-round picks. Maybe not an overly high-ceiling player, but at least somebody that could be a very good middle-six forward in the NHL.

He has done nothing to dispute those claims, and might even be raising expectations a bit.

He is only 18 years old, had no pro hockey experience prior to a month-and-a-half ago, and has not only held his own in the AHL playoffs, he has been one of their most productive players since arriving.

The Penguins farm system is still lacking that one “dude” at the top that has franchise-changing ability. Maybe Murashov can be that due to his position and ability. Maybe. Projecting goalies is like projecting Southwestern Pennsylvania weather. Who really knows? Even so, there is legitimate depth and a nice list of potential NHL players that could be productive players as early as next season. They are taking big steps toward that this postseason in the American Hockey League. It is encouraging to see.

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Noah Hanifin is spending a lot of time on his heels in this series, leading to an abundance of blocked shot opportunities.

He's piled up eight blocks through two games, which is why he headlines my Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights props and NHL picks for Game 3.

Be sure to read our full Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions.

Best Hurricanes vs Golden Knights props for Game 3

Game 3 Prop #1: Noah Hanifin Over 1.5 blocks (-180)

Noah Hanifin has been on the ice for more defensive zone faceoffs than anybody on the Vegas Golden Knights during 5-on-5 play.

He is getting difficult usage and struggling mightily, with shot attempts being 70-25 in favor of the Carolina Hurricanes during his minutes. That is a good thing.

He is spending a lot of his time in the defensive zone and bleeding shots as a result, which creates plenty of block opportunities.

Hanifin has made the most of them, stepping in the way of at least four pucks in both games thus far.

With these outputs, I’d easily play to -200.

Game 3 Prop #2: Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points (-115)

John Tortorella uses Shea Theodore against elite competition at home while the Hanifin pairing primarily sees second lines.

That means Carolina’s second unit is the one I want to target in Game 3.

Enter Jackson Blake. He leads the entire playoffs in scoring chances during 5-on-5 play and has played almost 10 more minutes than any other Hurricanes forward in that game state.

He does a lot of the facilitating for his line and should have plenty of the puck in this matchup, giving him a great chance of finding the scoresheet.

Playable to -135.

Game 3 Prop #3: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 0.5 points (-125)

Pavel Dorofeyev has yet to record a point but all the numbers under the hood are encouraging.

The Golden Knights have won the chance battle during his minutes and he’s been plenty involved in the offensive zone.

Dorofeyev ranks second on the team with six chances through two games. Of the seven Golden Knights with at least four opportunities, he is the only guy who hasn’t picked up a point.

He’s skating on the top line, he’s skating on the top power play, he’s generating looks, and Frederik Andersen is struggling.

I like him to break through in Game 3. Bet to -135.

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In the midst of a lot of off-season drama is the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights. 

The series enters Saturday's Game 3 with a 1-1 tie. Each team had a multi-goal comeback through the first two games, which is the first time that's happened in the 108-year history of the Stanley Cup Final. 

Through all that madness are a lot of other great storylines that don't get the attention they deserve. One of them, according to ESPN's number one play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, is former New Jersey Devils superstar and MVP Taylor Hall. 

Hall has made a handful of stops since departing the Devils organization, but he is finally in the perfect spot with the Carolina Hurricanes. He has been one of their best forwards during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and is in the mix for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

A strong finish to the series for Hall and a Hurricanes win would give him a chance to take home that hardware. 

McDonough has the opinion that Hall is the top story that doesn't get enough attention, mostly because of what he's gone through in his up-and-down NHL career. 

"Here's a guy who's 34, No. 1 overall pick, he's been on seven different teams, has kind of had a lot of ups and downs in recent years," McDonough said on Hall when asked about the most underrated storyline. "He was a fourth-line player at the start of this year as a former league MVP, Hart Trophy winner, accepted it gracefully, and worked his way up to now being on the line that's been the best in the playoffs. He's their leading point scorer, and he's third in all the playoffs in points.

So I think his story to me would be the one that hasn't been told. The hard part for us, we talked about this before on the broadcast, there's no time for almost any storytelling. 

There’s no adequate amount of time in hockey to tell those stories. Taylor Hall was a first round pick, league MVP, seventh team, fourth line, blah, blah, blah. The puck's in the net while you're in the middle of that sentence. 

That's one of my frustrations, a little bit with hockey play-by-play. I love the pace of it. That's part of what makes it as fun as it is, but there's very little time, unfortunately, to tell stories like that one."

There are Taylor Hall fans still remaining in New Jersey. He is the only Hart Trophy winner in the history of the franchise after all. A team that had Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Patrik Elias, amongst others, over the years, doesn't have another MVP. 

There is no denying McDonough's claim about Hall being a top underrated story. If he wins the Cup and the Conn Smythe, that would give him a borderline Hall of Fame resume, which shouldn't be ignored. 

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Cliff Fletcher was the first general manager of the Atlanta, now Calgary Flames, assuming the duties ahead of their inaugural season in 1972. In Georgia, the Flames qualified for the playoffs in six out of eight seasons, with the exceptions occurring in 1972-73 and 1974-75. 

He continued to run operations when the franchise relocated to Calgary, Alberta, in 1980. The Flames advanced to the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons under his watch, with two Stanley Cup Final appearances in 1986 and 1989. 

Thanks to impressive trades and brilliant drafting, Fletcher constructed rosters that won more than 40 games a year from 1984 to 1991. Moreover, when the Flames hoisted the Stanley Cup for the only time in the spring of 1989, they featured a lineup built around several future Hall of Famers. 

Cliff Fletcher, Architect of Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup Win, Passes Away at 90Former Calgary Flames executive Cliff Fletcher passed away today at the age of 90. He was the man responsible for the franchise's Stanley Cup victory in 1989.

According to NHL Trade Tracker, Fletcher made 59 trades with Atlanta and 67 with Calgary, giving him 126 trades over 19 seasons with the organization. After news of his passing on Friday, June 5, 2026, we wanted to revisit his biggest deals as general manager of the Flames. 

5. Trading Brett Hull (Mar. 7, 1988)

Flames acquire Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley

Blues acquire Brett Hull and Steve Bozek

Brett Hull made his NHL debut during the 1986-87 season, the same year he debuted with the Moncton Golden Flames, netting 50 goals and 92 points in only 67 games. As a regular in Calgary's lineup for the 1986-87 season, Hull would score 26 goals and 50 points in 52 games. 

Fletcher dealt the future Hart Trophy winner and 741-goal scorer on Mar. 7, 1988, along with Steve Bozek, to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Rob Ramage and netminder Rick Wamsley. Within three seasons of the deal, Hull would score 86 goals, the third-highest total ever recorded in a single season, before winning a few Stanley Cups in the back half of his career with Dallas and Detroit.

4. Acquiring Doug Gilmour (Sept. 6, 1988)

Flames acquire Doug Gilmour, Steve Bozek, Michael Dark, and Mark Hunter

Blues acquire Tim Corkery, Mike Bullard, and Craig Coxe

Doug Gilmour was a seventh-round pick (134th overall) of the Blues in 1982 and was a routine 20-goal scorer early in his career, reaching a career-high 42 in 1986-87. Fletcher acquired him for the first time, in a pre-season blockbuster on Sept. 6, 1988, involving seven players. 

During the Flames' run to the Stanley Cup in 1989, Gilmour tallied the third-most playoff points (22) and had the second-most goals (11), earning the only championship of his career. After three and a half seasons, with 69 goals and 252 points in 266 games, Fletcher, then general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquired Gilmour in a ten-player deal in 1992. 

3. Acquiring Joe Mullen (Feb. 1, 1986)

Flames acquire Joe Mullen, Terry Johnson, and Rik Wilson

Blues acquire Eddy Beers, Charlie Bourgeois, and Gino Cavallini

Ahead of the 1986 NHL trade deadline, Fletcher acquired future 500-goal scorer and three-time Stanley Cup winner Joe Mullen in another deal with the Blues. At the time of his acquisition, Mullen already scored 30 or more in three consecutive seasons, reaching 40 in his first full season in Calgary.

When the Flames won the Stanley Cup, Mullen not only led the team with 16 goals, but he also led all playoff scorers. Over parts of five seasons with the club, he scored 157 goals and won two Lady Byng Trophies en route to a future Hall of Fame induction.

2. Trading Kent Nilsson (June 15, 1985)

Flames acquire Minnesota's second round pick in 1985 and second round pick in 1987

North Stars acquire Kent Nilsson and a third round pick in 1986

There's an argument that Kent Nilsson was one of, if not the best player, in the Flames' first few seasons in Southern Alberta. In one season with Atlanta in 1979-80, he scored 40 goals and 93 points in 80 games before shattering his own record the following campaign with 49 goals and 131 points. As of 2026, Nilsson's single-season points record remains unchallenged.

After six seasons, where he produced an eye-popping 562 points in only 425 games, Fletcher dealt his star to the Minnesota North Stars with a third-round draft pick. 

Interestingly, the Flames received two second-round picks from the North Stars, which turned into Joe Nieuwendyk (1985) and Stéphane Matteau (1987). Once Nieuwendyk became a regular in the Calgary lineup in 1987-88, he scored 51 goals in consecutive seasons and was a key player in the team's 1989 title run. 

As the Flames captain in 1994-95, Nieuwendyk held out for a better contract offer before a trade to the Dallas Stars. Of course, everyone remembers this deal because it brought Jarome Iginla to Stampede City.

1. Acquiring Lanny McDonald (Nov. 25, 1981)

Flames acquire Lanny McDonald and a fourth round draft pick in 1983

Rockies acquire Don Lever and Bob MacMillan

Despite the long list of superstars to skate at the Saddledome, many with Hall of Fame-worthy resumes, there will only be one Lanny McDonald. Debuting at 20 with the Maple Leafs, he was a multi-time 40-goal scorer before moving to the Colorado Rockies when Fletcher came calling. 

During his first full campaign in Calgary, McDonald would set a franchise record with 66 goals in 80 games, remaining the only skater in team history to surpass 60 goals in a single season. 

By the next season, McDonald earned a promotion to team captain, sharing the honors with teammates over the final six seasons of his career. In his final year, 1988-89, his final goal was his 500th, and when the season came to an end, he held the Stanley Cup over his head, one of hockey's most memorable moments. 

In the almost 40 years since retiring, McDonald has been a lovable ambassador for the game and the Flames, endearing himself to Southern Alberta through charity work.

Honorable Mentions

Fletcher was known for making big trades and was never afraid to trade his captain. When looking back at the history of players who wore the "C" in Calgary during his tenure as general manager, he traded five of them.

• Tom Lysiak - traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on Mar. 13, 1979
• Jean Pronovost - traded to the Washington Capitals on July 1, 1980
• Brad Marsh - traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 11, 1981
• Phil Russel - traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 20, 1983
• Brad McCrimmon - traded to the Detroit Red Wings on June 15, 1990

On top of all these blockbuster deals involving some of the biggest names of the 1980s and 1990s, there's one trade that meant almost nothing in 1990 but would go on to alter NHL history.

On June 16, 1990, Fletcher dealt away three draft picks to the New Jersey Devils: a first-round pick (20th overall) and two second-round picks (24th and 29th overall). In the exchange, the Flames acquired the 11th overall pick, which they used to select Trevor Kidd, and the 32nd overall pick in the second round, which they used to select Vesa Vittakoski.

The Devils used their two second-round picks to select David Harlock and Chris Gotziaman, but used that first-round pick to select the NHL's all-time winner, Martin Brodeur.

Could anyone imagine the alternate histories of both the Flames and Devils if Brodeur had ended up in Calgary instead of New Jersey?

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Do you have a favorite Fletcher trade? What about a trade you didn't agree with? Let us know in the comments. 

A Brief Flames Stint Is Keeping Jagr's Wild Stanley Cup Final Teammate Streak AliveFuture Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr has played professional hockey for 36 years, with many of his old teammates skating in the Stanley Cup Final. As the Vegas Golden Knights battle the Carolina Hurricanes, his teammate streak has reached 46 seasons.

BUFFALO, NY -- On May 29, the New York Islanders announced that they had hired Jay McKee to be the first-ever head coach of the Hamilton Hammers, the club's newest AHL affiliate. 

Islanders Name Jay McKee Head Caoch Of Hamilton HammersNHL veteran Jay McKee takes the reins for the franchise’s inaugural AHL season, bringing 802 games of experience to lead the Hammers following a successful tenure in Hamilton.

McKee, who played 802 NHL games, has spent the last three seasons coaching the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs.

Top draft prospect Caleb Malhotra, the son of former NHLer and recently named Vancouver Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, played this past season for McKee and had glowing things to say about the newest member of the Islanders organization.

"I learned a lot," Malhotra said at the 2026 NHL Combine. "He's extremely composed as a coach, very intelligent, and very detail-oriented. So, I mean, he expected so much from us. We had a very good team there, and we had to prove it night in and night out that we were detail-oriented. So, learning from him on how to approach the game and what to take out of video work  and how to apply it to your game...that was a big thing this year."

The Bridgeport Islanders, under the tutelage of Rocky Thompson, took massive strides after years of seeing prospects take steps back. 

Thompson was a player's coach through and through but knew what he had to do to get players to play to the best of their abilities at a consistent rate and also keep themselves level-headed through adversity. 

Because of his great work, Rocky was elevated to Pete DeBoer's NHL coaching staff. 

When the Islanders were looking for Rocky's replacement, they needed to bring in someone who could build on the groundwork Rocky had just laid. 

From all accounts, it sounds like McKee, who was a finalist for the Bellville Senators head coaching gig, is a slam-dunk hire at a critical time for the Islanders' growing prospect pool. 

Throughout the first 40 minutes of Game 5 between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins and the Toronto Marlies, the Penguins were generating their fair share of scoring chances and giving themselves a good opportunity to win the hockey game. 

Unfortunately, the last 20 minutes did them in. 

The WBS Penguins were defeated by the Toronto Marlies, 5-1, in Game 5 to go down in the best-of-seven AHL Eastern Conference Final series, 3-2. They head back home Sunday for Game 6, and Game 7 will also take place in WBS should the game be necessary. 

“I thought, in the first two, we were getting a lot of looks," said forward Tanner Howe. "We were shooting the puck, we were getting a lot of second chances. In the third, they just outplayed us, and that’s it.”

The first period was a tightly contested one, perhaps with the very slight edge going to Toronto. However, WBS came alive in the second period. They were the first to get on the board with their lone goal that came courtesy of Mikhail Ilyin on the power play, and it was a snipe from the top of the left circle off a feed from Emil Pieniniemi - playing in his first career Calder Cup Playoff game - to give WBS the 1-0 lead.

However, Landon Sim tied things up for the Marlies less than a minute later, and Benoit-Olivier Groulx added one on later in the period to put Toronto on top, 2-1. 

Then, the third is when things got dicey.

After two goals within a minute and 15 seconds by Easton Cowan and Logan Shaw - the former of which featured a ridiculous toe-drag move - WBS started to lose their cool a bit. A little more than 11 minutes into the final frame, Avery Hayes earned himself a roughing penalty and a 10-minute misconduct, and the PIMs just piled on from there. 

In fact, the WBS Penguins had a combined total of 50 penalty minutes in the third period alone, and they all came before Marshall Rifai's empty-net goal to put the nail in the coffin.

Despite the loss - and the messy way it ended - Howe was optimistic about the overall result of the three-game swing in Toronto, of which the Penguins won two.

“We knew coming here, we needed to get two. We did that, and that’s why we’ve got home ice advantage. We’re going back home, and there’s nowhere else we’d want to play these last two games. So, we’re excited.”

Calder Cup Playoffs: Rutger McGroarty's Late Goal Lifts Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Over Toronto In Game 4The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have made the Eastern Conference Final a best-of-three series.

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Here are three takeaways from the 5-1 Game 5 loss:

1. Not Murashov's best

Sergei Murashov has been lights-out for the WBS Penguins throughout the entirety of their Calder Cup playoff run. 

That said, he didn't have his best stuff on Friday.

WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald said that he thinks Murashov would probably want the Cowan goal back, and I think he would want Shaw's goal back, too, as it trickled underneath him after a nice save initially. 

Honestly, it's fair to wonder whether or not fatigue might be setting in a bit for the 21-year-old Murashov, who has played in every Calder Cup Playoff game - which includes 14 of them - and has managed to post a .930 save percentage. He needs to find a way to bounce back in Game 6, though, as he has done throughout the playoffs.

Penguins' Goaltending Future Looks Bright — And The Success Of Their Rebuild Depends On ItWith talented but unproven netminders like Sergei Murashov in the system, the Penguins appear to be a franchise with a lot of promise at the goaltending position.

2. Emotions gone wild

It's pretty apparent that WBS completely lost control of the game in the third period, and they did resort to trying to get under the skins of a veteran-heavy Toronto team.

There is a balance that needs to be struck between letting emotions run in playoff atmospheres and not allowing that emotion to dictate the highs and lows of the game. MacDonald acknowledged that the emotional component is sometimes unavoidable in the playoffs - especially when the opposing team's defense is frustrating players - but he is confident his team will find their way back from the way the game ended.

"I mean, obviously, the game got out of hand," MacDonald said. "It's an intense series. It's emotional. You know, we'll move forward. You can tell the momentum doesn't really roll from game to game, in the playoffs."

He added: "It got a bit sideways, but we'll regroup."

This team has shown that it can and will regroup throughout the course of these playoffs. I would expect to see that again on Sunday.

3 Under-The-Radar Penguins' Trade Candidates This SummerMuch of the talk around the Pittsburgh Penguins and the trade market involves Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson. But there are other rostered players who may make sense to move — and who could fetch a decent return.

3. Tip of the cap to the blue line

After the game, I asked MacDonald about the play of the blue line in this series, especially given the injury situation. Alexander Alexeyev is out. Sebastian Aho is out. So is Phil Kemp. And Finn Harding. Owen Pickering missed some time, too,  even if he slotted back in the lineup and was on the top pairing next to Harrison Brunicke, who has been logging very heavy minutes.

It's safe to say MacDonald is happy with the play of his backend, and he lauded their ability to limit opposing scoring chances. 

“I think they’ve done a damn good job under the circumstances," MacDonald said. "We basically played four ‘D’ for the last two periods in Game 4, and they did an outstanding job. Guys are battling. Like, you go back and look, both ways, there’s not a ton of scoring chances, when you actually go back and watch the video. It’s this time of year where you’ve got to battle. It’s the next-man-up mentality. We’ve been like that the whole year. And I think the guys are doing an outstanding job.

"There’s mistakes that happen, but at the end of the day, look at, especially, the first two goals. I wouldn’t blame the ‘D’ by any means. I think we’ve done a really good job defending, and I don’t doubt that we’ll continue to do so on Sunday night.” 

It's hard for any team to play four defensemen down. What this unit is doing in the absence of four regulars is commendable, and that's especially true for Pickering and Brunicke, who are shouldering a heavy load.

David Breazale - in addition to Pieniniemi - also made his Calder Cup Playoff debut, and he was rock solid in this one. They're going to need all of these guys to continue to outperform if they're going to take the last two games of this series.

AHL Notebook: Wilkes-Barre Scranton’s Embarrassing Playoff Attendance, Coaches On The Move, TJ Hughes & MoreThe Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins aren't selling tickets despite an Eastern Conference Final appearance, and it's a bad look for the team and the league. Plus, a look at some assistant coaches to keep an eye on, TJ Hughes as a difference-maker for the Eagles, and more things from the week that was.

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Because they won't be picking at the top of the NHL draft order this year, the Philadelphia Flyers must select the best player possible with the 21st overall pick.

Any other outcome, assuming the pick isn't traded, is a mistake.

The Flyers, too, have been under fire for their draft choices in recent seasons, spending a total of three first-round picks to acquire centers Jack Nesbitt and Jett Luchanko, players with offensive upsides that seem to be average at best.

And the idea of going all-in on a center in the 2024 and 2025 drafts were fine, too. Options like Konsta Helenius and Cole Reschny were on the board, but the Flyers ultimately bypassed both.

To that end, the Flyers could have secured themselves a blue-chip prospect for the left side of their defense, which is barren in the prospect pool. Zeev Buium and Jackson Smith were available--the former was and still is a sore subject--but the Flyers had their minds made up.

Now that they have stocked up at the center position with Luchanko, Nesbitt, Matthew Gard, Heikki Ruohonen, and Jack Berglund, the Flyers have no reason to reach for a center again, but that is exactly what they do in Corey Pronman's latest NHL mock draft for The Athletic.

Pronman has the Flyers selecting USHL Youngstown Phantoms center Jack Hextall, a relative of Flyers legend Ron Hextall, with the 21st overall pick.

"Hextall is a highly intelligent, diligent pivot who’s a slick playmaker with excellent offensive sense," Pronman writes.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Logical Suitors For 8th Overall Pick in 2026 NHL DraftThe Philadelphia Flyers need the Winnipeg Jets' first-round pick, and they have a ton of assets to make a potential trade package appealing enough to strike a deal.

"Though his skating doesn’t stand out and he hasn’t been a prolific scorer, his strong two-way detail makes him a very safe bet to be a useful pro down the middle for the Flyers."

Some of those word choices are nightmares to read for Flyers fans: skating doesn't stand out, hasn't been a prolific scorer, very safe, and useful.

Hextall, 18, scored 20 goals, 38 assists, and 58 points in the USHL this season, and he's committed to Michigan State University, where he'll team up with Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi next year.

And, with the very next pick, Pronman has the Flyers' archrival Pittsburgh Penguins taking defenseman Ryan Lin at 22.

"Pittsburgh doesn’t really have a future power-play QB in its prospect pool, and Lin could be one," Pronman said.

The Flyers, with their power play being downright awful for years now, go with the "very safe" pick instead of someone who could be a "future power-play QB." Yeesh.

Of course, this isn't to say that the Flyers will actually do this when the real thing plays out on June 26, but they don't have a strong enough track record for us to sit here and rule that out, either.

I'm a big fan of the undersized Xavier Villeneuve, for example, but he doesn't even make Pronman's top 32 here. That would be someone who checks all the boxes for the Flyers, in terms of both position and talent level.

Other higher-upside players the Flyers pass on in Pronman's latest mock include Adam Novotny, Maddox Dagenais, Brooks Rogowski, Liam Ruck, Tommy Bleyl, and Nikita Klepov.

In order to truly take the next step in their rebuild, the Flyers will need to find the courage to think outside the box and take risks when the stakes are higher.

After a season outside of an NHL front office, former San Jose Sharks defenseman and Hockey Hall of Famer Rob Blake has joined the Nashville Predators organization. 

Blake, who is mainly remembered for his 28 total years as a player and an executive for the Los Angeles Kings, was announced as the Predators' Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations on Friday. Blake joins the Predators' newly appointed General Manager and President of Hockey Operations, Chris MacFarland who spent the last four season as the General Manager of the Colorado Avalanche under Joe Sakic. 

Blake previously served as the VP of Hockey Operations and the General Manger of the Los Angeles Kings after originally joining the organization as a Director of Player Personnel for the 2011-12 season. He parted ways with the Kings following the 2024-25 season and was replaced by Ken Holland. 

As a player, Blake was a long-time captain for the Kings, but he ended his career as the captain of the Sharks. He spent two seasons in teal, appearing in 143 games and picking up 75 points. He then retired following the 2009-10 season.

Former San Jose Sharks goaltender Georgii Romanov has earned himself another NHL contract, as he signed a two-year contract extension with the St. Louis Blues on Friday. 

Romanov was originally signed by the Sharks as an undrafted free agent in May of 2023. He spent two seasons with the Sharks organization, although the majority of his time was with their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. 

Across two seasons, Romanov took the crease for 50 games with the Barracuda. During that time, he had a record of 20-15-13 while he also recorded a .904 save percentage and a 3.12 goals against average. 

Romanov was much less effective at the NHL level as in 10 games for the Sharks, he had a save percentage of .888 and a 3.53 goals against average while going 0-6-0.

Romanov departed the Sharks organization following the 2024-25 season after the team opted not to extend him a qualifying offer to retain his signing rights. As a result, he signed a one-year contract with the Blues that summer. 

During the 2025-26 season, Romanov spent his entire campaign with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. The 26-year-old netminder played 28 regular season games for the Thunderbirds, recording a 9-12-4 record, a 3.29 goals against average, and a .896 save percentage. He turned his game up a notch in the playoffs though, going 7-4-0 with a 1.84 goals against average and a .939 save percentage.