RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed no regret over his decision not to challenge the Vegas Golden Knights’ first goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final before his team lost 5-4.
Brind’Amour said he never really came close to challenging because he was not confident the on-ice officials and NHL’s situation room would see enough to wave it off for goaltender interference. Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar had a skate in the crease, but replays did not clearly show him impeding goalie Frederik Andersen’s ability to stop the shot by defenseman Shea Theodore, which banked in off the left shin pad of Hurricanes winger Eric Robinson.
“(Kolesar) was in the crease initially, and then he came out of it and then the shot goes off our guy,” Brind’Amour said. “It doesn’t really impact the goal. There’s too many variables there that are saying, ‘Nope, nope, nope.’”
Carolina led 2-0 on goals by Nikolaj Ehlers before Vegas got on the board to make it 2-1 with 6:32 left in the first period. The punishment for a failed challenge is a 2-minute penalty, so the Golden Knights would have gone on the power play after cutting their deficit in half.
Despite having a penalty kill that has allowed just four power play goals on 56 opportunities in the playoffs, a success rate of 92.9%, Brind’Amour and his staff did not want to take the risk.
“I think what I’ve seen — in the playoffs certainly — is if they’re more 50-50, they’re counting the goals now,” Brind’Amour said. “So, that was kind of our decision on that.”
Colton Sissons’ Game 1-winning pass
Tomas Hertl’s go-ahead goal with 3:24 left in regulation had the Golden Knights still talking the day after, largely because of how Colton Sissons assisted on it with a perfect backhander.
“Sick pass,” teammate Rasmus Andersson said. “It’s a nasty pass.”
It looked like a no-look feed, but Sissons insisted he saw Hertl and said confidently, “I knew where he was.” Fourth-liner Nic Dowd was in awe but not surprised.
“Yeah, that was nice: probably one of the nicer passes I’ve seen in a long time,” Dowd said. “It was a high-level play, and then he put it into a puck-sized hole. It was a perfect play.”
Late-bloomer Jalen Chatfield enjoys this chance
Jalen Chatfield went undrafted, spent years in the minors and was 26 by the time he became a full-time NHL player. Now 30, the unheralded Carolina defenseman is in the final for the first time in his career and not taking it for granted.
“It’s just life,” Chatfield said. “It’s been a journey. I just stuck with it. Had a lot of ups and downs in my career, but everything I’ve gone through, I’ve gone through for a reason and I’ve learned a lot. It’s helped me grow as a person and as a player and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Brind’Amour did not know him before they were in the same organization together but now appreciates Chatfield grinding it out to get to this point.
“We had a couple of years watching him in the minors and just kind of just gradually get better and better,” Brind’Amour said. “You root for guys like that. Really, everything they have now, they’ve worked for and I think he’s still getting better. It’s gratifying to watch a kid put in the work and then have it pay off.”
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes goal scorer predictions for Game 2
Player to score a goal
Odds
Jack Eichel
+230
Nikolaj Ehlers
+205
Brett Howden
+310
💲Goal scorer parlay
+2000
Goal scorer pick: Jack Eichel (+230)
On paper, Jack Eichel hasn't scored much in these playoffs, finding the back of the net just twice in 17 games. However, the underlying numbers suggest he's been far more dangerous than that production indicates.
Eichel owns 5.93 individual expected goals, one of the highest marks on the Vegas Golden Knights, and he's recorded eight shots on goal across his last three road games.
The veteran has also generated 67 individual Fenwick attempts during the postseason, trailing only Pavel Dorofeyev on Vegas. Eichel continues to create offense at a high level, and the Golden Knights are producing 15.15 high-danger chances per 60 minutes with him on the ice. If those opportunities continue, he's a strong candidate to break through in Game 2.
I'll play this pick up to +200.
Goal scorer pick: Nikolaj Ehlers (+205)
Nikolaj Ehlers capitalized on his opportunities in Game 1, putting both of his shots on target in the back of the net. The winger now has six goals this postseason, but the underlying numbers suggest the production is no fluke. Ehlers owns 4.02 individual expected goals through 13 playoff appearances while generating 56 individual Fenwick attempts.
He's also consistently finding dangerous areas of the ice, posting 14.21 high-danger chances per 60 minutes during the postseason. Ehlers has been especially clinical at Lenovo Center, where five of his six playoff goals have come. If the Carolina Hurricanes continue generating quality scoring chances, Ehlers should remain a key offensive threat.
I'll play this pick up to +180.
Goal scorer pick: Brett Howden (+310)
Brett Howden continued his strong postseason in Game 1, finding the back of the net for his 11th goal of the playoffs. While the Golden Knights forward has outperformed his 4.82 individual expected goals, the underlying chance generation remains solid.
Howden is second on Vegas with 21 individual high-danger scoring chances and owns a 10.59 HDCF/60 rate during the postseason.
The veteran has consistently found dangerous scoring areas throughout the playoffs, and his Game 1 goal suggests that trend isn't slowing down.
I'd play this pick up to +280.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes anytime goal parlay
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The St. Louis Blues have signed forwards Zach Dean and Dylan Peterson to one-year, two-way contracts.
Both Dean and Peterson were pending RFAs, but the Blues made quick work of re-signing them before they had to give them qualifying offers.
Dean was acquired by St. Louis in the trade that sent Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights. Dean was originally a first-round pick (30th overall) by the Golden Knights in the 2021 NHL draft.
Although Dean is a rapid skater with good hands and passing vision, he hasn’t been able to translate it to the professional level. In his final QMJHL season in 2022-23, Dean posted 33 goals and 70 points in 50 games, before adding 10 goals and 26 points in 13 playoff games.
In his first season with the Blues, Dean featured in nine NHL games but failed to record a point. Since then, the 23-year-old hasn’t received a call-up. At the moment, Dean’s greatest flaw is availability. He played just 11 AHL games in 2024-25 and just 36 games this season.
In those 36 games, Dean recorded four goals and 14 points. Dean missed a large chunk of the start of the season after being placed in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. His 2025-26 season did not begin until the start of 2026.
The Blues are hoping for a healthy season from Dean next year, which will hopefully get his game back on track and allow him to begin working his way back to the NHL roster.
Dean’s contract will carry an $850,000 AAV in the NHL, and he’ll be paid $95,000 in the minors. When his one-year contract concludes, Dean will remain a restricted free agent, according to Puckpedia.
As for Peterson, the 24-year-old completed his second season with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 24 points in 57 games.
Standing 6-foot-4, the 2020 third-round pick (86th overall) of the Blues brings valuable size to the Thunderbirds’ lineup. While it hasn’t really translated to high-end production in the AHL, Peterson is still young, and they hope he continues to trend in the right direction.
With Dean and Peterson re-signed, the Thunderbirds should be a Calder Cup-contending threat once again next season.
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RALEIGH, N.C. — After carrying the Carolina Hurricanes during the season as their top goal scorers, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are ice cold in the playoffs.
That was easier to swallow during the first three rounds, when others down the lineup picked up the slack. Now, it is a problem that could cost them the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes have met their match in the final against the Vegas Golden Knights, a seasoned opponent with no glaring weaknesses who won the opener 5-4. In Game 2, the pressure squarely is on Carolina’s best players to get it together before it is too late.
“I know we have a better in us, and we’ve got to show it,” Aho said. “It’s on us to figure it out.”
Top-line scoring woes
Through 14 games this postseason, the trio of Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov has scored just three times against a goaltender at even strength. The success of the second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake made getting past Ottawa, Philadelphia and Montreal a breeze with a single loss in the three series combiend.
Vegas is a different animal, and Game 1 showed the frustration seeping through for the first line.
“This league is weird: You grip your stick a little tight and you get into a weird matchup, and it can look worse than it is,” Hall said. “But things can change on a dime, especially this time of year.”
The Hurricanes have been waiting nearly two months for that change. Coach Rod Brind’Amour for several weeks has exhibited patience and praised Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov for doing good things away from the puck that contribute to winning, even if they’re not showing up on the scoresheet.
His tone has changed facing a deficit in the final.
“They got to play in the other team’s end,” Brind’Amour said. “They’re too much one and done and not even one (scoring chance), and it’s not a lot of time. So, they got to get a little more offensive zone time. Kind of like that last shift they had. That was one of the shifts you could say: ‘OK, there you go. That’s how it needs to look.’ We need them to get going.”
Glimpse of what could be
That final shift came with the score tied late in the third period of Game 1, hemming the Golden Knights in their own end and generating quality opportunities. Jarvis had one shot blocked, then two more stopped by Carter Hart, including a flashy glove save that set the table for Tomas Hertl to score the winning goal 21 seconds later.
It was a marked improvement from earlier in the game, when Jarvis passed up an open shot looking for a pass and later missing a wide-open net.
“The chances are there,” Jarvis said. “We’ve had our looks. We just have to capitalize now more than ever. We can’t dwell on the past, can’t dwell on the stuff we missed. It’s about the next shift, the next shot.”
Easier said than done because Vegas is going to adjust, too. Coach John Tortorella has preached a consistent approach, and there is a reason the team has won 20 of 25 games since he took over in late March.
“We have thoughts on how to play this team,” Tortorella said. “We need to be patient. In a number of things, how we have to play, I think, requires patience — and when you get a little antsy against that team, they can capitalize. They’re that good. I think we have an understanding of how we have to go.”
What the Hurricanes need
While Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov have looked off at times, there is little evidence it comes from a lack of caring. Maybe it’s trying too hard.
“It’s not about work ethic or trying harder, but it doesn’t matter at the same time,” Aho said. “There’s also a part that we almost sometimes try to do too much, instead of just letting the game happen and play the game, let the game come to you in a way.”
Teammates are trying to keep those guys’ heads up and focused as best as possible. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield is all about bringing the positivity.
“Everybody’s giving everything out there,” Chatfield said. “That’s not the question. Sometimes it’s bounces. Sometimes things happen in hockey, but I think as a group, (it is about) leaning on each other to help each other play our best.”
Hall, the No. 1 pick in 2010 and MVP in 2017-18 who has found a groove with his sixth NHL organization at age 34, doesn’t feel the need to coach up other players who are struggling. He maintains the belief that Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov will turn things around.
“Those guys are great players,” Hall said. “They had their chances and their looks (in Game 1). Some of the looks didn’t turn into chances. But we know how good they are, and we know how good they can be and it’s only a matter of time.”
The NHL announced on Wednesday that Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper had won the first Jack Adams Trophy of his career as the NHL’s top coach. In what was the closest race to the trophy ever, Cooper had 226 voting points, just three more than runner-up Buffalo Sabres bench boss Lindy Ruff, who finished with 223. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse was third with 199.
Where does that leave Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis? In fifth place with 50 points, 16 behind Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who had 66. The Habs’ coach had four first-place votes, seven second-place votes, and nine third-place votes. Comparatively, Cooper received 36 first-place votes, Ruff 26, and Muse 18.
Given how much the Canadiens improved this season, it is surprising to see St-Louis finish fifth. Montreal went from a 16th-place finish and 91 points to a fifth-place finish with 106 points and being in the running for its division title. Of course, some would also argue that his team had quite a playoff run, but voting is held at the end of the regular season, before the playoffs begin. Still, St-Louis can at least say that he beat the league’s top two coaches on his way to the third round.
From all the stats about this young Canadiens’ team, the most impressive is probably the fact that it went from giving 3.18 goals per game in 2024-25 to just 3.06 in 2025-26. From a team that struggled to play the defensive style its coach was advocating, the Canadiens became a team that has understood the assignment. That wasn’t easy, but St-Louis managed to teach his players how they needed to play on the other side of the puck. Of course, it’s not perfect yet, but it has gotten better.
It wasn’t an easy year for the coach, who had to make some tough decisions as his team had progressed so much that a heart-and-soul veteran like Brendan Gallagher had to be a healthy scratch to make way for younger players better suited to St-Louis’ brand of hockey. As evidenced by the veteran media availability on Monday, he didn’t agree with the call, but given the speed at which the last two rounds were played, it’s hard to argue with the coach’s decision.
Even if the playoffs didn’t count for this year’s vote, the experience St-Louis picked up in those seven weeks of postseason action will be invaluable going forward. In the first round, against Cooper, he showed he was able to juggle his lines with the best of them to help Nick Suzuki evade the matchup with Brandon Hagel. If he didn’t make adjustments in that first round, the Canadiens wouldn’t have overcome the Lightning. Of course, his lack of adjustments against the Carolina Hurricanes was part of why the Habs were eliminated, but he picked up some valuable experience there, too.
When looking at St-Louis’ body of work, it’s hard not to mention just how much players like Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky have evolved under his tutelage. The coach has been in their shoes, and he’s seen it all. The way he can relate to every player and how well he communicates are big reasons he’s such a good pilot.
The 50-year-old might have finished fifth in voting this time around, but if the Canadiens carry on their upwards trajectory, he’ll soon be able to add a Jack Adams Trophy to his already crowded mantelpiece, which already features two Art Ross trophies, one Hart, one Lester B. Pearson, and three Lady Bing.
Boston, MA - May 1: Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm and Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff shake hands following the game. The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres played in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
With the Stanley Cup Final rolling on, the NHL is beginning to announce the winners of its season-long awards.
We already heard about Matthew Schaefer winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, while Zach Werenski won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman.
Yesterday, the league announce the winner of the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” and it was a bit of a surprise: Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning took home the top spot.
Locally, the news is that Bruins head coach Marco Sturm finished eighth in Jack Adams voting in his first full season behind an NHL bench, which is no small feat.
Per the NHL, the top ten coaches in this year’s voting were:
After a basement finish the year before, Sturm led the Bruins back to the playoffs via a 100-point season and generally had the team performing far above statistical projections/expectations.
Sturm was a longshot to actually win the award, but finishing eighth is a testament to the job Sturm and his staff did in Year 1.
Interestingly enough, of the top eight vote-getters for the award, five are in the Atlantic Division: Cooper (TBL), Ruff (BUF), St. Louis (MTL), Green (OTT), and Sturm.
The main talking point after the announcement was how Ruff should have been the winner, and it’s hard to argue against that.
Many Tampa people point to Cooper’s strong work navigating some injury challenges in Tampa, which is valid, but I’m not sure how that overshadows what Ruff achieved.
In fact, you could make pretty convincing arguments over Cooper for every other Atlantic coach featured, plus throw some weight behind Muse in Pittsburgh (though he still had plenty of superstars) and Tocchet in Philadelphia.
It’s worth noting that voting for these awards was conducted prior to the playoffs, so it’s really only factoring in regular season success.
Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association cast the Adams votes.
Anyways, it’ll be fun to argue about this for a few days!
Next up for the Bruins will be the Vezina Trophy, where Jeremy Swayman is a finalist alongside Ilya Sorokin and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Senators head coach Travis Green may not have been one of the three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year, but the voters certainly didn't ignore him.
Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning finally got his due on Wednesday, when the league announced he had won the trophy for the first time. Meanwhile, Green finished up sixth in the voting, even ahead of Rod Brind'Amour, whose team made quick work of the Senators in round one and sits four wins away from a Stanley Cup.
The voting is based exclusively on the regular season, and voters were impressed by Green's steady hand at the wheel, guiding his team to the playoffs through some very rough waters this season.
The Senators had a difficult first half, marred by shaky goaltending, off-ice drama and one injury after another down the stretch, especially on their blue line. But Green was impressive, keeping the Senators focused on the things they can control, and the messaging was consistent.
The Sens finished the season on a furious 21-6-3 run to grab the final playoff spot in the East. Green ended up with four first-place votes, five second-place votes, and eight third-place votes.
Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres were the other men who were up for the award, presented to the head coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success." Along with Cooper, who won by just three points, the three finalists finished way ahead of everyone else.
Only two Senators' head coaches have ever won the award. Paul MacLean in 2012–13, and Jacques Martin in 1998-99. Green won't join them this year, but still deserves a ton of credit for keeping Ottawa's weird season on the rails.
But after two first-round exits and a 2-8 playoff record, next season's playoffs won't have any sort of 'just happy to be here' vibe. Entering year three this fall, Green knows full well that both the bar and the pressure will be raised.
Meanwhile, Cooper was surprised with the award during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the "Coop’s Catch for Kids" Family Lounge at Muma Children's Hospital in Tampa. "Coop’s Catch for Kids" is the name of his foundation that helps raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
He thought he was there exclusively for the ribbon-cutting until they wheeled in the trophy right at the end of the ceremony.
"OK, you got me," Cooper said in the video of the ceremony posted on NHL.com.
"I don't have any words. I never thought this would be a reality."
It’s no secret the Boston Bruins need another top-four defenseman if they are going to be a Stanley Cup contender anytime soon.
Sure, they also need another elite forward to take some scoring pressure off David Pastrnak. If you look at the recent Stanley Cup champs, they all have at least two game-changing forwards.
But a strong blue line is obviously quite important, too. And generating offense from the back end is something the Bruins must do a lot more next season to take the next step in their journey toward being a true contender. Zero defensemen for the Bruins scored a goal or tallied more than two points in their six-game first-round playoff series defeat to the Buffalo Sabres.
One player who could address several of these concerns is actually playing in the Stanley Cup Final right now: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
Game 1 of the Cup Final, which Vegas won 5-4 over the Carolina Hurricanes on the road, was a great example of how far the B’s have to go to build a blue line that generates enough offense and shot volume to compete at the highest level. Two defensemen for the Golden Knights (Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb) had three-point performances in the series opener. Four of the six defensemen who played for the Hurricanes tallied at least one point.
The Bruins reportedly were interested in Andersson before the trade deadline this past season. He was ultimately dealt from the Calgary Flames to the Golden Knights in January.
Should the Bruins make another run at the Swedish blueliner if he hits the free agent market July 1?
Yes, they absolutely should.
Andersson is not a perfect player, but he has a lot of skills the Bruins desperately need on the blue line.
He consistently creates scoring chances for himself and teammates. He shoots the puck a lot, and many of his attempts get through traffic and hit the net.
Andersson scored a career-high 17 goals this season, which ranked eighth-most among all defensemen. He also dished out 30 assists. He has scored at least nine goals in each of the last five seasons.
Charlie McAvoy led Bruins defensemen with 11 goals this past season. No other d-man on the team had more than seven. McAvoy also led Boston blueliners with a career-high 61 points. No other Bruins defenseman tallied more than 26. Creating offense from the blue line can’t be a one-man show. Andersson has posted 39-plus points in four of the last five seasons. He has tallied 30-plus assists four times over that span, too.
Andersson isn’t just an offensive defenseman, though.
He plays well over 20 minutes every game — 23:35 per game for the Golden Knights in the playoffs so far — and contributes over a minute each night to both the power play and penalty kill. He’s an all-situations player who plays against the other team’s top forwards.
Andersson is also a right-shot defenseman, and the Bruins very much need another player who can play on that side of the blue line. McAvoy fills that role on the top pairing, but after him it was Andrew Peeke, Henri Jokiharju and sometimes Mason Lohrei (a left-shot) on the right side.
One potential downside to signing Andersson is he’s already 29 years old, and giving a long-term, expensive contract to a player about to hit 30 is a risk. He should still have several good years remaining, but what will the second half of the contract look like? AFP Analytics projected Andersson’s worth to be an $8.74 million salary cap hit on a long-term deal.
The Bruins are projected to have around $15.4 million in salary cap space this offseason, per PuckPedia, so they can probably afford Andersson, but a cap hit around $9 million would be a major investment. The Bruins already have a bad contract with Elias Lindholm’s deal ($7.75 million cap hit through 2030-31). Another bad deal in that range would be a problem.
But if the Bruins want to maximize the window of their core, especially what’s left of Pastrnak and McAvoy’s primes, they need to make some sort of bold move to upgrade their most glaring roster weaknesses.
The B’s really need a top-four defenseman, preferably one who plays the right side. Andersson checks both of those boxes.
As the calendar flips from May to June, and the NHL Stanley Cup final has begun, the majority of significant transactions between now and the start of the 2026-27 season will likely take place over the course of the next four to six weeks.
The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in unfamiliar waters after what could be seen as their first successful season in nearly a decade. They enter the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, two core RFAs (Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier) to sign to big extensions, two secondary RFAs (Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger) on whom tough decisions will have to be made, and one to three areas on the roster potentially in need of upgrades.
Anaheim could now be seen as a desirable destination for players on the move. Even after RFAs are inked to new deals, the Ducks will still have considerable cap space to add quality players to their roster who could help them now and moving into a bright future.
After feasibly identifying three areas in need of an upgrade on the Ducks’ depth chart (right shot defense, second-line center, top-nine winger), now seems like a good time to identify paths in which general manager Pat Verbeek could go about adding to his group and numerous organizations’ situations they could target around the league.
I’ve decided to break this up by division, so we’ll take a look at some teams in the Metropolitan Division, where there’s a clear top team, six interchangeable teams in the next tier, and one in the early stages of a hopefully brief reset.
Disclaimer: This exercise is purely speculative. Some players mentioned have been previously reported to be in trade discussions, while others haven’t. This is intended to provide ideas on the type of players the Ducks could target this offseason.
(Alphabetical Order)
New Jersey Devils
The Devils took a step back in 2025-26, missing the playoffs and finishing seventh in the Metro standings after qualifying the year before and finishing third in the division. They will enter the offseason under brand new management, as they hired Sunny Mehta as general manager when the season concluded.
Mehta will have $10.9 million in cap space this summer, and some important decisions to make in terms of personnel, headlined by captain Nico Hischier (27), entering the final year of his contract ($7.25 million AAV, 10-team NTC) and eligible for an extension on July 1.
Though the likelihood is low, if a deal cannot be agreed upon as training camp approaches, Hischier’s future with the Devils may come into question. Speculation has already begun to a minimal extent, and if he’s made available, the Ducks (and half the NHL) would be a perfect landing spot for the Selke-level talent with point-per-game upside.
Beyond Hischier, the obvious area in need of attention is the right side of New Jersey’s blueline. Dougie Hamilton (32) is owed big money ($9 million AAV, 10-team NTC) for two more seasons, Brett Pesce (31) and Johnathan Kovacevic (29) each have four years left at very reasonable cap hits ($5.5 million and $4 million, respectively) and full NTCs, and Simon Nemec (2nd overall in 2022) is an RFA in need of a commitment from the Devils one way or another.
The potential of the Ducks acquiring Hamilton poses similar drawbacks to them acquiring John Carlson: an offensive-oriented blueliner who may not fit with the talent on the Ducks’ left side. Nemec has the potential to grow and become a part of the Ducks’ young core, should they pursue, but his upside has come into question as he’s failed to carve out a role for himself in three NHL seasons.
An under-the-radar possibility, but one the Devils likely wouldn’t be too keen on parting with is young, versatile, tenacious forward Dawson Mercer (24). Mercer will enter the final year of his contract ($4 million AAV) and is two summers from unrestricted free agency.
With a new GM running the show in New Jersey, a shakeup may be required now or in the near future to optimize the remaining four years on star forward Jack Hughes’ extremely team-friendly contract.
New York Rangers
The Rangers and Ducks seemed to have developed quite a rapport over the last 18 months, as Anaheim has become a landing spot for former core Rangers pieces Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider.
The Rangers announced a “retool” in January and finished the season with the NHL’s third-worst record. They enter the 2026 offseason with $26.6 million in cap space, the fifth overall pick, and six more in the first three rounds.
If they’re intent on shedding older core players, the ones who jump off the page are Mika Zibenejad (33) and Vincent Trocheck (32), with Adam Fox (28) representing more of a long-shot option to move.
Zibenejad would fit the mold of the secondary offense, two-way capable 2C that would fit perfectly behind Leo Carlsson. The rub with the Swedish Olympian, who is famously friendly with Ducks winger Chris Kreider, is his age and contract (four years remaining, $8.5 million AAV, full NMC).
Trocheck would be another seemingly perfect fit, but has expressed his desire to remain on the East Coast of the United States. The pipe dream acquisition of Fox would, again, provide the same pitfalls as the Carlson trade. However, because Fox is in the prime of a perennial Norris-contending career, if he were to be available, teams like the Ducks may be smart to make a deal and figure the rest out later.
Two younger options who could potentially provide greater impacts with a “change of scenery” that would fit the Ducks’ timeline and desired roster construction well would be Will Cuylle (24) and Braden Schneider (24). Cuylle has one year remaining on his contract ($3.9 million AAV) and is three years from UFA eligibility. Schneider is an RFA and is two years from UFA eligibility.
The Ducks and Rangers could go back to the well and help each other out as they seem to be heading in opposite directions for the time being. Several pieces make sense for both organizations in a potential deal, should the two sides opt to return to familiar hunting grounds.
Philadelphia Flyers
Speaking of returning to familiar hunting grounds, the Flyers are an organization Pat Verbeek has done quite a bit of business with over the years, and they find themselves in a very similar situation as the Ducks.
In his first year as head coach, Rick Tocchet brought them from last place in the Metro with 76 points in 2024-25 to third place in the Metro with 98 points in 2025-26, making the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advancing to the second round.
They enter the offseason, again, in a very similar situation as Anaheim, with $37.5 million in cap space, two impact players RFAs in need of new contracts (Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale), and a need to improve down the middle.
They reportedly have some interest in Ducks forward Mason McTavish and Ducks pending UFA defenseman John Carlson. However, glancing at what they may be willing to part with from their surplus may not precisely line up with Anaheim’s needs.
Owen Tippett (27) is a player Philadelphia committed to long term who possesses a desirable skillset and has settled in as a 45-55 point goalscoring winger, but game-to-game consistency has been difficult to come by. Tyson Foerster (24) seemed on the verge of a breakout before an upper-body injury cost him four months of the season. Noah Cates (27) is a quintessential, two-way middle-six center who saw the best offensive output of his career in 2025-26.
Tippett, Foerster, and Cates are all under team control for at least the next three seasons, and with their importance to Tocchet’s top nine last season, one has to imagine they’d be difficult to pry out of Philadelphia.
Talented young forward Matvei Michkov (21), similarly to McTavish with Anaheim, saw a drop in production in his first year under a new coach and served as a healthy scratch twice during their playoff run to the second round. At this time, a trade seems unlikely, as general manager Daniel Briere stated the organization’s commitment to Michkov’s development during his exit interview.
A player that makes sense for Anaheim is right-shot defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (31), who has one year remaining on his contract ($5.1 million AAV) and was a positive contributor during the Flyers’ playoff run as well as during Finland’s bronze medal run at the 2026 Olympics. Injuries remain a concern for Ristolainen, however, as he’s only played 138 games over the last three seasons.
Briere and Verbeek have found common ground on trades in 2024 and 2025, exchanging key pieces to the current and future success of both franchises. Can the duo connect on a third trade in three years this summer, as both clubs look to build off their surprising playoff successes?
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins won a second straight game on the road to even their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Toronto Marlies at 2-2. It was a wild back-and-forth affair that saw Toronto jump out to a 2-0 lead due to two uncharacteristic Sergei Murashov miscues in the first period, followed by WBS scoring three-straight second period goals to take a lead. Toronto would respond on a power play goal in the third with just under seven minutes to play to tie the game.
The final twist of the game would come when Rutger McGroarty scored a goal with 3:00 to play to stun the crowd. It was officially an unassisted goal but it wasn’t an individual effort – Avery Hayes was forechecking like a demon to turn up the pressure and Joona Koppanen Tristan Broz’s wall play helped encourage the Marlie to make a poor decision of a pass back into the middle of the ice. McGroarty then picked off the puck and worked his magic to beat the goalie.
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 3, 2026
Murashov got punished in the first period for leaving the crease when the puck appeared to get hung up in the ice and not kick back like he thought, allowing an easy goal. Bad luck happens sometimes. He also isn’t getting any help from the officials which has been leading to some messy sequences and goals against, like Toronto’s third period power play goal. In inability for the AHL to review goalie interference is so very minor league. (Fitting perhaps).
Murashov was able to redeem himself with some quality play late, he stopped all the shots at 5v5 on the night giving up two goals to the Toronto power play and conceding the one goal shorthanded on the mistake on his part. Murashov stopped 32 of the 35 shots overall and it wasn’t like his overall game was bad by any means though it does seem like there has been a lot of chaotic play in the WBS end lately. That’s going to happen in the playoffs to a degree, it’s gonna get messy. Murashov is keeping it on the rails for now but it might be worth watching how he handles things moving forward and if he’s able to settle down and get through a normal game without any wild or controversial goals against.
Mikhail Ilyin is known for his playmaking, he came close to scoring a nice goal before getting denied by a desperation defensive play to keep the puck out. Nice to see Ilyin making things happen in his first extended AHL stint this spring.
Ville Koivunen has been finding space and creating plays this series. It looks like he’s been coming to life more and more the longer the playoffs have been going on. This pass out of the corner to setup Gabe Klassen was a beaut.
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 4, 2026
That play was made by 32-year old Dakota Mermis. The difference in the team composition is striking, Toronto’s got a goal from 31-year old Vinni Letteri as well. A look at their lineup doesn’t show too many players who will be in the NHL next year (rookie Easton Cowan being one of the few exceptions). WBS got some input by depth players as well – Shooter Brickey scored a goal and Klassen finished that pass from Koivunen, but unlike Toronto, they have no one over 30 in their lineup and only a handful of players of 28+ year olds (Boko Imama and Sebastian Aho).
At the end of the night, the plays by Koivunen and McGroarty as NHL prospects ended up tipping the balance in the Pens’ favor. With the best-of-seven series now essentially shrunk to become an impromptu best-of-three, the Pens will have to continue to play towards hoping the talent level from their prospects can overcome the more experienced bent that the Marlies are lining up against them.
Barring something unforeseen, the Philadelphia Flyers should be entering the next season fully healthy and recovered from a long year.
The Flyers came out of their 2026 Stanley Cup playoff run with bumps, bruises, and broken bones... and internal bleeding, if you're Owen Tippett.
Tippett, 27, was held out of the entire second round of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes due to that bleeding issue, though he had also been playing through a sports hernia long before that arose.
At his exit interview last month, the speedy Flyers forward was unsure about needing, and hopeful he wouldn't need, a surgery to address the hernia, though that has since taken place and been completed successfully.
According to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com, Flyers GM Danny Briere shared at the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo, New York, that Tippett had the surgery about two weeks ago.
As for the internal bleeding, "Everything's cleared on that front. Everything is going well there. Nobody was worried about it affecting his training or affecting next season," Briere told Kimelman.
Playing through the hernia, Tippett scored a goal, an assist, and two points in six playoff games in Round 1 against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the regular season, Tippett put together one of his most productive and complete campaigns to date, matching his career-high 28 goals, adding 23 assists, and putting together 51 total points in 81 games.
The former No. 10 overall pick also developed as a two-way player, scoring the first three short-handed goals of his NHL career, taking up penalty killing while Tyson Foerster missed swathes of time due to injuries of his own.
The obvious good news for the Flyers is that Tippett, who has scored no fewer than 20 goals in each of his last four seasons in Philadelphia, will still be able to train this offseason while being ready for the 2026-27 regular season.
Player: Rutger McGroarty Born: March 30, 2004 (age: 22) Height: 6’1” Weight: 212 pounds Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska Shoots: Left Draft: 2022, first-round, No. 14 overall by Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 Regular Season Statistics: 24 games played, 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 total points, minus-3 rating Contract Status: Entering final year of entry-level contract with $925,000 salary cap number
Story of the Season
McGroarty’s season got off to a difficult start when an upper-body injury sidelined him for training camp, the preseason and the first month of the regular season. He eventually returned to the lineup in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, put up great numbers and found his way back into the NHL lineup in early December.
There were a lot of games where his play looked better than the actual on-ice production.
While he managed just three goals and six total points in 24 NHL games, he had an outstanding year in the AHL with 10 goals, 24 assists and 34 total points in 30 regular season games, while also playing a strong defensive game. He has also been productive in the AHL playoffs.
It’s a very bizarre set of numbers. The shot-attempt share and expected goals share outstanding within the context of this Penguins team.
But everything else?
Largely underwhelming, both in terms of his own production and the team-wide performance. It’s all a very small sample size, so there is definitely some noise here, but it’s still a tough year in terms of actual performance.
Highlights
Questions to ponder
The biggest question surrounding McGroarty at this point almost always seems to come back to his skating, and whether or not it is good enough to be an impact player in the NHL. Can he improve it enough to get there? Is it good enough as it is?
Ideal 2026-27
The ideal scenario for McGroarty would be for him to simply have a better start to his season than he had in 2025-26. He needs a full training camp, a full preseason, and an opportunity to prove himself and earn a spot on the opening night roster right from the start.
With Antony Mantha and Noel Accairi likely leaving Pittsburgh, and with the potential for some other trades this offseason, there should be roster spots up for grabs. McGroarty taking one of them and being able to be a regular contributor would be a massive development for the Penguins. The farm system has improved, but they need some of these young guys to start developing at the highest level. If McGroarty can play a full season and flirt with the 20-goal mark (or exceed it) that would be a big step toward that.
Bottom line
Just as was the case with Ville Koivunen, McGroarty is entering a big season for the Penguins and for his development. He is going to turn 23 years old by the end of the season and has performed well enough at the AHL level that he has very little to prove down there. There’s going to come a point where he is going to need to start showing something more at the NHL level and turning it into tangible, meaningful production. It is not quite a make-or-break season, but it is very close to being one for him.
Final Grade: C
There were some brief glimpses of what McGroarty can be, and could be, but not enough of them. Part of it was the preseason injury. Part of it was usage and role. And part of it was just his own play and the growing pains that come from being a young NHL player that had something of a disrupted season.
What - Game 2 (0-1) When - 8 p.m., Thursday, June 4 Where - Lenovo Center; Raleigh, NC How to Watch - ABC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to bounce back in Game 2 after dropping the Stanley Cup Final opener to the Vegas Golden Knights.
It was a back-and-forth affair between the two teams as both utilized effective forechecks to force mistakes and capitalize on chances, but in the end, Carolina made one more mistake than Vegas.
Both teams will be looking for a better defensive effort overall given the sheer amount of turnovers and sloppy plays in their own zones, but for Carolina, being more sharp in coverage will be a major key.
Four of the Golden Knights' five goals came from an in-alone look in and around the slot, so the Canes need to do a better job of managing the puck in their own zone, cutting down turnovers and covering those high-danger areas.
Offensively, the team also needs the top line and the top power play unit to start producing to match Vegas' top players.
The depth is showing up for the Canes, but they can't carry the load.
Those need contributions will be critical if they want to pull off a Game 2 win.
Streaks
Shayne Gostisbehere (3g, 2a) has points in four straight games.
Nikolaj Ehlers (2g, 3a) has points in three straight games.
Game Notes
Carolina and Vegas have never met in the postseason before.
This is both team's third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history (CAR - 2002, 2006, 2026; VGK - 2018, 2023, 2026).
William Carrier played for the Golden Knights from 2017-2024, winning the Cup with them in 2023.
Noah Hanifin (2015-2018) and Dylan Coghlan (2022-2024) both played for Carolina.
The Hurricanes went 0-2 against the Golden Knights in the regular season, with both games taking place in October.
All-time, the Canes have a 9-7 record against Vegas.
Key Matchups
Projected Starting Goalies
Frederik Andersen: 12-2; 0.920 Sv%; 1.65 GAA
Carter Hart: 13-4; 0.921 Sv%; 2.33 GAA
Leading Scorers
Goals - Logan Stankoven (9) / Brett Howden (11)
Points - Taylor Hall (16) / Mitch Marner (22)
Power Play
Carolina - 12.1% (7/58)
Vegas - 22.4% (11/49)
Penalty Kill
Carolina - 92.9% (52/56)
Vegas - 88% (45/50)
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield K'Andre Miller - Sean Walker Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
Frederik Andersen Brandon Bussi
Injuries and Scratches: Mike Reilly, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov
Golden Knights Projected Lineup
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner Tomas Hertl - Colton Sissons - Mark Stone Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Keegan Kolesar
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It turns out the Colorado Avalanche didn’t just lose a general manager—they handled the exit of a key front-office figure with a level of composure that quietly says a lot about how the organization operates behind the curtain.
What could have become a messy, drawn-out power struggle instead unfolded with surprising speed. And if there’s one thing this entire situation makes clear, it’s that Chris MacFarland wasn’t pried away through chaos or internal fracture—he was simply presented with an opportunity too juicy to refuse.
A Rapid-Fire Departure That Caught The League Off Guard
There was no prolonged rumor cycle, no weeks of “sources say” positioning, and no public tug-of-war over loyalty. Instead, the Nashville opportunity materialized and accelerated almost immediately after Colorado’s season came to a close.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts Podcast, the timing suggests the Predators likely initiated contact with Colorado almost as soon as their Western Conference Final run ended. The speed alone turned heads around the league.
By the time discussions progressed, it was clear this wasn’t a casual inquiry—it was a fully formed push from Nashville’s side to land their next head of hockey operations.
When Bill Haslam and MacFarland addressed the media during the introductory press conference, neither side explicitly confirmed just how early the process began. But the urgency was hard to miss between the lines.
Still, the more revealing detail may be what didn’t happen in Colorado: resistance.
As Friedman noted, the Avalanche essentially did right by MacFarland. With Joe Sakic firmly entrenched as President of Hockey Operations, the upward mobility for MacFarland—or frankly anyone beneath him—was always going to be limited. That reality had been understood internally for some time.
So when Nashville came calling with a promotion-level opportunity and full organizational control, Colorado didn’t block the door. They stepped aside and let him walk through it.
A Rare Case Of Mutual Clarity In A Murky Business
In a league where front-office departures often spiral into speculation, blame, or revisionist history, this one feels unusually clean.
MacFarland wasn’t pushed out. He wasn’t marginalized. He wasn’t forced into a corner. Instead, he was offered something front-office executives rarely turn down: a clearer title, greater authority, and a new franchise willing to fully invest in his vision.
As Friedman put it during the discussion, the Predators essentially asked, “What’s it gonna take,” and then didn’t blink when the answer came back.
And that’s really the crux of it. If you’re in MacFarland’s position—aware of the ceiling above you in Colorado and suddenly presented with a franchise-altering promotion elsewhere—it’s hard to argue there’s a “right” decision beyond the one he made.
Avalanche fans may feel the sting of the departure, but frustration seems misplaced. If anything, the organization’s handling of the situation reflects a level of professionalism that’s increasingly rare in high-stakes sports front offices: they didn’t obstruct a career move they knew they couldn’t realistically match.
In the end, the Colorado Avalanche made the right move, one the Vegas Golden Knights were unwilling to make for Bruce Cassidy.
It was a magical 2025-26 season for new head coach Dan Muse and the Pittsburgh Penguins, as the team made the playoffs against all odds and were, legitimately, one of the league's best offenses.
As such, Muse was rewarded when he was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year.
And, unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be this time around.
On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was named the winner of the 2026 Jack Adams award, earning 226 points. Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff (223 points) was the runner-up, while Muse was third behind the other two with 199 points.
According to NHL PR, the race between the three candidates was the closest it has been since 1983-84, when the balloting results were first published for folks to see.
Muse, 43, was a first-year NHL head coach for the Penguins, and he quickly became popular with his players, who lauded his communication skills and tireless work ethic all year long. He led the team to a 41-25-16 record (98 points), and Pittsburgh reached the postseason for the first time in four years.
The Penguins' 98 points tied a franchise record for the most points earned by the team during a coach's first season behind the bench.
Jack Eichel
Nikolaj Ehlers
