The NHL unveiled their 2025-26 King Clancy Trophy nominees on Friday, with veteran defenseman Colton Parayko selected for the St. Louis Blues.
The King Clancy Trophy goes “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Each team nominated a player who best fit the criteria.
A committee including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, former winners of the King Clancy Trophy and past winners of the former NHL Foundation Player Award will consider a nominee’s inspiration, involvement and positive impact on their community. They will then take a vote to determine the winner.
Whoever gets the most votes wins not only the award but also a $25,000 donation to a charity or charities of their choice. The winner can even choose to have his team receive a grant of up to $20,000 from the NHL to help organize an activation supporting his humanitarian cause.
Kelly Chase in 1997-98 is the only Blues player to win this award.
In a press release, the Blues outline Parayko's work in the St. Louis community.
“Since arriving in St. Louis in 2015, Parayko has built a reputation that extends far beyond his play on the blue line. He remains a familiar face at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, while also supporting a wide range of charitable efforts both locally and in his home province of Alberta.
In 2021, Parayko expanded his commitment to giving back by launching Project 55, a foundation focused on supporting hospitalized children and their families. The initiative provides both financial assistance and emotional support, and over the past several years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help families navigating difficult circumstances.
Project 55 also creates memorable experiences designed to lift spirits during challenging times. Throughout the season, Parayko hosts patients and their families at Blues home games at Enterprise Center, offering an all-inclusive experience that includes game tickets, team gear, and a postgame meet-and-greet.”
In addition to the 32-year-old’s off-ice work, he’s posted three goals and 17 points in 73 games this season, claimed a silver medal with Team Canada at the Olympics, and will reach 800 career NHL games if he plays in each of the Blues’ remaining games.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Apr 9, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson (74) reacts after being selected as the first star of the night against the San Jose Sharks Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
ANAHEIM, Calif. — John Carlson played 1,156 regular-season games and 137 more Stanley Cup playoff contests in his 17 NHL seasons before he finally got his first hat trick.
The steady defenseman would never list a three-goal game as a true aspiration, but Carlson was still thrilled to do it — particularly because it came in a vital victory for his new team’s playoff aspirations.
The 36-year-old Carlson said he literally couldn’t remember his last pre-NHL hat trick after he fired three goals past the San Jose Sharks during the Ducks’ 6-1 win, which snapped a six-game losing streak and greatly improved Anaheim’s chances of ending its seven-year postseason drought.
“I’ve seen a lot (of hat tricks) in my day, and always was a little bit jealous,” Carlson said with a grin.
Indeed, Carlson witnessed plenty of multigoal barrages during his long tenure with the Washington Capitals. That’ll happen when you play nearly 17 seasons alongside the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history: Alex Ovechkin has 34 career hat tricks, including 26 since Carlson’s debut with the Caps as a teenager in late 2009.
But Carlson has been a steady contributor on both ends of the ice throughout his NHL career, and he had been a major factor for his new team in Anaheim even before his third goal sealed a big win. His shot sent a shower of hats onto the Honda Center ice with 5:57 to play in celebration of only the fourth hat trick by a defenseman in Ducks history, and the first since 2018.
“It was great,” Carlson said. “I’ve obviously always wanted one. I think it was a good game to do it in, a home game. The crowd was great tonight from puck drop, and I think we just kept feeding on that and played a really good game.”
Carlson became the third defenseman in NHL history to record a hat trick after his 36th birthday, joining Mathieu Schneider and Nicklas Lidstrom, who was 40 years old when he accomplished the feat on Dec. 15, 2010. Only Lidstrom (1,442) played more games among NHL defensemen than Carlson before getting that inaugural trick.
Carlson has 12 points in 13 games since joining the Ducks, who acquired him at the trade deadline to shore up the back end on one of the league’s worst defensive teams. Carlson has overcome the first jersey change of his NHL career and the midseason disruption of his family’s life to fit in well on the West Coast, providing much-needed veteran poise while improving the Ducks’ mediocre power play, which produced his two third-period goals.
“He comes in and he’s an amazing player,” said center Leo Carlsson, who opened the scoring with an impressive drive to the net for his 28th goal. “Great person, too. He helps us a lot, so nothing but amazing things to say about him.”
After his hat trick, Carlson has 14 goals this season between Washington and Anaheim, three off his career high from the 2021-22 season.
Carlson got his first goal against the Sharks in the first period on a 97.47 mph slap shot — the hardest shot that resulted in a goal for the Ducks all season long.
He scored two more power-play goals 3 1/2 minutes apart in the third period, both on heavy shots. Anaheim’s power play had been 1 for 15 over the previous four games, dropping to 25th in the league.
“I thought he’s got the presence to shoot from the top,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s got good play recognition, and the power play needed that.”
Two days after the Ducks were booed off the ice by their home fans during a 5-0 loss to Nashville, they dominated the rival Sharks — another young, hungry team with playoff aspirations.
Anaheim’s victory left it in third place in the Pacific Division with 89 points, but just one behind Edmonton up in first place, where the Ducks had been for a full month before dropping back in the past week.
With just three games left, Carlson is confident the Ducks can pick up enough points to get him to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 15th time in a career that included a championship in 2018.
“Building that mentality, reaching back for a picture or a memory of (good) starts, those things are all good to have at this point in the year,” Carlson said.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
Mark Alberti/Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
NEWARK, N.J. — For the first time in four years, it soon will be a great day for playoff hockey in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins clinched a playoff spot by beating New Jersey, ending their postseason drought that lasted three seasons. They had made 16 postseason appearances in a row before that, last missing in Sidney Crosby’s rookie year in 2005-06, with that stretch including three Stanley Cup titles.
“That’s why you play — that’s the best time of year,” Crosby said. “I know how hard it is. I think I understand that. We had some tough ones where it came down to the last day and didn’t get in, and you don’t ever know. But I thought right from camp, we’ve had those intentions and had that belief.”
It was an up-and-down season that included an eight-game skid in December and a pair of six-game winning streaks later in the winter. Far from assured a place in the field in late March when the Eastern Conference race was a crowded mess, they’ve won five of six games since March 30 to get in.
“A couple weeks ago (we realized) it’s really in our hands (because we) play a lot of the teams in it,” defenseman Connor Clifton said. “We figured it was going to work itself out, and first and foremost it’s about us and getting points and we’ve done that, so it’s been good.”
It also has been a surprise. Pittsburgh was a 6-1 long shot to qualify before the puck dropped on opening night, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. This looked like one last kick at it together for an aging core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who at 20 seasons together are the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American professional sports.
Instead, new coach Dan Muse has made general manager Kyle Dubas look brilliant for hiring him from relative anonymity: five years as an assistant under Peter Laviolette with Nashville and the New York Rangers. Succeeding two-time Cup-winner Mike Sullivan was not an easy task, but Muse aced the test in his first chance to run an NHL bench.
“He’s been great: Calm there behind the bench, and he’s just a really personable guy, easy to talk to away from the rink,” forward Justin Brazeau said. “Any time you create that atmosphere in here, it’s not too tense or anything like that. I think guys are just willing to go out there and play free.”
Center Ben Kindel, picked 11th in the draft last year, made the team at 18. Defenseman Erik Karlsson thrived at 35. Crosby was a point-a-game player for a 21st consecutive season, even if it was interrupted by the injury that knocked him out of the Olympics.
“It takes everybody,” Crosby said. “Everybody has had a part in this. Obviously it’s a team game, but especially with this group: With the injuries and all the different guys in and out, everybody’s contributed to us getting there.”
Muse, like Crosby, saw evidence in training camp that this was a playoff-caliber team.
“I just saw the competitive nature of the group,” Muse said. “There’s ebbs and flows in every season, but I think this group has just continued to grow. Enjoy it for a little bit, a minute, and then it’s just continuing that preparation. It’s a big step for the group. I’m really proud of these guys, happy for these guys, the staff, everybody involved. The players have done a great job with it throughout the year. We talked about earning things at the beginning of the year. This group earned it.”
Hagens skated at an optional practice with the Bruins for the first time Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. His first full practice was Friday. The Bruins’ next two games are this weekend: home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. B’s head coach Marco Sturm confirmed Friday that Hagens won’t play against the Lightning.
It’s hard to know exactly how ready a 19-year-old player is for the NHL. It’s a clear step up in speed, skill and physicality compared to the NCAA and AHL levels. But Hagens’ improvement as a sophomore for BC this past season — especially in the defensive aspect of his game — should help the transition to the Bruins.
“He did take a great jump in so many areas,” Boston College men’s hockey head coach Greg Brown told NBC Sports Boston this week.
“His offensive game was always there, and he still continues to develop it. He’s only 19 years old now, but I think he took huge steps in the rest of his game, becoming a 200-foot player, defensive awareness, defensive detail — all those things that you’re going to need to play in the NHL, James really improved on this year, so it’s great to see.”
Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
James Hagens won the Hockey East scoring title with BC this past season.
Inside Hagens’ offensive breakout
One of the most notable improvements Hagens made in Year 2 with the Eagles was becoming a more prolific goal scorer. He’s always been an elite playmaker, but his goal-scoring went to another level this past season. He scored 11 goals in 37 games for BC as a freshman, and then he jumped to 23 goals in 34 games in 2025-26.
What led to Hagens finding the back of the net more frequently?
“A couple of things. One, he worked very hard on his shot,” Brown said. “It was almost every day he was out there after practice or before practice taking shots to improve his one-time or to improve his release on his snapshot. So, he had physical gains that way.”
“But also, I think his awareness of where to find openings — he scored a bunch of one-timer goals, whether it was low by the goal line or whether it was up at the top of the circle. He really did a great job of finding the space. As well as having a good shot, it’s critical to be able to find the opportunities to get shots, and he made great strides in that area, too.”
One area where Hagens could really make a positive impact early in his Bruins career is on the power play.
He thrived in those situations for BC, where his vision, playmaking and ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone made a huge difference.
“James was tremendous for us on the power play this year,” Brown said. “He kind of ran it from the flank, and his skill set obviously lends to offensive hockey. But his ability to play the game with his head up the whole time allows him to see opportunities and where openings come very quickly.
“He doesn’t have to look down and check the puck and make sure it’s on his stick. He’s always scanning, always ready to look for the next opportunity. So, I think that will serve him very well as he makes the transition to pro hockey.”
Will Hagens play center or wing?
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm did not commit to putting Hagens into a certain spot in the lineup when asked at a press conference Thursday, but it sounds like most, if not all, of his early reps will be on the wing.
“It’s probably a wing for sure, because right now we feel very comfortable with our centermen,” Sturm told reporters. “It’s not fair to put him as a center because he didn’t play it all year long. I think he’s in a safe spot here as a wing. Moving forward, we’ll see. I would love to see him as a center because he has that speed and ability to move pucks, but definitely not this year.”
Hagens is a natural center, but he played on the wing plenty for BC this past season. This kind of versatility should be a benefit to the Bruins.
“It was huge for us, (for Hagens) to be flexible and to be effective in all three forward positions, but I also think that it’s critical if you’re going to become an NHL forward. As you’re joining a team, you don’t know what their strengths are, where they have guys slotted. You want to be able to be put in anywhere,” Brown said.
“If they ask you to play left wing, right wing, or center, you wanna be able to say, ‘Yes, I can do that.’ I think he gained a lot of valuable experience, playing all positions, and he did a great job for us wherever we put him.”
Can Hagens live up to the hype?
Expectations for Hagens are high. That’s part of the deal playing in a sports-crazed city like Boston, especially when you’re a top-10 draft pick. But dealing with pressure and expectations are nothing new for Hagens. That experience will help him as his pro career gets underway.
“James does a great job of blocking out the noise and focusing on playing,” Brown said. “I thought, as much attention as he got from being a high pick and playing in Boston, I think even his freshman year was harder before the draft, when there was so much attention put on him, and he had to do interviews all the time, whether it was with teams or with the media.
“So the fact that he was able to handle that, handle those responsibilities and also still play at a high level, really showed his maturity and his ability to separate the two things. He’s going to have a lot of attention, but so far, the way he’s handled it, it gave him great experience in that department, and I think he really doesn’t let it affect him.
“When he steps on that ice, he’s all-in on how he’s gonna play.”
DENVER — Tyson Gross gave Calgary a moment to hold onto late Thursday night in Denver—even if the scoreboard didn’t fully reward it.
The hometown product broke through with his first NHL goal in the final minutes against the Colorado Avalanche, battling at the top of the crease and jamming home a loose puck after a point shot from Matvei Gridin. It was the kind of gritty, hard-earned tally young players dream about—scored not with flash, but with determination in the blue paint.
A Dream Realized—And Nearly Doubled
For Gross, the breakthrough was only part of the story.
Just a few shifts after his first career marker, he appeared to strike again. Stationed near the side of the net, Gross angled his stick perfectly and banked another puck across the goal line, momentarily sending the Flames bench into celebration. For a brief moment, it looked like a storybook night—two goals in quick succession in just his early NHL action.
Zach Whitecloud quick comments following morning skate.
But the jubilation didn’t last.
Following a coach’s challenge from Colorado, the play was ruled offside at the blue line, wiping away what would have been Gross’ second goal of the night. Instead of a multi-goal performance, he was left with a single tally—though one that still carried immense personal significance.
Despite the overturned goal, Gross’ impact was undeniable. In a game where Calgary struggled to generate sustained offense, his net-front presence and willingness to battle stood out.
“I thought he did a great job on his faceoffs,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska stated. “He did a really good job, especially in the third period, winning draws and then going right to the net. He has a presence in front, and he did a good job of banging—or whacking—a rebound in. We’re excited for him to score his first goal in the NHL.”
Even in a 3-1 loss—sealed late by an empty-net goal from Nathan MacKinnon—Gross delivered a glimpse of what could be more to come.
A Much Better Effort
Speaking with several Flames players prior to the game—including Zach Whitecloud and Morgan Frost—the message was clear: they wanted a far better showing than their March 30 loss, when they were routed 9-2 by this same Avalanche team.
While the lineup wasn’t identical—Nazem Kadri, who had been dealt back to Colorado at the deadline, was unavailable due to a broken finger—the response from Calgary was noticeably different.
Despite another loss, the Flames didn’t go quietly. They competed for every inch of the ice from the opening puck drop. Dustin Wolf, who was pulled in that previous meeting after allowing four goals on 16 shots in less than half a period, bounced back in a big way—stopping 38 of 40 shots and giving Calgary a chance throughout the night.
If the Flames can continue to bring this level of effort, while retooling, drafting well, and steadily improving their roster, this is a team that could become one to watch in the near future. There’s no shame in this performance—only signs of progress.
Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images | Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoffs, officially clinching their spot on Thursday night with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. It ends a three-year playoff drought and gets them back into the playoffs far sooner than anybody expected when Kyle Dubas was hired as general manager to start rebuilding the organization. There is still a lot of work to do long-term, especially as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and even Erik Karlsson get closer to the end of their careers. Those are questions for another day.
The only question that matters right now is what can the Penguins actually do now that they are in the playoffs with home-ice advantage secured in the opening round.
Given that this team has silenced doubters and exceeded expectations all season, nothing should be completely ruled out.
I said this a few weeks ago, but if you ignored the preseason expectations and just simply looked at the way this team plays and the numbers behind it, you would probably not hesitate to call it a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
As of Friday they are on pace for 101 points this season. They have the eighth-best record in the NHL as a whole, the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference and rate in the top-10 in pretty much every meaningful category.
Standings: 8th
Goal-Differential: 8th
5-on-5 Goal Differential: 7th
5-on-5 Expected Goals Share: 7th
5-on-5 Scoring Chance Share: 10th
5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chance Share: 9th
Power Play: 7th
Penalty Kill: 6th
They are also the second-highest scoring team in the league behind only the Colorado Avalanche, despite Crosby, Malkin, and Rickard Rakell each missing double-digit games. The depth has been sensational as they already boast 12 10-goal scorers, 10 15-goal scorers, five 20-goal scorers, and have outscored teams 93-89 with a 52 percent expected goal share during 5-on-5 play when neither Crosby or Malkin is on the ice.
They are incredibly deep at forward with as many as 16 or 17 NHL caliber players. That is a necessary ingredient for a Stanley Cup contender.
They also have two other necessary ingredients in a true No. 1 center (Crosby) and a true No. 1 defenseman (Erik Karlsson).
No matter who their first-round opponent ends up being, whether it is the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders or Washington Capitals (very long shot) the Penguins should be favorites in it. Imagine somebody telling you that back in September. You would look at them like they were crazy. Well there is nothing crazy about it now, because the Penguins are here, and they look like a team that is capable of at least advancing a little bit in the playoffs.
It is just a matter of how far they can go and what their ceiling actually is.
For all of the positives and key ingredients this team has, there are still a couple of questions that could limit what they do and how far they can go.
They can score with, and outscore, just about any team in the league.
The question will be stopping people.
While the Karlsson-Parker Wotherspoon pairing has been outstanding, the Penguins do have some big questions on defense after them.
The biggest being whether or not Kris Letang and Sam Girard can continue on the path they have started to display over the past couple of weeks.
When that duo was first put together it was a problem. A big problem. But as Girard has started to find his confidence, that pairing is starting to click a little bit. There might not be a bigger development for the Penguins right now than those two becoming a legitimate second defense pair. They are now outscoring teams 13-8 with a 52 percent expected goals share at 5-on-5 overall. Over the past 10 games those numbers are 11-5 and 58.4 percent.
That would be a game-changer to have two pairings you can count on.
The question then becomes whether or not you can hide the third pairing of Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea. And while they have been very good this season, and especially lately, I do still have some fears about Clifton in a best-of-seven series where teams are scouting deeper, line-matching harder and looking to exploit whatever weakness they can.
Then there is the goaltending.
Stuart Skinner seems to have taken the upper hand in net and is likely to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 goalie. It is deserved, and the best choice. For all of his flaws and inconsistencies, he has shown over the past two years he can play well in stretches, especially in big games, and at least do enough to get a team to the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins do not need him to be a superhero in there. They just need him to not lose games.
I am not ready to say the Penguins are on the same level as a Colorado, Tampa Bay or even Carolina when it comes to Stanley Cup contenders. But they are also not going to be a pushover or an easy out if/when they get beyond the first round. This is a really good hockey team. A playoff team. Now we get to see just what type of playoff team they can be.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 09: Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his goal during the first period of the game against the New Jersey Devils on April 9, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins completed a double whammy yesterday, not only did they clinch a playoff spot for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs as a result of their victory, they also clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers loss. That makes for the best of days.
What’s next for the Pens?
They have to finish out the regular season with three more games – at home against Washington on Saturday, then a rematch against the Capitals in Washington on Sunday followed by a random enough trip to St. Louis on Tuesday for the final game of the season. The NHL playoffs begin in the days that follow, the Pens are expected to host Game 1 on either Saturday April 18 or Sunday April 19 depending on the league’s scheduling.
That leaves the next week to get ready, and it will be interesting to see how the team handles the build up period. You would think most, if not the full lineup star players will be playing tomorrow for the home finale (fan appreciation day, no less) and maybe try to get Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust to the 30-goal plateau as they share the ice with Alex Ovechkin one more time, and possibly for the last time pending Ovechkin’s summer decision on playing in the NHL next season or not. The added benefit would be a Penguin win over the Capitals tomorrow will more or less pull the plug on their season that’s already on life support – so what better way to end the lopsided Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry than ending his (potential) last season?
Beyond that, I wouldn’t expect too many star players to be taking the trip to St. Louis on Tuesday night. The NHL has call-up rules in place to limit the amount of talent that can come up from the AHL after the deadline, so it’s not like the Pens would be able to give everyone a night off, but there isn’t much reason for older/important players to not stay home and rest for an extra couple of days.
Then there is the potential opponents, let’s take a look as of today:
The Flyers remain in third place, but things have tightened up with their 6-3 loss to Detroit last night, coupled with the Islanders winning their first game with new coach Pete DeBoer. Columbus, sadly for them, looks like they have run out of gas following a 5-0 loss to Buffalo last night, spoiling a critical chance to get back in the running. With 29 regulation wins, NYI would hold the first tiebreaker over either team, should it come down to a tie after 82-games.
So, as of now for the Penguins, it’s looking like Philadelphia or the NY Islanders. Things could change with a couple of losses by them combined with a couple of wins for CBJ or Washington but time is running critically low with all the teams only having three games remaining in the season. It’s difficult to make up many points in that limited an amount of opportunites.
Philadelphia plays at Winnipeg (just about toast for playoff odds, but scrappy winners of three-straight games) then ends the year with home games against Carolina (already clinched first place, nothing to play for) and Montreal (who might need to win that game to win their division and avoid a tough playoff matchup). Fairly manageable for the Flyers, though giving up six goals and losing to a struggling Detroit team shows that Philadelphia’s performances are variable.
The Islanders might be the true wild card team (not to be confused with competing for a Wild Card playoff spot) due to their coaching change throwing a big change into the proceedings. The change might have come a little too late to salvage the season, though understandably enough because it’s not like there’s a reason to make the change unless things are already going off the rails. NYI ends with a home afternoon game against Ottawa (who have been all over the map but are starting to look stable with a three-game winning streak) and then play Carolina (nothing to play for) and Montreal (potentially something to play for).
The key to everything could be tomorrow for PHI@WIN and OTT@NYI. The Islanders need some help from the Jets and even more importantly they need to take care of their business against a quality opponent. The Flyers are one point ahead but a tie in the standings is as good a win for the Islanders, can they make a move tomorrow or will the Flyers get a victory and stay controlling their own destiny? The season for those teams may well come down to the results of how it shakes out tomorrow, given that they both play CAR and MTL in the final two games.
The season will not come down to the final games for the Penguins, though. They’ve taken care of their business and wrapped everything up a few games early. Now they can start to shift gears into planning for how to handle the meaningless games in the coming games and start to ramp up for whoever emerges from a pressure situation late in the year as their opponent in the first round of the playoffs.
While Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield was scoring the 50th goal of his career on the Bell Centre ice, prospect Michael Hage and his Michigan Wolverines were taking on the Denver Pioneers in the Frozen Four semi-final in Vegas.
In a hotly contested game, Denver came out on top with a 4-3 win in double overtime. Hage got one assist in the game, just like Sam Harris (another Canadiens prospect who plays for Denver). The defeat means Hage’s season is over, and it will be time for him to decide what he wants to do next season. Of course, he might need a bit of time to grieve after failing to reach the Frozen Four final, but given the fact that there are only three games left in the Canadiens’ season, a decision should be made rather quickly.
It’s obvious that the Habs believe the 6-foot-1, 199 lbs center is ready to turn pro. While Kent Hughes said the decision was up to the player, the way he spoke in interviews this season leaves little doubt about what the Canadiens would like him to do.
If he does decide to make the jump to the pros, one question remains: Will he sign his ELC and join the Canadiens right away, or will the organization decide that it would be good for him to join the Laval Rocket in their playoff run? If they decide to opt for the second option, the youngster will sign his ELC to start in the 2026-27 season and sign a one-way AHL contract to join Pascal Vincent’s team, just like Jacob Fowler did last season.
This will probably be a tricky decision for the Canadiens, who are eager to see what the youngster could do in the NHL, but every game is pivotal right now as the Sainte-Flanelle is fighting for home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Is now the right time to bring someone new in? He has plenty of talent and should be a good NHL player in the future, but is he ready to dive right into the deep end? Furthermore, he suffered a lower-body injury recently and is probably not fully healthy right now.
Seeing Martin St-Louis try different combinations for his second line in the last couple of games, it’s clear that he isn’t set on one combination yet, and the hope is that one day, Hage could be their second center, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to step into that role right away. The pivot finished his sophomore season in Michigan with 52 points in 39 games, a big improvement from the 34 points he got in 33 games as a rookie.
Chances are, Hage will be wanting to burn the first year of his ELC this season, but we’ve seen Hughes manage to have his way in the past.
Whichever path the Canadiens and Hage decide to pick, he will probably find himself playing in Laval next season. There’s a huge gap between the NCAA and the NHL level of play; it takes some getting used to. The 21st overall pick at the 2024 draft would benefit from spending some time under Vincent in Laval.
Of course, there's also a possibility that he decides to return to Michigan for another year to try for a national title, but I would be surprised if that was the case.
ELMONT, NY -- After watching countless hours of film on New York Islanders rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer during the roster construction process of Team Canada's 2026 Winter Olympics team -- a team Schaefer didn't make -- Thursday night marked the first time Pete DeBoer would see the 18-year-old in action.
Not only did Schaefer score his 23rd goal of the season to tie Brian Leech for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history, but we saw what we've seen all season long: his two-way game.
He was getting back to break up players, he was saving pucks from going over the goal line, and in the final few minutes, with the Islanders holding a two-goal lead, he was blocking shots off the collarbone to help secure a critical two points.
"I told the coaching staff in there. They've seen him every night this year. So you probably get a little bit numb to it. But for me, watching him from the bench live like that, it was just, wow," DeBoer said. "I mean, what a player. I watched him a lot on video as we were scouting for the Olympics.
"But to see him live like that at the age he's at, and how dynamic he is both ends of the rink, defensively, particularly, I mean...I know the offensive stuff, but for a young player, how defensively aware he is and how much he works at the defensive piece of the game, too, he's a really, really special player."
Thursday night in Seattle the Kraken met the LasVegas Golden Knights. The teams had met twice before this season; Seattle came out victorious in both. The Kraken maintained that winning record, eking out a 4-3 shootout win.
The game started out rough. Mark Stone had Vegas ahead 2-0 by a minute into the second period. The Kraken had some good chances, but could not get anything past Adin Hill. Finally, almost eighteen minutes into the second period Jared McCann capitalized on a power play opportunity and the Kraken were on the board.
April 9th: Highlights Courtesy of Seattle Kraken
In the third period Vegas scored again and the Kraken found themselves in a two-goal deficit for the second time. Berkly Catton took advantage of an out-of-position Adin Hill and with a lucky bounce scored his seventh of the season. Suddenly, the Kraken only needed a single goal to even the score.
Where else could the missing point come from but Bobby McMann? With a nearly point-per-game average since joining the Kraken just after the trade deadline, McMann has been a consistent feature on the Seattle scoreboard. On a pass from Jordan Eberle out of the corner, McMann hurled the puck over Hill’s right shoulder to tie the game.
Overtime was scoreless and the game moved on to the shootout. Mitch Marner managed to get one past Joey Daccord, but it was the first and last for Vegas. On the Kraken’s next turn, Matty Beniers deked, fooling Hill who dived left while Beniers slid the puck in on his right side. Daccord and Hill went stop-for-stop until the Kraken sent out rookie Berkly Catton.
Hoping his lucky bounce would portend good fortune in the shoot out, and it did. Catton put the Kraken up 2-1 in the shootout, and Vegas got one more opportunity to stay in the game. Pavel Dorofeyev gave is his best wrist shot, but Daccord was ready for him. The Kraken emerged victorious.
April 9th: Joey Daccord celebrates the Kraken win in the background as Pavel Dorofeyev laments. Photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News
Currently, the Golden Knights hold the second seed in the Pacific Division standings, just one point behind the Anaheim Ducks in first. The Kraken, on the other hand, are eight points out of a wildcard spot with only four games remaining. While not technically mathematically eliminated yet, the likelihood of any kind playoff run for Seattle is virtually nonexistent.
The Philadelphia Flyers had an opportunity to virtually nail down a place in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday night, but they instead came up painfully short. Fortunately, after receiving some help, they're still alive.
Before the game began, MoneyPuck assessed that the Flyers' playoff odds would soar to 66.6% with a regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings, and crash to 21.2% with a regulation loss.
Ultimately, the final result was a crushing 6-3 defeat, but the Flyers got a helping hand from the Buffalo Sabres.
Because Buffalo was able to dismantle the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Thursday night and stop them from gaining any ground on the Flyers, Philadelphia's playoff odds now sit at a more modest 45.6% in MoneyPuck's eyes.
For the sake of comparison, the New York Islanders, who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation Thursday night, are close behind at 36.5%, while the Blue Jackets and Red Wings are at 14.6% and 5.8%, respectively.
This is all to say that the Flyers are still the favorites to make the playoffs via third place in the Metropolitan Division, but any room for error has been erased with the Islanders' win.
Because the Flyers have a one-point advantage over the Islanders (92 points to 91), they will need to match or do better than New York over the final three games of the season; the Flyers don't hold any tiebreakers.
Rookie forward Porter Martone collected his second-career two-point night, scoring a tap-in from point-blank range on the power play and adding an assist with Christian Dvorak redirecting his long-range slapper in the first period.
Thursday night's game was largely lost on special teams, where the Flyers were an abysmal 1/6 on the power play and an even worse 1/4 on the penalty kill.
The Red Wings pulled away in the second period, with power play goals from Moritz Seider and Dylan Larkin giving them 2-1 and 3-1 leads, respectively, before Larkin added a shorthanded goal minutes later.
All three goals to put the Red Wings up 4-1 in the second period were scored in a span of 4:24 and resulted in Dan Vladar being pulled from the game.
Suffice to say, the Flyers are staring at another must-win game Saturday, when they face the surging Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg.
The Jets are winners of three straight and are 7-2-1 in their last 10, suddenly sitting three points out of a playoff spot with four games to play.
Apr 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images | Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Sigh. The Devils dropped a 5-2 loss to the Penguins Thursday night. [Devils NHL]
“…It would stand to reason that teams with front office openings would want to emulate the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. There would be curiosity as to how the sausage is made over there. Which is why it’s no surprise, according to league sources, that both the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs have asked and received permission from the Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta, whose name has been all the rage of late, especially in the Toronto market. As head of analytics for the Cup champs, his background fits a big part of the profile for both the Devils and Leafs.” [The Athletic ($)]
“The search is still in its early stages, and the structure of the front office could change if they split the titles of president of hockey operations and general manager. With that, let’s look at some very early potential candidates that the Devils may interview over the next few weeks to replace Tom Fitzgerald.” [Devils on the Rush]
Luke’s season is over:
#NEWS: The New Jersey Devils have shut down D Luke Hughes to undergo a procedure and get a head start on rehab for the off-season. pic.twitter.com/YeZJcVMo1j
“Alex Ovechkin will wait until the offseason to decide whether this will be his final season in the NHL, the Washington Capitals captain said in an interview posted by the team on social media.” [NHL.com]
Ron Francis is out in Seattle:
The #SeaKraken announced today that Ron Francis will be stepping down from his role as President of Hockey Operations at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
“Who is the best all-around defenseman in the NHL? There are a lot of contenders for that title this year. Unlike last year, there isn’t one favorite running away with the honors. This is the deepest Norris Trophy field in years, with a special group of defensemen performing with MVP-caliber play.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
After playing an emotionless game against the Florida Panthers, the Montreal Canadiens were hosting a potential first-round opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Thursday night at the Bell Centre. Given the high stakes in that matchup, it was clear that both teams would bring their A-game and neither would disappoint.
With that kind of opposition, the Habs couldn’t afford a slow start, and they knew it. Joe Veleno was back in the lineup after battling the flu, taking over from Zachary Bolduc. As for Kaiden Guhle, who skated alone ahead of the morning skate, he remained out, just like healthy scratch Brendan Gallagher.
After using Alex Newhook at the center of the second line on Tuesday, Martin St-Louis had him playing wing on the third line alongside Phillip Danault and Kirby Dach, while Oliver Kapanen took his spot back in the middle with Alexandre Texier on one side and Ivan Demidov on the other. As for Veleno, he landed on the fourth line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson.
Overall, the new combination worked pretty well in the first frame; they all had plenty of energy and grit on the ice, dominating in shots 8-3, and they hit the post behind Andrei Vasilevskiy twice. Of course, the four-minute power play they received early on helped them build some momentum and kept the Lightning out of their zone, but still, only giving the Bolts three shots in 20 minutes is quite a feat.
History Was Made
For the 13th time in franchise history, a Hab scored 50 goals in a season. After failing to find twine in his last three games, Cole Caufield beat Vasilevsky for the first goal of the game, becoming just the seventh Canadiens player to score 50 in a season. Unsurprisingly, the Bell Centre absolutely erupted, and the atmosphere became even more electric. Fittingly, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky got the assists on the history-making goal. Speaking to the media after the game, the man of the hour said he couldn’t have drawn it any better.
The great Pierre Houde 🐐 calling Cole Caufield’s 50th Habs goal of the season tonight at the Bell Centre pic.twitter.com/bkYX0a5OBv
Asked how he felt being the first American-born player to hit 50 goals with the Canadiens, he replied:
Honestly, it’s hard not to follow. You see it kind of everywhere, not going to lie, was pretty stressed out the past couple of days, but that’s what makes this place so special, and that’s why it’s kind of so cool for me, and my teammates, coaches and family to take this in and enjoy it. Honestly, it felt like it would never come there for a couple of days; in those three games, it felt like it would never come. I’m just glad it’s over with now, and we can get back to work. We still have a couple of big games left.
- Caufield on his accomplishment
It was easy to see how relieved the sniper was to score that 50th goal finally, and when it was put to him that he could finally move on, he instantly replied, “You guys too!” making everyone in the room chuckle.
His best answer, though, was without a doubt when he was asked about how much Martin St-Louis has helped him over the course of his young NHL career:
Obviously, I don’t know if there is a guy I should thank more or give more respect to. I think when he came in, he gave me not only an opportunity but definitely some confidence, and he taught me how to play the game the right way to create more and get the puck more in better spots. He always says he’s not going to teach me how to score, but I think deep down, he knows he did. To work with a guy like that, I think everybody on our team has benefited a lot from him, and our whole staff has been outstanding, a lot of thanks to him, but you know, everybody deserves a little piece of that.
- Caufield on how Martin St-Louis has helped him
When Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton hired Martin St-Louis, the GM said it was important to have a coach who could match the identity they wanted to give their version of the Canadiens and getting Martin St-Louis on board was a masterstroke from them in hindsight. The undersized Hall of Fame was just the right man to lead this young team through adversity, but also a perfect teacher for a player like Caufield.
Reflecting on the fact that he slid all the way down to 15 in the draft back in 2019, the sniper said he wouldn’t want it any other way and that he was fortunate enough to go to the right place and go to the right team. He added, “Who knows where I would be on a different team? I’m just thankful for everything this city has offered and kind of the journey we’ve been on ever since I got here.”
Caufield was also asked if he was glad to have accomplished the feat wearing number 13, a number he chose to honour Johnny Gaudreau after his tragic death, and visibly moved, he explained:
Every time I get to put on my jersey and my helmet, it’s weird to think about, but it’s an opportunity to represent him and remember him. It’s a special thing to kind of do that, I guess he’s behind me, and he’s looking down on us, everybody that he knew he made a better person, so I can’t obviously give him a hug right now, but I wish I could.
- Caufield on Johnny Gaudreau and his number swap
Furthermore, it was the 30th time Caufield put the Canadiens in front of the season, allowing him to move past Pavel Bure at 2nd overall for most go-ahead goals in a season. While some believed that playing a depleted Florida Panthers side the other night was the perfect occasion for the American to notch his 50th finally, it wasn’t surprising that he did it in a game with high stakes and against a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens had to elevate their games to overcome such a formidable foe.
In the process, they needed to play the game the right way, which was always going to be the way Caufield could finally accomplish the milestone. That’s what allowed him to score the other 49 goals he had on the season. The prolific sniper doesn’t really do meaningless goals; he scores when his team most needs goals. It was the 30th time he put the Canadiens in front this year, allowing him to move past Pavel Bure at 2nd overall for most go-ahead goals in a season.
Rising To The Challenge
As for the coach, he was pleased with the way his team responded to the very physical brand of hockey the Lightning played. In such a tight game, the players had to fight for every inch on the ice, and while they pushed back, they stayed within the rules. They didn’t fall into the trap set by the experienced Bolts, aside from Arber Xhekaj, who was tricked into taking a penalty by Corey Perry, something the coach said the veteran has been doing for 20 years.
While there weren’t many goals scored in the game, the Bell Centre crowd was treated to playoff-like hockey and seeing the Habs win a 2-1 game against Tampa Bay, which has been a perennial contender for years in this league, was encouraging ahead of the spring dance. While Jakub Dobes only saw 18 shots, he had to make several big saves, protecting his team’s lead right up until the 58th minute when the Lightning managed to tie up the game at six on five. That equalizer could have been deflating for the Canadiens, but they rolled up their sleeves and went right back to work, getting the game-winning goal just 47 seconds later.
With that win, the Canadiens overtook the Lightning in the standings, and they’ve put themselves in the right position to earn home ice advantage in the first round. With 104 points and three games to go, the Habs are in control of their own fate with a game in hand on the Buffalo Sabres. The Canadiens will play their final home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, then play the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers on the road to wrap up the season.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 09: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate the win in the game against the New Jersey Devils on April 9, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night, capitalizing on quick-strike offense and pulling away in the third period against a New Jersey team already thinking about summer plans. The win officially gave Pittsburgh a playoff berth for the first time in four years. Additionally, with the Philadelphia Flyers’ loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, Pittsburgh has clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. [Recap]
Thursday’s win was a sort of microcosm of the season. The Penguins defied all expectations thanks to strong performances from core veterans like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, along with key contributions from newer players. [KDKA]
Those interested in learning more about tickets for the first two home playoff games can do so here. Tickets officially go on sale at noon ET. [Penguins]
So long, Sergei. We hardly knew ye. The Penguins reassigned rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov to their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL affiliate on Thursday after Stuart Skinner was given the green light to play. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied the NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman, continuing a historic debut season that has seen him break several league and franchise marks. [TSN]
Seattle Kraken co-owner Tod Leiweke acknowledged the team’s disappointing 2025-26 season and said significant changes are needed after falling short of expectations as the team teeters on the brink of playoff elimination. [Sportsnet]
Washington Capitals (40-30-9, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-22-16, in the Metropolitan Division)
Pittsburgh; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins aim to keep a three-game win streak alive when they host the Washington Capitals.
Pittsburgh is 41-22-16 overall and 13-2-9 against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are 41-6-9 when scoring at least three goals.
Washington is 40-30-9 overall with a 14-7-2 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Capitals have a 16-7-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Penguins won 5-3 in the last meeting. Sidney Crosby led the Penguins with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Rust has scored 29 goals with 36 assists for the Penguins. Rickard Rakell has 10 goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
Alexander Ovechkin has 31 goals and 30 assists for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard has scored four goals with three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 6-4-0, averaging 4.4 goals, 7.7 assists, four penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
Capitals: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.3 assists, 4.8 penalties and 14.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Penguins: Filip Hallander: out (leg), Blake Lizotte: out (upper-body), Connor Dewar: day to day (lower body), Caleb Jones: out for season (shoulder).
Capitals: Charlie Lindgren: day to day (upper body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Jordan Binnington Named Blues' 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy NomineeJordan Binnington has been selected as the St. Louis Blues’ 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee.
Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
