The family of late NHL player Claude Lemieux has released a statement, saying they are donating his brain for study and asking for "compassion" in reporting his death.

Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup winner, died on Thursday, May 28, at age 60. His body was found in a warehouse of a furniture showroom that the family owned in Florida.

"The family recognizes that there has been public reporting about the circumstances of Claude's death," said the family statement, which was shared by his son, Brendan, a 2014 second-round NHL draft pick. "Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who loved him.

"Anyone in crisis or emotional distress in the United States can call or text 988 for confidential support from the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline."

Here's the latest on the death of Claude Lemieux:

The Philadelphia Flyers have seen a number of their prospects get traded to new teams or commit to colleges recently, and that trend is reportedly likely to extend to the goalie position now, too.

Top Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin had a strange season, playing 12 KHL regular season games for SKA St. Petersburg, 18 VHL regular season games for SKA-VMF St. Petersburg, and one MHL regular season game for SKA-1946 St. Petersburg.

After playing 46 KHL regular season games for SKA and HK Sochi last year and breaking out onto the scene in a major way, Zavragin struggled to earn a consistent spot in the lineup this year and fell out of favor in the eyes of new head coach Igor Larionov.

The Flyers' 2023 third-round pick still posted a respectable 2.63 GAA and .919 save percentage, but those stats paled in comparison to the 2.01 GAA and .939 save percentage of Artemi Pleshkov, and 2.50 GAA and .928 save percentage of Sergei Ivanov.

Pleshkov and Ivanov were first and eighth in the KHL in save percentage, respectively, whereas Zavragin was 15th.

Flyers Have Clear Backup Goalie Target in Canadiens CastawayAlthough his time with the Montreal Canadiens is over, Sam Montembeault would be a useful add for the Philadelphia Flyers.

And that isn't a knock on Zavragin. Statistically, he still performed better than established KHL goalies (and some former NHLers) like Timur Bilyalov, Alex Georgiev, Vasili Demchenko, Zach Fucale, Spencer Martin, Louis Domingue, Chris Dreidger, and esteemed Colorado Avalanche prospect Ilya Nabokov, who is about to make the jump to North America.

But, given that Zavragin is clearly also behind Pleshkov and Ivanov, a trade would be beneficial for the Flyers prospect's development, and that is exactly what might happen.

According to KHL insider Hockey News Hub, it would not be a surprise if "Zavragin is traded in the next couple of days," and that Metallurg Magnitogorsk is the "most likely" destination with their need to replace the departing Nabokov.

Zavragin will have to overtake incumbent Alexander Smolin to become the starter with Metallurg, but he at least would have a clear path to rotational minutes on a team just went to the Gagarin Cup Eastern Conference semifinal.

The 20-year-old has only one year remaining on his KHL contract, and from there, he would be free to join the Flyers organization and continue developing here.

Mason McTavish trade rumours to Ottawa are close to becoming an annual summertime tradition.

They were everywhere last year, and they made sense. McTavish was a restricted free agent and, as the summer heated up, so did the trade chatter around the league. By September, McTavish was still home in Ottawa, skating with the 67's, and waiting for a deal, either by contract or trade.

He finally got one, a six-year contract worth $42 million, which seemed to put questions about McTavish's future to rest for the foreseeable future.

Well, not so much, as it turns out.

For a second straight summer, from Pierre LeBrun to Bruce Garrioch, McTavish's name is splattered all over the news as a possible trade chip for Anaheim, with the Senators being mentioned as a possible destination.

But does it make sense? Anaheim just signed the guy long-term. Why would they consider moving him eight months later? And is he the right fit in Ottawa?

Let's dig in.

Anaheim's View

As a team, Anaheim had a fine season. McTavish and the Ducks went out and made the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

But with great money comes great expectations, and McTavish didn't meet them this season.

While the Ducks improved by 12 points in the standings, McTavish had 11 fewer points than he did the year before, dropping from 22 goals and 52 points in his contract year to 17 goals and 41 points this year.

He was also healthy-scratched twice in the playoffs, when it matters most, which is a huge red flag. 

Another angle is that the Ducks need help on the blue line if they're going to take the next step. They were loaded this season with good young forwards like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, along with veterans like Troy Terry, Mikael Granlund, Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn. But they need D.

Finally, GM Pat Verbeek still has to do some financial tap dancing this summer. Both Carlsson and Gauthier are restricted free agents and will be due massive raises. The 22-year-old Gauthier led the Ducks with 41 goals and 69 points. Carlsson was next with 29 goals and 67 points.

The Ducks also have decisions to make with veteran defencemen John Carlson, Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba, who are all unrestricted free agents this summer.

So while Anaheim still values McTavish as an asset, there will need to be some sacrifice and restructuring one way or another. Maybe there's an opportunity for another team to buy low, but that's doubtful.

McTavish's stock dipped this season, but there would still be plenty of teams interested.

Ottawa's View

On the other hand, it's well documented why the Senators might have an interest in McTavish.

He was an outstanding junior prospect, starring for Team Canada at the 2022 World Juniors and leading the entire tournament with 17 points in seven games. He's 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, entering his fifth NHL season, and so far seems to be settling into a 40-to-50-point range. Though an argument could be made that his drop in production last season had a lot to do with missing training camp.

And of course, he has history with Ottawa and the Senators.

He spent last fall skating with the 67's. He's a Carp native. He played for Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, helping them win a championship.

Oh, and his father is Dale McTavish, who works as a pro scout for the Senators.

Sometimes home cooking and the comforts of home can turn a player around.

The Senators would also like to add another top-six forward. But not if he stays in that 40-to-50-point window he's occupied during his first four NHL seasons.

The Senators had six forwards this year who scored more points than McTavish did. He's certainly a player you'd like to add, any team would. But if you're taking on that salary and giving up important assets, you're doing so with the belief that he can produce 70-plus points, something he hasn't yet come close to doing.

Another forward would be nice, but is it Ottawa's biggest priority? The Sens went cold in the playoffs, but they were the league's ninth-highest-scoring team this season.

Meanwhile, they find themselves in the same pickle they were in two summers ago, needing to rebalance their blue line. With Nick Jensen possibly moving on and Jordan Spence emerging, the Senators are back to having a lot of puck movers, and not enough snarly, hard-to-play-against shutdown guys.

Oh, and the Senators may also need a reliable backup goalie who can play a lot of games. Where starter Linus Ullmark is concerned, as Guy Boucher liked to say, rest is a weapon.

There may be too many things working against the notion of bringing the kid from Carp home. But there are enough things that do make sense that it's worth some creative conversation over the summer.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For more THN Ottawa articles, click one of the latest stories below:

Senators Officially Hire Linus Ullmark's Friend And Former Goalie Coach
Senators AHL Coaching Candidate Signs On As Islanders AHL Head Coach
D.J. Smith Has Opportunity To End Ex-Senators' Coach NHL Drought
The Hockey News' Ottawa Senators Podcast
Report: Red Wings Expected To Move On From Three Former Senators

While the Montreal Canadiens had a deeper-than-expected run in the playoffs this season, their success did expose one crying need: a second-line center. At the start of the regular season, rookie Oliver Kapanen inherited the role because of the team’s lack of options, and for most of the season, he did well.

Playing alongside Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky or Alex Newhook, the Finn had a good rookie season, even though he slowed down considerably after the Olympics. In the first 57 games of the campaign, he had 18 goals and 31 points. After the Games, he could manage only four goals and six points in 25 matches.

Canadiens’ Defenseman Ranked Amongst Best NHL Players Of The 2025-26 Season
Canadiens Veteran Forward Named A Top Buyout Candidate
Canadiens’ Sniper Ranked Amongst Best NHL Players of 2025-26 Season

Given his lack of production at the tail end of the season, it wasn’t surprising that he couldn’t assume a top-six role in the playoffs, and given the lack of options, Jake Evans had to assume the role of second center during the postseason.

While the Ontarian is a good player who can help anywhere up and down the lineup, he doesn’t have the offensive instinct needed to assume such an offensive role. His performance of two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 19 games was remarkable, but had a player with more of a finishing touch played alongside a playmaker like Demidov, they likely would have had more than two goals. That would have proven very helpful as Montreal struggled to generate offense, especially in the Eastern Conference Final.

The answer won’t come internally, at least not for the upcoming season. Michael Hage has opted to spend another year in the NCAA, and it’s unlikely he would have been ready for such a high-profile role in any case. As for Owen Beck, if and when he makes it to the NHL, it’s likely to be as a bottom-six center.

As good a GM as Kent Hughes is, even he would be hard-pressed to find a second-line center on the free agent market. The best center of that free agent market class was going to be Evgeny Malkin, but he has already signed an extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins, meaning the top options will be 33-year-old Boone Jenner, who isn’t a top-six player, or Claude Giroux, who can play both wing or center but is already 38 years old.

If the GM wants to help his team down the middle, it looks like he will have to do it with a trade. Last off-season, he addressed a major organizational need by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, but he had two enticing first-round picks to work with at the time. This time around, he only has his own first-round pick, and given the team’s deep playoff run, we’re talking about a late pick.

That being said, the Canadiens do have a lot of interesting prospects on their hands. There’s the aforementioned Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom and, given Jakub Dobes’ performance in the playoffs, could Hughes explore the idea of trading one of his young goalies? It feels like teams could ask, but I doubt the GM will be ready to entertain the idea.

Was the trade that almost came to fruition before the trade deadline for a second-line center? It’s a possibility since Hughes said it would have been a significant deal. He has also said the idea could be revisited in the off-season, but is the GM he was talking with still in post? Brad Treliving has lost his job in Toronto, just like Patrik Alvin in Vancouver and Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey. It’s a lot easier to pick up where you left off if your potential trading partner is still around.

Who could be a potential target for Hughes? Mason MacTavish from the Anaheim Ducks could be an interesting option. He signed a six-year contract with a $7 M cap hit last offseason, but he didn’t have the kind of season Anaheim was expecting from him, with 41 points in 75 games. He was even a healthy scratch at times. Robert Thomas’ name has made the rounds for some time now, but St. Louis Blues' GM Doug Armstrong is reportedly quite a demanding trade partner.

The most intriguing name on the market has to be Nico Hischier. The New Jersey Devils’ top center and captain is about to enter the final year of a contract that pays him $7.25 M per year. At the end of the next season, he’ll be a UFA. If he doesn’t intend to re-up in New Jersey, new GM Sunny Mehta could be forced to trade him. Of course, if he wants to get a good return, that would likely be a sign-and-trade deal, just like Dobson last season.

At 27, Hischier would fit right in with the Canadiens and bring a wealth of experience. Even if he’s only made the playoffs twice, he has played nine seasons in the NHL. He has never scored more than 80 points in a season and put up 66 points last year, but his production could certainly improve if he played alongside the talented Demidov.

With over four months to work with before the start of the next season, Hughes and Jeff Gorton will have a lot of time to explore various options, and it’s far from out of the question that they could pull the trigger on a deal that none of us saw coming.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

In the NHL playoffs, the difference between advancing and going home is often not talent—it’s timing.

If the Colorado Avalanche decide to move on from Jared Bednar, the most obvious replacement may already be sitting in the same conference.

Former Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch stands out as a natural candidate. In many ways, he mirrors Bednar: calm, composed, and analytically driven. But there is one trait where he has separated himself in a way Colorado has increasingly struggled to match—how quickly he adjusts when a series changes.

A surface-level argument would dismiss Knoblauch because he has not yet won a Stanley Cup as a head coach, and default to Bednar as the safer option. But that ignores how often modern playoff series are decided after they reach equilibrium, not before.

When The Game Stops Looking Like Plan A

Knoblauch’s coaching identity was shaped in Edmonton, where he quickly established himself as a steady but responsive bench boss. He took over the Oilers in November 2023 after the organization parted ways with Jay Woodcroft, stabilizing a team that had drifted early and reshaping it into a legitimate contender.

From there, his approach has been consistent: stay with a plan until the game proves it needs to change.

As ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark noted, coaching at this level requires balancing “the macro view -- looking at the totality of a team -- while blending in the micro,” where “those real-time, in-game decisions can be the difference between being a winning franchise or one that wonders what would have been if better choices had been made.”

That philosophy is built around flexibility. As the piece puts it, “It’s about having confidence in Plan A. But it’s about having even more confidence in knowing when to shift away from Plan A in favor of Plan B, Plan C or an entirely different plan altogether at a moment’s notice.”

Players noticed it quickly.

Former Oilers forward Connor Brown described Knoblauch as “a pretty analytical guy and pretty composed,” adding, “I think he sees it clearly in these high-pressure situations. I think his judgement is pretty clear.”

Defenseman Darnell Nurse echoed that same idea more directly: “He has a knack for making adjustments at the right time and not making an adjustment just to make one.”

The emphasis isn’t on constant change—it’s on restraint with purpose.

Control Without Panic

The most noticeable trait behind Knoblauch’s bench is what doesn’t happen: overreaction.

Even when games swing early or momentum shifts quickly, the response is measured rather than emotional.

That steadiness has translated into a team that tends to stabilize games rather than spiral in them. The changes come, but they come with intention.

It’s not about reinventing the system mid-game. It’s about recognizing when the game has already changed. For instance, perhaps Jared Bednar should have started Mackenzie Blackwood in Game 3. And when Brock Nelson struggled at second-line center, maybe the adjustment should have come sooner—shifting Nazem Kadri back into a role he’s far more accustomed to handling.

The Avalanche Question That Never Goes Away

For Colorado, the conversation has never really been about talent. The roster has remained one of the league’s most dangerous for years. The question has been what happens once opponents adjust and the series tightens.

In 2019 against San Jose, Colorado pushed the Sharks to seven games in the second round, but the series swung late as the Sharks found ways to counter and close it out.

In 2021, the Avalanche opened with two wins over Vegas before the Golden Knights adjusted, evened the series at 2–2, and ultimately took control to win in six.

In 2023, Colorado’s first-round series against Seattle became another example of a tightly contested matchup where momentum shifted as it progressed, with the Avalanche ultimately falling in seven.

In 2024, Dallas proved able to counter Colorado’s attack structure over the course of a six-game series, and in 2025, another extended battle with the Stars again highlighted how quickly series can turn once adjustments begin to dictate play.

Early control hasn’t been the issue—sustaining it has. Against top-tier opponents, Colorado has at times been outmaneuvered by coaches such as Peter DeBoer on multiple occasions, and more recently John Tortorella, who stepped in as a late replacement in Vegas following the firing of Bruce Cassidy. A sweep at the hands of the Golden Knights only intensified those concerns and raised further questions about whether a different voice behind the bench is necessary. 

That is where Knoblauch’s profile naturally enters the conversation.

His time in Edmonton eventually came to a close after a first-round playoff exit to the Anaheim Ducks in 2026, a disappointing finish to a productive three-year run. But even as the results fell short at the end, the coaching identity that defined his tenure had already been established long before that final series.

One of the clearest examples came in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against Florida. Edmonton fell behind 3–0 in the series, but didn’t collapse. Instead, the structure shifted—matchups changed, lines were adjusted, and the game gradually tightened.

The Oilers forced a Game 7 before losing 2–1.

The result didn’t change the outcome, but it did reveal something more lasting: the series stayed alive because they didn't stick to the game strategy. 

That is the thread running through Knoblauch’s coaching profile—less about dominance, more about adaptation under pressure.

And in the modern NHL, where series often turn once they reach 2–2 and become tactical rather than technical, that trait carries weight.

Because at that stage, the question isn’t who has the better roster.

It’s who still knows how to adjust.

One of the quietly underrated forwards of his NHL generation, Thomas Vanek was announced Sunday as a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2026, earning the honor on the strength of an exceptional international career representing his home nation of Austria.

Vanek's induction is a fitting tribute to a player who, despite never quite receiving the mainstream recognition his numbers deserved, proved himself one of the most reliable offensive contributors of his era. Over 14 NHL seasons and 1,029 games, the Austrian winger accumulated 373 goals and 416 assists for 789 points. 

Playing for seven franchises including the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers, Vanek was most closely associated with the Buffalo Sabres, where he established himself as a consistent 60-plus point threat in his prime.

But it is his body of work in international hockey that earned him this particular honor. Vanek is arguably the greatest player Austria has ever produced on the ice, and his international resume backs that up. He appeared in two Winter Olympics for his country and was a standout presence at the IIHF World Championships, logging 17 points across 19 games in three tournament appearances. 

Thomas Vanek is widely regarded as Austria’s most accomplished player, with a standout NHL career and major international appearances. 🇦🇹 #IIHFpic.twitter.com/BLxHMuxT3G

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 31, 2026

As a junior, he announced himself to the hockey world emphatically, posting a remarkable 17 goals and 11 assists for 28 points in just 16 games across three World Junior Championships.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

His time in Detroit, though brief, was memorable on both ends as he joined the Red Wings at the start of the 2016-17 season and made an immediate impact, recording 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 48 games before being dealt to Florida as Detroit navigated a difficult rebuild. 

He liked the city enough to come back in what would be the final season of his career during the 2018-19 campaign. Vanek returned to the Motor City and put up 36 points in 64 games, still a reliable depth scoring option at the end of his run, and the kind of veteran presence the current Red Wings roster could frankly use.

Since hanging up his skates, Vanek has remained close to the game, working as a Team Consultant with the San Jose Sharks and has also served as an assistant coach for the Stillwater Bantam AA program. Sunday's announcement ensures that his underrated hockey legacy is finally recongized and is now officially enshrined.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Jackson Blake is having a tremendous postseason for the Carolina Hurricanes, putting him among the Conn Smythe odds favorites heading into Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

My Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes predictions expect another productive offensive showing from Blake in the series opener.

Let's break down why with my NHL picks for June 2.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 prediction

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes best bet: Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points (-135)

The Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson pairing has lost their 5-on-5 minutes on the scoreboard and controlled just 41.20% of the expected goals share, ranking them 16th out of 17 pairings to log 100+ minutes in the playoffs.

John Tortorella is giving them a lot of defensive zone starts, which doesn’t make life easy, but they’re still struggling to limit chances and keep the puck out.

Jackson Blake leads the Carolina Hurricanes in offensive zone start percentage (89.57%), expected goals, and time on ice at 5-on-5. He is the most likely candidate to take advantage. Play to -150.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 same-game parlay

Taylor Hall is pacing the Hurricanes in points, primary points, and sits tied with Blake for the top spot in high-danger chances.

He is a dual-threat player and has seen the same kind of favorable usage — albeit in less ice time — as Blake. The two play together at 5-on-5 and on a second power play unit that gets plenty of run, giving them a strong correlation.

The Hurricanes have a +67 high-danger chance differential through three rounds, well clear of the +33 differential the Golden Knights possess. They are playing lights out, have home ice, and rust won't be an issue in Game 1 this time around.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes SGP

• Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points
• Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points
• Carolina Hurricanes moneyline

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes odds for Game 1

• Moneyline: Golden Knights -145 | Hurricanes +125
• Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-200) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+165)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes trend

Carolina has won 20 of its last 25 games (+13.50 units, 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes.

How to watch Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The IIHF has announced its Hall of Fame class for 2026. Featured in the eight-person class is former Vancouver Canucks winger Thomas Vanek. The IIHF Hall of Fame is located at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and honours some of the greatest moments in international hockey. 

Vanek's time in Vancouver was short but memorable. The Austrian winger played 61 games for the Canucks in 2017-18, during which he recorded 17 goals and 41 points. Close to the trade deadline, Vanek was moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte.

As for the international stage, Vanek is considered the best Austrian player to play in the NHL. He represented his country at multiple World Championships, as well as the 2014 Winter Olympics. During his NHL career, Vanek played in 1029 games while recording 789 points. 

Vanek will be joined by Andres Ambühl, Patrice Bergeron, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Niklas Kronwall and Florence Schelling in the player category of this year's class. The other two inductees are Ralph Krueger and Luc Tardif, who will enter in the builders category. Other IIHF Hall of Fame inductees with connections to Vancouver include Pat Quinn, Pavel Bure and current Canucks Assistant General Manager Cammi Granato. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Former Abbotsford Canucks Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs Collects Fifth Shutout Of The Playoffs: One Year Ago Today

Aatu Räty & Finland Advance To Gold-Medal Game, Will Face Switzerland: Canucks At The 2026 World Championship

Canucks Prospect Gabriel Chiarot Will Play For The 2026 Memorial Cup

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.

Five years on May 31, the New York Islanders entered TD Garden trailing in the second round, 1-0.

The Boston Bruins, a heavy favorite over the Islanders, dominated Game 1 behind a David Pastrnak hat trick, and if the Bruins took Game 2, the series would've felt over before even reaching Nassau Coliseum.

Game 2 couldn't have started worse for New York.

Two-and-a-half minutes into the game, Charlie Coyle broke behind the Islanders' defense. He made a power move, and tucked it neatly passed Semyon Varlamov, 1-0 Bruins.

That lead carried over into the second period, where Boston continued to carry play, and were outshooting the Islanders 17-9.

Pastrnak took a needless goalie interference penalty just over five minutes into the second period, and the game changed. 

Josh Bailey banked one in off of Jeremy Lauzon, a power play goal and a tie game.

Minutes later, Kyle Palmieri stuffed home the go-ahead goal. Just like that, the pesky Islanders flipped a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

Leo Komarov drew a penalty on Brandon Carlo late in the second period, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau made the Bruins pay.

The three-goal second period gave the Islanders a 3-1 lead, normally a guaranteed win for those shutdown Islanders.

The Bruins roared back in the third period.

With 9:26 to go in the third, Patrice Bergeron made it a one-goal game, with a one-timed shot from the slot.

Then, with just over five minutes to go in the third period, the Islanders took a too many men on the ice penalty.

It took Boston less than 30 seconds to tie the game at 3, courtesy of Brad Marchand.

A season-ending disaster felt distinctly possible. A blown 3-1 lead in the third period, losing in overtime, and going down 2-0 in the series could've spelled the end.

Casey Cizikas wouldn't let that happen.

Lauzon turned the puck over at his own blue line, springing Cizikas for a rink-wide breakaway.

Cizikas didn't get too fancy, didn't overdo it. Just came flying in with speed, gave Tuukka Rask the eyes, and sniped home over Rask's blocker.

Game over, Islanders win. Series on.

NEWS & NOTES

Blue Jackets Have Clear Move To Make With Mason MarchmentThe Blue Jackets should be working quickly to keep Mason Marchment in Columbus.

With how marvelously Marchment fit into the Blue Jackets' system, it is clear that they should be working hard to sign him to contract extension before July 1. He was such a great fit on the Blue Jackets' roster, and it would be excellent if they got him signed to a multi-year extension because of it. 

REPORT: Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman Egor Zamula KHL Rights Traded Zamula was undrafted out of Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Reports out of Russia have indicated that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Egor Zamula's right have been traded to CSKA of the NHL. 

This trade likely indicates that the 26-year-old defenseman will continue his career in Russia. Should he be given another NHL shot, however, he'd most likely stay in America. 

Columbus Blue Jackets: 2026 IIHF World Championships UpdateThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;sent three players to the 2026 IIHF World Championships in Switzerland.&nbsp;

So, how is the CBJ contingent doing? Let's take a look. 

Mathieu Olivier - Team USA - 2g-2a-4p - 8 PIM - Minus-2 - 6 Games Played

Denton Mateychuk- Team Canada - 2g-1a-3p - 4 PIM - Plus-8 - 6 Games Played

Jet Greaves   - Team Canada - 4-0 - .931 SV% - 1.50 GAA

Blue Jackets Have Free Agent Target To Consider In Islanders ForwardShould the Blue Jackets consider signing Anders Lee if he hits the market?

Lee would have the potential to be a strong addition to the Blue Jackets' top nine if signed. Furthermore, due to his offensive skill, he would give the Blue Jackets another clear option to work with on their power play if successfully signed. 

Three Former Blue Jackets Advance To Stanley Cup Final With VegasIf you've been watching the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, you know that they are absolutely littered with former <a href="http://thn.com/columbus" target="_blank">Columbus B<b>l</b>ue Jackets</a>&nbsp;players. From Vegas and Colorado to Carolina and Montreal, there is no shortage of former CBJ to watch.&nbsp;

If you've been watching the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, you know that they are absolutely littered with former Columbus Blue Jackets players. From Vegas and Colorado to Carolina and Montreal, there is no shortage of former CBJ to watch.   

Blue Jackets Have Free-Agent Target To Consider In Kraken ForwardThe Blue Jackets should consider making a push for this Kraken forward if he tests the market.

When looking at the forwards who could hit the market on July 1, Seattle Kraken winger Jaden Schwartz stands out as an intriguing option for the Blue Jackets to consider. 

If the Blue Jackets signed Schwartz, he would give them a solid veteran forward who has a Stanley Cup on his resume. This would not be a bad thing at all for a Blue Jackets club that is looking to take that next step and get back into the playoffs next season.

Led By Jet Greaves, Canada Ends USA's Repeat Chances At World ChampionshipsThe&nbsp;<a href="http://thn.com/columbus" target="_blank">Columbus B<b>l</b>ue Jackets</a>&nbsp;were well represented at this year's IIHF Worlds, and Jet Greaves was the star.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were well represented at this year's IIHF Worlds, and Jet Greaves was the star.

Jet Greaves picked up his 6th win of the tournament by beating Mathieu Olivier and the Americans 4-0, thus ending Team USA's tournament.

2026 Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Patrick KaneShould the Blue Jackets target Patrick Kane if he hits the market this summer?

Kane just had another solid season for the Red Wings, and his stats demonstrate that. In 67 games with the Original Six club in 2025-26, he recorded 16 goals, 41 assists, and 57 points. With numbers like these, the 2007 first-overall pick is still a productive top-six forward at this stage in his career and would have the potential to be a very good pickup for the Blue Jackets because of it. 

Former Columbus Blue Jacket Reaches First Stanley Cup FinalThe 2026 Stanley Cup Final will feature 5 former CBJ players and a former head coach.

First up is 30-year-old Eric Robinson of Bellmawr, New Jersey. Robinson was undrafted and signed with the Blue Jackets in 2018 after spending four years at Princeton. 

After playing 266 games and recording 82 points for Columbus, he was traded to Buffalo by Columbus for a conditional pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, December 6, 2023. He then signed with Carolina as a free agent on July 1, 2024.

DRAFT PREVIEWS

CBJ Draft Day Targets: Gleb PugachyovPugachyov has been compared to Lars Eller and Jack McBain.

Target: Gleb Pugachyov - Almaty, KAZ

Height/Weight: 6'3" - 198 lbs. 

2026 Team: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod - KHL

Position: Right Shot Forward

2025-26 Stats With Chaika Nizhny Novgorod: He had 24 points in 33 games in the MHL, which is Russia's top Junior league. He also played in the KHL and had 3 points in 13 games. 

THN Ranking: 32th - Ferrari

NHL Central Scouting: Ranked 9th among International Skaters. 

CBJ Draft Day Targets: Caleb MalhotraMalhotra has been compared to Nick Suzuki and Anton Lundell.

Target: Caleb Malhotra - Toronto, ON, CAN

Height/Weight: 6'1.75" - 185 lbs. 

2026 Team: Boston University - NCAA

Position: Left Shot Forward

2025-26 Stats With The Brantford Bulldogs of The OHL: 84 points in 67 games. He also had 26 points in 15 playoff games. 

THN Ranking: 5th - Kennedy; 15th - Ferrari

NHL Central Scouting: Ranked 6th among North American Skaters.

CBJ Draft Day Targets: Simas IgnataviciusSimas Ignatavicius is mainly compared to Kevin Stenlund due to his big body and play style.

Target: Simas Ignatavicius - Memphis, TN, USA by way of Lithuania

Born: Oct 22, 2007

Height/Weight: 6'3" - 198 lbs. 

2026 Team: Genève-Servette HC - Switzerland

Position: Left Shot Forward

2025-26 Stats With Genève-Servette HC: 13 points in 52 games in the top Swiss league. 

THN Ranking: 31st - Ferrari

NHL Central Scouting: Ranked 10th among international skaters.

Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.   

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.

Let us know what you think below.

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.

The NHL will have what they’re calling ‘Hometown Remix’ alternate jerseys for their teams next year. In essence (and in classic NHL style) it’s taking ideas from other leagues and making it their own. The MLB has City Connect and the NBA has City Edition jerseys they break out from time to time.

Based on recent leaks of the Florida and NYI jerseys, we might expect something loud for the Penguins.

The news might not be welcome and popular for the Penguins, who reportedly are getting a design in navy blue. Exact details or a mock up of the jerseys have not yet been released or leaked.

Navy blue is a natural in franchise history, given the team wore various versions of that color from the team’s inception in 1967 until the colors were changed in early 1980. The concept of navy blue jerseys has been a controversial one since its last use starting at the 2011 Winter Classic where Sidney Crosby was injured. Later in that season, Evgeni Malkin tore his knee wearing the dark blue jerseys and they were phased out of the regular rotation in quick order due to association with those events.

It remains to be seen for the Pens on just what their hometown remixes will look like. It could be something simple and tasteful like what the team wore in the late 1970’s. Given the leaked jerseys so far, it doesn’t look like those adjectives are the objective for these loud, festive type of jerseys.

Something to keep in mind as the summer rolls along, we’ll have to see how it goes. This concept may well go the way of the 2021-22 ‘reverse retro’ jersey that was worn a few times and then fortunately never seen again, but the NHL season is expanding to 84-games next year and to help keep things fresh and no doubt make some more money in merchandise sales, we know something new is coming down the pike soon for the Penguins to occasionally wear next year.

Missing on draft selections is the primary reason the Philadelphia Flyers have had to rebuild for so long, and even recently, they still can't seem to get things right.

The last four years, in particular, have been uneven for the Flyers when it comes to first-round picks.

Cutter Gauthier would have been a great draft choice in 2022... if he actually remained with the Flyers, and Matvei Michkov and Oliver Bonk were chosen after him in 2023.

In 2024, the Flyers picked Jett Luchanko, and in 2025, they scooped up Porter Martone and Jack Nesbitt.

The Nesbitt and Luchanko selections were especially head-scratchers, and the Luchanko one has not aged well so far. At least, not when you look at Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius, the Finnish center everyone expected the Flyers to draft.

Helenius, 20, has been playing professional hockey since the 2022-23 season, and he certainly plays like he has that experience.

In his second full season in North America, Helenius scored 63 points in 63 games for the AHL Rochester Americans and added two goals and an assist in three Calder Cup playoff games.

The 2024 14th overall pick also got a taste of some NHL action, playing in nine regular season games for the Sabres, scoring a goal, three assists, and four points. Oh, and he also chipped in two goals in four playoff games.

Konsta Helenius pots a HUGE goal to put Finland up over Canada! 🚨#Sabres | #Sabrehood | #LetsGoBuffalopic.twitter.com/OuMrp1Ftwm

— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) May 30, 2026

Having already played 79 games this season between the AHL, NHL, and AHL and NHL playoffs, Helenius went back for more, joining Finland at the 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship in Switzerland upon the end of his season here.

Well, in five games, Helenius has two goals, three assists, and five points, finding the score sheet in all but one game in the tournament thus far.

The 20-year-old helped the underdog Finns sink a loaded Canada team in the seminfinals on Saturday night, potting the game-winning goal in a stunning 4-2 win over Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby, Porter Martone, and more. Helenius was also +3 in that game.

In contrast, Luchanko, 19, has played 25 professional games between the Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms and has yet to score a goal, despite his nine assists at the AHL level.

The Flyers' 2024 13th overall pick hasn't exactly lit up the OHL, either, scoring 74 points in 68 games in his draft year, 56 points in 46 games last year, and 43 points in 38 games this year, not including just seven points in 15 playoff games with the Brantford Bulldogs.

Luchanko scored just seven goals in the OHL this year, and his 43 points in 38 games ranked 33rd in the league amongst all draft year +2 players, which includes 13 undrafted players.

Luchanko will turn pro this fall and begin turning the page on an unconvincing end to his junior career, but it has to be hard for Flyers fans to see Helenius in the Stanley Cup playoffs and World Championship and feel good about the team's drafting.

Time will ultimately tell the story, but Helenius is looking more and more like yet another one who got away from the Flyers.

The Hockey News released its list of the Top 100 NHL players this season in April, and four Montreal Canadiens have made the list. Earlier, we covered Juraj Slafkovsky, who’s 94th on the list, Nick Suzuki, who landed in the 48th spot, Cole Caufield, who landed in 35th place, and we now look at the Habs’ highest-ranked player: Lane Hutson.

The sophomore defenseman lands in 26th place, just behind Jack Hughes, who grabs 25th place. While Hutson makes the ranking because of his incredible offensive flair, the list also mentions the young blueliner’s improved defensive play.

3 Potential Trade Fits For Canadiens' Samuel Montembeault
Canadiens: Same Tired Recipe, Same Result
Former Canadiens Goaltender Reacts To Lemieux's Death

Not only did Hutson put up 78 points this season, but he also finished the season with a plus-36 rating. Last year, he had recorded 66 points and ended his rookie year with a minus-two rating.

What’s really impressive in his play, though, is the way he will backcheck like a man possessed when he turns the puck over. While some players look to the heavens and lament their bad luck when they turn the puck over, Hutson immediately shifts to defense mode and looks like he’s flying on the ice. Even when he ends up behind the opponent’s net after a shot attempt, he’s still one of the first players back in the defensive zone.

His love of the game and work ethic haven’t gone down one bit in his second season. He’s always first on the ice, whether it’s for a full practice or for an optional one, and the team still needs to tell him to take a day off once in a while.

By signing an eight-year contract at an $8.850 million cap hit, he has proven just how committed he is to this team. He accepted a contract that is cheaper than Noah Dobson’s, and the matter was settled quite quickly. Of course, he didn’t have much leverage since he wouldn’t have been eligible for an offer sheet, but there’s no doubt that he could have held out for more money. That’s not what the 22-year-old is about; he’s about playing the game he loves and winning with the team that put faith in him and drafted him despite his small stature. The 62nd overall pick at the 2022 draft has been an absolute steal on the draft floor, and he still is at that cap hit.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Claude Lemieux's family is donating his brain to CTE research, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

Johnston, posting on X on Saturday, May 30, reported the family will donate the brain of the four-time Stanley Cup champion to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center "for research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury."

Johnston reported Lemieux's family made the decision with a desire to improve the lives of others.

"'The family emphasizes that this decision is a gift to science, to athletes and to future generations of families seeking answers. No conclusion should be drawn at this time regarding any diagnosis,'" Johnston's post, which includes a statement from the family, reads.

Lemieux died on Thursday, May 28 at the age of 60 just days after he carried the ceremonial torch into the Canadiens' Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. His cause of death has not been confirmed at the time of publication.