May 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
DENVER (AP) — Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was presented with not one, but two awards on Tuesday, earning the Mark Messier Leadership honor and the Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The 33-year-old forward from Sweden becomes the first player to win both in the same season. It’s been a long road back to the rink for Landeskog in his return from a serious knee injury.
The Masterton Trophy is awarded to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
The Messier Award goes to the player who demonstrates “great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.”
Landeskog’s knee issues began after a skate blade cut his right knee during the 2020 playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. He worked his way through it and helped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.
The Cup clincher, though, was his last game for quite a stretch. After missing a full season, Landeskog underwent cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023.
He made it back last season for Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas, which was his first NHL contest in 1,032 days.
This season, he had 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 regular-season games. Colorado went 45-7-8 with him in the lineup and 10-9-3 when he was out.
He added six goals and five assists in the playoffs before the Avalanche were swept in the Western Conference Final by Vegas.
Landeskog remains active in the community, too, taking part in Kroenke Sports and Entertainment’s (KSE) Charity Brunch and leading the team’s annual hospital visit. He also hosts several local foundations through the team’s “Community Ticket Pride” program.
His recovery from his knee injury was covered in a six-part documentary series titled “A Clean Sheet.”
The Masterton Trophy, which is presented by the NHL Writers’ Association, was first awarded in 1967-68. The Mark Messier Leadership Award made its debut in 2006-07.
The 2026 NHL Draft is less than three weeks away, meaning the Pittsburgh Penguins front office and scouting staff are deep in preparation for it.
The Penguins have the 22nd overall pick in the first round and depending on how the board shakes out, could have some really good players fall to them.
One player they'll be very familiar with, who has a ton of skill, is Wyatt Cullen, the son of Matt Cullen. The latter won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017 and works for the team as a development coach.
Wyatt is projected to go in the first round after a tremendous 2025-26 campaign with the United States National Team Development Program. He finished the season with 16 goals and 45 points in 40 games as a winger.
Cullen also played great at the U18 World Juniors, compiling three goals and nine points in five games. He had the best point per game average (1.80) of any player in the tournament.
He has a lot of skill in his game and is very shifty. He's able to knife through players and find open space like it's nothing. One of my favorite plays from his season came during Team USA's game against Germany, when he received a pass and made a beautiful deke around a German skater before going backhand-to-forehand for a goal. His skating, shiftiness, stick-handling, and net-front play were all on display.
Speaking of his skating, he's electric when he gets going and can blow past some players with his separation speed. He's also got some nice vision, especially on the power play.
Cullen spoke really highly about his skill at the NHL Combine last week and almost pitched himself to teams who are looking to potentially draft him.
"I think my skill is, kind of, top-four, five, three in the draft," Cullen said. "I have really high-end skill, and I think that's what separates me. I see the ice and have really high-IQ, and I feel like my IQ and skillset is what separates me from other guys."
While his offensive skill is outstanding, I still question whether he'll be able to pull off some of these moves against better players. I don't think he's going to get as much space when he plays for the University of Minnesota in the NCAA. He's gonna have to learn that "less is more" at times.
As for his two-way game, it's definitely an area that he needs to improve. He's not as defensively responsible as some of the other forwards in this class, and I'd like to see him get back and help out a little bit more.
Like every prospect, he had some rough plays during this past season, and the Penguins showed him some of them during their meeting with Cullen at the NHL Combine. It's something he really appreciated.
"It went really well," Cullen said. "They showed some bad clips of you, but I think it's really good. They kind of helped me out a bit and gave me some good tips, so I think it went really well."
It's highly likely that Cullen will be picked in the top 15 of the 2026 NHL Draft, but if he falls a bit, I wouldn't be surprised if the Penguins looked to trade up a few spots to snag him.
The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26 at 7 p.m. ET.
A goalie change is happening in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Hurricanes’ starting goalie, Frederik Andersen, is listed as a healthy scratch — not injured — for Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, leaving backup Brandon Bussi to make his first career postseason start on Tuesday night. Pyotr Kochetkov was slotted in as the backup as Carolina tries to rally from a 2-1 series deficit.
Andersen was pulled after two periods in Game 3 after allowing four goals on 16 shots.
Bussi came in and was excellent in relief, making 18 saves before allowing a game-losing goal in double overtime after Carolina had rallied from a 4-0 deficit.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was left to choose between the hot hand and the proven commodity.
“We’ll make all the decisions after we practice tomorrow,” Brind’Amour said Sunday. “We’ll see how he’s feeling. I haven’t made any decisions on the lineup, so I can’t tell you.”
Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes takes the net prior to Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final Getty Images
Andersen has been the go-to for the Hurricanes throughout the playoffs, holding a .910 save percentage and allowing 32 goals through 13 games.
While not the most impressive stats, the high-scoring Hurricanes haven’t needed a brick wall to get by their opponents, scoring at least three times in all but two games so far.
Now, against one of the best counter-attacking teams in the NHL, a .910 is not cutting it.
“You obviously don’t want to give up some of the chances we’ve given up, but overall I thought [Andersen’s] been fine,” Carolina’s coach said. “You ask him to make the saves that he’s got to make, and I think he’s done that. A couple of bad bounces, they are what they are. He’s been solid for us.”
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) warms up prior to Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
In the regular season, though, it was Bussi who made the majority of starts for Carolina, a fact he reminded fans in Game 3 with his .947 save percentage.
While the former Bruin had not made an NHL playoff start before Tuesday, he did play six postseason games in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, allowing 2.20 goals against per game.
“These are the moments you want to be playing in, right?” Bussi said after Game 3. “Just put my head down and have fun with it. It’s been a fun ride. We’re here for a reason. I’ve practiced hard in case something happened. I’m not rooting for that, but my name was called.”
The Vegas Golden Knights dug themselves out of a hole in the second period Tuesday night, as they overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 in the Stanley Cup Final and will head into the third period deadlocked at 3-3.
Carolina looked much more like a team playing with a sense of urgency in need of a win in the first period than what Vegas should have looked like, a team playing with a 2-1 series lead and the intent to squeeze the life out of its opponent.
The Hurricanes switched goaltenders, going with Brandon Bussi in favor of Frederik Andersen, who was a healthy scratch after starting the 16 previous playoff games for Carolina. Pyotr Kochetkov was in as the backup.
Carolina outshot the Golden Knights in the first, 14-6, and controlled the tempo from the opening puck drop.
The Hurricanes got things going early with two quick goals inside the first four minutes of the opening period. First, it was Logan Stankoven at the 1:06 mark, and then it was Jackson Blake at the 3:28 mark.
Stone cut the Hurricanes' lead in half midway through the first thanks to a beauty of a stretch pass from Shea Theodore, who stitched a pass across three lines and through five different players. Stone then faked, deked and slithered to his right to beat Bussi to make it 2-1 Carolina.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 10, 2026
The Hurricanes would take advantage of a power play, as captain Jordan Staal tapped home Shayne Gostisbehere rebound from the top to make it 3-1.
Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb buried a shot at the horn, but the puck crossed the goal line just after the clock hit 0.0, leaving Carolina with a 3-1 lead.
The Knights continued their second-period dominance in the series when Karlsson took a pass from fellow Swede Rasmus Andersson at the left circle and beat Bussi to make it a 3-2 game just 4:22 in.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 10, 2026
Then, with a little less than three left in the period, it was Howden with a nifty goal from the left circle for his 14th of the playoffs to tie the game at 3-all.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) scores against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) during the 1st period in game four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
LOS ANGELES – The Kings have hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach. More changes could be expected to bolster the coaching staff.
Peter Laviolette is a Stanley Cup-winning head coach with 24 seasons of NHL experience. Along with the title he won with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, Laviolette has two other Stanley Cup appearances with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
Now, the Kings are hoping Laviolette can bring playoff success to their organization. Los Angeles has been eliminated in the first round in the past five seasons.
So the biggest question with this hire is how Laviolette will benefit the Kings' playing style? The answer to that it is a great fit for the Los Angeles organization.
During his interim tenure as head coach, DJ Smith enhanced the defensive success through activating the backend along with forechecking and physicality. This defensive scheme helped the Kings go from outside the playoff picture to secure the final wild card spot.
Throughout Laviolette’s career, he has been known as a coach with a team that pushes the pace and presents a heavy forecheck. Every team Laviolette has coached has played an aggressive forecheck, which has led to massive improvements in their puck possession.
The season before the Flyers hired Laviolette, Philadelphia had a 47.65% CF in 2009, but that skyrocketed to 50.93% in 2010. The Predators had a 48.44% CF in 2014, but with Laviolette, that improved to 52.82% in 2015.
Teams that struggled with forechecking found success in the very next season with Laviolette as their head coach. Now, Laviolette gets to coach a Kings team that is already fond of forechecking.
Los Angeles had a 52.22% CF, which ranked in the top 10 in the NHL last season. A forecheck-heavy coach should find success with a team that has already excelled in puck possession.
The Kings dropped from 105 points to 90 points in the Pacific, while young teams like the Ducks and Sharks surged in the standings. With the right offseason moves, an upbeat tempo, active defensemen, and aggressive forecheck could keep the Kings competitive against their rivals.
While the Laviolette hire activates the defensive core in place, how else will the offense improve? That’s where the Kings will have to make another decision for the coaching staff.
— MayorsManor.com Staff (@MayorsManor) June 8, 2026
Newell Brown was hired back in the 2025 season to help the power play improve. However, the Kings have experienced an even larger decline in the power play since then.
In 2024, the Kings had a 22.6% power play, which ranked 11th in the league. The next season, Brown gets hired, and the power play drops to 17.9% and 27th overall.
As underwhelming as the power play was in 2025, it was even worse this past season. The Kings had a 17% power-play percentage, which ranked 28th overall.
Brown led the Kings' power play to a bottom-six percentage in both of his seasons as an assistant coach. Brown's power-play strategy has been criticized by fans and reporters for the struggle.
In the past two seasons, the Kings' power play has been holding the puck to set up the perfect shot. Nonetheless, one good look at a power play isn’t as effective as four difficult shots.
A north-to-south style creates more shots on net, which creates more chances for goals. This style of hockey also aligns with the new head coach, who likes to forecheck and play fast.
Therefore, an east-to-west offense that has struggled will not align with Laviolette’s vision for the team. Making it apparent that Brown might be the next coach to be replaced for the Kings.
It is not official that the Kings are moving on from assistant coach Brown, but it is heavily speculated that this could be the move, with new head coach offseason hires typically comes with new staff preferences. The head coach hire may just be the beginning of the coaching overhaul for Los Angeles.
The answer to the most guarded secret in the NHL was given when Brandon Bussi skated onto the ice for warmups in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
In a surprise, Frederik Andersen didn't dress as Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said the team's goalie coach said Andersen needed a break.
Bussi played well enough in the series-tying 5-3 victory on Tuesday, June 9, that he could get the call again when the series resumes Thursday night in Raleigh, North Carolina.
He stopped 18 of 21 shots and now has stopped 36 of 40 since Brind'Amour inserted him at the start of the third period of Game 3. Andersen, who had started every game, had given up four goals in the second period in Saturday's game.
Bussi had to stop a Mitch Marner penalty shot in Game 3 and that save gave the Hurricanes a chance to rally, though they eventually fell 5-4 in double overtime.
Brind'Amour didn't reveal his starter either after Monday's practice or in Tuesday's pregame news conference. There was no morning skate on Tuesday.
Bussi was tested quickly again in Game 4. He stopped a Mark Stone short-handed breakaway to preserve a 1-0 lead and the Hurricanes made it 2-0 shortly after.
Stone scored in the first period and Vegas tied the game 3-3 in the second period. But Bussi stopped nine shots in the third period to make Jordan Staal's go-ahead goal stand up.
"He was really solid all night," Brind'Amour said.
The start was Bussi's first since mid-April and his first career start in the playoffs. Did he think he played well enough to get the call in Game 5?
The Golden Knights kept him scrambling but couldn't get a puck past him. He stopped 18 of 21 shots in the game and gave himself a chance to get the call again in Game 5 on Thursday, June 11.
The Golden Knights have outscored the Hurricanes in 9-1 in the second period and Brandon Bussi is part of that now. He gave up goals to William Karlsson and Brett Howden as Vegas tied the game. He wasn't quite set on the first goal. The second goal was a great play by Howden, who set up a screen by shooting through a defender's leg. Bussi has stopped nine of 12 shots, a big difference from his relief appearance in Game 3.
He was tested early on a short-handed breakaway by Mark Stone, but came up big. Stone later scored on a breakaway as he faked a shot, stickhandled and tucked the puck past Bussi's outstretched pad. The Golden Knights' next goal didn't count because time expired. But all in all, a good period for Bussi, who made five saves and has a 3-1 lead.
Brind'Amour said Brandon Bussi got the start because he played great when he entered Game 3. Why isn't Frederik Andersen dressed? "Let him rest," the coach told ABC.
The 2026 NHL Playoffs have marked Brett Howden’s coming-out party.
With the Vegas Golden Knights two games away from winning the Stanley Cup, Howden currently leads all players in the playoffs with 13 goals.
There’s no doubt that Howden has been an integral piece for the Golden Knights through their playoff run thus far, but what many people may not know is how he got to Vegas in the first place.
Howden was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, but he was traded to the New York Rangers as part of the deal that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to Tampa Bay in 2018.
He ultimately spent three seasons with the Rangers, playing in a total of 178 games and recording 16 goals, 33 assists, and 49 points.
Shortly after being hired as the Rangers’ president and general manager in 2021, Chris Drury traded Howden to the Golden Knights in exchange for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Rangers eventually used that 2022 fourth-round pick to select Noah Laba.
Over his first three seasons in Vegas, Howden failed to record over 20 points, but he had a career year during the 2024-25 campaign, posting 23 goals, 17 assists, and 40 points.
Now, playing on a line alongside Mitch Marner and William Karlsson, the 28-year-old forward has found his offensive groove and could be on his way to winning both the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
“I think he's in the moment,” Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella said of Howden. I just think he likes the situation he's in. I think the line's been good. That line, once we put it together, just connected. I don't think he's afraid of a damn thing, as far as playoffs, what comes with it, the flows of it. I just think he feels that good about himself.”
From a Buffalo Sabres perspective, the Alexandar Georgiev experiment was supposed to be a low-risk reset on a once-ascending NHL goaltender. Instead, it became another short stop in a rapidly unraveling career arc that has now stretched across three leagues in under two seasons.
Georgiev has officially terminated his contract with KHL club Spartak Moscow, according to league confirmation, with his representation indicating the veteran netminder intends to pursue an NHL return next season. For the Sabres, it marks the end of a brief and underwhelming stint that never found traction at either level of the organization.
A Low-Cost Gamble That Never Stabilized
After a difficult run with the San Jose Sharks, Georgiev signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres in September, a move designed to stabilize a volatile goaltending depth chart without significant financial risk. The hope inside the organization was simple: recreate the version of Georgiev who once led the NHL in wins and briefly looked like a long-term starter with Colorado.
That version never materialized.
Instead of pushing for NHL minutes, Georgiev struggled to separate himself in camp and early-season evaluation, eventually landing with the Rochester Americans in the AHL. The results there did little to change the trajectory. In limited action, he went 0-2 with a 3.57 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage—numbers that mirrored the inconsistency that had already defined his recent NHL stretch.
By the time Buffalo made the decision to move on, the organization was no longer evaluating upside. It was simply trying to reset its depth chart.
A Career Sliding Between Peaks and Freefall
Not long ago, Georgiev looked like a goaltender on the rise. During his time with Colorado, he earned full-time starter responsibility and reached his peak in the 2023-24 season by leading the NHL with 38 wins, while also tying for the league lead in victories the year prior.
Georgiev wasn't exactly good for Colorado, but was carried mostly by their offense. Credit: Jerome Miron
But the decline came quickly and decisively.
Across his final stretch in the NHL with Colorado and San Jose, his numbers dropped sharply, and his game lost the consistency that once made him a volume-win starter. By the time he reached Buffalo, he was no longer being acquired as a long-term answer—he was a reclamation project on a one-year flyer.
The KHL Reset—and Another NHL Try
After his brief stint in Rochester, Georgiev and the Sabres parted ways, and he signed overseas with Spartak in the KHL. There, he stabilized his performance, posting a 2.37 GAA and a .918 save percentage over 24 appearances. The numbers suggested competence, but not enough to fully restore NHL starter credibility.
Now, with his KHL contract terminated, Georgiev is once again testing the NHL market. But the league he’s returning to looks different than the one he once briefly dominated in wins. Most teams are already set in net, and the remaining openings project heavily toward backup or organizational depth roles.
For Buffalo, the move is already in the past. For Georgiev, it’s another reset in a career defined increasingly by them.
It was a critical season for Detroit Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa, who was entering his final year of being waivers exempt with restricted free agency looming.
However, the top question in the minds of Red Wings fans is how his career will ultimately pan out, and will it be in Detroit? Right now, that's still up in the air.
Cossa, who has been linked in recent days to the Edmonton Oilers, is now being linked to another Western Conference club by a noted NHL Insider, who also happens to be a former goaltender himself.
Kevin Weekes, who has often broken news of NHL trades, indicated on Tuesday that the Utah Mammoth are a club that could show interest in Cossa.
**Keep an eye 👁️ ** Per sources, some nuggets for you fans ; I’m told G Cossa could be on the move with @utahmammoth among the interested clubs. F Berard also could be on move from @NYRangers . G Skinner among options for @Senators . #HockeyXpic.twitter.com/TilGNbAprm
While workhorse Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka won 38 regular season games in 64 appearances this season, he faltered in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, going 2-4 with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage.
Backup Vitek Vanecek didn't have a strong regular season, going 5-13-3 with a .884 save percentage.
Cossa, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, went 26-8-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage for the Griffins this season.
However, he was outplayed down the stretch by Michal Postava, whom the Red Wings signed out of Czechia last season; Cossa was also on the bench during the Calder Cup Playoffs, which ultimately resulted in a loss in the Central Division Finals to the Chicago Wolves.
Cossa also still has only a single NHL appearance under his belt, which came in relief of now-former Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso in December 2024 against the Buffalo Sabres, and he stopped 12 of 14 shots en route to a 6-5 S/O victory.
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The Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 Tuesday night in Game 4 to edge the final series 2-2.
Carolina started hot with a 3-1 goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Two of those goals came within the opening four minutes that set the tone for the rest of the way.
But this has been a series of the comeback, so it wasn’t surprising that two Vegas goals knotted up the score in the second period. William Karlsson scored the first of the period before Brett Howden drilled one from a deep angle for the equalizer late on.
In the third period, Vegas made the most costly mistake of the game that got punished. A poor clearance in their own defensive area led to some opportune shots for Carolina.
Eventually it was Jordan Staal, a goalscorer from the first period, who capitalized with an angled diving effort. It could go on to be a memorable frame if Carolina gets it over the line for just the second time in franchise history (2005-06).
The goal would prove to be the winner as Vegas had to chase the action the rest of the way. Eventually, Nikolaj Ehlers added Carolina’s fifth in the closing minutes as Vegas had an empty net.
It’s been an incredibly even series so far with little margin for error on either side.
Both teams have exchanged wins since Vegas stole Game 1 on the road 5-4. Carolina responded with a 4-3 Game 2 win before the Golden Knights once again claimed a 5-4 final scoreline in Game 3. Game 4 was about to follow the one-score difference before Ehlers’ open-net finish.
If the victor trends are anything to go by, another tight game is in store for Thursday with Vegas in line for the win pattern. But Carolina is back on home ice and will be looking to defend it as the victor will be just one win away from hoisting the main prize.
The Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 Tuesday night in Game 4 to edge the final series 2-2.
Carolina started hot with a 3-1 goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Two of those goals came within the opening four minutes that set the tone for the rest of the way.
But this has been a series of the comeback, so it wasn’t surprising that two Vegas goals knotted up the score in the second period. William Karlsson scored the first of the period before Brett Howden drilled one from a deep angle for the equalizer late on.
In the third period, Vegas made the most costly mistake of the game that got punished. A poor clearance in their own defensive area led to some opportune shots for Carolina.
Eventually it was Jordan Staal, a goalscorer from the first period, who capitalized with an angled diving effort. It could go on to be a memorable frame if Carolina gets it over the line for just the second time in franchise history (2005-06).
The goal would prove to be the winner as Vegas had to chase the action the rest of the way. Eventually, Nikolaj Ehlers added Carolina’s fifth in the closing minutes as Vegas had an empty net.
It’s been an incredibly even series so far with little margin for error on either side.
Both teams have exchanged wins since Vegas stole Game 1 on the road 5-4. Carolina responded with a 4-3 Game 2 win before the Golden Knights once again claimed a 5-4 final scoreline in Game 3. Game 4 was about to follow the one-score difference before Ehlers’ open-net finish.
If the victor trends are anything to go by, another tight game is in store for Thursday with Vegas in line for the win pattern. But Carolina is back on home ice and will be looking to defend it as the victor will be just one win away from hoisting the main prize.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been named the NHL’s 2025-26 recipient of both the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award, the league announced Tuesday, capping a season that marked one of the most remarkable returns in recent NHL memory.
The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually by the Professional Hockey Writers Association to the player who best represents “qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” according to the NHL. The Messier Award, selected solely by Hall of Famer Mark Messier, goes to the player who best “exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.”
Taken together, the two honors underline just how significant Landeskog’s season truly was—both in his return to full-time play and in how he carried himself through it.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Landeskog missed three consecutive regular seasons due to lingering complications from a skate-blade cut over his right knee suffered in the 2020 bubble. The injury led to a long rehabilitation process that included four surgeries, most notably a cartilage transplant in May 2023.
Gabriel Landeskog was certainly not expecting a second award to appear when he sat down for this interview! 🏆
Watch as Landeskog's family surprises him with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the way he exemplified perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.… pic.twitter.com/AsaxY7hpgc
He eventually worked his way back through a conditioning stint with the AHL Colorado Eagles in April 2025, before returning to NHL action in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in five games during Colorado’s first-round loss to Dallas.
This season, Landeskog returned to the regular-season lineup for the first time since 2021-22 and played 60 games, finishing with 14 goals and 35 points. He followed that with a strong playoff run, adding six goals in 13 games as the Avalanche reached the Western Conference Final, where they were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights.
The season, however, was far from smooth.
In early January, Landeskog broke several ribs after catching an edge against the Florida Panthers on January 4 and crashing into the net. He missed the final 14 games before the Olympic break while recovering, but still returned in time to represent Sweden at the Milan Olympics.
Later in the season came another setback on March 6, when he was struck in the groin area on a shot during a sequence involving teammate Cale Makar. Landeskog later described the moment bluntly as hitting him “the nuts.” He underwent surgery and returned several weeks later, closing out the year in the lineup.
Despite the injuries, his impact when available was undeniable. Colorado went 45-7-8 with Landeskog in the lineup compared to 10-9-3 without him.
After being named a Masterton finalist again this year, Landeskog spoke candidly about the recognition but made it clear his perspective on the journey was unchanged.
“It’s humbling and a great honor and there’ve been amazing players with incredible stories and perseverance that have been nominated or accepted the award,” he said last month. “But for me and what I’ve gone through, it’s just so far beyond what anybody else is going to be able to label it or not. Whether I win the Masterton or not, it doesn’t change anything for me. … For me the ultimate prize I’ve already won, and that’s to continue working and getting to play hockey.”
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews were the other Masterton finalists.
Landeskog, who has spent his entire 12-year NHL career in Colorado, became the first player in franchise history to win either award. After everything he’s been through—multiple surgeries, long absences, and an uncertain return path—the dual honors serve less as a surprise and more as confirmation of what his season already showed: when he’s on the ice, he still sets the standard for leadership and perseverance in Colorado.
Although the Florida Panthers’ 2025-26 season was filled with injuries and led to them missing the playoffs, there were some upsides.
With players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell missing extended periods of time, it allowed players like Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, and Sandis Vilmanis to earn advanced roles in the Panthers bottom six.
Additionally, it allowed players like Jesper Boqvist, A.J. Greer and Evan Rodrigues to move up in the lineup.
As we enter the 2026 off-season, the Panthers’ top nine, barring any trades or free-agent moves, feels pretty solidified.
Down the middle, it will see Aleksander Barkov man the top line, with Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett centering the middle six. On the left wing, it will be Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, and, if re-signed, Mackie Samoskevich, with Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brad Marchand skating on the right wing.
That leaves just three roster spots on the fourth line with several players more than deserving of earning a spot.
With Greer out of the picture, that leaves the Panthers with Rodrigues, Boqvist, Vilmanis, Schwindt, Reinhardt, and Jonah Gadjovich. Veteran center Tomas Nosek is a UFA, but he remains a possibility on the fourth line. Of the six players mentioned, Schwindt is the only player in need of a contract, but he is a pending RFA, so the Panthers own his rights.
So that leads us to the question: who should start the season on the fourth line? Each player has a case, so let’s mull it over.
Rodrigues is the most experienced player in the group and has shown the versatility to play up and down the lineup. He’s been a part of the Stanley Cup-winning teams and has earned every right to start the season in the lineup.
Vilmanis is a young, physical winger with a nice scoring touch. He demonstrated plenty of excellent traits in his 19 games with the Panthers, but his performances in the AHL, Olympics, and World Championships truly showed everything he brings to the table. A homegrown talent who is just 22 years old makes a lot of sense to keep in the lineup.
Schwindt earned the trust of Paul Maurice very quickly, as he had with the Vegas Golden Knights and Bruce Cassidy previously. He’s a defensively responsible center with a solid physical frame.
Reinhardt and Boqvist bring very similar elements. They are both speedy left-handed winger who look to push the pace. Reinhardt had a strong showing with the Panthers at the end of the season, scoring six goals and eight points in 15 games. As for Boqvist, his offensive numbers were underwhelming, notching just four goals and 13 points in 73 games, but he has the versatility to move to the middle of the ice and play a safe game for the Panthers.
Finally, Gadjovich had his season derailed by a major injury. After just 10 games, Gadjovich went down with an injury and never returned to the lineup. Gadjovich plays a different game from the players already mentioned. While they bring speed and skill, Gadjovich is a hard-nosed player looking to mix it up physically as often as he can. He won’t ever light it up offensively or surprise you with a game-changing play, but he plays his role and does so efficiently.
Luke Kunin and Nosek remain options to be re-signed, but after a difficult first season with the Panthers for Kunin, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them go their separate ways. As for Nosek, injuries hampered his season, and at 33 years old, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Panthers go in a different direction.
An NHL team is allowed to carry 23 players on its roster. Forwards take 12, defensemen occupy six, and two are taken by goaltenders, leaving three healthy scratch spots. Of the six players mentioned, only Vilmanis is waiver-exempt, which likely means he’s destined to start the season in the AHL, even if he is more than deserving of being on the opening-night roster.
If the fourth line is a combination of Reinhardt, Rodrigues, and Gadjovich, Boqvist and Schwindt would start the season as healthy scratches, likely alongside another defenseman, such as Donovan Sebrango.
It will be a tough decision for coach Paul Maurice, but having too much depth is never a bad thing.
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“Where the Avery am I now…?” | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In terms of Islanders news, we are in that quiet before the draft and free agency storm while the Stanley Cup final plays itself out. Could this be the best final ever? I’ve actually heard a few people say that after three games. They’ve certainly been eventful and exciting thus far, so here’s hoping Carolina evens the series in Game 4 to make it a best-of-three.
Meanwhile, NHL teams continue to do what they do, hiring established names to coach them to their next firing.
NHL News
Debating whether the Hurricanes should stick with Brandon Bussi after the lefty came on in relief for the 0-4 comeback that ended in a double-OT loss on a fluke goal. [NHL]
The Wild extended some guy by the name of Michael McCarron to an Engvallian six-year deal for $20 million. [NHL]
Peter Laviolette rides again: the well-traveled coach will now helm the L.A. Kings. [NHL]
But wait, there’s more! Barred from accessing Bruce Cassidy (for now?), the Oilers are apparently set to hire Mike Babcock to help push Connor McDavid out the door. (No but seriously, this move reportedly has the team’s “leadership group” support.) [Sportsnet]
Ray Ratto: Babcock is proof no one is too weird to coach in the NHL, “an inward facing phenomenon along the lines of the Hapsburg dynasty.” [Defector]
Speaking of the Oil, poor Darnell Nurse was never going to live up to that contract; now it seems his team agrees. [Sportsnet]
We can out-outside-the-box you! The Leafs want to interview Joe Pavelski for their coaching job. [Sportsnet]
SHOCKING NEWS: Milan Lucic wasn’t already retired. [Sportsnet]
Here’s a ranking of 100 draft prospects that you should be mad about the Islanders selecting/passing over. [Sportsnet]
