RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes opened the NHL playoffs with a shutout and just kept smothering opponents, swarming in absolute refusal to yield time or space to puck handlers.
The Vegas Golden Knights simply got better with each round until locking up the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in a shocking sweep of a team that romped through the regular season.
Now they turn their lockdown sights on each other for the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup.
“It’s the Stanley Cup Final, it’s going to be a defense-first game,” Vegas defenseman Dylan Coghlan said. “If you don’t have that mentality, then it’s not going to go in your favor.”
The best-of-seven series, which opens at Carolina, pairs an Eastern Conference champion that finished second in the regular season behind Colorado against a Western Conference champion that elevated its game the longer the playoffs wore on.
Sure, offense captures fan imagination with plays like Vegas’ Mitch Marner scoring on a between-the-legs breakaway goal against Anaheim or the net-finding heat coming off Carolina’s Logan Stankoven-centered second line featuring Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake line since the playoffs started in April.
But these are teams that take just as much joy in grinding opposing offenses into the ice, whether its pressuring relentlessly to win puck battles along the boards or selling out in a desperate attempt to block shots. Goaltenders Frederik Andersen of Carolina and Carter Hart of Vegas have been steady in net, helped by the supreme efforts going on in front of them.
Vegas has allowed just 10 goals in its last six games as it chases a second championship in four seasons. The Hurricanes have given up two or fewer goals in 12 of 13 playoff games, back in the final for the first time since winning it in 2006.
“I think we’re just kind of all on the same page right now,” Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker said. “It’s a team effort to be so solid defensively. We’re definitely aggressive, but it’s full five-man effort.”
The Golden Knights took off after the late-season firing of Bruce Cassidy to hire John Tortorella as coach, but there also were March trade moves to add forwards Cole Smith and Nic Dowd to bolster the fourth line by getting bigger and stronger while also helping the penalty kill. They battled through six-game series against both Utah and Anaheim before taking on the Avs, led by high-end skill in Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas.
The Avalanche led the NHL by averaging 3.63 goals per game in the regular season. But the Golden Knights gave up nothing easy and never let the high-flying Avs find a sweet-skating groove. The Avs managed just seven goals in four games.
“I just think as a five-man unit, when you’re playing MacKinnon and Necas, some really high-skilled players, it can’t be 1-on-1 situations, it’s not one guy to get it done,” Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore said. “It’s making sure guys are back, making sure you’re playing the right way.”
The Hurricanes are 12-1 in the playoffs, sweeping both Ottawa and Philadelphia while allowing just five goals in each of those two rounds. Then came a 6-2 loss to Montreal in Game 1 of the East final, a result that in hindsight turned out to be a blip for a team coming off the longest between-rounds playoff break in more than a century.
That performance left coach Rod Brind’Amour befuddled with Carolina’s aggressive-forechecking style repeatedly surrendering clean breakouts and multiple breakaways with the Canadiens skating unchecked through the neutral zone. Brind’Amour didn’t have the team practice the next day, opting instead to go over the film of all those breakdowns.
Carolina responded by allowing five goals in the four consecutive wins that followed — the last two coming by a 10-1 combined score.
“It was just understanding where our lapses were and obviously video doesn’t lie,” Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “Sometimes you can really nitpick stuff on video, but it was pretty obvious what our lapses were in that game. So really it was just making sure we were staying above the puck, making sure that we were forechecking the right way.
“Everyone has their own job to do while they’re out there, but we work as a five-man unit, so making sure you’re doing your job. And that’s what I think you saw moving forward.”
When it came to the Buffalo Sabres, Pronman predicted that the Atlantic Division club would select right winger Casey Mutryn with the 25th overall pick of the draft.
Mutryn would certainly be an interesting prospect for the Sabres to add to their system. The Norwell, Massachusetts native has the potential to become an impactful power forward at the NHL level, so it would be understandable if Buffalo had him on their radar at this year's draft.
Mutryn appeared in 62 games this season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, where he posted 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points, and 89 penalty minutes. With numbers like these, the 6-foot-3 winger has shown promise.
If the Sabres selected Mutryn, he would likely need a few years of development before making the jump to the NHL. While this is the case, he would still be a nice addition to the Sabres' prospect pool as they enter their Stanley Cup window.
It will be interesting to see if the Sabres end up taking Mutryn with their first-round pick, but the fit looks good on paper.
It is shaping up to be a busy summer for Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets management team as the organization looks to rebound from a disappointing campaign that saw the club miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After making several high-profile moves last offseason, including the additions of veteran forwards Gustav Nyquist and Jonathan Toews, Winnipeg failed to achieve the level of success the organization had envisioned. The underwhelming results have prompted the Jets to take a different approach heading into the summer, with changes potentially coming not only to the roster but also within the front office.
According to Winnipeg Free Press reporter Mike McIntyre, the Jets may already be working on their first significant move of the offseason. McIntyre recently reported that discussions are underway with former NHL captain Shane Doan regarding a potential management role with the organization.
Doan, one of the most respected figures in hockey circles, enjoyed a legendary 21-year NHL career, spending the vast majority of it with the Arizona Coyotes franchise. Following his retirement, he successfully transitioned into executive work, joining the Coyotes in 2020 as Director of Hockey Administration and Chief Hockey Development Officer.
The longtime NHL veteran remained with Arizona until 2023 before accepting a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a special assistant to the general manager. However, that chapter recently came to an end as Doan and the Maple Leafs mutually agreed to part ways following the organization's recent front-office restructuring.
Beyond his NHL executive experience, Doan has also maintained strong ties to the game through ownership of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League. He became part-owner of the franchise in 2007 and continues to be involved with the organization today.
For the Jets, adding a respected hockey mind such as Doan could provide a fresh perspective at a critical time for the franchise. Winnipeg has consistently fielded competitive teams in recent years but has struggled to take the next step toward becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Should a deal come together, Doan would bring decades of playing experience, leadership, and a growing executive résumé to a Jets organization searching for answers after a frustrating season.
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What was previously just a report is now confirmed: the Colorado Avalanche have given the Nashville Predators permission to talk to Chris MacFarland, per multiple NHL insiders.
The biggest what-if in this scenario is: what do the Nashville Predators plan to talk to MacFarland about? The easiest answer, and the one many have linked to the recent reporting, is that they want MacFarland to fill their new GM position and potentially the President of Hockey Operations role.
The Avalanche currently have that position filled by Joe Sakic, so if the Avalanche really want MacFarland to stay, the only hope they have is for him to stay on his own accord and not take the Predators' offer for any reason. There is no other position they can upgrade him to, like they did when they initially gave him the GM role and promoted Sakic.
Teams are allowed to talk to other management and staff, and in most cases, this signals that a change in scenery is on the way, but nothing is confirmed until an initial report is sent out. It would be a massive upgrade for MacFarland and give credit to the work he has done with the Avalanche, but will he take the position?
What if he doesn’t like/agree with some of the topics presented to him by the Predators? He would be jumping from a team with Stanley Cup aspirations to a team that is currently in a shake-up of its entire management staff and is trying to find direction.
The question is whether he wants to continue with the Avalanche and try to win another Stanley Cup, or take on the pressure and challenge of helping the Predators rebuild or retool into a Stanley Cup contender.
The Chicago Blackhawks came in 31st place this season. They had the 2nd best odds of winning the draft lottery and fell to fourth. It wasn't an ideal year for those reasons, but there was some significant development that took place for certain players on the team.
Now, the team is focused on what they need to do in order to start coming out of their current rebuild, which began as we know it in 2022.
In the meantime, there are a couple of former Blackhawks who will be competing in the Stanley Cup Final starting on Tuesday night. Last week, the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes clinched their berths in the Final as the Western Conference and Eastern Conference champions, respectively.
There is one former Blackhawk who will play in every game unless he gets seriously hurt, and one who may or may not draw in depending on how things shake out for his team.
Taylor Hall - Carolina Hurricanes
The Chicago Blackhawks had Taylor Hall on their team for parts of two seasons. The idea behind acquiring the former Hart Trophy winner was that he'd be a great wingman for Connor Bedard. After all, Hall had lots of experience helping first overall picks get their feet wet in the NHL.
Hall's first season in Chicago was mostly missed due to injury. He only played in 10 games during 2023-24. In 2024-25, he played 46 games with Chicago before being traded to the Hurricanes. It was clear that he wanted a chance to win during the late stages of his career.
Now, he's in the Stanley Cup Final, and he's been one of the key pieces for a Carolina team that's been looking to get over the hump for years.
With his 16 points in 13 playoff games, he is tied for third in postseason scoring and leading the Hurricanes. The two NHL players he's tied with have already been eliminated: Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens.
If the Hurricanes win the Cup, he has a legitimate chance to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Playoffs.
Hall's line with Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven has been Carolina's most dominant, scoring roughly half of their even-strength goals since the playoffs began, and that is something to watch out for heading into the series.
Against the Golden Knights, there will be more chess-style matchups for the Hurricanes to deal with, and that is where Hall's line can make them even more dangerous if they stay as dominant as they've been since mid-April.
Brandon Saad - Vegas Golden Knights
Everyone in Chicago remembers Brandon Saad. He was a major part of the Blackhawks winning their second and third of three Stanley Cups in the 2010s.
Now, in the later years of his career, Saad has a mixed role with the Golden Knights. He still has a high-end motor, but their roster is so deep that they don't need him every night.
During the regular season, he played in 49 games for Vegas while scoring 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points. When they have injuries or inconsistencies amongst their forwards, he's a great veteran to plug and play.
Saad didn't play against the Utah Mammoth in the first round, but he suited up for three games against the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. In the Western Conference Finals, he played in two of their four games as they swept the Colorado Avalanche.
Four of Saad's five playoff appearances have come on the road, which could play into Vegas' matchup strategy, or it could just be a coincidence.
If Vegas wins the Cup, Saad's name will go on it for the third time no matter how much he plays in this series because he played in over half of their regular season games.
Other Notes
Jaycob Megna also played 44 games for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season. He played only four games with the Vegas Golden Knights this season and is a black ace in the playoffs for them this year.
If the Knights win, that would mean that Megna was a black ace on the Stanley Cup champion for the second year in a row, as he was a part of the Florida Panthers organization in 2024-25.
Hall and Saad's team can be seen fighting for the Stanley Cup in Game One on Tuesday night. On ABC, the festivities will kick off at 7 PM CT.
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On Sunday night, the Kitchener Rangers left Kelowna with the Memorial Cup after beating the Everett Silvertips 6-2 in the final. Amongst the winners was a Montreal Canadiens prospect, right-shot defenseman Andrew MacNiel. The soon-to-be 19-year-old is a defensive defenseman who was drafted in the sixth round by Montreal at the 2025 draft.
Through 10 playoff games, the 6-foot-2 and 170-pound blueliner put up two points, both goals, including one game-winner. He finished the postseason with a plus-two rating and four penalty minutes. At the Memorial Cup tournament, he made the headlines with a no-holds-barred fight against Silvertips’ Jaxsin Vaughan on May 25, a spirited tilt which ended in a draw.
In the regular season, the blueliner put up seven points in 48 games and was assessed 47 penalty minutes. MacNiel plays a rugged game and needs to learn to land his hits on the right side of legality.
The tough guy has a heart of gold, though. During the playoffs, he set up a fundraiser called Andrew’s Ambition for cancer research, through which he pledged to donate $2 for every blocked shot. On May 25th, the initiative had raised over $50,000 dollars, obliterating its $10,000 goal.
Of course, MacNiel still has a long way to go before he can skate in the NHL, but he has an interesting mix of skill and brings a lot of physicality to his game, something the Canadiens are rather light on, especially if Arber Xhekaj isn’t there in the long term.
Pavel Dorofeyev enters the Stanley Cup Final at the top of his game, tallying nine points over his last eight appearances while posting remarkably strong underlying numbers.
That's why he headlines tonight's Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes props and NHL picks for the series opener in Carolina.
Best Golden Knights vs Hurricanes props for Game 1
Player
Pick
Pavel Dorofeyev
Over 0.5 points
-120
Noah Hanifin
Over 1.5 blocks
-150
Sean Walker
Over 1.5 shots
-125
Game 1 Prop #1: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 0.5 points (-120)
Pavel Dorofeyev has taken off since being promoted to the top line alongside Jack Eichel. He has averaged an ultra-efficient 3.53 points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play while generating expected goals at an elite clip.
Dorofeyev is also a big threat on the man advantage, where he leads the Vegas Golden Knights in goals and shots during the playoffs.
He is an exceptional shooter and generates plenty of looks. He will really test Frederik Andersen, who is riding a high now but posted a highly underwhelming .874 save percentage during the regular season.
Expect Dorofeyev to hit the scoresheet in Game 1.
Betable to -130.
Game 1 Prop #2: Noah Hanifin Over 1.5 blocks (-150)
The Carolina Hurricanes ranked second in shot attempt rate during the regular season and led the way in the playoffs.
Their shot-generating efficiency creates numerous block opportunities, and Noah Hanifin is a prime beneficiary.
His pairing is being spoonfed defensive zone starts and allowing shot attempts at a higher clip than either of Vegas’ other pairings.
Hanifin averaged 2.3 blocks per game against Top-5 teams in shot volume this year, and 2.6 on the road.
Back him to block a couple up to -170.
Game 1 Prop #3: Sean Walker Over 1.5 shots (-125)
Sean Walker had a very strong shooting season, going Over 1.5 shots in 65% of his games.
That includes two Overs against the Golden Knights, in which he attempted 6+ shots in both games while combining for six shots on goal.
Walker is primed to pick up where he left off. The bulk of his volume comes from the right point, and Vegas ranked 30th in shots allowed from that area this season.
He has seen more offensive zone starts than any other Hurricanes defenseman in the playoffs, leading to extra looks at the net.
Playable to -135.
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Malhotra is a highly sought-after coach around the league, and the Maple Leafs weren't the only team that was likely interested in acquiring his services behind their NHL bench.
Vancouver's latest hire has spent the past two seasons coaching in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, the American League affiliate of Vancouver. His time as a head coach in the minors is where he really earned his recognition.
In his first campaign in Abbotsford, Malhotra led the AHL Canucks to a Calder Cup championship. That 2024-25 AHL title put Malhotra on the map as a real candidate to coach in the NHL, and that has come to fruition, with Vancouver winning that race with a sensible internal hire.
It's not out of the ordinary for Calder Cup-winning coaches to be noticed by NHL teams and eventually get hired by one.
Looking at the history of coaches who became AHL champions, Ryan Warsofsky, Sheldon Keefe, Jared Bednar, Jeff Blashill, and Jon Cooper, all won the Calder Cup in the last 14 years, and are NHL coaches. Malhotra is now a part of that list.
Malhotra's links to Toronto don't end at the passing possibility of the Leafs hiring him as their next bench boss, as he was a part of their coaching staff in the past.
From 2020-21 to 2023-24, Malhotra was an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs, serving alongside Keefe for four seasons.
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Carolina's young forwards have quietly become some of the most dangerous chance-generators in the playoffs, creating value in the goal-scorer market heading into Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
My Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes goal scorer props will focus on Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, with Pavel Dorofeyev also included.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes goal scorer predictions for Tuesday
Player to score a goal
Odds
Logan Stankoven
+220
Jackson Blake
+245
Pavel Dorofeyev
+220
Goal scorer parlay
+1500
Goal scorer pick: Logan Stankoven (+220)
Logan Stankoven is flourishing in these playoffs with nine goals in just 13 games, but the underlying metrics suggest the production is no fluke.
His 4.1 individual expected goals rank third on the Carolina Hurricanes behind only Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake, while he also sits third on the team in high-danger chances created per 60 minutes (17.98).
Carolina is also controlling 67.8% of shots on goal with Stankoven on the ice at 5-on-5, highlighting his ability to drive offensive-zone pressure. He registered 11 shots across the final two games of the Eastern Conference Final and scored in both contests.
I'll play this pick to +180.
Goal scorer pick: Jackson Blake (+245)
Jackson Blake is right up there with Stankoven in production. The Hurricanes forward leads the team with 5.43 individual expected goals this postseason, highlighting the quality of chances he's generating.
Blake has also recorded 48 individual Fenwick attempts, trailing only Stankoven, which speaks to his ability to consistently create offense.
The underlying numbers support the production. Blake leads Carolina in high-danger chances per 60 minutes (18.97), while his 20% shooting percentage shows he's capitalized on those opportunities, scoring five goals on 25 shots on net.
I'll play this pick to +200.
Goal scorer pick: Pavel Dorofeyev (+220)
Pavel Dorofeyev's 10 playoff goals are supported by strong chance generation, as his 6.07 individual expected goals rank among the Vegas Golden Knights' leaders. However, he's also outperformed that expected total by nearly four goals, highlighting how efficient he's been around the net.
The winger leads the Golden Knights with 63 individual Fenwick attempts and has put 42 shots on target in just 16 games. He's also generating dangerous looks consistently, posting a 15.85 HDCF/60 rate during the postseason.
Dorofeyev's role has grown as well, with his ice time increasing over the last three games. With confidence high and his offensive opportunities continuing to pile up, expect him to remain a focal point of Vegas' attack in Game 1.
I'll play this pick to +200.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes anytime goal parlay
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As the calendar flips from May to June, and the NHL Stanley Cup final is set and about to commence, the majority of significant transactions between now and the start of the 2026-27 season will likely take place over the course of the next four to six weeks.
The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in unfamiliar waters after what could be seen as their first successful season in nearly a decade. They enter the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, two core RFAs (Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier) to sign to big extensions, two secondary RFAs (Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger) on whom tough decisions will have to be made, and one to three areas on the roster potentially in need of upgrades.
Anaheim could now be seen as a desirable destination for players on the move. Even after RFAs are inked to new deals, the Ducks will still have considerable cap space to add quality players to their roster who could help them now and moving into a bright future.
After feasibly identifying three areas in need of an upgrade on the Ducks’ depth chart (right shot defense, second-line center, top-nine winger), now seems like a good time to identify paths in which general manager Pat Verbeek could go about adding to his group and numerous organizations’ situations they could target around the league.
I’ve decided to break this up by division, so we’ll take a look at some teams in the Atlantic Division, perhaps the most competitive division heading into the 2026-27 season.
Disclaimer: This exercise is purely speculative. Some players mentioned have been previously reported to be in trade discussions, while others haven’t. This is intended to provide ideas on the type of players the Ducks could target this offseason.
(Alphabetical Order)
Boston Bruins
The Bruins made a somewhat surprising run to the playoffs in 2025-26 under new head coach Marco Sturm. They enter the offseason with a projected $15.4 million in cap space, and a surprisingly potent prospect/young player pool highlighted by James Hagens (19), Fraser Minten (21), and Dean Letourneau (20).
They’ll aim for continued growth from young, potentially impactful players while maximizing the prime years of David Pastrnak (30), Charlie McAvoy (28), and Jeremy Swayman (27).
Their roster features a pair of middle-six contributors one year from unrestricted free agency, whom the Ducks could target in an effort to boost their own forward group: Pavel Zacha (29) and Casey Mittelstadt (27). Zacha is more in the mold of a 200-foot center with penalty killing capabilities, while Mittelstadt is a versatile offense-oriented option.
Zacha has one year remaining on his contract that carries an AAV of $4.75 million (8-team NTC). Mittelstadt has one year at $5.75 million remaining (9-team NTC).
A more outside-the-box, long-shot option could be Elias Lindholm (31), who hasn’t been able to replicate his production from his days in the Calgary Flames organization, but remains one of the better two-way centers in the NHL. His contract has five years remaining at $7.75 million (full NMC).
Boston will soon have some decisions to make within their forward group, and moving off of one of their veterans could open up ice time for their younger impact players to thrive.
Buffalo Sabres
To many, the Sabres were the feel-good story of the 2025-26 season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2011. They defeated the Bruins in the first round but lost in the second to the Montreal Canadiens and will look to improve upon that result moving forward.
They enter the offseason with $11.9 million in cap space, a trio of RFAs in need of new contracts, Alex Tuch set to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1, and Bowen Byram set to hit the market a year from now.
Buffalo is expected to commit long-term to Zach Benson, and depending on their decisions in regards to Byram and Tuch, RFAs Peyton Krebs (25) and Michael Kesselring (26) could be available this summer.
Krebs is a versatile, late-blooming, offensive depth piece coming off his most productive NHL season. Kesselring was touted as one of the better young, defensive-oriented defensemen in the NHL when he was traded to Buffalo in the summer of 2025, but was injured and then healthy-scratched during the playoffs.
Like most young teams exiting a rebuild, the Sabres will have to make some difficult roster decisions in the next two months to continue their build now that their core has been identified and their first taste of success has been found.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are in a period of extreme transition, as they’ve recently hired new general manager John Chayka and new Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations Mats Sundin after their worst regular season finish in the last decade. They enter the 2026 offseason with a projected $22.3 million in cap space, a depleted prospect pool, and the first overall pick in the draft.
It’s been reported that a goal of the front office for this offseason will be to sell team captain Auston Matthews on the direction of the franchise after missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. He has two years remaining on his deal at a $13.25 million AAV (full NMC), and he isn’t expected to be moved before the start of the 2026-27 season, but that hasn’t stopped such discussion from national media.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun went so far as to speculate and conclude that the Ducks would be on his short list of teams he’d be willing to move to. A 1-2 punch down the middle featuring Leo Carlsson and Auston Matthews is enough to make anyone salivate, and something along the lines of the return the Vancouver Canucks received from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Quinn Hughes (first round pick, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi) would be a logical comparison in this scenario.
Aside from Matthews, practically everyone on Toronto’s roster seems up for grabs to some extent. For Anaheim, right-shot defenseman Brandon Carlo makes the most sense. After a successful stint with the Boston Bruins, the 6-foot-5 defensive defenseman hasn’t quite been a seamless fit in Toronto throughout his one-and-a-half-year tenure. He has one year remaining at a $4.1 million AAV (3-team NTC).
The Leafs remain without a head coach, but indications point toward them wanting to get younger and speedier before next season. The Ducks and Leafs would make for intriguing trade partners, as the two organizations are at vastly different points in their franchise’s competitive windows.
The Vancouver Canucks have named him as the 23rd head coach in the team's history. He replaces another former Columbus Blue Jackets in Adam Foote, who was let go last month.
Malhotra is being promoted to the big club after spending the last two years with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. During his time in Abbottsford, he led the team to a Calder Cup championship in 2025. This past season however, they failed to make the playoffs and finished 9th in the Pacific Division.
Malhotra played 344 of his 991 career NHL games with Columbus. He scored 53 goals and totaled 145 points for the Jackets. Two months into the 2015–16 season, Malhotra signed a professional tryout contract with the Lake Erie Monsters on December 3, 2015. He played in 23 games and had six points. He was drafted 7th overall by the New York Rangers in 1998.
Malhotra was the ultimate competitor.
WELCOME COACH MANNY!
General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the #Canucks have hired Manny Malhotra as the 23rd Head Coach in franchise history.
Malhotra's son, Caleb, is projected to be a lottery pick in the upcoming draft later this month. There were already thoughts that the Canucks would choose the junior Malhotra before this move, but now that the elder Malhotra has been hired with the big team, it feels like a foregone conclusion that they'll draft Caleb.
DobberProspects said of Caleb Malhotra, "Caleb Malhotra has NHL bloodlines; he is the son of former NHL player Manny Malhotra, and he is showing that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Caleb has been a standout player for the Brantford Bulldogs early in the 2025-26 season, showcasing his abilities across the entire 200 feet of the ice surface with sound defense and high-energy offense. He is a high-end two-way centre who looks to hear his name called on the first day of the 2026 NHL Draft."
Congrats to Manny Malhotra on becoming the next head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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The Montreal Canadiens have multiple roster needs that they should be looking to address during the off-season. Adding another solid defenseman to the right side of their blueline should be one of their top objectives.
The free agent market could have an interesting potential option for the Canadiens to consider in Connor Murphy if he does not re-sign with the Edmonton Oilers.
If the Canadiens brought in Murphy, he would provide them with a big and steady defensive defenseman for their right side. Due to his strong defense-first style of play, he could work nicely on either the Canadiens' second or third pairing if signed. He would also give them a clear option for their penalty kill because of his strong defensive play.
With Murphy being 33 years old, he would probably be a better fit on the Canadiens if given a short-term deal. While this is the case, he would be a solid veteran blueliner for Montreal to have around to help mentor their younger players. He is a well-respected leader and has experience playing for younger clubs, as he was with the Chicago Blackhawks for a significant chunk of their ongoing rebuild.
In 80 games this season split between the Blackhawks and Oilers, Murphy recorded five goals, 12 assists, 17 points, 90 hits, and 138 blocks.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 28: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for the puck in a face-off during the third period of a game at Lenovo Center on October 28, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The quest for the Stanley Cup began a long time ago, but the battle for who will hold it aloft begins now. From the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes: Steady, reliable, a consistent force through the regular and postseason. Out of the West emerged the Vegas Golden Knights, a team that refused to fade into obscurity, and re-affirmed itself as a Cup contender with a late-season coaching change that transformed them into a juggernaut.
It’s a fascinating cup battle that will break us out of two grinding years of the Florida Panthers’ physical success. No doubt there will be a lot of these teams throwing their weight around, but the chess match between Rod Brind-Amour of the Canes and John Tortorella of the Knights will make this a fascinating series. Sure, it won’t be the Avs vs. Habs final people wanted — but there’s no doubting that this is the Stanley Cup Finals these teams deserve. Now we break down every key area of the head-to-head matchup to see who has the edge.
Star Power
EDGE: Vegas Golden Knights
There is no questioning that the top-end talent of the Knights eclipses what Carolina is bringing to the table. Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone each individually embrace the role of “star” much better than the Hurricanes, whose entire ethos is not banking on star players.
That hasn’t traditionally been a good thing for Carolina when it comes to the playoffs or the Stanley Cup Finals. Games this deep in the season require someone to stand up and put the team on their back when things aren’t working, which is a dimension the Canes lack.
This gives Tortorella a lot of schematic freedom when it comes to this game. In the last few series, he’s spread his three huge stars over the top three lines to bring depth and balance, but against Carolina he could very well run an Marner/Eichel/Stone line as his top grouping and just hope to overwhelm the Canes defense. It’s not a bad path forward, especially when Carolina lacks the guys to step up and meet them in this regard.
If this turns into a star-based finals then the Golden Knights are in a great spot to hoist the cup once more.
Forward Depth
EDGE: Carolina Hurricanes
This is what Rod Brind-Amour’s team is known for, and what they used to such effect en route to their 12-1 postseason record this year. All four lines of forwards the Hurricanes bring to the table are dangerous in different ways, particularly the second and third grinder lines the team uses to wear out opponents on the forecheck.
Against Montreal those units were:
Line 2: Taylor Hall / Logan Stankoven / Jackson Blake
Line 3: Nikolaj Ehlers / Jordan Staal / Jordan Martinook
What makes these two lines so scary is how they blend forecheck prowess with a single finesse wing. Blake and Ehlers have capitalized all season from loose pucks, jostled opportunities, and chances in front of the net. The Canes play all four lines with almost equal ice time, which means consistent mismatching where some teams might adhere to a line vs. line mentality.
The emergence this season of Stankoven as a legimitate Top 6 forward, and Blake taking strides as a future scoring machine helped propel this team into the playoffs and it’s an area where Vegas could have trouble if they’re allowed to be dragged into deep water.
That’s not to say Vegas don’t have depth, because they absolutely do — it’s just not as pronounced. If we map across the third line it’s going to be a brutal series for Vegas center Colton Sissons, who will be tasked with taking on Jordan Staal.
Defense
EDGE: Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have been an absolute wall outside of their one loss to Montreal, which felt far more like a product of their extensive time off, rather than any true problem. Across 12 playoff wins the Hurricanes have only allowed 15 goals, which isn’t a product of their goaltending, I assure you.
Jaccob Slavin and K’Andre Miller’s rangy stick play has been a nightmare for teams trying to generate offense in the zone. They’re both accompanied by more traditional stay-at-home defensemen as needed. Where the Canes’ defense gets so dangerous is when their physicality moves the center of play up the ice. This is what the team is built to do, with both defensemen playing up on the blue line and condensing the ice to just the offensive zone. From here they love to push the tempo, prevent line changes, and let the forwards pounce on free pucks.
The Golden Knights have a lot of ability on their defensive end, but much like the depth they just lack the array of stick and physical skills that the Carolina defense brings to the table.
Goaltending
EDGE: Vegas Golden Knights
This one isn’t even remotely close. Carter Hart is a phenomenal goalie (even if you understandably hate him), and he can be a difference maker in this series. We saw in the ECF that the Hurricanes often had times dealing with Jakub Dobeš, and Hart is another order of magnitude better at this point in his career.
The way Hart stonewalled the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals was beyond impressive, as he functionally disarmed the entire Colorado attack to allow his forwards to win the game. The level of frustration he brought out in Nathan McKinnon and Martin Necas could have a profound effect on Carolina, especially Andrei Svechnikov who is known for being a hot-head.
On the other side we have Freddie Andersen, who is extremely mediocre. Andersen has a difficult job staying ready when he doesn’t see a lot of shots because of the Canes’ defense — but even so, there’s a tendency to let in mind-boggling goals that 90% of NHL goaltenders should make with ease.
Powerplay
EDGE: Vegas Golden Knights
Powerplay often equates to top-line star power, and that’s why Vegas is so scary. Having Eichel, Marner, and Stone on ice at the same time means that shots can come from anywhere, and all three are adept at fighting through traffic in front of the net. More critically, all three players are good enough puck handlers that they will likely have much less of a problem dealing with Carolina’s PK than the Canadiens did.
This postseason the powerplay for the Canes has been flat-out bad.
Penalty Kill
EDGE: Carolina Hurricanes
We can flip this to the defensive side as well, but what makes the Canes’ PK unit so good is the forechecking of Staal and Martinook up top. They’re just pests on the puck for knocking it down ice and forcing resets, burning the clock constantly while Slavin and Jordan Chatfield block shots around net. It’s a brutal unit to go up against, and nobody has has answers for it so far, with Carolina only allowing four goals on 53 opportunities this postseason.
Coaching
EDGE: Push
It’s really impossible to pick between these guys. John Tortorella’s injection of energy into the Knights turned them into a cup team overnight, and he’s a brilliant in-game strategist who can diagnose the pace of play and come up with plans to either accentuate them, or flip the script.
With Carolina there’s Rod Brind-Amour, who has the entire Canes organization playing exactly like he played the game. They’re puck-focused, they’re aggressive, and their conditioning is second-to-none. There’s also a pattern where the Canes have been brilliant between periods, often able to change the course of a game in a single intermission.
When the dust settles there’s nothing between these guys. They’re both brilliant.
Final prediction
The West has had a lot of problems dealing with the physicality of the Eastern Conference over the past few years, and that is a major concern here as well for Vegas. Throughout the playoffs Carolina has been asserting their will on the forecheck and through their defense to set the tone for a series, and right now it feels like the team can do that again.
For the Golden Knights to have a real shot they will need to generate a lot of opportunities on Freddie Andersen and run up the score quickly, because the Canes do lack the ability to score in pressure situations to get back in games where they’re behind. The good news for Carolina is that they’re not often behind, and set the tone as a result.
This is going to be a fantastic series, but the Knights don’t have a legitimate megastar who can take over games like Connor McDavid or Nate McKinnon. They have the talent edge in this area, but not quite enough to get them over the top. It won’t be easy, but in the end…
Carolina Hurricanes win the 2025-26 Stanley Cup in six games
Brackett previously spent six years with the Minnesota Wild as their director of amateur scouting and has run the last five drafts for that organization. Before his time with the Wild, he was with the Vancouver Canucks for 12 years, with his final five years there as the director of amateur scouting.
Brackett's new role with the Maple Leafs is to oversee player evaluation across amateur and professional scouting. So while he's not the director of amateur scouting for Toronto - that's Mark Leach's role - he'll likely have a strong say in the upcoming draft.
With that in mind, here is a look at Brackett's drafting history when he was the director of amateur scouting with the Wild and Canucks over the last 11 years.
Brackett helped decide on six first-round picks in his last five drafts for Minnesota. There are a few notable names that come up, but no one that jumps out as a clever pick late in the draft.
Zeev Buium, Charlie Stramel, Liam Ohgren, Danila Yurov, Jesper Wallstedt and Carson Lambos are the five first-rounders. Of the batch, Ohgren has the most NHL games under his belt with 97 appearances.
None of these picks has set the league alight, but Buium and Wallstedt could be on a path to becoming stars in this league. And even though Buium and Ohgren are no longer on the Wild, they were assets that helped acquire defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Canucks.
Some other notable prospects that have come outside the first round include second-rounders Hunter Haight in 2022, who is an AHL regular at 22 years old and Riley Heidt in 2023, who has recorded three 90-plus-point seasons in the WHL.
Another notable selection is fourth-round pick Adam Benak, who scored 77 points in the OHL this past year and had a big showing for Czechia at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
In five drafts as the director of amateur scouting for the Canucks, Brackett had four first-rounders to work with, two of which were top-five picks.
The biggest name Vancouver selected with Brackett at the wheel was Elias Pettersson at fifth overall in 2017 and Hughes at seventh overall in 2018.
One not-so-great pick was Olli Juolevi, who was selected fifth overall in 2016. The next two players on the draft board were Olympic gold medallists Matthew Tkachuk and Clayton Keller. Juolevi only appeared in 41 NHL games, and currently plays for Tappara in Finland's Liiga.
There are a few players that the Canucks selected deep in the draft under Brackett's leadership.
In 2019, Vancouver picked Nils Hoglander in the second round, and he has played 331 games in the NHL. In that same draft, they selected goaltender Arturs Silovs in the sixth round. Silovs has had some big moments in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Canucks and with his current team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Another notable player is Jonah Gadjovich, selected in the second round of the 2017 draft. He's not a game-breaker, but he does have two Stanley Cups to his name with the Florida Panthers, and thrives in the role of a pesky fourth-liner. The 27-year-old has featured in 130 NHL regular-season games and 16 playoff contests.
Outside of leading clubs at the draft table, Brackett has also served as a scout for Team USA in the last three World Junior Championships. The Americans have won two of those three competitions.
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The Vancouver Canucks could be adding some size to their lineup for next season. According to a report by Daria Tuboltseva of RG Media, Russian forward Ilya Safonov could be making the move to the NHL next season. The 25-year-old center is listed at 6'4", 205 lbs and played last year in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan.
As reported by Tuboltseva. "Safonov initially had an agreement with Vancouver’s previous management group. After the changes, his move became uncertain. However, according to the latest information, the player and the club have now reached an agreement on a contract. Safonov is expected to sign a one-year entry-level contract."
Vancouver acquired Safonov from the Chicago Blackhawks just after the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The trade was for future considerations. Chicago initially drafted Safonov in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Over his KHL career, Safonov has played 331 regular-season games and recorded 128 points. This year, he finished with 16 goals and 33 points in 68 games. Safonov and Ak Bars Kazan made it to the KHL Final this year, but fell in six games to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
Ilya Safonov at Vancouver Canucks Development Camp (Photo Credit: Kaja Antic/The Hockey News)
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.
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.
Pavel Dorofeyev
Sean Walker
