Category: NHL

On paper, Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings should be a perfect fit. A legendary franchise drafting a homegrown player, him starting at 19 years old, making the playoffs, losing to a Lightning team that was way ahead of the Wings' schedule in five games, taking those lumps and figuring out how to get further next time.

The problem? There hasn't been a next time. With the Sabres making the playoffs this season, the Red Wings, the American team with the most Stanley Cups — who play in Hockeytown, USA — now have the longest active playoff drought in the league at 10 years.

Why did Dylan Larkin request a trade? What is Steve Yzerman's next move?

Opinion: Don't blame Dylan Larkin for not wanting to waste prime with Red Wings

Larkin has been a captain for six of those years, occupying a space left vacant for two seasons after the retirement of Henrik Zetterberg. He was named captain Jan. 13, 2021, 635 days after THE Captain Steve Yzerman returned to Detroit after a wildly successful stint building the Lightning roster. The very Lightning roster that knocked the Wings out of the playoffs in Larkin's rookie year.

And yet, even as hope sprung eternal under the Yzerplan and results were promised with time, things continued to fizzle for the Red Wings. On March 1, 2023, Larkin signed an eight-year, $69.3 million extension which immediately preceded a 5-9-1 month. March went on to become a dreaded month for Wings fans, with Detroit going 3-9-2 in 2024, 4-10-0 in 2025, and finally 5-7-2 this past season.

After the latest Red Wings collapse, which was interrupted by a Team USA gold medal from a team Larkin made a huge impact on, things have boiled over. Larkin reportedly requested a trade June 4, throwing his Red Wings future into jeopardy. However, with a no-trade clause, Larkin has a lot of leverage over that trade Yzerman may not acquiesce to.

More: Dylan Larkin's request for a trade fires up Red Wings fans

Here's a look at some possible destinations for Larkin, along with what could be required for Larkin in what may be Yzerman's biggest test yet as the embattled Red Wings GM.

Dylan Larkin possible trade destinations

Minnesota Wild

This is the deal that immediately makes the most sense.

It gets Larkin out of the Eastern Conference, the Wild are a team looking for a true 2C, it would put Larkin back with one of his USA teammates in Quinn Hughes, allow him to keep playing in a high-profile hub of hockey, give him a chance to win quickly, and the Wild have a GM in Bill Guerin who has proven in the past he's willing to be aggressive.

The question with this deal is if the Wild would be willing to offload another first-round pick after dropping 2026 to Vancouver for the Hughes trade. This is a team desperately looking to win now, and Larkin would be a boon at its weakest position. But the Wild need to find a package that keeps that win-now mentality intact while also outbidding other possible suitors (assuming Larkin doesn't demand Minnesota or bust). That's a big hurdle for Guerin.

Montreal Canadiens

The assumed immediate reaction from Habs fans to this idea is fair. "We're building for the future, we don't need a 30-year-old center behind Nick Suzuki."

However, if we learned nothing from the USA run in the Olympics, it's that Larkin is more than capable of thriving with the right core. The Canadiens had a tumultuous postseason, going to two straight Game 7s before getting shellacked by a rested Hurricanes team. Larkin certainly raises the average age of the Habs a hair, but this is a team built to win in the future that is perfectly capable of winning now. Trading for Larkin to bolster the top six is a win-now move.

This time, the problem is Yzerman. This year showed the Atlantic doesn't need any help strengthening itself, so Yzerman might not want to create a problem he has to continue to deal with. The package would have to be hefty. Perhaps too hefty for a team building what Montreal is building to consider.

Las Vegas Golden Knights

No trade list is complete without Vegas.

The Golden Knights will make offers on anyone available, and winning is undoubtedly a big factor for Larkin, making the no-trade clause less of an obstacle given Vegas is one of two teams still playing. Eichel-Larkin would be a potent 1-2 punch at center as well.

The Jack Eichel trade with Vegas helped to spur on a true Sabres rebuild. Maybe history repeats itself with another Atlantic team.

Columbus Blue Jackets

An ex-Michigan star waiving a no-trade clause to go to Columbus may feel sacrilege, but there's a lot for Larkin to like in Columbus. First and foremost is Zach Werenski, a close friend of Larkin's.

While the power of friendship may not be enough to send Larkin to Ohio, the Blue Jackets have been stuck in purgatory for some time now. If they want to make a splash, Larkin is certainly one way to make one. The Blue Jackets do, however, have a slight logjam at C. Adam Fantilli and Charlie Coyle make up 1 and 2C in Columbus. Acquiring Larkin probably kicks Adam Monahan back out to wing, should Columbus pull the trigger.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dylan Larkin trade request: Possible landing spots for Red Wings captain

Most NHL players don’t outperform their regular-season numbers — many don’t even get the chance to try. But for Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden, that doesn’t apply.

After putting up the first two goals of the night, Howden’s postseason total climbed to 13, holding the mantle of team leader in goals. Remarkably, 10 of those have been scored on enemy ice. That's a 76.9% road-goal rate, the highest among active playoff scorers with 10+ goals.

HOWIE CAN'T STOP SCORING #ForgedInGold | @CooperRoofSolarpic.twitter.com/UVBxWjWUst

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 5, 2026

For context, across 58 regular season games, Howden recorded 12 goals and 10 assists. 

And when was Howden’s last best playoff run? It was in 2022-23, the year Vegas won the Stanley Cup. That season he put up five goals and 10 points in 22 games, shooting 16.7% and playing a reliable 13:59 per night. In this season’s playoffs, he has outdone himself with a 39.4% shooting percentage, securing three-game winners, all while logging a career-high 16:35 per game. 

The Conn Smythe conversation seems to be looking in his favor.

BRETT HOWDEN, YOU'RE UNREAL 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/sd9y11a4yU

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 5, 2026

“It was two great plays,” he said on the postgame broadcast. “One, Mitch (Marner) put the puck in a perfect spot. I just looked down, the puck was there, and I felt like I had an edge on him. And then Barbie (Ivan Barbashev) made a great play on the second one. I just tried using my speed up the middle there, and he found me in a great spot.”

Now, with the series sitting at 1–1, Howden and the team will return to home ice for Game 3.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity this whole year,” Howden said. “It’s just another step for us to climb, and, like I said, we’re super excited to get back home and, you know, get back to our fans.”

PHOTO CAPTION

Jun 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) scores against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the second period in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. 

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The Carolina Hurricanes head west after evening the Stanley Cup Final, and they’ll look to make it two in a row with a win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 tonight.

My top Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, June 6 call for Carolina to take Game 3 despite Vegas No. 1 Carter Hart showing off in his return to Sin City.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on ABC and Sportsnet.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 prediction today

Who will win Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3?

Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes rebounded in Game 2 to run over the Golden Knights with a 63.3 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five and winning the overall expected goals battle at 55.8%.

I’m also expecting improvement from Carolina starter Frederik Andersen, with his .837 save percentage and -2.18 goals saved above expected miles below the respective .931 and 15.48 marks he posted through the first three rounds of the postseason.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights best bet: Carter Hart Over 26.5 saves (-115)

Vegas Golden Knights starter Carter Hart has been exceptional at T-Mobile Arena with a .929 save percentage and 6.82 goals saved above expected (GSAx) across eight postseason games.

The Carolina Hurricanes have also dominated 5-on-5 possession with a 63.3 Corsi For percentage through the first two games of the series.

I am anticipating tidier work from Hart in the Vegas crease in Game 3.

He’s dipped to an .855 SV% with -2.49 GSAx to start the Stanley Cup Final, after all, so I’m fully expecting the statistical pendulum to swing back in Hart’s favor Saturday.

This prop has my attention at a -130 price, and I’d also play it at Over 27.5 saves to -120.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 same-game parlay

The drop in play from Carolina starter Frederik Andersen has gone too far to start the series, with his .837 SV% and -2.18GSAx miles below his respective .931 and 15.48 marks to start the postseason.

Improved play from Andersen, paired with the Hurricanes winning the 5-on-5 possession battle again, paves the way for Carolina to win Game 3.

Additionally, Carolina wingers Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers both have excellent underlying numbers to start the series.

Svechnikov sports a high-end 64.3 CF% at 5-on-5, while Ehlers is even better with a 65.6% mark. Ehlers also has six shots on 15 attempts to tie for the team lead in both through two games, while Svechnikov has a statistical correction coming after recording just a single shot on nine attempts in the final.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights SGP

• Hurricanes moneyline
• Andrei Svechnikov Over 2.5 shots
• Nikolaj Ehlers Over 2.5 shots

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 goal scorer pick

Andrei Svechnikov (+230)

Svechnikov has been held to a single assist and shot through two games of the finals despite racking up a team-high 0.8 expected goals and five high-danger scoring chances.

The Russian winger has also been limited to just three goals and a 6.8 shooting percentage this postseason, so considering he continues to skate in a go-to offensive role and leads Carolina with 7.07 ixG, I’m anticipating the scoring slump coming to an end in Game 3.

This prop shows value down to +200.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights odds for Game 3 today

• Moneyline: Hurricanes -110 | Golden Knights -110
• Puck Line: Hurricanes +1.5 (-280) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+225)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5.5 (+100)

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights trend

The Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 25 games (+13.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights.

How to watch Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights latest injuries

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Shockwaves were sent through the NHL landscape on Thursday afternoon, hours before puck drop for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, when premier NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, reported that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (29) has requested a trade. 

Through his 11-year career, the fleet-footed, detailed, 200-foot center has been the epitome of consistency and dependability. In 2025-26, Larkin scored 67 points (34-33=67) in 74 games while averaging 20:11 TOI per game, including 1:31 on the penalty kill.

Most NHL teams would, could, and/or should be interested in adding the 2026 Olympic Gold Medal-winning center to their top-six, and the Anaheim Ducks are no exception. 

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Metropolitan Division

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Central Division

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Atlantic Division

In 2026-27, Larkin will be entering the fourth year of an eight-year contract that carries an $8.7 million AAV and a full NTC. Larkin will ultimately choose his destination, but however much Detroit’s return may be lessened, it is unlikely Larkin will be traded for pennies on the dollar. 

With uncertainty, both long and short term, at the center position behind franchise player Leo Carlsson, adding a player with Larkin’s skillset and pedigree seems like a tantalizing fit and could round out the Ducks’ forward group both on paper and on the ice. 

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek isn’t unfamiliar with Larkin, as the former was Detroit’s assistant general manager from 2019 until Feb. 2022, when he was hired as Anaheim’s GM. Verbeek has also been an active trade partner of his former employer, executing trades with the Wings in each of the last two summers. 

As far as the potential pricetag for Larkin is concerned, the circumstances surrounding recent trades like Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche in 2026, Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in 2023, JT Miller to the New York Rangers in 2025, and Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024 could offer indications on what Detroit could receive in return for their now-former “heart and soul” player.

Where Larkin’s situation differs from those of the recent past, where players somewhat “hand-picked” their landing spot, is how seemingly endless the potential destinations are, given the lack of quality in the upcoming free agent class, ever-rising salary cap ceiling, and abundance of teams in need of a top-six centerman. 

Mason McTavish (23) is a young piece whose name has been heavily discussed and speculated on among national media outlets as a player who could be on the move this offseason. If the Ducks were willing to move on from McTavish, it could give them an advantage, as not many teams could or would likely be willing to part with a player of his ilk in a deal like this. 

Could a package of McTavish, a second tier prospct like Eric Nilsson or Lasse Boelius, and a first-round pick be enough for the Ducks to land Larkin? Impossible to say, but it would be somewhat surprising if the ultimate return were much more than that in terms of value. 

With the Buffalo Sabres making the 2026 NHL Playoffs, Detroit is now the team with the league’s longest playoff drought, as they’ve missed the playoffs for the last ten seasons. On the surface, this potential package appears to be a standard “young roster player, prospect, and a first-round pick” deal. However, given Detroit’s situation and desperation to qualify for the playoffs, they may opt for more of a win-now approach when dealing their captain. 

Ultimately, Larkin will be in control of where he’ll play the next five years of his career. For the Ducks, the question (aside from cost and fit) will be if they’ve done enough to become a destination for star players on the move. They took some significant steps in their build and made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. They offer a vastly different lifestyle from Detroit, given aspects like the weather and minimal media attention, and they offer a proven young core with seemingly limitless potential.

Verbeek enters the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, with the only true hole on the depth chart appearing on the right side of the Ducks’ blueline. Over half of that cap space will likely go towards hefty extensions for core pieces Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. With a stockpile of picks, prospects, and young roster players, the Ducks are in as good a position as any to make a move of this magnitude this summer. 

The 2026 NHL Draft Combine is underway in Buffalo, New York, which has become a marquee networking event on the NHL calendar, as all 32 teams will have front office representatives present for the week. Frameworks for deals could be discussed, and the next four to six weeks will likely be the busiest for transactions until 2026 training camps roll around. 

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Shopping List

Ducks’ Granlund, Solberg Win Medals at 2026 Men’s Worlds

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Rumor Roundup: 5/28/26

Given the chance, John Tortorella would do it again.

The Golden Knights coach unsuccessfully challenged referee Jean Hebert’s call that Ivan Barbashev pushed Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen into the net as Vegas appeared to score with five minutes left in regulation in Carolina’s ultimate 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

Frederik Andersen keeps it out, the puck goes in after the whistle, Vegas challenges for no goalie interference and loses.

What a crazy sequence pic.twitter.com/n6FyrGY3CO

— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) June 5, 2026

The pivotal call took a 3-2 Vegas lead off the board and allowed Carolina to score its third straight goal — in a span of 5:05 — on the power play resulting from the unsuccessful challenge and take a 3-2 lead on home ice.

“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s executive vice president and director of officiating, told a pool reporter. “[Hebert] waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”

Vegas’ Mark Stone sent the game into overtime with a backhander past Andersen with 1:11 left in regulation, but Carolina blueliner Seth Jarvis whistled a slap shot past goalie Carter Hart for the win just 3:56 into the extra frame on yet another power-play goal.

“You’d like to make them pay every time,” Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho said. “It’s a big swing because the other option is going down a goal. But other than that, every time you get a power play, you’re trying to score. So, it’s not that different, but obviously it was a big swing.”

Not big enough to change the mind or Tortorella, who took over the Vegas bench with just eight games remaining in the season after the shocking firing of Bruce Cassidy.

Tortorella, a Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning in 2004 and helming his sixth NHL team, understands why it all went down this way — not that he has to like it.

“That’s been explained by the league, and I stand behind my decision,” Tortorella said Friday.

As most of the hockey world watches the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, many in the industry are gearing up for the NHL Draft, which will take place on June 26-27 in Buffalo, NY.

Despite decent odds of winning the NHL Lottery Draft last month, the Calgary Flames find themselves drafting sixth overall, a spot the franchise is familiar with, having selected Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk in that spot.

This year, aside from the top two prospects, Gavin McKenna (Penn State) and Ivar Stenberg (Frölunda HC), the rest of the draft class is a toss-up.

On June 4, The Daily Faceoff's top prospect writer, Steve Ellis, released his latest Mock Draft, picking right-handed defenseman Keaton Verhoeff from the University of North Dakota with the sixth overall pick.

According to his Elite Prospects profile, Verheoff, who is from Fort Saskatchewan, AB, ranges from #3 all the way down to #12 in pre-draft rankings, with a handful of outlets listing him at #1 and #2.

After tallying 47 points in 75 games in the WHL with the Victoria Royals, Vernhoeff jumped to the NCAA last season, racking up 20 points in 36 games with the University of North Dakota as a freshman. Meanwhile, he was Canada's U18 captain and had four assists at the latest World Juniors, where Canada won bronze.

Vernhoeff will turn 18 on June 19, and if the Flames select him, he'll become the youngest defenseman on the organization's depth chart, taking the spot from Alex Hurtig, the only 20-year-old signed to a deal. 

If Calgary drafts him and doesn't ink him to an entry-level deal, Vernhoeff would join Mace'o Phillips (19) and Jakob Leander (19) as the only under-20 defenders in the system, but not under contract. 

Which Former Flames Are Playing in the Stanley Cup Final?The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is upon us, which means fans of the Calgary Flames still have former players to cheer for. Who are they?

Despite the many mock drafts that have the Flames staying at sixth overall, many insiders wonder if General Manager Craig Conroy will make a deal to move up in the draft. However, if that doesn't happen, and Calgary stays the course, Vernhoeff may not be the only intriguing option at sixth overall.

The NHL scouting combine is reaching the main portion of the event, with the intense physical testing coming up this weekend. It's been an important week for the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly considering they have the first overall pick at this year's draft, which is coming up on June 26 and 27.

The results of the scouting combine don't always tell the story of whether a player will become a star in the NHL or not, but it's still interesting to see who might be the strongest or most agile prospects in the draft class.

With that, here's a look at a brief history of current Maple Leafs at the NHL combine in previous years.

Nick Robertson - Pull Ups

At the 2019 NHL combine, Maple Leafs left winger Nick Robertson finished among the best performers at the pull-up test.

Robertson was able to execute 15 pull-ups, which puts him tied at 15th for the most pull-up reps in the event at the combine since it was introduced in 2015.

This event seems to favor athletes who are light, and the 5-foot-9 Robertson is certainly that. For further reference, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson completed 18 pull-ups in 2022, the second most ever.

In that 2019 draft, the Maple Leafs selected Robertson in the second round with the 53rd overall pick.

Maple Leafs' Scouting Director Reveals Plan For 2026 NHL DraftToronto Maple Leafs' director of amateur scouting, Mark Leach, discussed the organization's plan going into the 2026 NHL draft, the methods they'll use, and the preferences they have with the first overall pick and beyond.

Jake McCabe - Horizontal Jump

Defenseman Jake McCabe wasn't drafted by the Maple Leafs, but has been with Toronto for the past four seasons.

Nonetheless, he had a great showing in the horizontal jump event when he was eligible to be drafted in 2012. Not only is he tied for the 11th-best jump at 119 inches, but that was also the best score of his entire draft class.

The Buffalo Sabres went on to select McCabe in the second round of the 2012 draft with the 44th pick.

Projected First-Overall Pick Gavin McKenna Reveals Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Visited Him In WhitehorseProjected first overall pick, Gavin McKenna, revealed that Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka travelled up to Whitehorse to meet him ahead of the NHL scouting combine and 2026 draft.

Easton Cowan, William Nylander - Pro Agility Test

Easton Cowan and William Nylander, both first-round picks by the Maple Leafs, performed well in the pro agility test.

Nylander, a part of the 2014 combine and draft class, marked a 4.28-second time in this event. That held up as the second-best time of his class, and tied for 15th on the all-time board.

The right winger ended up getting selected eighth overall by Toronto in 2014 and has since emerged as an NHL star.

As for Cowan, his test was off the charts as he holds the all-time record for the pro agility event. He completed the drill in 4.07 seconds. 

Cowan was a surprise pick by the Maple Leafs when he was drafted 28th overall in 2023, but maybe this performance on this particular drill shed some light on him.

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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was forced to leave Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday after taking a puck to his face on a slap shot midway through the first period.

The 14-year veteran, who played for the Kings from 2014-2017, did not return to the game. ESPN is reporting that McNabb was taken from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., to a hospital for evaluation.

Vegas coach John Tortorella did not have an update on McNabb’s status after his team’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Huricanes, and the Golden Knights had not provided one as of early Friday morning.

Read more:Claude Lemieux, feisty four-time Stanley Cup champion, dies at 60

McNabb was defending in front of the net with 9:08 remaining in the first period when a blistering shot by Carolina winger Nikolaj Ehlers hit him in the facial area. Slow-motion replays show the puck may have struck the protective visor on McNabb’s helmet near his eyes.

Brayden McNabb took a puck to the visor blocking a Hurricanes shot. pic.twitter.com/BK561k3VZk

— ESPN (@espn) June 5, 2026

After crumpling to the ice, McNabb immediately climbed to his feet, skated off the playing area and headed down the tunnel while holding a hand over his nose and mouth.

“It’s a scary play,” Vegas forward Brett Howden said after the game. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right. We haven’t seen him yet but hope he’s doing OK.”

Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin said: “Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough. It’s hard to see that happen to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”

Read more:Ducks' storybook season comes to an end with Game 6 loss to Golden Knights

Born in Davidson, Canada, McNabb was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the 2009 entry draft. He played in 37 games for the Sabres and was acquired by the Kings on March 5, 2014. Los Angeles also received Jonathan Parker and a pair of draft picks in exchange for Hudson Fasching and Nic Deslauriers.

McNabb had six goals and 36 assists in three seasons with the Kings before being selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft. This is his third Stanley Cup Final with the Golden Knights, who won the championship in 2023.

In Vegas’ 5-4 Game 1 victory against Carolina on Tuesday, McNabb had three assists for the first time in his career. Ben Hutton and Kaedan Korczak are possible options to take McNabb’s spot if he can’t play in Saturday’s Game 3 in Las Vegas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

If ever an NHL team could be sitting on top of the world after losing a Stanley Cup Final Game Seven in double overtime the 1949-50 Rangers were IT. 

Although the Blueshirts finished under the .500 mark (28-31-11) they still qualified for a playoff berth. They faced the strong Montreal Canadiens – led by Maurice (The Rocket) Richard – in the first round and were given little chance to advance past the semi-final round.

"Our coach Lynn Patrick decided to assign defensive forward Pentti Lund to check The Rocket," said center Don (Bones) Raleigh  and it was a series-turning move. The Rocket was shut down and Lund even scored a bitl"

What also helped was that future Hall of Famer, Rangers goalie Chuck (Bonnie Prince Charlie) Rayner was playing the best hockey of his career. By contrast, the Canadiens netminders, Bill Durnan and Gerry McNeil were not nearly as good.

The Rangers won the series four wins to one and then faced the league-leading Detroit Red Wings in the 1950 Stanley Cup Final. The Winged Wheelers were overwhelming favorites to sweep the New Yorkers.

It wasn't enough that the first place Red Wings finished 21 points ahead of New York but there was an even more reason to knock off the Blueshirts - the Ringlang Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus had taken over the Garden and there was no ice for the Blueshirts.

"In those days," recalled Rangers manager Frank Boucher, "Once the circus took off we had to leave. In this case the league had us playing all playoff games on the road."

The New York Islanders announced Friday morning that the franchise signed Long Island native Marshall Warren to a one-year, two-way contract.

#Isles announce that they have signed Long Island native Marshall Warren to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract.

Warren played 8 games for NYI this season, recording three assists.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 5, 2026

Warren, 25, made his NHL debut this past season. Warren played eight games total, posting three assists in eight NHL games.

The defenseman played 56 games for the Bridgeport Islanders this season, posting six goals and 32 points, career highs for his young career. He added one assist in two playoff games, his first ever professional playoff appearances.

Islanders GM Mathieu Darche inked Warren to this deal well ahead of the RFA qualifying offer deadline, and thereby avoided any potential arbitration, as Warren would've held arbitration rights had no deal materialized before that July deadline.

Warren will push for an NHL roster spot next year, maybe as the seventh defenseman, or even greater, depending on how the Islanders' summer goes.

The Hamilton Hammers would greatly benefit from Warren's continued presence if he does not make the NHL roster, as he proved a massive part of what the AHL team is trying to build.

The Long Island native making his debut with the Islanders was one of the best moments of this past Islanders' season, with Stefen Rosner interviewing his mother about the journey to his NHL debut:

In honor of Marshall Warren's deal, I've unlocked my interview with his mom, Lisa Warren, that I did ahead of his #NHL debut.@TheElmontershttps://t.co/18nN3rAelP

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 5, 2026

For just over 100 minutes of hockey starting in Game 3, the New York Islanders could not solve Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins' stingy defense.

The only Islanders' goal in Game 3 came courtesy of Mathew Barzal stuffing one that barely squeaked past Rask with just over five minutes to go. Brad Marchand then won it in overtime, with Rask making 28 saves in the overtime victory.

Game 4 appeared to be on a similar path.

The Bruins jumped out to the lead on a second-period power play thanks to David Krejci.

Then came Barzal's burst of brilliance, just 2:41 after Krejci's breakthrough.

Barzal danced around the Boston zone with Curtis Lazar draped all over him, taking a clear hook that drew a delayed penalty.

The Islanders' skilled forward kept pushing on, eventually dipping below the goal line, and fired a pass onto Kyle Palmieri's tape. Palmieri made no mistake, tying the game at 1.

Then the game settled back into the stingy defense you'd expect from teams coached by Barry Trotz and Bruce Cassidy. 

With seven minutes to play, the Bruins held a slight shots advantage, 28-27. In a goaltender's duel for a second straight game, people would back Rask slightly over Semyon Varlamov, giving Boston a presumed edge.

But Barzal stole the show again.

With 6:57 to go in the game, Scott Mayfield fired one from the blue line, but Charlie Coyle deflected and blocked it into the air.

Nobody could track the puck as it spun off to the left, except Barzal. Barzal swung at it like a golf club, knocking the puck from just above the ice, into a line drive through Leo Komarov's screen, and behind Rask for the go-ahead goal.

It's the type of flair and brilliance the Islanders missed against the Penguins, and early in this series. In round one against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Barzal had three assists in six games, with all three coming in Games 3 and 4.

Of the first eight Islanders' playoff games, Barzal went goalless in all of them, and pointless in five of the games. This breakthrough came at a perfect time.

Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau put the game away with late empty-netters

Thanks to Barzal's breakthrough, the Islanders headed up to Boston tied at 2, where Barzal added another goal and assist, helping lead the Islanders to a 5-4 win, setting up the Game 6 close out in Nassau Coliseum.

Flyers bring back depth center coming off consecutive 20-goal seasons in AHL originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers agreed to terms Friday on a one-year, two-way contract with depth forward Jacob Gaucher.

The deal is worth $850,000, according to PuckPedia.com. Gaucher was a restricted free agent; he’ll remain an RFA when his new contract expires next offseason.

The 25-year-old center has given the Flyers eight games over the last two seasons. In 8:05 minutes per game, he has gone scoreless with seven shots and a 54.1 faceoff win percentage.

Gaucher has made an impressive climb in the Flyers’ organization. He started his professional career with the team’s ECHL affiliate Reading in 2022-23.

With AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, he has put up back-to-back 20-goal seasons.

Gaucher has some good bottom-six qualities with his 6-foot-4 frame and ability to win faceoffs. He can also play on the wing. He’ll once again be a call-up option for the Flyers next season if he doesn’t crack the opening roster.

Among the Flyers’ other restricted free agents this offseason, Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are the most notable that need to be re-signed. The club also needs to decide if it’ll bring back Samuel Ersson as its backup goaltender.

There are hockey legends in professional hockey, and then there's Jaromir Jagr.

As the NHL's second all-time leading scorer with 1,921 points, his career totals could have been higher if he had not lived through several NHL lockouts and had not spent a few seasons in the KHL.

Despite not skating in the league since the 2017-18 season, Jagr, who continues to play professionally in his native Czechia at 54, remains connected to the Stanley Cup Final through one of hockey's most bizarre streaks.

A former teammate of Jagr's has appeared in every Stanley Cup Final since 1980.

For those unaware of this wild statistic, Jagr played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers, and Calgary Flames. After 36 seasons of professional hockey, Jagr laced his skates with hundreds of teammates. 

A few years ago, fans discovered the streak and have tracked it ever since, checking in every June to see whether another former teammate will keep Jagr's streak alive.

Which Former Flames Are Playing in the Stanley Cup Final?The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is upon us, which means fans of the Calgary Flames still have former players to cheer for. Who are they?

This year, because Jagr skated 22 games with the Flames during the 2017-18 season, he teamed with Rasmus Andersson (Vegas Golden Knights) and Mark Jankowski (Carolina Hurricanes), including setting up the latter's first NHL goal. Today, those two are facing off against one another in the Final, pushing Jagr's impossible streak to 46 seasons.

Here's a look at some of the teammates who played in the Stanley Cup Final since 1980 and played with Jagr at some point in their careers.

* Indicates that Jagr won a Stanley Cup with this teammate. 

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The 2027 Stanley Cup Final is still a year away, but fans will be scanning rosters on Opening Night to see which of Jagr's former teammates are still active, hoping this strange streak will be extended for another year.