Category: NHL

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

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a pair of hires on Monday, bringing on Judd Brackett as assistant GM and Freddie Hamilton as chief of staff.

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.

Why The Maple Leafs Added Judd Brackett And Freddie Hamilton To StaffThe Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Judd Brackett and Freddie Hamilton to their front office as assistant GM and chief of staff, respectively. Here is why both were brought in by GM John Chayka.

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.

Maple Leafs 2026 NHL Draft Pick: The Case For Gavin McKennaThe Toronto Maple Leafs are privileged to own the first-overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft. With debate as to who they should select with that pick, here is the case for Gavin McKenna

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. 

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.

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The Stanley Cup Final is set. The Western Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights are going to take on the Eastern Conference Champion Carolina Hurricanes. 

This has the makings of an incredibly entertaining hockey series between two teams that have tremendous skill while also being great at shutting down their opponents. 

It has been a while since the Chicago Blackhawks have made it to the playoffs, let alone sniff the Stanley Cup Final. When the Blackhawks faced these two teams in the regular season, however, they held their own most of the time. 

Vs Vegas

The Chicago Blackhawks, as fellow members of the Western Conference, played against the Vegas Golden Knights three times. In those games, they went a modest 1-1-1. Taking three points out of six is not bad, but all three games came before the Knights started to look like the team they are now. 

On December 2nd, the Golden Knights won 4-3 via the shootout in Las Vegas. Connor Bedard was still on his early-season heater, and his 17th of the season gave them a lead before Braeden Bowman eventually tied it late. Shea Theodore earned the shootout winner to send the home fans away with a smile. 

On January 4th, Vegas' only trip to Chicago, the Blackhawks got the best of them 3-2 in overtime. It was Tyler Bertuzzi who scored his 22nd goal of the season in the extra frame to secure the win. This was his third goal of the game to complete a hat trick. Bertuzzi reached the 30-goal plateau in 2025-26, and this game was huge in that quest.  

It wasn't until March 14th back in Las Vegas that either team earned a decisive victory, as the Golden Knights won 4-0. At that point, Vegas hadn't made the coaching change yet or started to look like the machine that made their way to the final, but there were signs. 

Vs Carolina

Both of Chicago's matchups with the Carolina Hurricanes came in the second half of the season. Chicago went 1-1-0 against the eventual winners of the East.

The first game was a victory for the Blackhawks in Raleigh on January 22nd. Despite being outshot, the Blackhawks found a way to hang in there. Frank Nazar and Connor Bedard were back from their mid-season injuries, but it was Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore who stole the show. 

Tied up at three, this match needed a shootout. Eventually, Moore secured the win for Chicago. Little did they know at the time that they had just beaten the eventual Eastern Conference Champions. The shootout goal doesn't count as a real goal, but he did have an assist and a fight to go with the shootout winner, so it was a lite version of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. 

The second game was a tough look for the Blackhawks on home ice. On April 9th, with just four remaining in the season, it was one of their more lopsided losses of the season. Anton Frondell scored twice, but those were the only two goals for the Hawks in a 7-2 rout that favored the Hurricanes.

With a large portion of their core sitting out to rest up for the playoffs after already clinching the division, they still found a way to take care of their business against the Hawks in a big way. 

Conclusion

Spencer Knight started four out of the five games against these two teams. Arvid Soderblom started the fifth one, which was the home-ice win over the Golden Knights on January 4th. 

It wasn't the best set of games for Knight, who had a tremendous breakout year as the number one starter, but it was clear that these two good teams were a lot for Chicago's defense to handle in front of their star goalie. 

The Blackhawks went 2-2-1 against the two teams competing for the Stanley Cup this week. To go NHL .500 against teams like that is impressive, but there is important context.

All but one of these games took place before things really fell apart for Chicago in the final month of the season.

The Blackhawks overachieved at times this year, and that included playing up to their competition. That certainly didn't help them avoid coming in 31st place.

A lot of improvement to their roster and player development is needed before they are truly competing with these types of teams in playoff-like atmospheres. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The Post’s hockey experts make their selections for the Stanley Cup Final:

Mollie Walker

Rangers beat writer

Pick: Hurricanes in 7

Conn Smythe: Frederik Andersen

The Golden Knights will be the toughest opponent Carolina has faced in these playoffs, especially if Mitch Marner continues at this rate. But the Canes have looked unstoppable and will be galvanized by this long-awaited opportunity.

Ethan Sears

Islanders beat writer

Pick: Hurricanes in 6

Conn Smythe: Frederik Andersen

Carolina will get a bigger challenge than any Eastern team could offer, but Rod Brind’Amour’s club is deeper, faster and finally seems to have the goaltending to match. The Candy Canes lift Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Michael Leboff

Sports betting writer

Pick: Golden Knights in 6

Conn Smythe: Mitch Marner

Styles make fights, and for the first time in this postseason, the Hurricanes will run into an opponent that can counterpunch against their relentless pressure. John Tortorella’s springtime master class ends in a Cup.

It’s a new month, and June is a big one on the hockey calendar. The Stanley Cup gets awarded, teams gear up for the draft, some trades and player movement happens as the league looks toward the big day on free agency on July 1st.

Checking back in with last month’s list got a few items off the list:

Step 1: The Wilkes-Barre playoff run

Still ongoing, WBS had Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night.

Step 2: Find out draft position

The Penguins stick with 22nd overall, getting no help from other teams to move up a spot or two. Bummer, but so it goes, at least now they know.

Step 3: Sort out Evgeni Malkin

Resolution on this was reached by signing Malkin to a one-year extension.

Step 4: Ownership transition

Status quo holds for awaiting the official finalization league. Word is that could be this month, including more involvement out of Mario Lemieux. That would be a nice opening impression for a new ownership group.

Step 5: Other free agents

The unrestricted free agents on the NHL roster, along with Malkin, are Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Connor Clifton, Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov and Stuart Skinner.

Malkin, Dewar and Solovyov were re-signed in May. There’s still a month before free agency but if there was a 0.5 over/under for another signing out of this group to come back, you might be fine in taking the under. Contract/market forces make it reasonable for Mantha and Shea to see what the free agency will bring, it doesn’t look like there’s interest from the team on anyone else still out there.

—

Now, as we ease into June here’s the current checklist of what to watch for.

Step 5b: More about free agents

On a related note to Step 5 above, there’s restricted free agency ahead for Arturs Silovs, Egor Chinakhov, Joel Blomqvist, Ville Koivunen and Alex Alexeyev. Aside from what the decision is about Alexeyev, either new contract agreements or at least qualifying offers will be sent to the rest of that group by the deadline later this month for progress in that area in the near future.

Down a notch further, several key AHL players are headed into unrestricted free agency. It was already announced in March that Joona Koppanen agreed to a 2026-27 contract to play in Sweden. Boko Imama, Rafael Harvey-Pinard and defenseman Sebastian Aho are free agents on a level of player that tend to bounce around at this stage of their careers (though the well-regarded Imama is a solid candidate that the Pens may keep for a third season in the organization). Taylor Gauthier is on that path too as a free agent, though the Pens have expressed public interest in returning.

Step 6: June 1 free agents

This year there wasn’t much drama for the Penguins on drafted players whose rights expired yesterday. Zam Plante and Luke Devlin don’t apply since they are still enrolled in college that means Pittsburgh retains their rights a while longer. Max Graham was on an AHL contract last year and played more in the ECHL without looking like much of an NHL prospect.

Next year’s June 1 could have been bigger since 2025 CHL prospects who don’t have college commitments will be on the clock to sign by 6/1/27 or re-enter the draft. But many, including Quinn Beauchesne who opted to commit to Boston College for next season, have helped push back that quick clock, Ryan Miller, Kale Dach and Carter Sanderson are on the CHL to NCAA path as well. Travis Hayes, who was in Wilkes as an ATO this spring, still is in-line to be a June 1, 2027 sign-by date and see his pro career start in 2027-28.

(For further detail, there’s also an August 15th sign by date for NCAA players who have graduated, which is when Cruz Lucius is expected to opt for free agency after turning down an offer for Pittsburgh).

Step 7: Front office silly season

Todd Nelson’s name is starting to get floated around as a potential head coaching candidate. There are three openings currently (Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver) and more situations that could up in the air (LA has an interim coach, Vegas doesn’t have a coach for next season as of yet). Nelson is an veteran coach with three AHL championships and plenty of NHL experience, it wouldn’t be a shock if he’s offered a chance somewhere given the strong season the Penguins had and Nelson’s role with the power play and player development.

Three general manager jobs have recently been filled (Toronto, New Jersey, Vancouver), Nashville remains looking for a new GM. Jason Spezza’s name has been out there as a rising star, it may or may not be this cycle but it does look like eventually he will be getting a GM job somewhere in the future.

On the surface, Pittsburgh is set with all key members in the front office under contract for next season. Whether anyone decides to leave and responding to vacancies after waiting and seeing if they develop will be the name of the game.

Step 8: Draft prep

The bulk of the month will likely be spent finalizing a plan for the NHL draft, to be held June 26-27 in Buffalo.

The Penguins currently have seven picks, including three in the top 54 selections of the draft. Pittsburgh only has one pick over Rounds 4-7 (Nashville’s sixth rounder). The word ‘currently’ looms large. The Pens made four trades at the 2025 NHL draft – twice they traded down, once they traded up and they made another deal to send out an NHL player for a second round pick. They’re often very active to shuffle around on draft day and that could again be the case this season to attempt to extract as much value as possible for the future, depending on how the situation plays out in real time.

Step 9: Pro Scouting

Another behind the scenes action point, the Penguins will definitely be trying to find the next versions of Parker Wotherspoon, Anthony Mantha, Arturs Silovs and Justin Brazeau, if they can. All of those players contributed mightily to team success in 2025-26 and any NHL team can always strive for improvement around the margins if they find the right fits available. The results of this work won’t be seen until July but the time now for preparation is at hand to scour which players may be available as free agents and how they might fit with the organization.

The Carolina Hurricanes have broken through and reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since coach Rod Brind'Amour was captain of the 2006 championship team.

The Vegas Golden Knights responded to a late-season coaching change from Bruce Cassidy to John Tortorella to reach the final for the third time in the franchise's nine years of existence. They won in their second trip in 2023.

The series winner will pick up the franchise's second Stanley Cup title. Who will help get them to the top?

Here are 10 players to watch in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, five from each team:

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Goalie Frederik Andersen

He had a middling season and Brandon Bussi played four more games and had 15 more wins than Andersen. Brind'Amour went with the veteran goaltender and he has turned things around with a 12-1 record and 1.44 goals-against average. Andersen was one of the first clients of Claude Lemieux after the four-time Stanley Cup winner became an agent. He said after Lemieux's May 28 death that he wants to make Lemieux proud.

Defenseman Jaccob Slavin

He's considered a top shutdown defenseman, which he is why he was named to Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympics. He was injured during the early part of the season, which explains why the Golden Knights were able to score 10 goals against the Hurricanes in two October wins. He'll be key to helping limit a deep Vegas team.

Forward Logan Stankoven

He was the key piece in the return when the Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen to Dallas last season after acquiring him earlier in the season. The 23-year-old has taken a big step, recording his first 20-goal season and leading the team with nine playoff goals on the red-hot second line.

Forward Taylor Hall

Hall came over in the first Rantanen trade from the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a three-team deal. The 2010 No. 1 overall pick was a Hart Trophy winner in 2017-18, but his play had dropped off before the trade. He has found his game on a line with Stankoven and Jackson Blake. Hall leads the Hurricanes with 16 points.

Forward Sebastian Aho

He has only four goals and seven points in 13 games after averaging a point per game in the regular season. The second line has been carrying the Hurricanes and they'll need more offense from the Aho-led first line if they are going to beat the Golden Knights.

Others to watch: Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, K'Andre Miller, Jordan Staal.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Forward Mitch Marner

The Toronto Maple Leafs never got out of the second round and rarely out of the first during his tenure there. He received part of the criticism. Joining the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade, he's not only in the fourth round, he's leading the playoffs in scoring with 21 points.

Forward Jack Eichel

Coach John Tortorella calls him the best 200-foot player in the NHL. The center was used against Nathan MacKinnon in the conference finals sweep of the Colorado Avalanche. In addition, Eichel is second in playoff scoring with 18 points and helped the USA win Olympic gold.

Forward Pavel Dorofeyev

He's tied for the NHL lead with 10 goals, with four of those coming on the power play. He'll be a restricted free agent at season's end and due a big raise after scoring 35 and 37 goals the past two regular seasons.

Forward Mark Stone

The Golden Knights are so deep that the skilled Stone plays on the third line. The winger is a former Selke Trophy finalist and also has four power play goals. Injuries are a problem and he was out for part of the playoffs. The Golden Knights were much better when he returned.

Defenseman Shea Theodore

He's averaging more than 25 minutes a game, the most of any player in the series. The former Anaheim Duck leads blue liners with 11 points and has a series-high 46 blocked shots. He'll be responsible for helping the Golden Knights escape the Hurricanes' relentless forecheck.

Others to watch: Carter Hart, Ivan Barbashev, Brett Howden, William Karlsson.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes, Golden Knights players to watch in Stanley Cup Final

Eighteen years ago today, Petr Sykora called his own shot, scoring one of the most memorable overtime goals in Pittsburgh Penguins history when it comes to the Stanley Cup Final.

It was 2008 and the young Penguins were trying to upset the vaunted Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.

Pittsburgh was clearly outmatched in the series, losing three of the first four games and facing elimination on the road in Game 5 as Detroit was ready to celebrate their championship in front of their home fans.

The Penguins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and it looked like things were going their way, but Detroit, as they often did, battled back, erasing that deficit and eventually taking a 3-2 lead in the game.

With the Stanley Cup getting polished and shined and ready to be lifted by Nicklas Lidstrom, Maxine Talbot pressed pause, tying the game at 3-3 with just 35 seconds remaining in regulation.

To overtime the game went. And then a second overtime. And a third overtime.

Detroit continued to pepper the Penguins as Marc-Andre Fleury made 58 saves, keeping the Penguins’ season alive.

And then one of the great moments in Penguins lore happened.

Petr Sykora, who told Pierre McGuire he was going to score, did just that.

What a remarkable goal and what a moment, calling your own shot on that kind of stage.

Five lessons Sharks can learn from 2026 Stanley Cup finalists Vegas, Carolina originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

What can the Sharks learn from the 2026 Stanley Cup finalists, the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes?

This is an especially pressing question for San Jose to ponder on the eve of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, as it just missed making the playoffs this year. The young Sharks look to snap their seven-season playoff drought next year.

Beyond that, general manager Mike Grier wants to build a consistent contender just like Vegas and Carolina. The Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup and have made at least the conference finals in four of their nine seasons of existence. The Hurricanes have made the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last four years, finally breaking through to the championship round this season.

Here are five lessons of success that the Sharks can learn from the 2026 finalists. It’s worth noting that there is no single path to hoisting the Stanley Cup, so San Jose shouldn’t be looking to simply copy Vegas or Carolina.

Ruthless Decision-Making?

Hate it or love it, the Golden Knights are the epitome of putting winning above pretty much anything else in their decision-making.

For example, their “What have you done for me lately?” mentality with head coaches: Vegas has fired three head coaches, Gerard Gallant, Peter DeBoer and Bruce Cassidy, all within three seasons of at least a conference finals appearance. 

John Tortorella, who took over for 2023 Stanley Cup winner Cassidy in March, finished the regular season 7-0-1, and has won 12 of 16 playoff games.

This ruthlessness also has extended to general manager Kelly McCrimmon’s roster decisions, like the acrimonious parting with fan favorite goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after his Vezina Trophy-winning season.

What does this mean for Grier?

There are, of course, some decisions that many Sharks fans will be glad that Grier doesn’t follow in McCrimmon’s steps, such as signing goalie Carter Hart after his sexual assault case acquittal or spending a first-round pick on Trevor Connolly and his checkered past.

But in the coming years, Grier will have to make some unpopular decisions to build a winner, and no one has done that with more success than the Golden Knights.

Size Isn’t Everything?

The Hurricanes appear to place less of an emphasis on size than the Golden Knights … and maybe Grier.

Carolina has five regular skaters listed under 6-foot-0, 5-foot-8 Logan Stankoven, 5-foot-10 Seth Jarvis, and 5-foot-11 Jackson Blake, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Sean Walker. In contrast, Vegas doesn’t have any skater listed under 6-foot-0.

It’s also worth noting that two of these smaller Canes, Gostisbehere and Walker, are defensemen, whereas 6-foot-1 Rasmus Andersson is the Knights’ smallest.

Since the beginning of his regime, Grier has stressed adding size throughout the organization.

Of course, size isn’t an either-or thing — Grier has drafted a handful of smaller prospects in the last four years, for example — but the Hurricanes are a reminder that not everybody in the NHL is thinking bigger.

Don’t Need a No. 1 Defenseman?

When it comes to the Sharks’ next step, most of the chatter is about improving their defense.

Carolina and Vegas are examples of teams winning without a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman; case in point, their most decorated rearguards. Jaccob Slavin, the Canes’ go-to shutdown blueliner, finished fifth for the Norris in 2019, but more often than not, is outside the top 10. Shea Theodore, playing 1D minutes in the playoffs for the first time in his career, has two sixth-place Norris finishes on his resume, in 2020 and 2021, but otherwise hasn’t been in that conversation.

Both teams, however, are loaded up with excellent defensemen up and down their line-ups, especially Olympians Slavin, Theodore, Andersson, and Noah Hanifin.

Everyone, of course, wants a true-blue No. 1 a la Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, but there are only a handful of defensemen like that in the league. As the Sharks navigate their return to prominence, Carolina, Vegas and two-time defending champion Florida Panthers are proof positive that you can win without a kingpin blueliner.

Price of Goaltending?

The Hurricanes, in particular, are winning without expensive goaltending.

Between Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussi, Carolina is spending $4.25 million AAV, just 4.5 percent of the cap, which is at the lower end of the NHL. Between Hart and Adin Hill, Vegas is spending $8.25 million AAV, 8.6 percent of the cap, which is about average.

You don’t need a Norris Trophy winner to win a Stanley Cup — and you don’t need a pricey goalie either.

The Sharks are spending just $5 million AAV between Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic right now, but it’s a reminder that when it comes time for Grier to pay the piper between the pipes … he might not have to?

“F–k Them Picks”

That’s a Los Angeles Rams meme from 2022, so widespread that general manager Les Snead wore a T-shirt with that slogan at his Super Bowl victory parade.

Snead is still living up to that slogan, with Monday’s earth-shattering trade for superstar defensive end Myles Garrett, sending 2024 first-rounder Jared Verse and three future picks, including a 2027 first-rounder, to the Cleveland Browns.

The Golden Knights are the NHL’s equivalent of the Rams: They’ve traded nine of their short-lived franchise’s 11 first-round picks, and their 2026 and 2027 firsts, for stars like Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Hanifin, Tomas Hertl and Andersson. Five of those six players are on this Vegas squad.

The rebuilding Sharks, as they should, have guarded their first-round picks like Fort Knox over the last half-decade, but hopefully for the franchise, that time is coming to an end soon. In the future, maybe the Sharks won’t trade firsts at the rate of the Golden Knights (or Rams), but it’ll be a sign that they’ve come out of the rebuild and are trying to win a Stanley Cup again.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Manny Malhotra was hired as coach of the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

The former Canucks forward takes over for Adam Foote, fired last month after Vancouver finished last in the NHL during his only season behind the bench.

Malhotra becomes the 23rd head coach in franchise history and the latest Canucks player to be promoted by the team as it begins its rebuild.

“Manny and I have been in the battle together before, so I know firsthand what a good teacher, leader, and quality person he is,” general manager Ryan Johnson said in a statement.

The pair previously worked together in the minors with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks.

“Manny is a great coach who has the right skill set and mentality to help players develop and get better each day,” Johnson said. “We both believe that pressure is a privilege, and learning to become a good pro takes patience, dedication and a ‘be better than yesterday’ mindset.”

Foote was fired on May 19 after the Canucks went 25-49-8 last season. Malhotra immediately emerged as a prime candidate to replace him, with Johnson saying he would sit down with the 46-year-old former NHL player and “talk about the future.”

Malhotra previously served as a development coach and an assistant coach for the Canucks, then spent four seasons as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs before becoming Abbotsford's head coach.

There, he guided the AHL team to a Calder Cup championship during the 2024-25 campaign. The club then missed the playoffs last season as several players dealt with long-term injuries.

It was the way Malhotra led Abbotsford through a challenging year that showed exactly the kind of coach and person he is, Johnson said.

“To see that when you can rely on the foundation of the consistent environment and the coaching through the worst of times and really continue to propel players forward, even though the wins and losses aren’t there, it tells you a lot about him,” he said.

“That entire staff showed that they’re champions based off of not the year before, but of what they did last year, and what people around them took out of a pretty tough season.”

The promotion reunites Malhotra with former teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were named Vancouver’s co-presidents of hockey operations on May 14.

Malhotra, from Ontario, spent 16 seasons playing in the NHL after getting drafted by the New York Rangers in 1998.

He had 116 goals and 295 points in 991 regular-season games with Vancouver, New York, the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.

Malhotra took a puck to the face while playing for the Canucks in March 2011, an injury that left him with limited vision in his left eye. He missed much of the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final that year and was given a reduced role the following season.

“He loves the game and getting to know what makes his players tick, and I am very confident Manny will help us ice a competitive and hard-working team that our fans will be proud of moving forward,” Johnson said.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Chicago Blackhawks have the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. There are many ways the event could go, depending on who Chicago lands. A lot of it will hinge on who goes in front of them. 

One of those teams, the Vancouver Canucks, made a coaching hire that could impact how things go for the Blackhawks at the draft. 

Late Monday night, the Canucks made it official: they had hired Manny Malhotra as their new head coach. 

WELCOME COACH MANNY!

General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the #Canucks have hired Manny Malhotra as the 23rd Head Coach in franchise history.

DETAILS | https://t.co/JJyyPHeb09pic.twitter.com/Tbm9EHOYYP

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 2, 2026

The Vancouver Canucks' new management has stressed the importance of developing the right culture as they rebuild.

GM Ryan Johnson said new coach Manny Malhotra will put the proper foundation in place: https://t.co/5zQlethSlX

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 2, 2026

Of course, Malhotra played 159 games with the Vancouver Canucks during his 991-game NHL career. As a former 7th overall pick by the New York Rangers in 1998, he carved out a nice career as a bottom-six forward. 

As a result of his role in the NHL, he learned how to become a winner without being one of the top guys offensively, which helped prepare him to eventually step into coaching. He will work with new GM Ryan Johnson and the newly appointed co-Presidents, Henrik and Daniel Sedin. 

How does any of this impact the Chicago Blackhawks draft? Well, one of the prospects projected to go in the top five is Brantford Bulldogs center Caleb Malhotra, Manny's son. 

Does hiring Manny make them think twice about taking his son, or does that make them want him more? Depending on what happens with the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks as the holders of the first two picks, it may not become known until draft night what Vancouver is thinking. 

If Caleb ends up with Vancouver, that could create some awkward situations if either he or his father doesn't work out as planned. It could also be an incredible success story involving a father and son. 

Connor Bedard is a true center, but they are still trying to figure out Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar positionally. Manny Malhotra would help solve that, as he is a true center coming out of major junior. If he fell to the Blackhawks, he'd be a great fit. 

No matter what, Caleb Malhotra won't be in the NHL until the end of next season at the earliest. He is committed to playing at least one season at Boston University, where he will have tremendous success playing under Jay Pandolfo. 

If the Leafs take Gavin McKenna, the Sharks take a defenseman (they need a high-end defender in their pipeline badly), and the Canucks end up with the younger Malhotra, that would leave the highly touted Ivar Stenberg for Chicago. The Blackhawks could also end up with one of the top-rated defensemen as well.

Either way, they are getting a great prospect that will need time developing, but this news could certainly impact which one they get.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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On May 28th, the NHL announced the passing of New Jersey Devils legend Claude Lemieux. ​

A four-time Stanley Cup Champion, he spent six seasons with New Jersey.

The New Jersey Devils organization is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former Devil Claude Lemieux.

A clutch player on the ice and greatly appreciated by Devils' fans off it, Claude's impact in bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to New Jersey will forever be… pic.twitter.com/kDD9ZMAPOr

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) May 28, 2026

​Joining the Devils in the 1990-91 season, Lemieux scored 30 goals in 78 games during his first year with the team. ​After five straight seasons with the team, Lemieux left for the Colorado Avalanche. Returning in 1999-00, he appeared in 70 games, recorded 38 points, and captured his fourth Stanley Cup.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement on Lemieux’s passing.

“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history," Bettman said.

“Lemieux forged his postseason reputation and won the Cup for the first time as a rookie in 1986, when he scored 10 goals in the Playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoffs MVP in 1995, scoring 13 goals in 20 postseason games with the New Jersey Devils. He also was an integral part of Cup-winning teams in Colorado, in 1996, and back with New Jersey in 2000.

“Overall, his teams reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 15 straight seasons; his 234 postseason games played rank sixth in NHL history; and his 80 career Playoff goals rank ninth. In recent years, as a player agent, he has represented some of the top stars in the NHL.

“We send our deepest condolences to Claude’s wife, Deborah, and his four children, Brendan, Claudia, Michael, and Christopher.”

Commissioner Bettman statement on the passing of Claude Lemieux. https://t.co/ce9wR6V8fppic.twitter.com/6MNnqb56yi

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 28, 2026

Leading all skaters with 13 goals, Lemieux guided the Devils to their first Stanley Cup. ​

  After the victory, he spoke with NHL.com about the keys to the Devils’ success.  

​“I think it’s just unbelievable,” Lemieux said to NHL.com.  “I look at some of the names on this trophy and on the Stanley Cup, it’s incredible. To be a part of the team that won the first Stanley Cup for the New Jersey Devils, who would have thought it?”​

The New Jersey Devils released a statement following the news of Lemieux’s passing. ​

"The New Jersey Devils organization is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former Devil Claude Lemieux. Widely respected throughout the NHL, both as a trusted agent and a valued colleague, Claude leaves behind a lasting legacy within our game that he gave so much to. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time."

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Twenty seasons and 120 playoff games after raising the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2006 — the eighth season after the franchise relocated — the Carolina Hurricanes are back competing for the best trophy in professional sports. 

And it couldn’t have come at a better time, nor with a better core. The Hurricanes have tuned out the critics who said there was no chance they would get to this spot, opting instead to play their way and style en route to complete domination. 

When the final horn sounded on the Carolina Hurricanes’ 6-1 win on Friday over the Montreal Canadiens to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup against the Vegas Golden Knights, there was almost a sense of relief mixed in with the joy. After seven seasons — that each seemed to have a similar disappointing ending — the wait finally paid off. Carolina’s journey with this core hasn’t always been smooth, but the patience has been worth the wait. 

The way last season played out for the Canes would have been considered a success for most teams. Instead, for Carolina, it left a bitter taste. 

While the Hurricanes were able to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, they were once again completely outmatched, losing to the Florida Panthers in five games. The one positive takeaway, at least, was they ended one of the worst — and strangest — playoff streaks in North American sports. 

Entering last season’s ECF, the Canes had gone three straight conference finals appearances without winning a single game after being swept in 2009, 2019 and 2023. Then the Florida Panthers, who swept the Canes in 2023, went up 3-0 last season in the ECF to bring the streak to 15 consecutive conference finals games without a win — the longest by five games in NHL history. 

The Hurricanes were able to snap the streak after beating the Panthers in Game 4, but their season came to an end unceremoniously in Game 5, bringing their conference finals record to a miserable 1-16 in the ECF since their Stanley Cup win in 2006. 

Entering the offseason it was clear something had to be done, but to what extent was the question. After whiffing on landing a big star following the departure of both Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen in previous years, many thought Carolina’s core wouldn’t be able to get over the hump. 

Instead of making any premature or drastic changes, general manager Eric Tulsky got right to work in the offseason to make the Canes better. Carolina first added K’Andre Miller in a sign-and-trade with the Rangers and then doubled down by signing Nikolaj Ehlers to the ninth biggest UFA contract in total value since 2015. 

After enjoying another dominant regular season this year, in which the Hurricanes finished with the second most points in the league and the best record in the Eastern Conference, the real test started in April. The doubts of whether this was the year the Canes would overcome their agonizing Eastern Conference Finals woes still hung above the franchise’s head. 

Despite complete domination through the first two rounds, which resulted in an unbeaten record heading into the ECF against the Canadiens, there was a split second where it looked like the pattern would continue when the Canes were destroyed 6-2 in Game 1. 

But overtime winners from Ehlers and Andrei Svechnikov gave Carolina breathing room and it was smooth sailing from there. 

The coffin holding the 19 years filled with conference final misery was officially put in the ground following Carolina’s win over the Canadiens on Friday. 

While it feels as if this season has already been a success, it’s far from complete. Any scenario that doesn’t end with a parade in Raleigh and another banner hung in the Lenovo Center might even be deemed a failure of sorts. It’s a simple equation that almost-championship teams never cement themselves quite like the teams that get the job done, for example the 2001-02 Hurricanes team that lost in the Stanley Cup versus the 2005-06 team that won it all.

To get to that level of immortality, the Canes will have to get through the Vegas Golden Knights, who will be without a doubt the toughest test yet. 

After firing head coach Bruce Cassidy in late March, the Knights have gone 19-4-1 under new head coach John Tortorella. They just swept the Stanley Cup favorite Colorado Avalanche and are playing their best hockey of the season. 

Mitch Marner, who Vegas traded for in the offseason from the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been a revelation so far this postseason. He has 21 points in 16 games to lead the Knights. Not far behind is Jack Eichel —  who was a key part of Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup win — with 18 points. 

Unlike the Senators, Flyers, or Canadiens, the Knights are experienced, physical and have the top end talent to be competitive with the Canes. They’ve also been in this position before with their Stanley Cup win in 2023, something Carolina can’t speak to. Vegas has also been the beneficiary of hot goaltending during the playoffs. 

With all that being said, this is the Hurricanes’ series to take. No team has been more consistent and more dominant across the regular season and postseason. 

Carolina is the only team since the NHL moved to the four best-of-7 series format in 1987 to enter the Stanley Cup with a 12-1 record. With a sweep, the Hurricanes can become the first team in NHL history to go 16-1 in the playoffs. 

First the Hurricanes surmounted their Eastern Conference Final troubles.

Now, the Stanley Cup is only four wins away from coming back to Raleigh for the first time in two adversity-filled decades.  

As it's already been said many times over this summer, the trade market should be an interesting venture for the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer. With general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas expressly wanting to take a big step toward "sustainable contention" next season, it stands to reason that the team will be pretty active.

Of course, there are some obvious trade candidates who have high value and who have been discussed for the past couple of years. Defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are at the top of the list, although it would take a whole lot to pry any of them from Dubas and the Penguins. 

However, there are some other names, too, who may be able to fetch a fair bit of value on the trade market. Even if the payout won't come in the form of first-round picks or other high-value assets, they may be able to fetch sneaky good returns for a few of their players — and they can either use those players as leverage in part of a larger trade or use the assets collected to assist in acquiring the young talent they covet. 

Dubas needs to be careful and calculated in the trade market this summer, as the team is progressing forward and needs those impact 20-somethings in order to legitimately contend, but they also can't sacrifice too much because they still need to build out from the draft, too, and keep bolstering an already-improving prospect pool. 

So, the more assets and draft capital, the better. The more they have, the more expendable some of those assets become, and they can leverage some of it for younger players. And there are a few players who should be able to help them collect on that. 

Should Penguins Look To Flip A Veteran Ahead Of NHL Draft?With the short- and long-term in mind, it may serve the Penguins well to consider flipping veterans for a few more valuable assets ahead of this year's NHL Draft.

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C Tommy Novak

Novak, 29, has one year remaining on his current contract at a cap hit of only $3.5 million. While the stats may not jump out like most other second-line centers in the league - or, at least, that's the role Novak played for most of the 2025-26 season - that doesn't mean he wasn't effective in that role. 

With 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games on the season, Novak was right in line with his production during his time with the Nashville Predators, so the consistency is encouraging. But he also developed fantastic chemistry with Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin, and even if he wasn't showing up on the scoresheet as regularly as the other two, he consistently helped drive offense on that line and did the little things away from the puck and on the forecheck to be a positive impact.

Novak can produce anywhere in a middle-six role, and his versatility is a major plus. Of course, the Penguins could very well just keep him around, but he's someone they might be able to sell high on right now, especially since he's approaching 30. If they can use him as leverage in a trade or the assets collected in a trade to acquire a younger talent with higher upside, it's certainly worth considering. 

Now That Malkin Is Signed, It's Time For The Chinakhov Extension To Be FinalizedThe Pittsburgh Penguins took care of business Tuesday when they re-signed Evgeni Malkin, but there is still more work to be done — and the priority has shifted to young Russian winger Egor Chinakhov, a pending-RFA.

RW Justin Brazeau

Unfortunately, the stock on the 6-foot-6, 232-pound Brazeau dipped as the season went on, as he had a scorching start to 2025-26 - registering six goals and 12 points in 12 games during the month of October - before an injury interrupted his season for more than a month. 

After that, the production came in bunches, but there were relatively long stretches between with nothing to show for his efforts on the score sheet. He still managed to post 17 goals and 34 points in 64 games, but he found himself a healthy scratch for all but one playoff game.

That said, the 28-year-old showed flashes of potential, as his soft hands and shot deflection ability - particulalry, around the net-front - showcased his puck skills and ability to utilize his frame in tight spaces. 

Was his season in Pittsburgh - a career-best across parts of three NHL seasons - a fluke or a sign of untapped potential? Just like Dubas wants to take a chance on other players in those situations on other teams, another team might want to take a flier on a guy like Brazeau. 

He has a very team-friendly $1.5 million cap hit for next season - pretty good for a 17-goal scorer - so it shouldn't be all that difficult to sell him. The key will be getting a maximum return, so it may serve the Penguins best to see if he can replicate his hot start from last season in 2026-27 — and sell him then. 

Penguins' Goaltending Future Looks Bright — And The Success Of Their Rebuild Depends On ItWith talented but unproven netminders like Sergei Murashov in the system, the Penguins appear to be a franchise with a lot of promise at the goaltending position.

D Parker Wotherspoon

Now, would it be a substantial risk to deal who was very nearly a perfect defense partner for Erik Karlsson, who enjoyed his best season as a Penguin in 2025-26 and who found his vintage generational form?

Absolutely. But, if teams are calling about Wotherspoon - Karlsson is also on the final season of his contract - and if the Penguins have a plan to explore the defensive trade market, it might be worth seeing what they're offering.

Wotherspoon - along with Chinakhov - is the perfect example of a player who had untapped potential in a limited role with the Boston Bruins and maximized that potential with the Penguins. He went from a fringe bottom-pairing blueliner to a top-pairing shutdown defenseman in a year's time, and he's a bargain top-four defenseman at $1 million for next season.

Does Erik Karlsson Extension Make Sense For Penguins?The Pittsburgh Penguins will soon have a big decision to make regarding three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.

Given what Marcus Pettersson fetched for the Penguins ahead of the 2025 trade deadline - and the fact that prices are even steeper now because of bargain contracts relative to the rising salary cap - it's not unfathomable that Wotherspoon could, potentially, fetch something close to a first-round pick. And this is especially true because the 28-year-old is coming off of a breakout year and has career-high trade value. 

Again, dealing him would be a risk if there's no immediate plan to replace him. The Penguins are notably thin on the left side, and aside from Owen Pickering and Jake Livanavage, there's not exactly NHL-upside prospects waiting in the wings, either. 

However, depending on his perceived value, it's worth picking up the phone. Even if a first isn't in the cards, another second could do wonders for getting a bigger deal for a young player - perhaps a young defenseman - across the finish line. 

3 Potential Defense Trade Targets Named For PenguinsShould the Penguins look to bring in one of these three defensemen?

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are back in their Eastern Conference Final series against the Toronto Marlies after Monday's 5-3 win in Game 3. 

WBS needed to win to avoid being in a 0-3 hole and did exactly that, getting goals from five different players.

The Marlies opened the scoring in the first period before Aidan McDonough tied the game for the Penguins with 5:23 remaining in the first frame. Gabe Klassen corralled the loose puck after his original shot was blocked and was able to find McDonough, who tipped the puck into the net. 

Donzo on the power play ties us up!! pic.twitter.com/zBiJY2qvou

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 1, 2026

WBS took a 2-1 lead early in the second period when McDonough got a shot off from the left wing, and Bill Zonnon was right there to clean up the loose change. It's Zonnon's fourth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

BILLY Z GIVES US THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/v0qK5S5uLI

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 2, 2026

The Marlies tied the game late in the middle frame after a puck deflected off Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering's skate and into the net. It was another crazy bounce for a Marlies squad that has gotten all of the bounces to start this series. 

WBS rebounded from that bad break in the third period when Ville Koivunen made it a 3-2 game with 12:12 left in the final frame.

Tristan Broz accelerated through the neutral zone and dropped the puck to Koivunen after entering the offensive zone. Koivunen then gave the puck back to Broz, who was below the left circle, before he sent it back to Koivunen, who made no mistake. Koivunen even taunted the Marlies Crowd a little bit during his celebration. 

GOAL. Ville Koivunen off a feed from Tristan Broz gives #WBSPens a 3-2 lead in the third period.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/F0yPrYaPUM

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) June 2, 2026

Atley Calvert made it a 4-2 game off a slick feed from McDonough shortly after Koivunen's goal before the Marlies cut it to 4-3 with 51 seconds left. However, Tanner Howe iced the game with an empty-net goal just 15 seconds later to ice the game for the Penguins. 

Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov finished the game with 35 saves

It was a well-earned win for the Penguins, and they'll now have a chance to even up the series on Wednesday in Game 4. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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