The Professional Women’s Hockey League is headed for Las Vegas, a source briefed on the situation confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.

The league is expected to announce Vegas as the home of the PWHL’s 10th franchise Wednesday afternoon, and an invitation was recently distributed by Foley Entertainment Group, which owns the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, touting an announcement. Vegas will be the second of what could be four expansion teams for the 2026-27 season; PWHL Detroit was announced last week.

“You’re invited to join us for a historic Las Vegas sports announcement,” the invite, which was sent to youth hockey teams in the area and obtained by The Athletic, said. “This event will bring together our sports and hockey community, recognizing our city’s passion and spirit, while celebrating the future of the sport in our city with a look ahead at what’s to come.”

While Foley Entertainment Group might be involved with the team in some capacity, the league itself operates under a single-entity ownership model. Mark Walter — the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers — and his wife, Kimbra, own the PWHL and all of its teams, a difference from other major pro sports leagues such as the NHL, NFL and MLB.

A PWHL team in Vegas would likely play at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Golden Knights, which has a capacity of 17,500 for hockey and one of the best atmospheres in the NHL. There’s also Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev., home to the AHL Henderson Silver Knights. However, a 5,567-seat arena is likely too small for the PWHL, which averaged 9,304 fans per game during its record-breaking 2025-26 regular season. 

Las Vegas has quickly become a hub for major professional sports. After the NHL’s Golden Knights — led by owner Bill Foley — broke the seal on Las Vegas as a professional sports market in 2017, other leagues quickly followed suit. The WNBA Aces relocated from San Antonio in 2018; the NFL’s Raiders moved from Oakland for the 2020 season; MLB’s Athletics, also formerly in Oakland, plan to open a ballpark in 2028; and the NBA in March approved exploration of placing an expansion team in the city for the 2028-29 season.

The Aces have become a dynasty franchise in Vegas, winning three league titles in four years. In March, the organization announced it was the first WNBA team to sell out season ticket allotments for three consecutive seasons. The Aces play at Michelob ULTRA Arena and have drawn big crowds for select games hosted at T-Mobile. In July 2024, the Aces played against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever in front of 20,366 fans — the largest regular-season crowd at a WNBA game since 1999.

Vegas has also become a premier destination for NHL players, which was on display yet again this summer when the Golden Knights landed Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Players don’t want to leave,” Foley said in a July interview with The Athletic’s Jesse Granger. “Once they get here, and they see our facilities and where we play, and they see the way we take care of our players, scouts and coaches, and how everyone is all in, they don’t want to leave.”

PWHL Las Vegas and Detroit will join the original six markets of Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Minnesota and the league’s first expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver.

San Jose, Calif., and Hamilton, Ont., have also emerged in recent weeks as two of the league’s other prime options to reach 12 teams for next season, according to chatter in league circles.

Teams in Las Vegas and another western market, along with another in the east, would make the league more geographically balanced, potentially placing four franchises in the West, two in the Midwest (Detroit and Minnesota) and six in the East. Having that kind of footprint might also allow the PWHL to split into two conferences and potentially four divisions; PWHL executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer told the Associated Press the league is exploring the idea.

Selecting expansion markets has been a fluid process for league executives, who have spent months working through the available options.

“There is a line of cities eager to have us there, whether it’s for a couple Takeover Tour games or for a full-time team,” Stan Kasten, the president of the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and a PWHL advisory board member, said last month. “We’re going to have news about that in the next few weeks.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Sceptres, Minnesota Frost, Vancouver Goldeneyes, New York Sirens, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Seattle Torrent, Boston Fleet, NHL, Sports Business, Women's Hockey

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Florida Panthers play-by-play voice Steve Goldstein has been keeping busy.

Over the past several years, the Panthers have been a mainstay during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, keeping Goldstein occupied calling games with the team during the first round and hosting broadcasts on TV and inside Amerant Bank Arena during the Cats’ postseason runs.

This year, an injury-decimated season kept the Panthers out of the playoffs.

If you’re thinking that meant Goldstein would have a little more time off, you are sorely mistaken.

Once Florida’s season ended, Goldstein was tapped by Sports USA owner and executive producer Larry Kahn to be a voice on the network as the Stanley Cup Playoffs got started.

Kahn was clearly a fan of Goldstein’s work after previously asking Goldie to call the 2026 Winter Classic for Sports USA.

While it’s probably safe to assume that he’d rather be calling Panthers games, Goldie is also a lifelong hockey nerd who knows better than to pass up a chance at calling the best playoffs in all of sports.

“Of course, it would be awesome to still be calling Panthers games during the playoffs, but you know they’ll be back,” he said. “It’s great to have this opportunity.”

In the weeks since the postseason began, to say Goldie has been calling a lot of hockey in a bunch of different places would be an understatement. Let’s just hope he’s collecting frequent flyer miles.

So far, Goldstein has called games in Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles, Tampa, Las Vegas, Anaheim and soon, Denver, handling the majority of playoff games Sports USA has broadcast.

He’s crisscrossed the country, calling four different first-round series and so far, both of the Western Conference semifinals, while sprinkling in a stop in Boone, North Carolina for his son Kyle’s graduation From Appalachian State University.

Goldie’s postseason started in Texas, calling Game 1 between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild on Saturday, April 18. A few days later he called Game 3 between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins in Boston, then followed that up with Game 4 of the series between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings in LA three nights after that.

But it wasn’t until after calling Games 5 and 7 of the series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa that things really kicked into high gear for Goldstein.

After calling the Canadiens’ impressive Game 7 victory in Tampa on Sunday, May 3, he flew home Monday and was back on a flight out west to Las Vegas on Tuesday.

He called Game 2 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, May 6, and then Thursday he was heading back east to North Carolina for his son’s graduation from Appalachian State.

A late-night flight home on Friday had Goldie walking into his home around 1 a.m., just in time to re-pack and head right back to the airport for a 1 p.m. Saturday flight back across the country to Anaheim for Sunday’s Game 4 between the Ducks and Golden Knights.

The following day, which was Monday, he was on a relatively shorter flight from Anaheim to Denver, where he actually gets to chill for a couple days before calling Game 5 between the Wild and Avalanche on Wednesday.

After that, he’ll fly to Anaheim on Thursday to call Game 6 between the Ducks and Golden Knights that night, and from there it’s TBD.

It’s possible he goes to Vegas if that series goes seven games. Or if the Sabres and Canadiens series extends to a sixth game, Goldie could be heading up to the hockey mecca of Montreal for that one.

After this round is over, look for Goldie to be working one of the conference finals.

Even with all the miles and hotels, Goldstein said he’s having a blast calling playoff hockey and visiting with with all the friends he’s made along the way.

That includes former Panthers like Radko Gudas, who Goldie caught up with after a recent morning skate in Anaheim.

Gudas is a genuinely good guy who was a fan and media favorite during his time with Florida, so hearing that the two dads took some time to reminisce and chat about what their kids are up to came as no surprise.

Goldie has also been blessed with an all-star group of analysts to work alongside in the broadcast booth this postseason.

While surely nobody compares to the great Randy Moller, Goldstein has called games with Kings TV analyst Jim Fox, Bruins analyst Billy Jaffe, Utah Mammoth color man Nick Olczyk and analyst for the New York Rangers Dave Maloney.

Panthers fans can universally agree that they’ve got one of the best play-by-play voices and hockey personalities in the game.

Despite the Cats missing out on the playoffs this year, it’s nice that Florida’s official voice is still out there doing his thing.

For fans wondering how and where they can hear Goldie’s calls, Sports USA games can be found on Sirius XM and various local radio stations throughout the county, as well as online at SportsUSA.live.

Keep up the great work, Goldie!

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Honors Staff Members At Boca Raton Regional During National Hospital Week

Panthers Defensive Prospect Selected To Czechia's 2026 World Championship Roster

Former Panthers Director Of Hockey Operations Braden Birch Signs With Devils As Assistant GM

Report: Panthers Risk Losing Director Of Player Personnel, Director Of Hockey Operations

Matthew Tkachuk Joins US Air Force Thunderbirds For High-Speed Flight Above Fort Lauderdale

The Hockey Show: Steve Levy On Draft Lottery Fallout, Toronto Highs And Lows, Calling Endless Games

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin might get his wish to stay in Pittsburgh after all.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Tuesday the club would “love” to have the three-time Stanley Cup-winning forward back for a 21st season next winter.

Malkin is scheduled to become a free agent for the first time in his career in July and turns 40 in August. The Russian star is coming off a solid bounce-back year, finishing with 19 goals and 42 assists in 56 games.

The future Hall of Famer said after Pittsburgh's first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia that he plans to play in the NHL next season and would prefer to do it with the only franchise he's ever known. Dubas had been vague most of the year about Malkin's future, but sounded more optimistic a couple of weeks removed from the Penguins' first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.

“He's a special player,” Dubas said of Malkin.

Dubas pointed to Malkin's resiliency during an eventful year in which he missed 20 games because of injury and five more because of suspension as proof that Malkin remains an effective player on a team that returned to the postseason following a three-year absence.

Each time Malkin's season threatened to derail, he returned with what Dubas described as “renewed energy.”

Dubas pointed out that no player in Pittsburgh's improved prospect pool appears poised to take on Malkin's role as a top offensive option.

“I don’t think he’s blocking anybody," Dubas said. “We would love to have him back.”

Malkin and longtime running mates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang have spent two decades playing alongside each other, the longest three teammates have played together in major North American sports history.

While Dubas knows that run will likely end during his tenure, he also allowed that what the trio has is special. Letang remains under contract for two more seasons. Crosby, the only player in NHL history to average a point a game for 21 straight years, is eligible for an extension in July.

Dubas added that while the team as a whole took a significant step forward under first-year head coach Dan Muse, there remains work to be done regardless of who is on the roster when the Penguins report for training camp in September.

“We're still well short of where we aspire to be,” Dubas said.

Dubas praised the Flyers for “getting to their game” early in the first-round series, and while the Penguins eventually found their footing, it was too late. He added that it's clear by watching some of the teams still in the playoffs that the gap between where Pittsburgh is and the top contenders is still significant.

“We have a long way to go,” he said. “I don’t kid myself with that.”

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager/president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas met with the media on Tuesday for his end-of-season press conference, and he discussed a wide range of significant topics.

At the top of the list: Evgeni Malkin’s future with the Penguins, where the Penguins currently stand in the NHL with the progress they made this season, and what they need to do next in order to get where they want to be.

Also, speaking of Dubas, the finalists for the NHL’s general manager of the year award were announced on Tuesday and Dubas was not among the top-three vote-getters. There are a lot of people in hockey that simply do not like him. This seems to be pretty significant confirmation of that, because that result just seems weird.

But that is another discussion for another day.

Let’s get into the big topics as it relates to the Penguins.

On the Evgeni Malkin situation

Dubas gave the best possible answer that he could have possibly given here.

He praised Malkin, understands his place in the history of the franchise and the league, said all of the right things about him, acknowledged that he is not blocking anybody if he returns, and flat out said “we would love to have him back.”

Also said he had a great exit interview with him and that he is still talking to Malkin’s agent to make the contract work.

My takeaway on this: He is either doing really good PR for himself in the event that Malkin leaves, or a new contract is inevitable.

I feel like the latter is probably the most likely.

But you can’t really rule out the former. Dubas isn’t dumb. He knows how to deal with the media and how to play the game publicly. By shifting the onus onto Malkin he positioned himself to say, “hey, we wanted him back, it just didn’t work.” He might still very well want to move on, but he also knows in doing so that would always be attached to his tenure here, and if it did not work out …. well … that is the kind of thing that can linger.

Now, having said that, I will repeat, Dubas isn’t dumb. He also has to know that playing that sort of PR game with a franchise icon probably won’t go over well with anybody.

So I am still leaning toward the “Malkin will be back next season” side of this.

On where the Penguins are right now

Dubas’ assessment of the 2025-26 Penguins is that they were a good team, and at times flirted with being a “very good” team. But he also acknowledged that while they did make some progress, they were not good enough, and are not anywhere close to being a contender. He even mentioned that while watching the second-round of the playoffs he has openly wondered if they would be able to compete with the top teams in the league.

Kyle Dubas summed up the state of the #LetsGoPens:

"Good team. At times, we flirted with becoming very good. Ultimately, well short of where we aspire to be, and that’s a contender."

Said that falls on him, and he has to continue steering this team towards taking more steps.

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 12, 2026

He has repeatedly said that his goal here is not just about making the playoffs, but building a contender-worthy team that can compete for championships.

In his view, they are clearly not at that level.

That is also not an unfair take. They were good this season. But even as they won more games and got into the playoffs everybody still knew they were at least a step below the likes of Colorado and Carolina.

Dubas specifically referenced the Hurricanes being the class of the division and said at the present time the Penguins are not even close to them.

On what they need to do to get there

Dubas seemed most bothered by how much the Penguins give up defensively, and that has to be a focus before they can get back to the level they want to play at.

That was clearly the Achilles heel of the Penguins all season.

While they finished near the top of the league in pretty much every major offensive category, from goals scored, to power play, to scoring chances to expected goals, they were significantly worse when it came to what they allowed going back the other way.

During 5-on-5 play they were 22nd in goals against, 20th in expected goals against, 23rd in scoring chances against and 22nd in high-danger scoring chances against.

Clearly that is not good enough.

Dubas talks about Penguins as “destination” team for players “with some control over their situation.”

To me, this is the most significant thing that Dubas said on Tuesday, and might indicate the type of players he is going to be looking at this offseason.

He specifically referenced “players in their mid-to-late 20s.”

It does not take a lot of imagination to try and figure out the type of players he might be referencing here when he talks about that age range, and players with “some control” over their situation.

No-trade clauses.

Restricted free agents.

Players that might want out of their current situation.

It also seems to indicate he has little interest in the unrestricted free agent market.

Dubas has been extremely aggressive in roster movement since taking over the Penguins, and it does not require much overthinking to guess that we might be in for a hectic offseason.

The Los Angeles Kings have made the playoffs for 5 straight seasons, and over the last 2 years, the Kings have made major roster changes that, at the time, were made to help the team not only make the playoffs but also to help get them further both within the playoffs and in future seasons to come. But during the time those trades and signings were made, the players, fans, and Kings organization couldn't see just how impactful they were, so looking back 2 years to see the most recent acquisitions and who has changed the Kings the most.

2025-26 Season Acquisitions

During the 2025-26 season, the Kings made multiple trades, bringing in some players and sending others to other teams. The Kings' trades this season both showcased the team's future building while also providing star and depth talent for the short term. 

The biggest trade the Kings made this season was for the biggest player on the trade market. The trade was the Kings trading for Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 3rd round pick. While the Kings lost one of their top prospects, they gained a player who has been a point per game over the last 9 consecutive seasons. 

Artemi Panarin, after being traded to the Kings, signed a 2-year, $11 million AAV deal with the team. Panarin, since joining the Kings, has played in 26 games, scoring 9 goals, tallying 18 assists for 27 points. In the 4 playoff games he played, he had 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points. 

During the 2026 trade deadline, the Kings traded players to different contenders around the NHL, but they also acquired 2 players. The first was signing forward Mathieu Joseph to a 1 year $900K contract. Joseph played in 12 games for the Kings and did not register any points. 

The second acquisition at the deadline for the Kings was Scott Laughton, who was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional 2026 3rd-round pick. Laughton with the Kings played in 21 games, scoring 5 goals and recording 3 assists for 8 points. The Kings were able to use Laughton as a depth piece and have interest in signing Laughton during the offseason. 

2024-25 Players Acquired 

The Kings during the 2024-25 season made a few moves, and at the trade deadline, they acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2027 3rd-round pick. In the 2024-25 season, Kuzmenko played in 22 games, registering 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points, and was playing some of his best hockey.

But the 2025-26 season was a setback, as Kuzmenko played only 52 games due to injuries and scratches. In those 52 games, he registered 13 goals, 12 assists for 25 points. While Kuzmenko's points improved, he often found himself a healthy scratch and lacked a set spot in the lineup. Currently, Kuzmenko is set to become a free agent in this upcoming offseason.

The offseason after the 2024-25 season was a busy one for the Kings, as they signed 4 players when free agency opened on July 1st. Those players are Anton Forsberg, Joel Armia, Brian Dumoulin, and Cody Ceci. 

Anton Forsberg signed a 2-year, $2.2 million AAV deal with the Kings and was set to be the Kings' backup goaltender. But fast-forward to the end of the 2025-26 season, and Forsberg was the Kings' starting goalie in the playoffs and has proved to be a strong option in goal heading into next season. 

Joel Armia signed a 2-year, $2.5 million AAV deal, and in his first season with the Kings, he played in 67 games, registering 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. Armia also represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he led the team with 8 points. While being a depth player for the Kings, Armia made a strong impact this season and looks to do the same heading into the next. 

The last 2 players to sign with the Kings were Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, who, throughout the 2025-26 season, would form the 3rd defensive pairing for the Kings. Brian Dumoulin signed a 3-year $4 million AAV deal and played in all 82 games, scoring 2 goals, tallying 15 assists for 17 points. Ceci would sign a 4-year, $4.5 million deal and also play in all 82 games, scoring 1 goal and tallying 8 assists for 9 points. 

2023-24 Players Acquired 

The 2023-24 season for the Kings, in terms of trades and signings, featured players who have solidified themselves as Kings starting players today. The first player the Kings acquired in the 203-24 offseason was goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who was traded to the Kings from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Kuemper would have a Vezina-nominated season the following year, and while in the 2025-26 season, he would take a step back. The Kings now have him and Forsberg to be a strong tandem heading into next season. 

Not long after the Kuemper trade, the Kings traded Carl Grundstrom to the San Jose Sharks for Kyle Burroughs. Burroughs would not play in the 2025-26 season, due to injuries and being the 7th defenseman on the roster. The Kings made 2 signings on July 1st, 2024, signing Jeff Malott and Joel Edmundson. 

Jeff Malott signed a 2-year $775K deal with the Kings. In the 60 combined games Malott has played with the Kings over the last 2 seasons, he has scored 3 goals and has tallied 10 points. Malott is set to become a free agent during the 2026 offseason. 

The last signing for the Kings was Joel Edmundson, who signed a 4-year, $3.8 million AAV deal with the Kings. In the past 2 seasons, Edmundson has proven himself a reliable defenseman for the Kings, playing in 155 games, scoring 8 goals, and recording 43 points. 

Impact on the Kings 

The Kings' recent acquisitions have had a significant impact on their roster. The biggest impacts for the Kings are Kuemper, Panarin, and Edmundson. Darcy Kuemper has proven himself a starter for the Kings, and with the addition of Forsberg, the Kings have a reliable tandem moving forward. The addition of Joel Edmundson to the Kings has given them a reliable defenseman who can play anywhere in the lineup. 

Lastly, while Panarin joined the Kings during March of the 2025-26 season his offensive presence was impactful for the Kings to clinch a playoff birth and heading into next season Panarin will be looked upon to help the Kings offense and with the Kings possibly adding more players during the upcoming offseason the Kings could be a new team come time for the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. 

It was a tough season for the Detroit Red Wings as they aimed to finally snap their playoff drought, but by the time the postseason arrived, they were left watching from home once again. 

After briefly leading the Atlantic Division earlier in the year, Detroit’s season unraveled slowly and painfully, with inconsistency, defensive struggles and a lack of finishing ability ultimately costing them a playoff spot in heartbreaking fashion.

For frustrated Red Wings fans searching for answers, NHL EDGE data provides a clearer picture of what went right and what went disastrously wrong over the course of the regular season.

Offensively, Detroit actually produced at a level that should have translated into far more success. The Red Wings generated 2,316 shots on goal, ranking 11th in the NHL, while their 685 high-danger scoring chances also placed them 11th league-wide. Their underlying possession metrics were respectable as well, posting a plus-0.5 shot-attempt differential that ranked 14th and a plus-0.1 shots-on-goal differential that ranked seventh overall.

Those numbers suggest Detroit frequently controlled play at even strength and created quality opportunities on a nightly basis. The problem was turning those opportunities into goals.

Despite generating offense consistently, the Red Wings scored just 239 goals this season, ranking 22nd in the NHL. Their shooting percentage of 10.3 percent ranked 26th, revealing a team that simply struggled to finish chances when it mattered most. Too often, Detroit outplayed opponents for stretches only to fail to capitalize offensively.

The deeper puck-possession numbers tell an even more concerning story with Detroit spending 42.5 percent of its total ice time in the defensive zone, meanwhile, they spent only 40 percent of their time in the offensive zone, ranking 26th, while their neutral-zone possession time of 17.4 percent ranked 29th.

For a club attempting to establish a controlled, possession-driven identity under its current core, those numbers expose a major weakness. Detroit frequently found itself hemmed into its own zone and struggled to sustain pressure offensively for long stretches.

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

Red Wings Lose Out On Charlie Coyle As Center Re-Signs With Blue JacketsColumbus secures a reliable two-way veteran with a long-term extension, forcing Detroit to pivot their offseason strategy after missing out on a premier middle-six depth solution.

The Red Wings also weren't the slowest team in the league by any means by lacked top end speed as they recorded a maximum skating speed of just 22.84 MPH this season, ranking dead last among all 32 teams.

Their total number of 22+ MPH speed bursts, just 45, ranked third-worst in the league. In an NHL increasingly dominated by transition offense and explosive skating, Detroit lacked the high-end pace necessary to keep up with other teams. 

Detroit ranked 32nd in total miles skated on the penalty kill at 159.32 miles, while their average of 7.15 miles skated per 60 minutes while shorthanded ranked second-worst in the NHL. Their total movement during penalty-kill situations in individual periods also ranked last league-wide.

Combined with Detroit’s bottom-10 penalty kill ranking this season, the data reinforces what fans often saw with the eye test, a passive unit that struggled to pressure puck carriers or disrupt offensive setups.

On the bright side, Detroit’s power play emerged as one of the team’s strengths, finishing seventh in the NHL in most miles skated during a game on the power play and second in most miles skated during a single period with the man advantage. This was largely because they tied with the Dallas Stars for the seventh-most power play opportunities in the NHL with 248 this season. 

At even strength, the Red Wings also posted respectable skating numbers, ranking ninth in total miles skated and 10th in average miles skated per 60 minutes. While their top-end explosiveness lagged behind the league’s elite teams, their overall work rate remained competitive.

The Red Wings showed they can generate chances, compete territorially at times and create an active power play. But their inability to finish scoring opportunities, sustain offensive-zone possession and match the league’s speed ultimately doomed them when the playoff race tightened.

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

With the announcement that the Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed Charlie Coyle to a six-year contract, what does than mean for a Jackets team desperate to make Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Well, for one, they're bringing back a 14-year NHL vet with 1032 NHL games under his belt. Coyle, who spent was brought to the Cannon City via a trade with the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2025, put up 58 points last season, and played some of the best hockey of his career. The guy oozed leadership from the minute he got here. 

He's also never missed the NHL playoffs in his career until this past season, and if he was clearly upset with that during his exit interview with the media. Coyle also made it perfectly clear he wanted to come back to Columbus, and guide them to their first playoff berth since 2020. 

So, Coyle has his long term, and possibly last contract of his career, so what now?

Coyle needs to keep up the pace in which he played last season. When Coyle, Mathieu Olivier, and Cole Sillinger scored, or were making plays, this team won. If those three players can play like they did in 2025-26, watch out. 

But what else does Coyle coming mean to the CBJ?

It also means that the long-time Captain Boone Jenner might be on the move. 

Jenner has played every game of his NHL career in Columbus, and is the definition of the city itself. He works hard, and does what he needs to do. It's often said that a plyers best attribute is his availability. In this case, as sad as it may be, that may be Jenner's downfall.  

Boone Jenner has only played 82 games in his career once, back in 2016-17. The closest he's come to that since was 18-19 when he played 77. Since that season, he's played 70 once, 68, and then 67 this past season. Out of 1028 games he could've played, Jenner has only played in 808. 

If Boone Jenner isn't brought back, might they give Charlie Coyle the C? If I had to make a guess, I'd say yes. As I said above, Charlie has leader written all over him. From what he brings on the ice, to what he brings off of it, Coyle is what you want in a professional hockey player. He's also from Massachusetts, so you know he has no issue's with speaking his mind. 

This is a huge deal for Columbus going forward. Young guys love him, and the older players respect him, and value his experience.

Many will point to the term and get scared, but in my opinion, this deal is perfect for this franchise right now. 

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

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

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

Let us know what you think below.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

After defeating a Stanley Cup favorite in the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens have now taken a 2-1 series lead over the Buffalo Sabres, and former St. Louis Blues first-round pick Zachary Bolduc has done his fair share of heavy lifting to do so.

Bolduc’s first season in Montreal was a bit of a letdown. Coming off a 19-goal, 36-point rookie season with the Blues, St. Louis decided to trade the 23-year-old to the Habs in exchange for right-handed defenseman Logan Mailloux.

Bolduc started the season on fire, finding minutes on the top line and top power play unit, but he then hit a cold streak that extended for far too long.

He finished the regular season with just 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games, averaging 13:38 of ice time. But the playoffs have changed things for the former 17th overall pick of the 2021 NHL draft. 

In 10 games, Bolduc has notched two goals and six points despite his minutes shrinking to 11:30. He’s also fired 12 shots on goal, thrown 24 hits, and is a plus-6 in 10 post-season games. The Habs have outscored their opponents 8-2 at 5-on-5 with Bolduc on the ice, and he’s finding ways to be impactful, while also producing as a third liner.

On Sunday, with the Canadiens leading 2-1 in the second period, Bolduc came through with a crucial goal, which proved to be the game-winning goal as the Canadiens defeated the Sabres 6-2 to take a 2-1 series lead. Later in the game, Bolduc was assessed a 10-minute misconduct after receiving a double minor for roughing in the first period and a minor for roughing in the second. 

Revisiting The Logan Mailloux For Zachary Bolduc TradeOne of the surprise off-season trades saw the St. Louis Blues acquire Logan Mailloux from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Zachary Bolduc. Nearing the 50-game mark of the season, we revisit the trade to see who the real winner of the deal was.

There’s been plenty of debate about the Bolduc and Mailloux swap, but as of now, it appears both sides are pleased with the results. Bolduc’s production comes in waves, but he’s carving out a third-line role.

As for Mailloux, he stepped up late in the season, looking far more comfortable at the NHL level. He could be in store for a true breakout season in 2026-27. 

The Canadiens are back in action tonight as they host the Sabres for a critical Game 4. 

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

After Game 2 of the Montreal Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kirby Dach was the talk of the town, and not for the right reason. It was his icing that led to the defensive-zone faceoff on which the Bolts scored the game-winning goal in that second duel. Fans and media alike, including THN, were clamoring for him to be scratched in Game 3, but Martin St-Louis stuck to his guns and not only kept him in, but moved him to center. The message to Dach couldn’t be clearer: the coach had his back, and he was not going to give up on him.

At that stage, the big Albertan had no points and had a minus-one rating. The following game was one of the best Dach had ever played wearing the Sainte-Flanelle. He registered a goal and an assist and was everywhere on the ice alongside Zach Bolduc and Alexandre Texier. That line ended up being the Habs’ best in the first round. The Frenchman is no longer on their line these days against the Buffalo Sabres; it’s Joe Veleno who completes it, but the unit is still effective.

Xhekaj And Malenstyn Fined, Expect More Bad Blood
Canadiens’ Bolduc Is A Pain For Sabres
Canadiens Must Brace For Pushback In Game 4

Dach might not have been dominant offensively in all the games so far, but the truth of the matter is that right now, he has five points, four goals, and an assist, exactly like Juraj Slafkovsky. However, the centerman has a plus-six rating while the power forward sports a minus-six rating. Of course, Dach’s line, which gets fourth-line minutes, is not on the ice as often and doesn’t get the toughest match-up. Still, their contribution has been essential, and their ability to contribute offensively despite limited ice time has been key to the Canadiens’ success.

KIRBY DACH PULLED THE PUCK OUT FROM BETWEEN LYON'S LEGS AND BURIED IT 😭🚨 pic.twitter.com/svULlIg0QH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 11, 2026

With his contract being up this summer, Dach’s bounce-back performance will put Kent Hughes in a tricky position. The big center is often injured and has been largely inconsistent during his four-year tenure with the Canadiens. The GM will have to weigh the risks and rewards of keeping the big forward around. If the Habs opt to keep him, they will have to make him a qualifying offer of $4 million. That’s a much more digestible number if the playoff version of Dach starts showing up in the regular season, but that’s not a guarantee.

Needless to say, the longer the Canadiens’ spring goes on and the more consistent the big center becomes, the better his chances of getting a qualifying offer from the team. This summer will be the last time he is an RFA. At the end of his next contract, he will be a UFA and free to go wherever he pleases.

It seems highly unlikely that Hughes will want to sign him to a long-term contract as things stand; he’s still too much of a gamble, but he may be willing to give him another bridge deal, another chance to show the Canadiens what he can do. Something that seemed inconceivable to many, including this writer, after Game 2 of the first-round series. Dach has flipped the script and can be proud of what he has accomplished so far in these playoffs, but he can hopefully keep building on it.

Kirby Dach with the double headlock 😂 pic.twitter.com/YsWxBzpVL4

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 10, 2026

---

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

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

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

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

In this this post we look at five Devils prospects who rose their stocks the most this past season.

David Rozsival

A late birthday when drafted in the 5th round of last year’s NHL entry draft, David Rozsival is still only 18-years-old. That did not stop the 6’1 right winger from turning heads this season for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. After a slow start, Rozsival exploded with ten goals in ten games during the height of his growth, finishing his rookie USHL campaign with 23 goals and 37 points in 57 games.

Rozsival has the skill set to be a useful bottom six forward someday and is known for his knack for cycling, forechecking, and applying pressure in all three zones. While Rozsival’s road to the NHL is still long and full of potential speed bumps and pratfalls, his D+1 season was a large step in the right direction.

Daniil Orlov

Daniil Orlov has been on my personal radar as a potential mid-draft steal for awhile and this season has turned many more observers into believers. The 22-year-old KHL defenseman’s point production has nearly doubled each KHL season from seven points in 2023-24 to 15 points in 2024-2025 to 10 goals and 28 points this past year. Orlov has always been known for his skating and defensive play, but the rise in production has raised his projection to a PNHLe of 54 in Dobber’s model, projecting him as a potential second pairing defender in his prime. The Devils will have to wait a little while longer to bring Orlov over as his contract with Spartak expires at the end of the 2027-28 season.

Veeti Louhivaara

Louhivaara jumped around quite a bit this past season starting the season for the JYP U20 team, flashing a 2.52 GAA and .917 SV% in nine games. After an eight game stint in the Mestis, Louhivaara came over to North America to backstop the Chicago Steel of the USHL under the tutelage of Scott Gomez.

The move paid off. Louhivaara quickly earned a name for himself in the high-scoring USHL, finishing the season with a 12-6-4 record, 2.86 GAA, and .905 SV%, even earning goaltender of the week honors shortly after his arrival. Louhivaara’s play was good enough to earn a brief tryout with the Utica Comets at the end of the season to get a taste for the professional hockey life before his commitment to UCONN next year.

Louhivaara still has a long road to the NHL and remains behind Mikhail Yegorov and Jakub Malek on the Devils goaltender prospect depth chart, but a strong season in UCONN could change the conversation quickly. For those wanting to read more on Louhivaara, the Devils published this piece last month about the goalie’s decision to come over to North America early. It’s worth a look.

Topias Vilen

A fifth round pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft, Topias Vilen earned a North American contract after a nine goal, seventeen point tear in the Liiga in 2022-23. Since then Vilen has been steadily showing progress, earning the Utica Comet’s team award for most-improved player last season and the award for best defender this year. Vilen’s production is not going to wow anybody, but it is steady, and the Finnish defenseman is capable of playing in all situations, even earning power play time after Seamus Casey’s season-ending injury. Vilen’s 27 points this year was his AHL high, and second on the Comets blueline only to veteran former NHLer Calen Addison.

Vilen did not look out of place during his brief call-up at the end of the season and at 23, will likely be heading into camp as part of the conversation for the potential seventh defender spot on the Devils roster.

Chase Cheslock

Chase Cheslock broke out in a big way this season for St. Thomas of the NCAA. When the 6’3 right-handed defender was drafted in the 5th round by the Devils in 2023, Elite Prospects noted his “scary” defensive presence around the crease. This season, Cheslock added some offense to his mix, pocketing 24 points in 38 games. A former captain of his Rogers high school team and the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, Cheslock is a favorite to earn the honors again should he play his senior year for St. Thomas.

Personally, I hope the Devils sign Cheslock this summer. A team cannot have too many large, defensive, right-handed defensemen with capable puck-moving skills in their system and Cheslock seems like a guy destined for a pro career. Whether that pro career includes a niche role in the NHL one day remains to be seen.

Your Take

What do you think? Did I miss someone you think should be on this list? Post your comments below.

According to Frank Seravalli, the Edmonton Oilers have reached out to the Vegas Golden Knights to for permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy about his interest in coaching the Oilers. Interestingly, Vegas has reportedly denied their request.

Seravalli posted on Tuesday morning, " League sources say #Oilers have sought permission to interview Bruce Cassidy as they contemplate significant coaching staff changes. To this point, sources say @GoldenKnights have withheld permission from division rival. Gamesmanship? Perhaps. Mostly unprecedented for role. "

Trending Stories:

Oilers Facing Pivotal Summer as Several Changes Coming, Says Insider

Comments From Oilers Point to Need For Fundamental Shift in Edmonton

Draisaitl on McDavid's Timeline

The reaction from the yet unconfirmed news is fascinating. 

"Let's see how this plays out. Personally I think they should grant permission. VGK has moved on from Cassidy, let him get back into the game on his terms. Wherever that may be," says one analyst.

Writer and content creator Rachel Kryshak writes, "This shouldn’t be allowed. It’s one thing if the person is still employed by the organization. You fired him, deemed him not good enough — you don’t get to decide who employs him next. Cassidy should be able to walk away from VGK contract so they have no say."

One fan wrote, "Questionable strategy by Vegas. You'd have to think, if you were another coach, exec, even player, would this make you feel a little less comfortable signing there? Maybe no one cares cuz Vegas."

It's an interesting stance from the Golden Knights, who are known as a ruthless organization when it comes to players, personelle, and making changes. They will do anything to win, and now it appears almost anything to avoid helping a rival win. This, despite the fact they relieved Cassidy of his duties near the end of the season and brought in John Tortorella. 

Eric Macramella writes, "Bruce Cassidy has 1 year left on his deal at $4.5M. If Vegas lets the Oilers speak to him and Edmonton hires him, Vegas would typically only owe the difference in salary under standard NHL mitigation/offset rules and not the full remaining $4.5M."

As for Knoblauch, this can't be a good feeling. He had to know that his time in Edmonton could be cut short based on the way this past season unfolded and when both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl spoke publicly about their concerns. However, to hear that the Oilers are actively pursuing interviews with other coaches while still being employed as the coach has to tell him the writing is on the wall. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released his latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft, where he made picks for the first round. When it came to the Buffalo Sabres, Pronman predicted that they would end up selecting defenseman William Hakansson.

The idea of Hakansson joining the Sabres' prospect pool is a fascinating one. The first thing that stands out about him is that he is a big, 6-foot-4 left-shot defenseman. With this, he would give the Sabres another defenseman with size in their prospect pool, which would not be a bad thing in the slightest.

Hakansson has the potential to become a solid defensive defenseman in the NHL, so it would be understandable if the Sabres considered selecting him at this year's draft. The potential for him to emerge as a top-four shutdown defenseman is there. 

Hakansson played in 22 games this season with Lulea HF of the SHL, where he recorded two assists and a plus-1 rating. He also recorded two goals and four points in 16 games with Almtuna IS in HockeyAllsvenskan. 

Ultimately, with the Sabres needing more defensive depth, it would make sense if they picked Hakansson if he is still available once they are on the clock. It will be interesting to see if they do just that.

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

The Western Conference Semifinals shift back to Sin City tonight as the Anaheim Ducks visit the Vegas Golden Knights, with the series tied at two games apiece. 

My Golden Knights vs. Ducks player props are targeting Mitch Marner to keep dominating, while Jack Eichel and Beckett Sennecke will also do their part. 

Read more in my Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions and NHL picks for Tuesday, May 12. 

Best Ducks vs Golden Knights props for Game 5

Game 5 Prop #1: Mitch Marner Over 1.5 points

+175 at BET99

Mitch Marner has been an absolute monster in these playoffs. The veteran has compiled 16 points already, and he has a mind-boggling seven points across the last two games. While the Vegas Golden Knights did lose Game 4, he finished with three helpers. Marner also netted a natural hat-trick in Game 3 while grabbing an assist. 

In the postseason, he's had four multi-point outings, and the Canadian is playing with so much confidence. His ice time has also skyrocketed across these last two games, playing over 23 minutes per contest after barely playing 18 minutes in the first two games of this series. John Tortorella is putting Marner out there a lot, and it's paying off. 

Game 5 Prop #2: Jack Eichel Over 0.5 assists 

-170 at BET99

Jack Eichel sits right behind Marner with 13 playoff points. The majority of his production has come as a playmaker, notching 12 assists. Eichel was one of the Golden Knights' top suppliers during the regular season as well, picking 63 apples, ranking 11th in the NHL. 

He's hit the Over in helpers in three straight, finishing with four assists during that span. Eichel had two in the Game-4 defeat. He's also grabbed five assists on home ice in the playoffs, and his presence on the top line and PP1 strengthens his case for another. 

Game 5 Prop #3: Beckett Sennecke anytime goal

+320 at BET99

He may be just 20 years of age, but Beckett Sennecke is proving the playoff stage isn't too big for him. The youngster had 23 regular-season goals, and he's added another four in the postseason. After a quiet Round 1, Sennecke has found his best against Vegas, scoring three times, finding the back of the net in three consecutive contests.

While he's only notched six SOG across those games, Sennecke is making the most of his chances. His PP2 line also scored both goals for the Anaheim Ducks on the man advantage in Game 3, including his PP goal, assisted by Alex Killorn and Cutter Gauthier, who notched three helpers. Heavy PP usage and solid playmakers getting him the puck make this one a valuable bet. 

img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

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

Since Matvei Michkov ended the season a healthy scratch, he'll be all the talk this offseason, and that is going to open up some sore wounds for Philadelphia Flyers fans.

This conversation has, of course, resurfaced again, even after things went mostly well under John Tortorella, and later Brad Shaw, last season.

The Flyers fanbase has been divided into two splinter cells: one that thinks head coach Rick Tocchet is right to bench an underperforming, out-of-shape Michkov, and one that thinks the Flyers botched this whole operation and gave the player little opportunity to perform in a meaningful role.

In reality, both sides are, to an extent, right in both cases.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, who has no skin in this game, took to his "32 Thoughts" podcast to dish on Michkov and the Flyers, expertly playing both sides and making sense of it all.

He also indirectly cautioned the Flyers against trading Michkov, even invoking the despised Cutter Gauthier as an example of why it just can't happen again.

Flyers Boss Rick Tocchet Talks Matvei Michkov, Improved Recent PlayThings were never quite right between <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> head coach Rick Tocchet and phenom forward Matvei Michkov for much of the season, but Michkov's strong finish to the season has all but erased that now.

"Look what happened with Cutter Gauthier. . . just look at Gauthier's natural gifts. It's really hard to let two players walk like that in a short period of time," Friedman said.

"Gauthier was a really good pick by Philadelphia that didn't work out. And Michkov, I still say, was a really good pick by the Flyers. I just don't think you can give up that easily. If I'm [Danny Briere], I'm saying 'We have to find a way to make this better.' . . . You would have to show me a trade that really made sense for me to do this."

The Flyers obviously need a good center, and a young one, at that, but no team with a good center at Michkov's age is going to pony one up for him after this debacle.

And for the Flyers, taking a draft pick and/or other futures for Michkov from a team like the San Jose Sharks or Chicago Blackhawks doesn't make sense.

They just made the playoffs, and using a pick on a player who could be three years away from being a contributor at the expense of a back-to-back 20-goal, 50-point player strays from that progress.

"I would say to Tocchet, 'You can't find guys like this.' If we're going to move on from him, we better be sure. Better be sure, that there is absolutely no chance it works out here for him," Friedman continued.

"I would also say to Michkov, 'I am not going to trade you.' So, your best answer, whatever you're not delivering, you have to change that, too."

Some things we can safely assume Michkov has not delivered, at least for Tocchet, is a consistent forechecking presence and more frequent skating. It's not Michkov's style, especially offensively, but that is what the coach wants.

Flyers Must Avoid This Trap in NHL Free AgencyThe Philadelphia Flyers must be careful and not get greedy overpaying for a player like Darren Raddysh in NHL free agency.

At the same time, this is now two seasons and counting of the Flyers trying to pivot Michkov off the things that made him the seventh pick three years ago. The creativity, the risk-taking, opportunism, offensive puck touches.

Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas went on to discuss the training camp out-of-shape stuff that has been beaten like a dead horse, and yeah, the player has to work on that. Everyone can benefit from improved conditioning and added speed.

We saw what Bobby Brink did over the last few seasons, and it turned him from a bubble player to an important one.

Michkov is already important, so the next step is... elite?

At the end of the day, there are a lot of moving parts here, and there doesn't appear to be any motivation from either side for a Michkov trade.

Like Friedman says, get everyone together and figure it out, because nobody's going anywhere after the success the Flyers had as a team this season.

And Friedman's opinion matters. He's plugged in with front offices, agents, and all kinds of staffers, so he knows how the league works, why it works, and how the situation is viewed.

The Flyers have taken a beating from the public all season long over the Michkov stuff, and the perpetuated noise around them is asking them to quash it for good.

The Montreal Canadiens have outscored the Buffalo Sabres 11-3 in the last two games and taken a 2-1 series lead. While that will have given Martin St-Louis’ men plenty of confidence, they must be careful not to be overly confident, as this series is far from over. If Tage Thompson and co. can get a win in Game 4, they will be right back in this series and will regain home-ice advantage. If the Habs get the win, though, they will have the all-important 3-1 commanding win and push the Sabres to the brink of elimination. Given the fact that the Carolina Hurricanes are already through to the Conference Final, both teams should want to win as quickly as possible.

In league history, the team with a 2-1 lead has won the series 69% of the time (399-180). What’s even more interesting for Habs’ fans, though, is the fact that when the Sabres are trailing 2-1 in a series, they have a 0-14 record and a 0-3 record when the series started at home. Meanwhile, when the Canadiens lead a series 2-1, they have a 40-11 record, meaning they’ve won over 78% of the time. When the series started on the road, though, that record goes down to 11-6, which is still a .647 winning percentage.

Xhekaj And Malenstyn Fined, Expect More Bad Blood
Canadiens’ Bolduc Is A Pain For Sabres
Canadiens’ Dobes On His Way To Make History?

The Canadiens had an optional skate on Tuesday, and only a few players opted to take to the ice: Brendan Gallagher, Oliver Kapanen, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook, Joe Veleno, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Jacob Fowler, and Samuel Montembeault. In other words, only three players who are in the active lineup joined the reserves on the ice: Newhook (who has five goals in the last four games), Veleno, and Hutson.

As for the Sabres, they were supposed to hold a full practice, but they canceled it. Speaking to the media, Lindy Ruff explained that they didn’t practice in between games at all during the series against the Boston Bruins and that they had already made one exception in the Montreal series, so they decided to revert to the original plan: rest in between games and just have a simple morning skate.

Asked about the possibility of changing his goaltender to provide a spark in his team, the experienced bench boss stuck with what he had said on Sunday night, praising Alex Lyon, but he did say that he would have liked to change a couple of blueliners and forwards on Sunday, but that he didn’t have that option.

Sounds like we’ll have another Lyon vs. Jakub Dobes duel in Game 4. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM at the Bell Centre, and you can catch it on CBC, TVAS, SN, and ESPN. Kelly Sutherland and TJ Luxmore will be officiating, while Julien Fournier and Matt MacPherson will be the linemen. Expect another electric night at the Bell Center, as fans will no doubt have read about the Sabres being unable to communicate in Game 3 due to the noise. 

---

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

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

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

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