Category: NHL

The postmortem on the Colorado Avalanche’s playoff sweep quickly turned to injuries — but that storyline may not be holding up as strongly as first believed, especially around Cale Makar.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman’s status for the start of next season could be uncertain.

“I’ve heard his injury is pretty significant,” Friedman said on his podcast. “And I know some people have been wondering, will he be ready for the start of next year? I guess we’ll find all that out, but I just don’t think that that’s the reason here. I think it’s more of an excuse than anything else.”

After Makar was seen attending a Colorado Eagles playoff game without a sling or any visible signs of a serious injury, speculation naturally followed about whether the severity of the reported issue had been overstated.

There is no definitive way to confirm that either way, but Joe Sakic offered some clarity Thursday at Family Sports, pushing back on any concern about lingering health issues heading into next season. He said the organization expects a fully healthy group when training camp opens.

“Everybody is going to be at training camp and 100%,” Sakic said. “Nobody going to miss any time.”

That doesn’t mean the Avalanche weren’t dealing with real injuries during the series against Vegas. Artturi Lehkonen, Sam Malinski, Brent Burns, Nathan MacKinnon and Makar were all managing something in some capacity, which, at this point in the season, is more standard reality than exception around the league.

Makar, meanwhile, finished the postseason with five points in 11 games after a 79-point regular season — a playoff total that matched the lowest production of his career in any postseason run, including years in which Colorado exited in the opening round.

It’s the part of hockey that rarely gets romanticized — the stretch where everyone is playing through something, and excuses only carry so much weight after the final whistle. Much like a fighter stepping into a world title bout after a punishing camp, there’s rarely such a thing as perfect health in late spring. And once the result is decided, explanations tend to land hollow.

The reality is the Avalanche were beaten — cleanly — by a Vegas team that neutralized their speed, clogged their lanes, and punished mistakes with ruthless efficiency, which is exactly how the Golden Knights are built to operate.

As Sakic noted Thursday, it was four games, and a rough four games at that. But it doesn’t erase what came before. Colorado still finished the regular season with a Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top team, a distinction that matters even if it doesn’t soften playoff disappointment. The last club to win both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season remains the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.

And in today’s playoff structure — where elite teams often collide early and the path to June feels more like survival than progression — it increasingly becomes a last-man-standing tournament. Right now, that’s exactly where the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes find themselves, preparing for Game 6 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

For Colorado, though, it's time to reset, recharge, and let the sting fade just enough to start the process all over again. 

The Buffalo Sabres have some decisions to make when it comes to their roster this off-season. With the Sabres having limited cap space and multiple players with expired contracts, there is a good chance that they will be moving on from some players.

One Sabres pending restricted free agent (RFA) who very well could not be back next season is defenseman Michael Kesselring. The 26-year-old defenseman was notably scratched for all but one game for the Sabres during the playoffs. He was also limited to only 34 regular-season games this season due to injury trouble, where he had zero points, two assists, and 50 penalty minutes.

With the Sabres having more important players to re-sign, it would not be surprising if they listened to trade offers for Kesselring this off-season. He has already been the subject of trade rumors this summer because of it. 

While Kesselring had a tough season for the Sabres in 2025-26, he has the potential to generate a lot of interest this off-season. NHL clubs are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-5 Kesselring certainly fits that description.

Kesselring's past success also adds to his appeal. During the 2024-25 season with Utah, he posted career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games. This was after he had five goals and 21 points in 65 games for the Arizona Coyotes during the 2023-24 campaign.

When noting that Kesselring has shown in the past that he can work as a second-pairing defenseman and is only 26 years old, the Sabres should not have a hard time finding a trading partner for him. It will be interesting to see if Kesselring gets moved this off-season from here. 

No matter what happens tomorrow night InVegas, the major league hockey season will close for sure after the seventh game – of course, IF NEEDED.

The Maven cannot speak for Rangers fans but I sure can guess what will going through their heads as they watch the Canes and Knights slug it out – one hoping for The Cup; the other yearning for a Game Seven.

Questions that just might come to mind:

1. K'ANDRE MILLER: This guy has turned into one of the best NHL defensemen and key to the Canes' Cup aspirations. How come K.A.M. was not that good in a Blue Shirt?

2.  BRETT HOWDEN: All I remember is that this guy, who's been one of the playoffs leading scorers, couldn't tell a red light from a chartreuse bulb in New York. 

3. ROD BRIND'AMOUR: You tell me; are the Canes this close to the silverware because of the perpetually broken nose coach? Brindy has the knack. Period! 

4. JOHN TORTORELLA: I guarantee that not even Brind'Amour could have saved the skating slagheap left by Bruce Cassidy. Torts not only re-seeded the Vegas landfill but energized it to a point where two wins will bring another Cup to Sin City. (Torts could revive the Blueshirt Blunderers but that won't happen. Chris Drury treats Mike Sullivan as if he's his favorite nephew, once-removed. (And he should be removed!)

5. HURRICANES: The one time New England (WHA) Whalers have a savvy owner Tom Dundon and a g.m. Eric Tulsky, who knows, and a coach who has been around the block so often he can tell from across the street, the difference between a Champ from a Chump.

6. GOLDEN KNIGHTS: They don't fool around. If something looks wrong; or a coach loses his team – a la Bruce Cassidy – POOF! he's gone and the next guy will fix it. Which Torts has done.

One of these two admirable teams – Golden Knights or Hurricanes – will be crowned champs. For my dough, both deserve super kudos for a series well-played.

Rangers fans can only wish; who knows maybe wishing will make it so. 

According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, there's a strong likelihood that former NHL coach Mike Babcock will be cleared to resume his coaching career. Currently under investigation, Johnston noted, "I've seen other reporting, but...I know people that were right there and kind of have more of a sense of exactly what happened...they think he's going to be allowed to work."

Johnston did admit that it would be best not to prejudge the investigation since there are things that might have gone on he's unaware of. 

If true that his transgressions were not serious, that would suggest the rumors that a much bigger issue than Babcock going through cell phones might be inaccurate. There was chatter that something problematic was buried when Babcock resigned from the league in 2023. If it resurfaced during the investigation, it could squash any chance of the Edmonton Oilers bringing him on as coach. 

Should Babcock not have done anything more than what's already been reported, it would be hard for the league to keep him out because he's mean. If he's done nothing illegal, and nothing against the rules, being somewhat unethical, is an issue the Oilers will have to manage. 

Every Moment Ranked In An Already Embarrassing Summer For the OilersFrom botched coaching searches to leaked negotiations and trade drama, Edmonton’s chaotic offseason is spiraling. We rank the front-office blunders defining a franchise's most humiliating summer yet.

Elliotte Friedman noted, that there's no CBA between the coaches and the league, thus NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has a lot of power in this situation. Friedman said, "I don't know how he's gonna rule; I'm sure he's gonna be looking to find out whatever else may have happened."

This decision could come quickly on Babcock. It's being said that the league doesn't want this lingering. 

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.

‘This kid is a hell of a player' — Flyers could draft 45-goal, 104-point winger originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in a while, the Flyers are coming off a playoff run.

That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.

But that was when the Flyers drafted a foundation piece, grabbing Tyson Foerster at 23rd overall.

So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.

“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”

The Flyers have only five picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.

“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.

“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”

Last summer, the Flyers made nine selections, with six coming over the first two rounds. Porter Martone was their headliner at sixth overall. Now the Flyers will try to hit on a pick in the 20s.

“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).

“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Liam Ruck

Position: Winger
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 174
Shoots: Right
Team: Medicine Hat

Scouting report

Ruck is adept at finding his spots and finishing. He can flat-out score and he’s effective in all situations.

“This kid is a hell of a player,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “This kid knows how to play the game everywhere — offensively, defensively, he’s a great competitor, he’s smart, he knows how to make things happen. I just watch him, he’s a hockey player.”

The 18-year-old led all draft-eligible players with 45 goals in 68 games this season for Medicine Hat. He put up 104 points, second in the WHL to only his twin brother Markus Ruck, who had 108.

“I love Liam. I like Markus, too,” Button said. “It’s very interesting when you think about the two of them and how they play. Markus is the playmaking center and Liam is more bent toward goal scoring, but a great playmaker.”

Liam Ruck is the 10th-ranked player on Button’s May 20 draft list. He scored 16 power play goals, three shorthanded and 10 game-winners. He recorded six games of four or more points. In the playoffs, he added eight goals and four assists over 14 games.

The Ruck brothers are not explosive skaters. They’re a bit undersized and on the thinner side. But those things are not total deal-breakers for teenage players.

“I hear this all the time and I get asked this question: ‘What about their skating?'” Button said. “Well, No. 1, I don’t need them to go on the speed-skating oval, put a stopwatch on them. They’re not in a speed-skating competition. And if [Liam] was a little bit better of a skater, we’d be talking about him at the top of the draft. … He’s a damn good hockey player. And his brother’s a damn good hockey player.”

NHL Central Scouting has Liam Ruck at No. 20 among North American skaters and EliteProspects.com has him at No. 24 overall. But Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis has him slotted at No. 16.

Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, the Hall of Fame twin brothers, were forever teammates and often on the same line. Button wasn’t concerned about the Ruck brothers eventually having to find success on separate teams.

“I’ve had this question from a number of people: ‘Well, how are they going to play apart?'” Button said. “I’ve seen them play apart. With the Sedins, I never saw them play apart, ever — not with the national team, not with their junior clubs. I never saw the Sedins play apart. So it’s a legitimate question, how will they play apart? I’ve seen the Rucks play apart and I’ve seen them play really well apart.”

Fit with Flyers

Ruck would give the Flyers a hard decision if he’s still on the board at No. 21.

It’s fair to debate how his game will translate against men at the pro level because of the size and skating factors. But the shooting ability, versatility and hockey IQ are all there.

The Flyers’ future on the right wing would have some serious promise with Martone, Ruck and Matvei Michkov.

More targets

• Could Lawrence’s early jump to college have him fall to Flyers in draft?

• Will Flyers eye 6-foot-4 forward with ‘goal-scoring hands’ at No. 21?

• Palmieri ‘type of player’ may be available for Flyers at No. 21 in draft

• Russian center with pro build has interesting case for Flyers at No. 21

• Lin has ‘Brandon Montour profile,’ but will he be there for Flyers at No. 21?

• D-man with ‘unbelievable maturity to his game’ could be option for Flyers at No. 21

• ‘Second-line center all day long’ should intrigue Flyers in draft

Perception around and within the Anaheim Ducks organization is far different from what it was a year ago today. The Ducks were a month removed from hiring Joel Quenneville as their next head coach, two months from taking a 21-point jump in the standings from the year prior, and had declared a mandate to qualify for the 2026 NHL Playoffs. 

In his first roster move of the offseason, general manager Pat Verbeek made a trade with a familiar dance partner, the New York Rangers, and acquired forward Chris Kreider (35) along with a 2025 fourth-round pick (Elijah Neuenschwander) in exchange for prospect Carey Terrance (21) and a third-round pick (Artyom Gonchar).

Anaheim Ducks Rumor Roundup: 6/13/26

How the Anaheim Ducks can Become a Destination for Star Players

Kreider had two years remaining on his contract, which carried an AAV of $6.5 million. If one were to evaluate this trade from a certain point of view, it could be seen as the Ducks parting with a third-tier prospect and moving down 15 spots in the draft to sign Chris Kreider to a two-year contract, which would have been decent value given the NHL’s increasing salary cap landscape and the projected cap space the Ducks had to work with. 

Coming off an injury-riddled season in 2024-25, where he produced just 30 points (22-8=30) in 68 games, Kreider waived his 15-team NTC to facilitate the trade to the Ducks. 

The Ducks selected Terrance in the second round (59th overall in 2023) three years ago, and though his defensive upside remains, his potential ceiling is likely that of a fourth-line forward. He was just under a point-per-game player in the two years following his draft year in the OHL, playing for the Erie Otters, but struggled to produce in his first professional season, scoring 17 points (8-9=17) in 68 games. 

Gonchar and Neuenschander are still too raw and nearly removed from their draft to evaluate completely, but both are long shots to have long NHL careers at this point in time. 

Kreider started his Ducks tenure white hot, scoring ten goals in his first 13 games of the season and 21 points (13-8=21) in his first 25. He made an immediate impact on Anaheim’s top line, where he’d remain for the majority of the season and playoffs, alongside Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry. During that stretch, he was especially beneficial below the dots in the offensive zone and at the net front, offering the Ducks a strength in an area they’ve lacked in recent memory. 

As the months progressed through the season, his potency dissipated somewhat, and he finished the season with 50 points (22-28=50) in 75 games while playing a top-six role for the duration of the campaign. 

The Ducks qualified for the playoffs for the first time in eight years and advanced to the second round for the first time in nine, with Kreider playing a part in that success. He finished the playoffs with seven points (2-5=7) in 12 games; five in the first round vs the Edmonton Oilers and two in the second vs the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Kreider brought with him, from the blaring media light of the New York Rangers, a humor and lightheartedness that was blended with a veteran professionalism. He commanded respect, but was willing to be playful with teammates and the media. 

He will enter his 35-year-old season in 2026-27, and with any player in their mid-thirties, his impact will be determined by his ability to fend off Father Time as best he can. The hope is that the younger roster pieces on Anaheim’s depth chart will be able to slot into roles higher in the lineup with more consistency, taking some of that burden off of Kreider’s plate. 

The Ducks made the second round in the 2026 Playoffs and will be expecting to return to or eclipse that level in 2026-27. Throughout his 15-year NHL career, Kreider’s been more than willing to get to the hard areas of the ice and is 42 games from reaching the 1000-game milestone. He’s played 135 playoff games in 11 years on top of that total. 

If Kreider can notch another 40-50 points in 2026-27, from a lower-profile spot in the lineup and turn in a more productive postseason, the trade to acquire him in 2025 will prove to be an undeniable win for Anaheim. A lot of evaluation regarding this trade will be determined in year two of Kreider’s presence in Anaheim, when expectations have risen, and the team is projected to threaten the $104 million salary cap ceiling for the first time in a long time.

The Anaheim Ducks’ 2025-26 Starting XI

Gulls Looking For New Head Coach After McIlvane Departure

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

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Rumor Roundup: 6/6/26

Some prospects announce themselves with gaudy point totals. Linus Funck spent his first season in North America proving he could become the kind of defenseman coaches trust.

That's exactly what the Colorado Avalanche were hoping to see when they selected the Swedish blueliner in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Funck was never viewed as an instant-impact prospect. He arrived with NHL size, strong defensive instincts and a mature hockey IQ, but the expectation was always that his development would take time. His first season with the OHL's London Knights did nothing to change that outlook.

The 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman appeared in 65 regular season games, recording four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. Those are encouraging numbers for a defenseman still learning the North American game, especially one whose value extends far beyond the scoresheet.

Funck isn't asked to drive offense. His job is to close gaps quickly, separate opponents from the puck, disrupt passing lanes and make the smart first pass that turns defense into transition. Those details rarely generate headlines, but they're often what determine whether a prospect eventually earns NHL minutes.

Like most European players making the jump overseas, there was an adjustment period. Funck flashed confidence early, looking comfortable with the puck and contributing offensively while adapting to a faster, more physical style of play. As the season progressed and opponents became more familiar with him, the production leveled off, but his overall game never did.

Night after night, he continued to play the same composed, dependable style that earned him regular minutes on one of the OHL's premier teams. For a young defenseman leaving home and adapting to a new country and playing surface, it was impressive on the surface.

The next phase of his development is easy to point out. 

At 6-foot-3 and roughly 190 pounds, Funck has the height NHL teams covet, but there's still room to add strength. More muscle should make him even more effective in board battles, net-front coverage and the physical battles that define professional hockey.

The Avalanche have already seen how a dedicated offseason can accelerate a prospect's development. Seventh-round pick Christian Humphreys spent part of last summer working with renowned strength and conditioning coach Lorne Goldberg before arriving at training camp noticeably stronger and more explosive. He carried that momentum into a standout season with the Kitchener Rangers, helping lead the club to its first Memorial Cup championship in more than two decades.

Funck could benefit from a similar approach. Whether it's with Goldberg or another elite strength coach, adding functional strength while maintaining his mobility could unlock another level in his game.

That's where the offensive upside becomes intriguing. With greater confidence and a stronger frame, Funck should feel more comfortable joining the rush, holding pucks under pressure and trusting his instincts in transition without sacrificing the defensive reliability that already defines his game.

For an Avalanche organization that doesn't boast much prospect depth, this is a promising development. 

Funck didn't need a breakout season to validate his potential. He needed experience, consistency and proof that his defensive foundation could translate to North American hockey.

He accomplished all three, giving Colorado another reason to believe its patient approach may eventually pay off.

At the NHL Draft, you never mind picking 32nd overall, because it usually means you just won the Stanley Cup. But this year, that selection didn't come with a prize; just penance.

The Senators will pick at 32, dead last overall, as their punishment for a messed-up trade from five years ago. And since the NHL's original ruling was no pick at all in Round 1, the Sens aren't complaining.

Without the league's change of heart, it would have been a pretty dull first day at the draft for the mighty Sens. Their first pick would have been the coveted 72nd overall selection, which is the pick they got from Florida in the 2024 Vladimir Tarasenko deal.

What also makes the Senators' first-round pick unique is that they're allowed to trade it. Commissioner Gary Bettman still wanted to set an example, and set it the way an elementary school teacher might handle a student who was causing trouble.

Back of the line, kid, and stay there.

So as their time to pick approaches in Buffalo on June 26, there will be no trades, no drama. They will absolutely choose someone at 32.

Senators head amateur scout Don Boyd, who's making a list and checking it twice, talked about his scouting team's preparation this week on TSN 1200 radio.

"We build our list with the idea that these players are going to go in this order, or that we would have them in this order if we were making every pick one to 32," Boyd said. "Other teams will make decisions for us. There may be somebody else outside of our 32 that jumps ahead of our pick, and then we have our list that we can react to that.

"If we were in a position where we could trade the pick... we would still build our list the same way."

No two teams will have the same draft list, so the Senators will almost certainly come away with a player they currently have ranked somewhere in the mid-to-high 20s.

Boyd figures that at least five prospects who they have ranked higher than 32 may be available to them. Or to put it another way, roughly five other teams are expected to use their first-round pick on players who aren't on the Sens' list.

He says there are even three players outside of their top 32 that they would still be very happy with. So they expect to end up with one of eight players.

Boyd, 73, has been around the scouting game for a long time, and was asked how the first-round talent depth this year stacks up with drafts of the past.

"We're looking at a draft that's got a lot of defensemen involved in the top 10-12 of the draft," Boyd said. "There are possibly 6 or 7 that could go in that area... it's a deep draft as far as defensemen go."

One thing that has dramatically changed draft evaluation is the relatively new NCAA eligibility rules.

"Players can go now to major junior and then go to college, and so now our perspective has changed when we're looking at players that are playing at so many different levels.

"We look at players who maybe have not produced at the college level in their first year, and we know they can produce or they've produced before. So we have to go back into their background, acknowledge what they've done in the past and take the big picture of what they've done this year."

Sounds like Boyd and his staff may have a college player or two in mind that other teams might be undervaluing.

The 2026 NHL Draft will be held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This story was first published at The Hockey News' Ottawa Senators site. Check out more from THN.com/Ottawa at the links below.

Former Senators Forward Retires From Hockey At 34
Senators Top Amateur Scout Weighs In On Carter Yakemchuk's First Pro Season
LA Kings Get Their Man, And The Ex-Senators Coaching Drought Continues
Why Brady Tkachuk Is Poised For A Monster Bounce-Back Season

The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of promising prospects in their system. One of them is forward Owen Beck.

Beck just completed his second professional season split between the Canadiens and Laval Rocket in 2025-26. In 15 games with the Habs, he scored his first-career NHL goal, threw 24 hits, and won 58.7% of his faceoffs. Down in the AHL with Laval, he had 13 goals and 33 points in 58 games. He also recorded three goals and two assists in five playoff games for the Rocket. 

Beck's offense dropped a bit this season compared to his first campaign with Laval, as he had 15 goals and 44 points in 64 regular-season games with the AHL club in 2024-25. While this is the case, he is still a prospect to watch very closely in 2026-27.

There is a lot to like about Beck's game when it comes to his two-way play, faceoff ability, and penalty-killing ability. Because of this, it would not necessarily be surprising if the Canadiens give him more opportunities on their NHL roster next season. If they do, he will be a prime breakout candidate to watch for the Canadiens next season. 

With Beck being among the Canadiens' most notable prospects, they are certainly hoping that he can take that next step. He has the tools to become a solid NHL player, and it will be intriguing to see if he emerges as just that next season for Montreal. 

Another member of the Cloutier family is rising through the ranks of organized hockey. 

Kane Cloutier, son of former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Dan Cloutier, was selected with the first-overall pick in the 2026 OHL Draft on June 12. The forward, who will turn 16 on Sunday, was selected by the Oshawa Generals. Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares was present at the draft to announce Oshawa’s selection. 

Cloutier spent the 2025–26 season with the U16 AAA Vaughan Kings of the GTHL, putting up 32 goals and 26 assists in 33 games played. Next season, he’ll join an Oshawa team that currently features forwards Cole Mazzoni, Mark Pape, and Brooks Rogowski. 

Former NHLer and Canuck Dan Cloutier spent 10 seasons in the NHL, having been drafted 26th-overall by the New York Rangers in 1994 and also playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings. 

In his five years with Vancouver, Cloutier put together an overall record of 109–68–24, registering a .906 SV% and 2.42 GAA. In four playoff runs with Vancouver, he won 10 of 25 games played in and posted a .872 SV% and 3.31 GAA. 

After his playing career, Cloutier spent two seasons as the Barrie Colts’ goaltending coach before heading back to the Canucks. From 2012 to 2016, he served as a goaltending consultant for Vancouver before being elevated to goaltending coach for two seasons. He spent the 2018–19 season as Vancouver’s Director of Goaltending before heading back to Barrie to serve as the special assistant to the General Manager. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Draft Target: Jack Hextall

Two Canucks Receive Votes For The 2026 NHL All-Rookie Team

New Abbotsford GM Richard Seeley Brings Plenty Of Experience To The Canucks Organization

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.

In a bizarre bit of offseason NHL trade rumors, the Philadelphia Flyers may be willing to take on Darnell Nurse and his terrible contract if the Edmonton Oilers can make it reasonable for them. Nurse isn't the albatross worth targeting, though.

While Nurse, 31, may be an upgrade on defense at a certain price point that is well below his $9.25 million cap hit, there are many hoops to jump through to make such a trade worthwhile for the Flyers, and even the Oilers themselves.

The Oilers are not known for their strong defense or goaltending; Nurse plays a part in the former, and trade acquisition Tristan Jarry was meant to fix the latter.

Jarry, however, never fit well in Edmonton and as a result played the worst hockey of his career.

Should the Oilers be eager to rid themselves of Jarry and his $5.375 million cap hit in addition to Nurse, that's who the Flyers should really be after in a trade.

Jarry, 31, has two years remaining on his contract at that cap hit, and while he did just have an awful season in Edmonton, he was very solid in a handful of games for the Pittsburgh Penguins before being traded.

The Penguins, who were eliminated at the hands of the Flyers in the Stanley Cup playoffs in six games, owe their playoff appearance to Jarry, who went 9-3-1 in his first 13 starts with the team this season with a 2.66 GAA, .909 save percentage, and a shutout.

Former Flyers Goalie On Wrong Side of NHL HistoryFormer Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart has set an awful NHL record nobody would want to have.

Of course, the 6-foot-4 goaltender is familiar with the Metropolitan Division and life in Pennsylvania, and Jarry also made his NHL debut while Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet was an assistant coach with the Penguins back in 2016-17.

The Flyers will be extending Dan Vladar this summer, but the backup position behind him largely remains a question mark.

Jarry, while unproven in the playoffs, has several years of proof of being a quality NHL goalie on his resume, and at his best, could give the Flyers a formidable 1-2 punch with Vladar.

The price (Sweetener? Future considerations?) could be prohibitive, as with Nurse, but the financial commitment from the Flyers is nearly half while still addressing a position of need.

One could also argue that Jarry, at his best, is better and more impactful than Nurse would be at his best. Even with a rough few years with Edmonton and Pittsburgh, which included a stint in the minors, Jarry still has a career .907 save percentage.

Additionally, unless the Flyers want to invest in Stuart Skinner or Sergei Bobrovsky at a similar price point--Skinner with a term that will almost certainly exceed Jarry's two years--this may be their best path forward at the goalie position.

If the Flyers want to deal with the Oilers and their host of bad contracts, they should consider all avenues, including Jarry.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs' first overall pick for the 2026 NHL draft will be the main event of the draft, they have a pretty important selection in the second round with the 60th overall pick.

The player they select with that pick could very well be a difference maker for the franchise, especially considering Matthew Knies was picked 57th overall in 2021.

The prospect and drafting experts have different opinions, but one player who can potentially be aligned with Toronto's 60th overall pick is left-shot center Thomas Vandenberg, projected by former scout, Sportsnet's Jason Bukula.

Vandenberg is listed higher on several other mock draft rankings, but for Bukula, he is slotted in at No. 59, around the time for the Maple Leafs to make their second pick of the 2026 draft.

Vandenberg is coming off his first OHL season, playing 59 games for the Ottawa 67s. The Nepean, Ont., native recorded 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points, finishing fifth on the team in points, and tied for third in goals.

Maple Leafs 2026 NHL Draft Pick: The Case For Alessandro Di IorioHere is the case for Alessandro Di Iorio for the team's 60th overall pick at the 2026 NHL draft.

In the OHL post-season, Vandenberg scored four goals and seven points in nine games, tying for second on the team in playoff tallies. The 67s swept the Kingston Frontenacs in the first round, but were eliminated in five games by the Barrie Colts in the following round.

After a solid rookie campaign in the Ontario League, Vandenberg is set to take his talents south of the border and into the NCAA after committing to Providence College for the 2026-27 season.

"Vandenberg is an equal parts shooter and playmaker," Bukula wrote, with Vandenberg's point totals from last season evidence of that. "He can be deployed up and down the lineup in a variety of roles. He’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft class." The 17-year-old was born on Sept. 8, 2008.

Maple Leafs 2026 NHL Draft Pick: The Case For Matias VanhanenOutside of the first overall pick that the Toronto Maple Leafs own, here is the case for Matias Vanhanen for the team's 60th overall pick at the 2026 NHL draft.

Before his time in the OHL, Vandenberg played for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. In that 2024-25 campaign, he scored nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 55 appearances. That provides further proof that he's equally productive as a scorer and playmaker, as Bukula suggested.

NHL Central Scouting has Vandenberg ranked as the 35th-best North American skater in the 2026 draft class. They also have him listed at 6-foot.

Furthermore, Vandenberg thrived in a couple of testing events at the scouting combine in Buffalo. He finished second in both the 10-meter sprint and the anaerobic fitness tests.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

---

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.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially made their first trade of the 2026 offseason. 

They sent defenseman Emil Pieniniemi to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Oliver Okuliar. 

Okuliar is currently an unsigned restricted free agent. 

The Penguins have acquired forward Oliver Okuliar from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Emil Pieniniemi.

Details: https://t.co/XPr1JVdlBQpic.twitter.com/RU1SCGooug

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 13, 2026

Okuliar spent the 2025-26 season with the SHL's Skellefteå AIK. He appeared in 46 games, finishing with 15 goals and 29 points.

He also represented his home country of Slovakia in the 2026 Winter Olympics, compiling one goal and two points in six games. He then played for Slovakia in the 2026 World Championships, finishing with two goals and five points in seven games. 

Pieniniemi's 2025-26 season got off to a rocky start when he refused to report to the Wheeling Nailers after training camp. He flew back to Finland instead and was suspended by the Penguins until he eventually reported to the Nailers. 

He appeared in 26 games with the Nailers, finishing with six goals and 11 points. He also appeared in 11 games with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, racking up one goal and three points in nine games.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

If the Montreal Canadiens are looking to address their big organizational need, they’ll need to be willing to part with enticing young assets, and one of their prospects really fits that bill. 20-year-old right-shot defenseman Bryce Pickford just had a season for the ages in the WHL.

In 55 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, the blueliner put up 83 points, including 45 goals. His numbers were so impressive that he has been nominated for both CHL defenseman of the year and player of the year. That’s not at all surprising given the fact that he won both awards in the WHL, but it still shows how exceptional a season he’s had. A third-round pick by the Canadiens at the latest draft, Pickford had impressed them so much by Christmas that they already signed him to an ELC.

Canadiens Dominate the All-Rookie Team
Canadiens' Prospect Getting First Taste Of Montreal
What Should Canadiens Fans Expect At The Draft?

Of course, success in the WHL doesn’t always translate to success in the NHL, but his stock is still quite high right now, and a rebuilding team that lacks a pure offensive defenseman may well be interested in his profile. The Canadiens themselves need a right-shot defenseman, but in an ideal world, they’d need one who’d be able to step in the NHL right now, and that’s not Pickford.

Dominating in the OHL, against younger players is one thing, but making the jump to the pro level is quite another. Generally speaking, defensemen need more time than forwards to reach their full potential, and as we’ve seen in these playoffs, the Canadiens’ window of contention has already started opening.

However, Kent Hughes has always been clear that he wants to build a perennial contender, not just a team that will have a great shot at winning the Cup once and then be taken apart. The contracts he’s been able to sign his players to reflect that reality. Hughes is not just about the now; he’s about the long-term as well. There’s a balance he’ll have to strike between getting the pieces that will move the needle in the right direction for his team now and planning for the future as well. He won’t make trades that will leave his prospect cupboard bare, but he won’t overly stockpile either.

---

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. 

Artemi Panarin already knows what Peter Laviolette wants — and now the Los Angeles Kings are betting that familiarity can help fix an offense that’s been stuck in neutral for years.

The Kings officially introduced Laviolette as the 32nd head coach in franchise history on Wednesday, handing the 61-year-old the job of reshaping a team that has not won a playoff series since its 2014 Stanley Cup run and was most recently swept by the Colorado Avalanche in a blunt reminder of how far it has fallen behind the NHL’s fastest contenders.

That series told the story in simple terms: five goals total, very little sustained pressure, and long stretches where Los Angeles simply couldn’t generate anything off the rush or in transition.

Known for early offensive spikes and aggressive, pace-driven systems, Laviolette has built a coaching career on unlocking scoring quickly — whether in Carolina, Philadelphia, Nashville, Washington, or most recently with the Rangers.

Across those stops, the results have followed a familiar rhythm: immediate jump in offense, playoff appearances, and at times deep runs, including a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and additional trips to the Final in 2010 and 2017.

But the most relevant connection in Los Angeles might not be system-based — it’s personal.

Artemi Panarin already knows the ceiling Laviolette can unlock.

In New York, Panarin produced one of the best seasons of his career under Laviolette in 2023-24, finishing with 49 goals and 120 points — a top-five Hart Trophy finish and one of the most productive offensive years in Rangers history. He followed that with another strong season before eventually being traded to the Kings earlier this year.

Now, the two are reunited.

“He can change a game on any given night,” Laviolette said of Panarin. “I’m really excited to work with him again.”

Panarin’s arrival in Los Angeles has already shown early signs of impact. He finished the regular season with 27 points in 26 games after the trade and accounted for two of the Kings’ five goals in the playoff sweep against Colorado — one of the few players who consistently found space in an otherwise compressed series.

That production stands in sharp contrast to the broader offensive profile of the roster. The Kings finished 29th in the NHL with 225 goals and were outscored by 22 on the season, finishing 20th overall with 90 points — the lowest-ranked playoff qualifier in the field.

Laviolette made it clear this week that philosophical labels won’t dictate usage or responsibility.

“There’s not going to be two sets of plans for those that we consider offensive and those that we consider great defensive defensemen,” he said. “There will be one set of rules, one set of plans.”

The challenge, however, is structural. Unlike his time in New York, Laviolette won’t have an elite play-driving defenseman like Adam Fox to stabilize breakouts and ignite transition play. That places more pressure on a blue line that combined for just 23 goals and 110 assists in the regular season, then managed only a single point of offense in the postseason.

It also forces a broader identity shift — one the Kings have resisted for years.

Still, there is optimism inside the organization that Laviolette’s track record translates. He has guided teams to the playoffs in 11 of the past 14 seasons he finished behind an NHL bench and ranks seventh all-time in coaching wins with 846.

General manager Ken Holland pointed to that consistency when explaining the hire.

“You look at his resume, all the teams he’s been with, the impact he’s had in the first couple of years,” Holland said. “It’s a hard league to win in.”

For Los Angeles, the calculation is simple but risky: the structure has taken them as far as it can. Now they’re betting pace, aggression, and a system built to unleash scorers will take them further.