Category: Ice Hockey

Bruins roster reset: Free agents, draft picks and more entering offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are headed in the right direction after a successful 2025-26 NHL season.

They put together a 100-point regular season and returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was an impressive bounce-back after the team finished the previous campaign with the league’s fifth-worst record.

David Pastrnak tallied 100 points for the fourth straight season. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha set career highs in goals. Jeremy Swayman was one of the best goalies in the world and was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. Marco Sturm did a great job in his first season as an NHL head coach.

But plenty of work remains.

The Bruins are still not particularly close to being a true Cup contender, and that was evident in their first-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, which they lost in six games. The B’s struggled to score against the Sabres at 5-on-5 and on the power play. They gave up too many scoring chances, they went 0-3 at home and they lacked the required amount of speed and skill to hang with one of the league’s top teams in a best-of-7 series.

“We got bounced in the first round. So yeah, we need more talent. We need more speed,” Bruins president Cam Neely said at a press conference Wednesday. “That’s something that we have to try to acquire in one way, shape, or form. But you look at the elite teams in the league, we’re not there.

“And like I said two years ago, when you strip it down like we did, you’re not going to be there in one season. So it’s going to take some time. But what we accomplished this year, give the guys credit, but early on, it’s building blocks. So we’ve got work to do to improve this club still.”

Here’s a complete look at where the Bruins’ roster stands entering a crucial offseason for the franchise.

Salary cap picture

The Bruins will have about $16.4 million in salary cap space this summer, based on a cap of $104 million, per PuckPedia. Outside of Viktor Arvidsson, the B’s don’t have any important players hitting free agency. So they do have some cap flexibility to make upgrades in free agency and/or the trade market this offseason.

Unrestricted free agents

Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW

Trading a 2027 fifth-round pick for Arvidsson was a home run by Bruins general manager Don Sweeney.

Arvidsson had a tough 2024-25 for the Oilers but bounced back in a huge way with the Bruins. He tallied 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 69 games. He formed strong chemistry with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt, and that trio was actually one of the most productive lines in the league post-Olympic break.

Arvidsson suffered a punctured lung and a broken rib in the first round and missed Games 5 and 6.

The only issue with re-signing Arvidsson is his age. He’s 33 years old and has missed 10-plus games in seven of the last eight seasons. You don’t want to commit too much money and years to an aging player. Then again, the Bruins need goal scorers, and he ranked fourth on the team in that category this season.

Andrew Peeke, D

Peeke struggled early in the first-round series against the Sabres, but he got a bit better by the end. He was on the ice for 52 goals against at 5-on-5 in the regular season, which led the team.

Peeke probably should have been dealt at the trade deadline. Letting him walk in free agency would not be a setback to Boston’s blue line.

Restricted free agents

Lukas Reichel, LW

Reichel was acquired from the Blackhawks at the trade deadline. He was a low-risk/high-reward kind of addition as a former first-round pick. Reichel plays with speed and tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in 10 games for the B’s. He’s worth bringing back at the right price.

Jordan Harris, D

Harris had some tough moments (costly turnovers) in the Sabres series, but he’s an OK bottom-pairing defenseman. Bringing him back wouldn’t be the worst move.

Draft picks

The Bruins have a lot of draft capital to add premium young talent to their prospect pool and/or use as trade chips in potential packages for veteran players.

The B’s have five first-round picks in the next three drafts, including the possibility of having three in 2028, with unprotected first-rounders from both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.

Having so many first- and second-round picks gives Sweeney a lot of flexibility in terms of how he can improve his roster.

Team needs

Top-six forward

Pastrnak is the only top-tier forward on Boston’s roster. He was the only player on the team who tallied more than 70 points in the regular season. The B’s were one of just five playoff teams with one or fewer 70-point scorers. The Bruins scored a total of five goals in the last four playoff games against the Sabres.

More high-end speed and skill is desperately needed for this team to be a real contender again. The Bruins must acquire and/or develop another elite forward or two.

Top prospect James Hagens eventually could become the No. 1 center that the B’s haven’t had since Patrice Bergeron retired, but that’s probably not going to happen next season. Hagens, who was selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2025 draft, has an elite offensive skill set. But he only played in two regular season games and three playoff matchups after signing his entry-level contract on April 8.

“We all in this room recognize we don’t have a true No. 1 center,” Neely said Wednesday. “That’s something that we want to try to rectify, whether it’s this offseason or those guys (Hagens and Fraser Minten) growing into it.”

A bold move for a top-six forward such as St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas or Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson would be something worth exploring, if either player becomes available. They’re both 26 years old and would fit the timeline of the Bruins’ core.

Top-four defenseman

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Charlie McAvoy didn’t have a good playoff run, although in fairness, he fractured his hand in Game 2. He did, however, have an excellent regular season and finally took a huge step forward offensively with a career-high 61 points (11 goals, 50 assists) in 69 games. He is the Bruins’ only legitimate top-four defenseman.

Hampus Lindholm is 32 and had a rough Round 1. Nikita Zadorov is 31 and tore his MCL in Game 3 vs. the Sabres. He also led the league in penalty minutes this season. Jordan Harris, Jonathan Aspirot, Mason Lohrei and Henri Jokiharju are not top-four defensemen on a contending team.

Top-four defensemen are tough to acquire given their immense value. Rasmus Andersson is one option in free agency. The Bruins reportedly had interest in Andersson before the trade deadline but he was ultimately dealt to the Golden Knights. Andersson is one of the two best defensemen who could hit unrestricted free agency in July.

The bottom line is the B’s need to defend at a higher level next season and not rely so much on Swayman. The B’s ranked third-worst among the 16 playoff teams in scoring chances and high-danger chances allowed per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 in the first round. Boston ranked 29th among 32 teams in expected goals against during the regular season, per Natural Stat Trick.

More consistent (and cheaper) backup goalie

Joonas Korpisalo had stretches of quality play in net as the Bruins’ backup goalie, but overall the team needs to find a better and more consistent player at that position. Korpisalo has posted a save percentage below .900 in three consecutive seasons.

It also would benefit the Bruins to get rid of Korpisalo’s contract, which carries a $3 million cap hit for two more seasons. Trading him would create a pathway for AHL standout Michael DiPietro to take over as the backup in Boston. The real question is whether the B’s can find any takers for Korpisalo on the trade market.

Buffalo Sabres - Montreal Canadiens Game Preview 

5/6/26 - 7:00 pm at KeyBank Center, in Buffalo, NY

Buffalo – 50-23-9 | - 109  points – 1st place in the Atlantic Division

Montreal  – 48-24-10 | - 106 points – 3rd place in the Atlantic Division

Special Teams

Buffalo

Power Play(Reg) – 19.5% (21st)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 1 for 24 - 4.2% (16th) 

Penalty Kill(Reg) – 81.9% (4th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 14 for 16 - 87.5% (6th) 

Montreal

Power Play(Reg) – 23.1% (10th)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 7 for 26 - 19.2% (5th)

Penalty Kill(Reg) - 78.2% (18th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 82.8% - 22 for 29 (11th)

Top Scorers

Buffalo

Tage Thompson: 6 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Alex Tuch: 6 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS

Peyton Krebs: 6 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS

Montreal

Lane Hutson: 7 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS

Nick Suzuki: 7 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 PTS

Alexandre Texier: 7 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 PTS

Starting Goalies

Buffalo – Alex Lyon (3-1, 1.14 GAA, .955 Sv %)

Montreal  – Jakub Dobes (4-3, 2.03 GAA, .923 Sv %)  

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings (projected)

Forwards

Peyton Krebs   - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch

Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh Doan 

Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn  

Jordan Greenway - Tyson Kozak - Beck Malenstyn

Ex., Tanner Pearson,, Josh Dunne, Sam Carrick

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power - Bowen Byram 

Logan Stanley - Conor Timmins 

Ex. Luke Schenn, Michael Kesselring, Zach Metsa

Goaltenders

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Colten Ellis

Injuries

Justin Danforth (lower body, Oct. 18; injured reserve)

Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season) 

Noah Ostlund (lower body, Apr 28; week-to-week)

Notes

The Sabres have earned three playoff series victories over the Canadiens in franchise history. Buffalo last faced Montreal in the playoffs in the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series which the Sabres won four games to none.The Sabres’ four goals allowed over the last three games are the fewest the team has allowed in any three-game span in the playoffs since May 9 to 14, 1999 (3).

A win tonight would give Buffalo five consecutive playoff wins over Montreal, second only to the team’s six-game playoff winning streak over the Canadiens from May 6, 1975 to April 5, 1990. It would make the Sabres the only team in NHL history to record multiple playoff winning streaks of five or more games against the Canadiens.

Alex Lyon allowed just five total goals in five appearances in the first round against Boston, the fewest goals allowed in any five-game span in the playoffs by a Sabres goaltender all-time. Lyon has posted a .955 save percentage in his first five appearances in the playoffs, tied with Dominik Hasek (April 24 to May 8, 1998; .955) for the best mark by a Sabres goaltender in any five-game span in the playoffs.

Bowen Byram has recorded five points (3+2) in six playoff games thus far. His three goals are the most by a Sabres defenseman in a five-game span in the playoffs since Alexei Zhitnik from April 27 to May 14, 1999 (three goals).

In his last three games, Zach Benson has posted three points (2+1). A goal in tonight’s game would make Benson the first Sabres skater age 20 or younger to record three or more goals in the first seven games of their playoff career since Alan Haworth from April 8 to 22, 1981 (4+4).

Peyton Krebs has registered six points (2+4) in six playoff games thus far and he and Tage Thompson (2+5) are the first Sabres forwards to tally six or more points in the first six playoff games of their career since Tim Connolly (3+5) and Jason Pominville (4+2) from April 22 to May 2, 2006.

Alex Tuch has posted seven points (4+3) in the playoffs. He leads all Sabres skaters in goals and is tied with Thompson for the team lead in points.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The NHL has revealed the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, and, alongside Anthony Cirelli (Lightning) and Nick Suzuki (Canadiens), Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson has been named the third finalist.

Presenting the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards

The trophy is presented annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. pic.twitter.com/5pftUkfZLL

— NHL (@NHL) May 6, 2026

The Selke trophy is awarded “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." Like many other awards, this trophy is also voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The award has been in a carousel of amazing centers these past couple of seasons, from Aleksander Barkov to Patrice Bergeron and Anze Kopitar.

He helped lead the Avalanche penalty kill and defensive stats to some of the best stats the franchise has ever seen. League-low 197 goals against, penalty kill finishing at a league high 84.6% while only allowing 36 goals in 234 times short. The most penalty minutes played in his career on the penalty kill at 150:18, which is almost double his previous high during the 2019-20 season, which saw him log 107:17 minutes.

MacKinnon, Landeskog Power Avalanche Past Wild For 2-0 Series EdgeNathan MacKinnon led the charge with a goal and two assists as the Avalanche controlled Game 2 from start to finish, defeating the Wild 5–2 to take a commanding 2–0 series lead.

The advanced stats that really stood out the most are: the highest percentage of shifts started in the defensive zone at 16.4%, a career high in blocks with 65, the second-lowest amount of defensive zone giveaways at 15, the highest on-ice goal differential at 39, and the same with expected on-ice goal differential at 42.5.

Nelson has been involved in every aspect of the game this season with the Avalanche. Power play, penalty kill, 6-on-4 situations, you name it. No other player in Avalanche history has won the Selke trophy; the last to be a finalist was Joe Sakic back in 2000-01, when he finished second behind John Madden.

Inside The Trust Shift: How Jared Bednar Unlocked Martin Nečas In DenverA high-end offensive talent arrives in Denver, where Jared Bednar believes structure, trust, and buy-in have already turned Martin Nečas into a fully complete player.

The NHL announced this afternoon that Montreal Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki was one of the three finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game”. The other two finalists are also centermen: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli and Colorado Avalanche’s Brock Nelson.

The nomination should come as no surprise to Canadiens’ fans, as Martin St-Louis regularly entrusts Suzuki and his line to face the opponent’s most productive forward and for key faceoffs. He was sixth in the NHL for faceoffs taken with 1,449, meaning he took 32.2% of all Canadiens’ draws. Only two players in the league took an equal or bigger percentage of their team’s faceoffs: Dylan Larkin ( 32.2%) and Nico Hischier (39.9%). On top of producing 106 points this past season, the 26-year-old, London, Ontario native, finished the season with a plus-37 rating.

Canadiens’ Top Line Must Breakthrough
Canadiens And Sabres Set To Start Second Round Series 
Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Named Finalist For Top NHL Award

Averaging 20:49 of ice time, he played very little on the penalty kill this season, but that was due to St-Louis wanting to specialize his players, so to speak. The coach used Suzuki on his first power-play unit and, at times, on the second as well.

Cirelli, who the Canadiens faced in the first round of the playoffs, recorded a career-high in plus-minus rating at +38, took 1,075 faceoffs for the Bolts, and led all Lightning forwards in shorthanded ice time (186:51) on the third-best penalty kill in the league. This is his second consecutive season as a Selke finalist; he finished third last season behind Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.

As for Nelson, it’s his first nomination, and he helped the Avalanche bring its goals-against total to just 197 goals, a reduction of 34 compared to the previous season. He logged 150:18 of shorthanded ice time, on the league’s best penalty killing unit with a 84.6% success rate. He took a team-leading total of 1,459 faceoffs and also led the Avalanche in faceoff wins with a 50.4% success rate.

All three candidates are deserving of the award, and it will be interesting to see who wins the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s poll. Suzuki is the third Canadiens player to be dominated for a Trophy this season after Cole Caufield for the Lady Bing and Ivan Demidov for the Calder. 

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

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The NHL draft lottery is complete, but unfortunately, luck was not on the Florida Panthers side. 

The Panthers entered the event with the eighth-best odds of landing the first overall pick, but when the balls were drawn, it was the Toronto Maple Leafs who moved up from fifth to first, and the San Jose Sharks who moved up from ninth to second, leapfrogging the Panthers. 

Because of this, when June 26 rolls around, the Panthers will make the ninth overall selection. 

Although moving up would have been great for the Panthers, there are still plenty of great options for them at No. 9 who play various positions.

To start, if the Panthers are hoping to improve their center depth in their prospect pool, they could look to add Swedish center Viggo Bjorck or Canadian center Tynan Lawrence.

Bjorck is an ultra-skilled, excellent skating center with two-way capabilities. At every level, Bjorck has posted phenomenal statistics. In 2024-25, Bjorck recorded the highest points per game in the U-20 Swedish league, posting a 1.76 ppg, with second-place William Nylander at 1.59. 

Furthermore, Bjorck was a dominant figure at the world juniors, winning gold with Sweden while scoring three goals and nine points in seven games. But maybe most importantly, the 18-year-old played 42 games in the SHL this season, scoring an impressive six goals and 15 points.

The only knock on Bjorck is his size. Listed at 5-foot-9, Bjorck is on the smaller side, but his skill and grit make up for those issues. Bjorck is vying for a spot on Sweden’s World Championship roster, and if he makes the team, it can be another event to prove that his size is no issue. 

Florida Panthers To Select Ninth At NHL Draft After Dropping At Draft LotteryLuck favored the Maple Leafs and Sharks, pushing Florida down the board at Tuesday's NHL Draft Lottery.

As for Lawrence, he started the season in the USHL while dealing with an injury. After looking too talented for the USHL in 13 games, he moved to the NCAA at Boston University, where it wasn’t smooth sailing. 

Lawrence’s strong U-18s campaign has put some worries about his game to rest, but he still has lots to prove, as he was once projected to be a top-five pick.

A quiet contender, thanks to the Panthers’ success drafting Finnish centermen, is Oliver Suvanto, a 6-foot-3 two-way force. 

The Panthers could also look to draft a defenseman, as this draft boasts plenty of possible No. 1 defenders.

The names expected to go in the top 10 are Keaton Verhoeff, Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, and Daxon Rudolph, but at the moment, many scouts and draft experts are unsure of what order to place them in. 

Some like the high-end offensive game Reid brings, while others favor Verhoeff’s size and two-way versatility.  Some believe Smits is the most NHL-ready with high physical upside, and some see the skating and comparables to Carels’ game and are very intrigued.

2026 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Who The Maple Leafs Should Pair With Auston MatthewsWho should the Toronto Maple Leafs draft first overall? Could the Vancouver Canucks get a first-overall-caliber winger at third overall? Ryan Kennedy shares his instant post-lottery mock draft.

But Rudolph seems like the wild card. Rudolph was the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL draft and has posted eye-catching numbers since. He finished his second WHL season with 28 goals and 78 points in 68 games, and has followed that up with a playoff campaign of nine goals and 23 points in 15 games, leading the league in playoff points. 

Because of the uncertainty around Rudolph, he could be the defender who drops to the Panthers. In addition to the aforementioned names, Ryan Lin and Malte Gustafsson are defenders who could receive some consideration at pick No. 9. 

Finally, there is an abundance of wingers for the Panthers to choose from if they opt for the best available. Oscar Hemming, J.P. Hurlbert, Ethan Belchetz, Adam Novotny, and Elton Hermansson could all be available when the Panthers make their selection. 

With just under two months until the draft, the Panthers will devote significant time and research to finding the best fit for their organization. 

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After being muzzled at even strength by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, the Montreal Canadiens’ first line will have to return to its very productive nature if the Habs are to beat the Buffalo Sabres. While the Habs’ scoring depth delivered in the last series, it would be unreasonable to expect that kind of production to be sustainable.

The good news for the Tricolore is that, historically, all three players have done well against Buffalo. Nick Suzuki has 26 points in 21 career games against the Sabres, Cole Caufield has 16 points in 18 games, and Juraj Slafkovsky has nine points in 13 games. In the regular season, the captain had 101 points, Caufield had 51 goals and 88 points, and Slafkovsky had 30 goals and 73 points.

Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Named Finalist For Top NHL Award
Canadiens: Dahlin Praises Hutson
TVA Sports’ Reporter Explains Why He Wasn’t In The Latest Canadiens Broadcasts

While the Bolts’ game plan was largely focused on preventing the Canadiens’ top unit from scoring and putting their defensive forwards to good use, the Sabres should have a different game plan. Just like the Habs, the Sabres are a young group with plenty of speed and play an offensive brand of hockey. In the regular season, Buffalo scored 283 goals, four more than the Canadiens.

There should be more time and space on the ice for the Canadiens’ top line to play their usual kind of hockey, to pass the puck and make plays. Against Tampa, as soon as they were in possession, the Lightning’s forward group were on them, pressing them, which led to rushed passes and lost possession. Of course, the Sabres will have done their pre-scout on the Canadiens and seen how the Lightning countered the Habs’ top line, but they don’t have the right personnel to use that strategy.

Furthermore, Lindy Ruff is much more of a traditional coach than Jon Cooper, and he doesn’t juggle his lines and change them on the fly. While Martin St-Louis showed that he was able to coach that kind of game in the first round, chances are he won’t have to resort to that in this matchup and will be back in his comfort zone.

The top line shouldn’t be the only one to benefit from the Sabres’ style; Ivan Demidov, who only got a power play assist in the first round, should also be much more visible in this second round. He should be able to skate with the puck, to make plays, and dazzle as he has in the regular season, which made him a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

The top guns were bailed out by the Canadiens' depth scoring in the first round, and it's time for them to return the favour. 

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.

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The Anaheim Ducks take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of their second-round NHL playoff series. The Golden Knights won Game 1 3-1. Vegas is favored by 1.5 goals in Game 2. The over/under for the game is set at 6.5 goals.

How to watch Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights

• Date: Wednesday, May 6

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

• TV Channels: TNT, truT, HBO, Spor

• Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5

• Moneyline: Vegas Golden Knights -161 (59.2%) / Anaheim Ducks +135 (40.8%)

• Over/Under: 6.5

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Barstool Sports founder, and well-known high-roller, Dave Portnoy dropped a $100,000 wager on the Las Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup.

Portnoy revealed his six-figure wager, placed at DraftKings Sportsbook, in a post shared to his X account on Sunday.

Key Takeaways

• The Golden Knights already took Game 1 in their second-round series.
  
  
• Odds now give the Knights a 15.4% implied chance to win the Stanley Cup.
  
  
• Portnoy has recently won and lost five- and six-figure bets in multiple sports

Portnoy’s ostentatious wager supported a Golden Knights team that was third in odds to win the Stanley Cup at DraftKings. 

His $100,000 ticket, placed at +650 odds, would pay $750,000 if the Golden Knights win their franchise’s second NHL championship and first since the 2022-23 season. 

“Davey Pucks Activated,” Portnoy succinctly wrote in a post sharing his bet.

Davey Pucks Activated. #dkpartnerpic.twitter.com/0FEgl3LV3p

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 3, 2026

The Knights showed support for Portnoy under an original post confirming that center William Karlsson would return for Game 1 of the team’s second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night. Karlsson had missed six months of action after he suffered a lower-body injury against the same Ducks team in early November.

After Portnoy responded with the “eyes emoji” that reflected his interest in the news, the Golden Knights posted a picture of an “El Presidente” jersey.

Portnoy, whose X account is @stoolpresidente, goes by the “El Presidente” nickname that translates to “The President” of Barstool. 

👀 https://t.co/Mxwk9tslZTpic.twitter.com/IziBjHCMHt

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

Golden Knights close in on the leaders

The Golden Knights were only fourth in the Western Conference and 13th in the NHL in the regular-season standings. However, they find themselves on a four-game winning streak and with a 1-0 advantage in the second round.

Monday’s opening gambit saw the Golden Knights emerge with a 3-1 victory with goals from Mitch Marner, Ivan Barbashev and Brett Howden. The series will continue at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday evening.

The win kept the Golden Knights third in Stanley Cup odds, although they shortened to +550. They now have a 15.4% implied chance to win the championship, up from the 13.3% chance they had when Portnoy submitted his ticket.

Vegas is also -350 (77.8% chance) to win the ongoing series. They’d face the winner of the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild, in which the Avalanche hold a 2-0 lead and is a -900 series favorite.

The Avalanche are also the favorite to win the Stanley Cup at +155 (39.2% chance). The Carolina Hurricanes, who are up 2-0 over the Philadelphia Flyers, are close behind at +180 (35.7% chance).

Portnoy’s big wins… and big losses

Portnoy is no stranger to large risks and massive payouts. He recently won $2.8 million from a $600,000 wager when UConn won the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He alsotook home $1.7 million from a $300,000 wager on Scottie Scheffler to win the 2024 Masters.

That said, he also had his share of losses. He recently missed out on $1.8 million after betting $50,000 on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl and $1.4 million from a $200,000 bet on the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series.

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.

The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres open their East second-round series in the NHL playoffs. The Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games in the first round. The Buffalo Sabres beat Montreal 4-2 in the first round. Buffalo is favored by 1.5 goals. The total is set at 5.5 goals.

How to watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres

• Date: Wednesday, May 6

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

• TV Channels: TNT, truT, HBO, Spor

• Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Buffalo Sabres -1.5

• Moneyline: Buffalo Sabres -129 (54.0%) / Montreal Canadiens +108 (46.0%)

• Over/Under: 5.5

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The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champs, and now the NHL world can put its focus back on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who will pick first overall in the NHL Draft on June 26.

Gavin McKenna was the clear-cut top pick a month ago, and that seems to be the case with the draft less than two weeks out.

We look at the possibility of who will go No. 1 overall to the Maple Leafs, with the 2026 NHL Draft odds from Kalshi — one of our best prediction market apps — listing McKenna as the heavy favorite with an 94% probably.

2026 NHL Draft odds (No. 1 pick): Who will Maple Leafs take first overall?

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi

Being a Maple Leafs fan is truly something else. One day, they are talking about Auston Matthews' next team odds. Next, they are trying to figure out who will be picked No. 1 overall.

NHL draft No. 1 overall favorites

Gavin McKenna 

The 18-year-old from Whitehorse has been turning heads for years, and his name has always been involved in No. 1 pick talks. While not a true "consensus" pick, like Bedard or McDavid, McKenna has done nothing on the ice to make anyone doubt his potential.

After dominating the WHL, McKenna made the jump to the NCAA to play with the Penn State Nittany Lions. He transitioned seamlessly —  putting up 51 points in 36 games. He's also a pass-first winger who fits perfectly with Matthews almost immediately.

McKenna's ceiling is higher than anyone in the draft, but his marketability is what can truly make him the golden boy for Toronto. Fans are in love with him, and he's already shown more personality than robots like Bedard or McDavid ever did in their younger years. 

This market has gone from 88% to 94% since opening, and all signs point to McKenna heading to the 6ix.

Ivar Stenberg

While Ivar Stenberg still has the second-highest odds to go first overall (4%), his odds to go second overall have plummeted in the days leading up to the Draft.

The debate of whether the Sharks should take a forward or defenseman has been a hot topic, and OHL D-man Chase Reid now has a 52% chance to head to Cali.

I think this market will be volatile until a pick is made. Not only is the Reid-Stenberg dilemma a hurdle, but San Jose could also trade out of this spot if a team offers a substantial package.

NHL Draft No. 1 overall pick prediction

Pick: Gavin McKenna (92¢, -1562)

Looking at the overall landscape of the Leafs and the NHL as a whole (more on that in a moment), Gavin McKenna is the clear choice here.

The Maple Leafs never looked like they were "one player away" last season, and even with their projected $22 million in cap space, there are too many holes to plug to help this sinking ship.

And that's not even talking about the off-ice positives. At the end of the day, the NHL is a business, and Toronto knows it will sell more McKenna jerseys than it ever would Stenberg ones.

McKenna gives them a true "face of the franchise" if Matthews decides to dip, and there may be an upcoming free agent out of Edmonton who would love the idea of playing with a fellow Canadian in a couple of years...

2026 NHL Mock Draft

NHL mock drafts are talked about year-round, but the Draft Lottery helps us paint a clearer picture of how things will go. This is how Daily Faceoff sees the Top 5 going, along with their odds of being picked in that spot, according to Kalshi. 

Team	Player		Win Probability
1. Toronto Maple Leafs	Gavin McKenna	-735	88%
2. San Jose Sharks	Chase Reid	+100	50%
3. Vancouver Canucks	Caleb Malhotra	-150	60%
4. Chicago Blackhawks	Ivar Stenberg	+172	38%
5. New York Rangers	Carson Carels	+270	27%

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.

After winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, the New York Islanders will select 13th overall this June. 

Islanders To Select 13th Overall At 2026 NHL DraftAfter lightning failed to strike twice in the lottery, New York eyes defensive reinforcements. With the 13th pick, the Isles could target blueliner Ryan Lin to bolster their depth.

The last time the Islanders held the 13th pick, they traded it. 

Back in 2022, the Islanders entered the lottery with the same odds as they did this time, 2.0%, and remained at No. 13. 

But when the Islanders were on the clock in Montreal, they traded the pick to the hometown Canadiens.

Left-handed defenseman Alexander Romanov and Montreal's 2022 fourth-round pick came to Long Island in exchange for the 13th pick. The Canadiens then sent the Islanders' pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for centerman Kirby Dach.

The Blackhawks selected center Frank Nazar with the Islanders' pick.

Romanov, a pending restricted free agent who had been squeezed out in Montreal, signed a three-year deal worth $7.5 million annually with the Islanders. Over those first three seasons on Long Island, it was a process of becoming a more responsible defenseman while showcasing more offensive potential. 

First-year general manager Mathieu Darche really believes in the player, signing Romanov to an eight-year deal worth $6.25 million annually on June 30, 2025.   

Unfortunately, the first year of the deal was a nightmare. Romanov dealt with an upper-body injury early in the season, and the hope was that his poor play and analytics were largely due to it. 

The struggles continued when he returned, and on Nov. 18, his season came to an end after Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen boarded him, injuring his right shoulder, an injury that required surgery. 

The Islanders are relying on Romanov to bounce back, and if you know the player, you know he'll put in the work this summer to get right. 

Nazar has proven to be a good example of a player who falls out of the top 10 but can still be effective in the right spot. He made his NHL debut just a season after being drafted, recording a goal in a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He went pointless in the final two games of the season. 

Then in 2024-25, Nazar recorded 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 53 games, averaging 15:52 per game. He followed that season up with a 41-point 2025-26 campaign, with 15 goals and 26 assists. He averaged 18:19 per game. 

Nazar played most of his second full season with Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen on Chicago's second line, but he did end the season as a linemate with Connor Bedard. 

Back in August, with one season left on his deal, the Blackhawks signed him to a seven-year contract worth $6.59 million annually.

Dach has struggled to stay healthy and be effective since the Canadiens acquired him. He played just 58 games in 2022-23, two in 2023-24, 57 in 2024-25, and only 37 this past season, with eight goals and seven assists for 15 points. 

So far in the playoffs, Dach has two goals and an assist in seven games. He is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. 

If the Islanders are going to acquire a scoring forward this summer, one would have to think it comes via trade. And if it comes via trade, chances are the No. 13 pick is involved. 

Or they can keep the pick and add to their booming prospect pool. 

Stephen Halliday might just be the Ottawa Senators’ most compelling forward prospect.

At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds with a long reach, Halliday is a hard man to knock off the puck, and he pairs that size with slick playmaking ability. In mostly a fourth-line role, he produced four goals and 11 points in 30 NHL games this season, while continuing a trend that’s followed him at every level.

He's a guy who finds ways to produce offense.

Whether it was with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, Ohio State University, or the AHL’s Belleville Senators, Halliday eventually ascended to the top of his team in point production.

That’s what makes his projection so intriguing. Whether you think of him as a career fourth-line contributor or imagine him eventually climbing into a top-six role, both outcomes feel equally believable right now.

Halliday took a clear step forward as a pro this season, producing at a point-per-game pace in the American Hockey League with 29 points in 29 games. His pass-first instinct stood out, with only 2 of those points being goals. But as he showed during his NHL stint, he’s got a quick, effective release when he chooses to use it.

“Yeah, no, I thought it was a great learning experience,” Halliday told Senators host Jackson Starr on Tuesday. “Super excited that I got a chance to show what I could do up with the big club, but again, I really give credit to the guys in Belleville, like David Bell and all the guys that kind of helped me along the way.”

There’s still a sense that Halliday is just scratching the surface. For now, he remains in that “happy to be here” phase at the NHL level, even as expectations begin to rise.

“Oh yeah, like if you would have told me like I'd be here sitting today, like at the beginning of the year, I would have definitely like been like, 'God, I hope,' and stuff like that.”

Even after proving he can contribute, he didn't get ahead of himself last season. Even now, with a new contract, he knows he still has a lot of work to do to become the player he wants to be. But he learned a lot last season.

“Yeah, like kind of just trying to play every shift, like it was my last, I think trying to improve my pace of play, kind of my physicality, like I wasn't as big of a physicality player like in college and in the NHL, but trying to add that type of part to my game.”

He also pointed to the culture around him as a key factor in his progress.

“Yeah, like going back to like kind of what Sandy said in that post-game interview, like the '25 best friends' thing. Every single guy in the room was trying to help each other, whether it was G or whether it was Timmy, like all of those types of guys.”

That growth earned him a two-year contract on Tuesday worth $1.075 million per season. But according to PuckPedia, it’s a two-way deal, which is a loud reminder that, as head coach Travis Green likes to say, nothing is given.

Halliday was playing regularly leading up to the NHL trade deadline, but after the Senators acquired Warren Foegele, he spent much of the stretch run in the press box.

At the moment, it looks like an NHL opportunity may be there this fall. But a lot can happen in a single offseason. 

Two summers ago, like Halliday, Angus Crookshank was a top scorer in Belleville who was getting some long looks in Ottawa and looked like he might be ready to break through as a full-timer. Then the Sens went out that summer and wiped out Crookshank's chances by signing five free agent forwards: David Perron, Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins, Noah Gregor and Adam Gaudette.

What the Senators learned this season is that Halliday belongs in the NHL conversation. And if his track record is any indication, wherever he lands in the lineup, he’ll eventually find a way to produce.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Another NHL Chance For Former Senators GM Pierre Dorion?
The Year The Senators Entered The Playoffs As The Stanley Cup Favourite
Tkachuk's Future In Ottawa Hinges On Senators Taking A Big Step Next Season
Travis Green Misses Out On Jack Adams Award Consideration
Jake Sanderson One Of Three Finalists For Lady Byng

Roughly an hour after the NHL announced the Calder Trophy finalists on Tuesday afternoon, the NHL Draft Lottery took place to determine the draft order at the top of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Here were the odds for eligible teams to win the first lottery draw and select first overall:

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the drawing to select first overall, and the San Jose Sharks won the second drawing and will select second overall.

Beckett Sennecke Calder Trophy Finalist

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 1-0

The Sharks and Anaheim Ducks franchises had been in the basement of the NHL standings for nearly an identical amount of time. The Ducks just snapped their seven-year playoff drought, and the Sharks just missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season in 2025-26.

The two teams, on similar trajectories and rebuilding schedules, are projected to soon represent two of the top teams in the Pacific Division and Western Conference due to the talent they’ve amassed over the better part of the last decade.

Though the Ducks are finding current success, making the playoffs and advancing to the second round, it’s undeniable that the Sharks boast the roster with the best player, likely the best since Connor McDavid took hold of the “best player in the world” title: Macklin Celebrini.

Relying heavily on a season from Celebrini that deserves Hart Trophy consideration, the Sharks took a sizable leap in the NHL standings, missing the Western Conference’s second wild card spot by four points. They’ll now be selecting in the top two of the NHL Draft for the third consecutive season and in the top four for the fourth consecutive season.

With all their top ten picks throughout the course of their rebuild having been at forward positions, they could best utilize one of this draft’s top blueliners (Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff). However, the two players consistently projected as the top two selections are Gavin McKenna and Ivan Stenberg, supremely talented albeit relatively undersized wingers.

Whichever direction San Jose goes with their now-top pick will give them a further significant boost toward their ultimate goal of consistent contention. The Ducks will likely have their hands full with the Sharks for a long time, and it could produce one of the most entertaining and high-powered rivalries in the NHL for a long time to come.

Sharks GM Mike Grier will have a tall order surrounding their young talents with quality complementary pieces. The potential advantages the Ducks can cling to at the moment, when comparing trajectories, is that they have the projected edge along the blueline, and their core pieces, in theory, may have an advantage when playoff hockey rolls around, size is more valuable, and physicality is amplified.

Belief, Short Memory Can Help Ducks Beat Golden Knights

Five Key Matchups for the Ducks in the Second Round vs. Golden Knights

Five Anaheim Ducks Storylines Ahead of their Second Round Series vs the Vegas Golden Knights