The Toronto Marlies are preparing for their AHL Calder Cup final clash with the Chicago Wolves, with Game 1 coming up on Friday.

With the Marlies' stock climbing as they reach the final for the first time since 2018, goaltender Artur Akhtyamov has started the majority of the games in this post-season and is often the reason Toronto continues to advance.

In the Marlies' 19 Calder Cup games, Akhtyamov has featured in 17 and has been spectacular for Toronto. In that span, the Russian netminder has posted a 2.12 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage, proving to be one of the most impressive goalies in the league, and a true bright spot in the Toronto Maple Leafs' system.

He has been Marlies head coach, John Gruden's go-to when it comes to the crease, and it has clearly been the right call.

However, it's not as if Akhtyamov is the only suitable goaltender to lead the Marlies through the post-season. Dennis Hildeby is an impressive netminder himself, posting a 2.17 GAA and a .921 SP in three playoff appearances this year. 

Not to mention, he's played 20 games in the NHL for the Maple Leafs when Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz weren't healthy. In that NHL stint, Hildeby put up a 2.80 GAA and a .914 SP, excellent numbers for a rookie goaltender. Yet the Swede can't seem to win the net in this post-season.

Maple Leafs assistant GM and Marlies GM, Ryan Hardy, was asked about Akhtyamov earning the net and Hildeby being left behind in the dust, to some degree.

Are The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup ChampionsWith the Toronto Marlies advancing to the Calder Cup final, how does this team compare to the 2018 Calder Cup champions, and what staff members or players are destined for the NHL?

"I think, like anything, development isn't linear, and just the times that things happen is just kind of how they happen," Hardy told reporters on Wednesday. "You look at Dennis' season, and in the American League, it was a little chaotic just because he played so much in the NHL. But he did a phenomenal job playing for the Leafs.

"We always had a bit of a platoon down here, which is just how we viewed the development of the goalies to make sure they're both getting enough. We started that way in the playoffs… eventually, coaching staff (Gruden) felt like he wanted to ride (Akhtyamov) for a couple games, and then the momentum started to build," Hardy said.

The last playoff game Hildeby played was in Toronto's second-round series against the Laval Rocket. It was Game 4 of the series, and Hildeby allowed one goal on six shots after one period. After playing 20 minutes, he was pulled for Aktyamov, and Gruden never looked back.

'I Cost My Team The Game': Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan Critical Of Himself For Costly Turnover In Marlies Game 4 LossToronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies left winger Easton Cowan was critical of himself regarding his costly turnover that led to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins winning Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final.

Toronto's staff has nothing against Hildeby, and in fact, they still may not have seen the last of him in this season.

"I think our belief in Dennis is still massive," Hardy said. "He's an incredible goalie, and as we all know how these go, we may very well see him at some point in the next seven games."

However, Akhtyamov has the hot hand, and they'll continue to go with him, as he's a huge reason why the Marlies are in the Calder Cup final.

"(Akhtyamov) has done a phenomenal job," he said. "I would say, we don't get through Cleveland without him, we don't get through Wilkes without him, and some of those saves he made, even in overtime the other night… he's feeling it."

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 Chicago Blackhawks should be looking to add a veteran defenseman to the left side of their blueline this summer. While this year's free agent market is not the strongest, San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is one pending UFA who would make a lot of sense for Chicago to target if he hits the market on July 1. 

Ferraro is the NHL's top pending UFA left-shot defenseman and would have the potential to be a strong addition to the Blackhawks' roster if signed. This is because he is a steady top-four defenseman who plays a heavy game, blocks shots, and contributes a bit of offense from the point. With this, he would have the potential to be a nice pickup for the Blackhawks as they look to be more competitive in 2026-27. 

Ferraro's age also adds to his appeal, as he is only 27 years old. With this, he has multiple years left in his prime and would be a good fit on a Blackhawks club that is focused on the future. 

Ferraro is coming off a solid season with the Sharks, too. In 82 games this campaign with the Pacific Division club, he posted seven goals, 23 points, 137 hits, and 150 blocks. With numbers like these, he provides a bit of everything from the point.

Ultimately, with the Blackhawks' blueline needing a boost, Ferraro is a player who they should strongly consider pursuing. Let's see if they do just that from here. 

Colorado Avalanche fans have spent weeks debating whether Jared Bednar should stay or go, but the conversation could always be worse.

Just ask the Edmonton Oilers, whose reported interest in Mike Babcock has prompted the NHL Players' Association to push for the league to revisit the coach's controversial past before he lands another job.

The Debate Around Bednar Suddenly Looks Different

According to multiple reports, the NHLPA has asked the league to examine Babcock's brief and turbulent tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets before Edmonton—or any other franchise—is allowed to make him its next head coach.

The request surfaced after reports connected Babcock to the Oilers' coaching vacancy, with two people familiar with the discussions telling The Associated Press that the union wants the NHL to take another look at the circumstances that ended his last opportunity before it truly began. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations remain private.

Whether the league has officially reopened its previous investigation is unclear, but any coaching hire must ultimately receive NHL approval.

Babcock's stint in Columbus lasted less than three months.

Hired in July 2023 with hopes of restoring a struggling franchise, he resigned before coaching a single regular-season game after reports emerged that he had asked players to share personal photos from their phones as a way of getting to know them. What was intended as a team-building exercise quickly became a league-wide controversy, with players questioning professional boundaries and the union stepping in.

"Our players deserve to be treated with respect in the workplace," NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said then. "Unfortunately, that was not the case in Columbus. The club’s decision to move forward with a new head coach is the appropriate course of action."

The players' association conducted its own review of the situation, while the NHL chose not to continue its planned investigation once Babcock resigned.

Now, nearly three years later, his name is once again circulating in coaching rumors.

The Oilers are searching for a replacement after surprisingly moving on from Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit, despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the previous two seasons. If Edmonton ultimately decides Babcock deserves another chance, it appears the NHLPA wants every question from his Columbus departure answered first.

A Second Chance Comes With Plenty Of Questions

It isn't the first time Babcock's methods have drawn criticism.

After the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him early in the 2019-20 season, reports surfaced that he asked a player to rank teammates from hardest-working to least-hardest-working before sharing those rankings with the locker room. The story became another example cited by former players who described an environment built on intimidation rather than motivation.

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen was among Babcock's harshest critics, telling a Swedish publication that Babcock was "the worst person" he had ever met and revealing there were times he was terrified to go to the rink.

Those accounts have dramatically reshaped the public perception of a coach who once stood among hockey's most respected figures.

Babcock's résumé remains difficult to ignore. The 63-year-old led the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 2008, reached another Final in 2009, guided the Anaheim Ducks to the championship series in 2003, and coached Canada to consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

Edmonton has already explored other options during its coaching search. The organization requested permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights denied that request because Cassidy remains under contract through next season.

The decision frustrated the NHL Coaches' Association, although Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly defended Vegas' position.

"We don’t find it unreasonable because we’re allowing it to happen," he said. "I do think Vegas is clearly within their contractual rights to do what they’re doing."

For Avalanche fans frustrated by another playoff disappointment, the debate surrounding Bednar isn't likely to disappear anytime soon. But as Edmonton weighs the possibility of bringing one of hockey's most polarizing figures back behind an NHL bench, Colorado's coaching conversation suddenly feels far less chaotic.

In hockey, as in life, the game of what if’s can go just about any direction possible.

By now the story about the end of Jordan Staal’s stint with the Penguins is fairly famous since it gets repeated just about nightly on national hockey telecasts. Which, hey, why not, since it is such a colorful story to tell. News that the Pens traded Staal to Carolina broke on his wedding night in the summer of 2012, while he was surrounded by many teammates in what understandably had to be a crazy and surreal scene. What is often left out of the story for brevity before moving onto other subjects is that Staal decided to reject a 10-year contract offer from Pittsburgh earlier that week and would have been an unrestricted free agent in 2013, so it wasn’t like a major trade on NHL draft night was a true bolt out of nowhere, it just happened to have bad timing since it was when his wedding was scheduled. (Interestingly enough, Staal would soon sign a 10-year contract once traded to the Hurricanes with a $6.0 million cap hit, the exact offer that was on the table from the Pens).

So, in that sense, what was done was about the only result that could have happened, pragmatically-speaking. Pittsburgh made their best shot to keep Staal, and at the time he felt it in his best interests to decline. The only real ‘what if’ has to start based around changing Staal’s answer in the first place.

Which leads to the great hypothetical: what if Staal would have signed with the Penguins in 2012?

The first issue to confront and address would be the NHL’s salary cap in 2013-14, when the new contract would have kicked in. It was set at $64.3 million. Adding Staal at a $6 million cap would have been 9.3% of the salary cap, which to put into today’s dollars on a $104 million cap would be the equivalent of a $10.1 million cap hit.

Add Staal to Crosby and Malkin (each at 13.5% of the cap, $8.7m hits, with Malkin increasing to $9.5m in 2014-15) plus Marc-Andre Fleury and Paul Martin’s matching $5m hits would have taken up 52% of the total space in 2013-14 for just those five players. A massive problem in the latter part of the Ray Shero era was finding enough talent to create a quality team around their star players, retaining Staal would have compounded that issue even further, likely to negative results for the club’s overall success in that 2013-18 range (did anything good end up happening then for the Pens?).

Had Staal stayed, the shape of the Penguins would have had to morph drastically as a result. That might start with Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh had Kunitz re-sign in 2013 for a $3.85 million cap hit for 2014-15 (at the time the Malkin+Letang increases kicked in). Jam Staal into the Pens’ structure and that would have made for a sticky situation to keep Kunitz. A $3.85 million contract might not sound like a lot from the 2026 perspective, but back then that was 5.6% of the cap, comparable to $5.8 million in today’s cap dollars. (And, let’s not forget both Crosby+Malkin would be at $13.5m each in today’s dollars. Throw Staal’s $10 in there and suddenly we can understand the math isn’t adding up for someone like Kunitz).

Going down that rabbit hole, beyond just someone like Kunitz – the possibility can’t be dismissed that Pittsburgh keeping Staal would directly tie to having to shed one of Malkin or Kris Letang in the 2013 or 2014 range prior to their next contracts in 2014-15. Letang’s 10.5% of the cap contract in 2014-15 is almost an $11 million contract in 2026-27 dollars. At some point it was fated to become an inevitability that the core of high picks of Fleury-Malkin-Crosby-Staal couldn’t be retained indefinitely in those early days of a restrictive salary cap once they got into their high-earning days. The way the timing and contract lengths worked out it ended up being be Staal as the first to go due to his unrestricted free agency coming up the soonest.

There’s more possibilities for change in every area you look. Staal staying with the Pens could have altered whether or not the Pens acquired Brendan Morrow the following spring in 2013. That proved significant since of the pick Dallas sent to Pittsburgh ended up being used on Jake Guentzel, and Pittsburgh wouldn’t have been in position to select Guentzel without having that pick. Therefore, it’s conceivable that keeping Staal could have changed the course of the franchise in ways both obvious and under the surface. Changing any one decision can have a cascading effect down the line for everything else that is to come in ways large and small. That’s deep into the butterfly flapping its wings causing a tornado on the other side of the continent, but the direct line can be traced just the same.

The other glaring result without requiring a deep dive is that Brian Dumoulin and Nick Bonino were added to the organization via the Staal trade (Dumoulin coming directly from Carolina, Bonino traded for Brandon Sutter, a piece Pittsburgh got for Staal) and those two were instrumental in the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cups. Dropping Staal meant increasing the team’s depth, eventually leading to success. It’s possible there’s a path that includes keeping Staal leads to championships in the mid-2010’s, but it would be difficult to do the same or better than how the reality played out – with the Staal trade leaving no small lasting effect on the Pens.

In the end, without the benefit of viewing a parallel universe to see how it all played out under slightly different circumstances, we ultimately couldn’t say for sure what would have happened if Jordan Staal agreed to a contract with the Penguins. Maybe the Pens don’t have Malkin and never drafted Guentzel. It also doesn’t have to be negative, maybe the Pens would have traded for some excellent players that we can’t even fathom now because their focus was changed. Literally any potential scenario is possible once getting into that realm, without any one clear path.

Regardless of exactly how the Pens with Staal post-2012 would have panned out, it is indisputable that a large number of team construction decisions would have been different to make it all work with the salary cap. Without going too off the rails, we can take comfort that fate generally worked out the best for all parties- especially now that Staal has seen his 14 years in Carolina pay off by helping get them within reach of a Stanley Cup. In the end, Staal’s choice not to sign with the Pens and Pittsburgh’s use of the resources they got from him helped to bring two more Stanley Cups to Western Pennsylvania, while also sending out what would have been a very successful and popular player away from the team that drafted him, allowing him to get onto his next chapter that’s still being written.

But we can always stop to wonder how it might have gone if that decision was different..

Sometimes the most important trophy a player wins never finds a spot in the display case.

Rasmus Dahlin returned to Sweden this summer without a Norris Trophy or a Masterton Trophy, but after navigating the most demanding year of his career—both as the captain of a rising Buffalo Sabres team and as someone who nearly lost the person closest to him—the 25-year-old leaves the season with something far more valuable: proof that he and the Sabres are finally headed in the right direction.

The 2025-26 campaign delivered a pair of career milestones for Dahlin, who earned his first top-three finish for both the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman and the Masterton Trophy, awarded for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Just as meaningful was another first.

For the first time in his NHL career, Dahlin experienced Stanley Cup Playoff hockey, and it didn't take long for the moment to feel surprisingly familiar.

“It took me a couple of games to realize it's not that big of a deal," Dahlin stated during his end-of-season press conference. "Everybody talks about playoffs, that you need experience and this and that. But at the end of the day, it's just hockey. It's high compete hockey, and once me, and we realized that, we just went out there and played."

More than anything, Buffalo's captain believes the postseason proved something internally—that the Sabres belong.

“We definitely took a step in the right direction," Dahlin said. "We've really grown as an organization, as a team, as individuals. It's a sour taste in your mouth after that [Game 7] loss [to Montreal], but in the big picture, we've done some good things this year. I'm excited for the future.”

How One Brutal Conversation Changed The Buffalo Sabres' Entire Season

That optimism doesn't erase the disappointment.

Buffalo had every opportunity to eliminate Montreal and punch its ticket to the Eastern Conference Final against Carolina before three losses at KeyBank Center ultimately ended the season. The Game 7 overtime defeat remains fresh, but Dahlin expects that pain to become fuel rather than frustration.

“It's definitely going to be a motivator," he said. "At the end of the day, we didn't even come halfway during the playoffs, and we know how hard it is to win.

“Game 7, it's one shot that decides the whole season, and we could've scored a little earlier and the season would've been still going. So I'm sure everybody is going to go back to their places and train really hard.”

The foundation for Buffalo's turnaround, however, wasn't built during the playoffs.

It began months earlier in Calgary, when head coach Lindy Ruff met privately with his leadership group. Dahlin then gathered those same players for an honest conversation as the Sabres sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

There were no excuses left to make.

“The meetings and team building stuff we had, and us coming together as a group and realizing, 'OK, we can bitch about so many things, but it's us players that have to do it. We have to get better.' And when we really, really realized that on a deep level, things changed, and we started being more accountable to each other,” Dahlin recalled.

That accountability wasn't about systems or strategy.

It started with the mirror.

"It's everything," he explained. "You can only imagine that when you're doing great, everything else is the problem. 'Not me. He is not doing the right thing, or this or that.' But when you look at yourself in the mirror, that's what it comes down to.”

The results followed.

Buffalo improved by 30 points over last season, with Ruff's demanding approach helping establish a culture that Dahlin believes brought out the best in the group.

“He's so good at pushing us. There's no time for f'ing around. You gotta be uncomfortable every day, and I think that's what really helped with us as a group too, and that brought a lot of success for sure,” Dahlin said.

After Heartbreak On And Off The Ice, Rasmus Dahlin Is Just Getting Started

For Dahlin, the season carried a much deeper perspective than wins and losses.

Last summer, his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, nearly died multiple times from heart failure before receiving a life-saving heart transplant. Throughout that ordeal, Dahlin says the support from Buffalo never went unnoticed.

“I can't be more thankful for everything with the stuff I went through," he said. "It seemed like the whole city had my back, and the team and the organization, I felt a lot of love, honestly. I can't be more thankful, and I do really appreciate it.”

There won't be much downtime this offseason.

Like every elite player, Dahlin is already thinking about the next step, and he knows exactly where he wants to improve.

“I'm excited to get back in the gym, get more explosive, get faster, have better condition, be able to play higher quality in higher minutes. But I think my explosiveness has to get better," Dahlin said candidly.

The hardware may have gone elsewhere—finishing behind Cale Makar and Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski while Gabriel Landeskog claimed the Masterton—but Dahlin's breakout season felt less like the peak of his career than the beginning of something much bigger.

For the first time in years, both the Sabres and their captain have something they've been chasing just as long as a trophy: genuine belief.

The 2026 NHL Draft is another day closer, meaning it's time to take a look at another prospect who could be available when the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the clock with the No. 22 pick. 

Today's prospect profile focuses on the game of J.P. Hurlbert, with whom the Penguins are very familiar, as he was on the same team as defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke this past season. 

Both players played for the WHL's Kamloops Blazers and had fantastic seasons, especially Hurlbert, who finished with 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games. He also compiled one goal and three points in four playoff games. 

Hurlbert is outstanding at entering the offensive zone with control and can even bounce off/evade contact in those situations. One of my favorite examples of this was during a Blazers game against the Seattle Thunderbirds, when he entered the zone in a 1v1 situation. He made a move on the Thunderbirds defenseman who tried to knock him off the puck and went right around him before going to his forehand at the net-front and jammed the puck home on the rebound. 

It was an unbelievable goal, and he made sure to deliver an epic celebration after. The goal also showed his ability to drive to the net, which was on tape throughout the season. He's not afraid to throw a good dangle in there, either. 

Don't sleep on Hurlbert's board play, either. He's very strong in that area and its hard for defenders to knock the puck off him. A good example of this was when Kamloops played Seattle again a bit later in the season. Hurlbert was battling for the puck along the boards and was sandwiched between two players before getting through both of them. He corralled the puck and took it to the net before scoring on his own rebound. 

When it comes to his shot, he can really rifle the puck. Whether there's traffic in front or not, he knows where to pick holes in any goaltender that he faces. The puck also comes off his stick super quickly. 

As a playmaker, Hurlbert has excellent vision and can anticipate a player being in a certain position before he's fully there. His strong hockey IQ also factors into that. 

Hurlbert was at the NHL Combine in Buffalo last week and confirmed to reporters that he met with the Penguins. He felt that the meeting went well. 

"Yeah, it was really cool," Hurlbert said. "They're one of the teams that use video, so you have to be confident in your answer, learn from your mistakes. We're all human, so everybody's got them. Just being open and vulnerable to that situation is a big one."

He also appreciated the honest feedback during the meeting.

"Yeah, I think that's what makes you better," Hurlbert said. "I think it's called tough love. You have to have it to keep getting better. At the end of the day, they're the guys who make the decision when you're ready to play in the NHL, so I think listening is a very key detail."

Penguins' Goaltender Named To 2025-26 AHL Top Prospects TeamA Pittsburgh Penguins' top goaltending propsect continues to rack up accolades after what was an impressive rookie season in the AHL.

I still think Hurlbert's two-way game and his first burst as a skater need some work, and I think both have the opportunity to improve when he plays for Michigan next season. Michigan is one of the best college hockey programs in the United States and has a long history of producing NHL players. 

There's a decent chance that Hurlbert will still be on the board when the Penguins are on the clock, and it'll be up to them to decide if they want to take a chance on him. 

---

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

The Edmonton Oilers leadership group met with Mike Babcock before the team gave the NHLPA and the league a heads-up that they wanted to move forward with ensuring Babcock was hireable. 

However, Babcock wasn't the only former coach Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and others spoke to. 

Trending Stories

Can The Oilers Learn From Florida Without Trying To Become Florida?

If The Oilers Make Their Babcock Bed — They’ll Have to Sleep In It

Players Are On Board As Babcock To Oilers Is Real, Just Waiting for Approval

According to TSN's Ryan Rishaug:

"Oilers have had their player leadership quite active in the process of finding a coach. On top of an in person meeting with Babcock the player group also met with Peter Laviolette around the same time."

Interesting that the Kings swooped in and got Laviolette when they did. Also interesting were comments by Mark Spector that noted that same leadership group chose Babcock over Laviolette. 

Spector wrote:

"Babcock, 63, was grilled by the Oilers leaders in a meeting last week — asked about former transgressions and how, exactly, he came to own a reputation as the hardest of hard-ass coaches who crosses the line often enough to be black-balled since 2023 — and they came away with one implicit instruction for general manager Stan Bowman:

“This is our guy. We want to be pushed.”

This Could Get Ugly: NHL Moving Forward With Mike Babcock InvestigationNew allegations from Mike Babcock’s past threaten to derail his return. The NHLPA is demanding a full investigation into hidden claims before the NHL allows Edmonton to proceed with his hiring.

At the end of the day, this leadership group might not get what it wants. The NHL is conducting an investigation into Babcock's 2023 run with the Columbus Blue Jackets and there are reports the NHLPA has more significant testimonies from players than just the coach going through phones. Either the NHL finds something they don't like and won't allow Babcock back, or the Oilers decide they can't stand the heat in the kitchen. 

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.

One of hockey's most anticipated spectacles is about to become one of the hottest tickets of the year, as fans will soon get their first opportunity to witness the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche collide beneath the open sky.

Tickets for the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah will officially go on sale Tuesday, June 16, giving fans the chance to secure seats for the outdoor showdown scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 31.

Sales begin at 10 a.m. MT through Ticketmaster, the NHL's official ticketing partner, with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Purchasing through Ticketmaster guarantees buyers receive the seats they select through Ticketmaster.com or the Ticketmaster app.

The New Year's Eve showcase will mark a historic milestone for the Mammoth franchise, which is set to make its outdoor debut during just its third NHL season. The event also brings one of the league's newest clubs onto one of its biggest stages, creating another chapter in the NHL's continued expansion of marquee outdoor events.

Colorado enters the game with previous experience under the elements, having appeared in three regular-season outdoor contests and posting a 1-2-0 record.

The Avalanche first took part in the 2016 Stadium Series at Denver's Coors Field, falling 5-3 to the Detroit Red Wings before a crowd of more than 50,000. Four years later, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs during the 2020 Stadium Series.

Their lone outdoor victory came in memorable fashion at the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, where Colorado defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 against one of the most picturesque backdrops the league has ever showcased.

With Utah making franchise history and Colorado looking to add another signature outdoor win, the Winter Classic promises to deliver one of the NHL's premier events to Salt Lake City for the first time.

Fans looking for additional Winter Classic updates or historical information on NHL outdoor games can also visit the league's official resources ahead of what is expected to be one of the season's signature attractions.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

It was just under a week ago that a stunning report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman was released, in which he indicated Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. 

The reported request set off a flurry of reactions from across the Detroit sports scene as well as the rest of the NHL, especially after Larkin's alleged trade list including a mere three clubs. 

So far, neither Larkin nor the Red Wings/GM Steve Yzerman has commented on the ongoing drama between the two sides. And just days later, a report surfaced that Larkin and Yzerman aren't in regular contact with one another, adding another layer of complexity to the already delicate situation. 

But now, former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty, who won the Stanley Cup four times with the club during his career, is weighing in on the situation. 

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

"I automatically think about the guys who persevered, right? The guys in St. Louis, (Aleksander) Barkov in Florida," McCarty said via Woodward Sports. "That's a great example. Ovi (Alex Ovechkin). I don't understand. Obviously, he's got his reasons, but when you bring up the fact that they haven't talked in a year and there's contention and stuff like this, what do I always say? You're either in, or in the way. So you're definitely in the way."

Detroit Red Wings Legend Darren McCarty reacts to the Dylan Larkin trade request. pic.twitter.com/l9tRQCkrEY

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) June 9, 2026

NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun Reveals New Twist In Dylan Larkin-Red Wings SagaThere is a new development in the ongoing situation regarding Dylan Larkin's reported trade request from the Red Wings, according to top NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun.

McCarty concluded by saying he believes the situation will ultimately result in a better outcome for the Red Wings organization. 

"We can put blame on this and that, but I don't want a guy, no matter if you're the top guy or the bottom guy, I don't want you here. This, I believe, will be one of the best things to happen to the Red Wings organization."

This is an extremely unusual situation in the history of the Red Wings, and there's no telling when the next domino is going to fall. 

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.

When Kings’ new head coach Peter Laviolette took a tour around the Los Angeles area, he thought he was only going to get a one-bedroom home with a view of the water. His children, though, piped in: “Make sure you get a four-bedroom,” Laviolette remembered his three children saying.

During Laviolette’s time away from the sport, the 61-year-old traveled to Scotland and watched his son play in the East Coast Hockey League. The time away has given Laviolette time to rethink his coaching, and after 30 years of coaching, including 23 as a head coach in the NHL, he’s bringing a trident approach to reshape culture and win games. Centering a hockey family is one part.

“For me, there’s three real important pieces,” Laviolette said. “First, build a family inside the locker room, inside the organization. Secondly, to really work to try and build the culture to get players and organizations to think about the choices they make and how that can affect the culture. And then the third part is the actual game on the ice, just making sure that every day from the start of training camp we work at the game.”

Los Angeles hired Laviolette to a three-year contract after he spent a year away from the sport. Laviolette’s coaching experience stretches 1,594 games, the ninth-highest career total, with six teams: the Capitals, Flyers, Islanders, Hurricanes and Predators. Most recently, he was fired by the Rangers in 2025 after two years with the team.

His postseason success might be the biggest draw for the Kings, who have seen middling success in the years since their second Stanley Cup title in 2014. Los Angeles made the playoffs each year since the 2021-22 season, but the team did not advance past the first round.

Meanwhile, Laviolette is only the fourth coach in hockey to lead three teams to the Stanley Cup Final. He last won with Carolina in 2006, but he earned two President’s Trophies in 2017-18 and 2023-24 with the Predators and the Rangers.

Still, Laviolette, despite his track record of first-year turnarounds, is joining a team in flux. The Kings fired coach Jim Hiller after the Olympic break. Interim coach D.J Smith helped guide the team to an 11-6-6 finish, aided in part by a trade for Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, whom Laviolette has also coached.

“I had a really good relationship with Artemi in New York,” Laviolette said. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever coached, and I’m really happy to get to work with him again. He’s an amazing talent.”

Using the winger to go on the prowl is one of the small changes Laviolette plans to bring. The Kings have historically prioritized defense in a league that has shifted to attacking. Los Angeles fell to 30th in goals per game last season (2.68), the first time the Kings averaged fewer than three goals since the 2021-22 season. The team was also 28th in power-play percentage at 17%. Laviolette acknowledged that Los Angeles needed to change, highlighting that an attack-forward mindset has been a keystone of his coaching.

“I don’t think it should be irresponsible to defense,” he said. “But through my experiences, and even just watching the playoffs right now, this is an attack-oriented game, and you have to be willing to move.”

Where does Panarin fit?

“He has the ability to be a game-breaker and a difference-maker,” Laviolette said. “He’s not just a goal scorer. He’s not just a playmaker. He’s elusive. He’s shifty.”

The goal for next season is to score 250 times, according to Kings’ vice president and general manager Ken Holland. The team scored 220 last season.

“We’ve got to get back to scoring more goals,” Holland said. “Part of that’s going to be personnel driven, part of that’s going to be probably style‑of‑play driven, mentality, and certainly the head coach has a lot to do with it.”

As Laviolette meets current staffers and decides whom to bring in, Holland is managing the phones to reach out to assistant coaches and players. Smith has definitively moved on. Phil Housley, whom Laviolette described as an “excellent coach,” could be another potential candidate. Housley worked with Laviolette as one of the Rangers’ assistant coaches between 2023 and 2025.

Still, it’s hard to say the Kings will be a Cup contender with Laviolette. His teams tend to dramatically decline two or three seasons after his hiring. He struggles to develop younger players, instead relying on veterans to carry the weight. Laviolette will have to amplify players like Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, each a talented 23-year-old with high ceilings.

The Kings’ success will rest in how well Los Angeles adapts to Laviolette’s coaching trident. The veteran coach, to his credit, projected confidence.

“When you put those three things together,” he said. “You can really become an unstoppable force.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The fallout continues from last week's explosive report that Dylan Larkin has requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. 

He's reportedly submitted a list of teams that he'd be willing to accept a trade to, but the options greatly narrow GM Steve Yzerman's chances of getting a fair return. Larkin's list included the Vegas Golden Knights, the Florida Panthers, and the Minnesota Wild. 

Having such a confined list of teams that have only so many assets that they'd be able to offer up in return greatly complicates things on Detroit's end. 

But now, there's a new development in the ongoing saga. According to top NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, Yzerman has approached Larkin's agent Pat Brisson with a request to expand the three-team trade list, which would give him additional options to facilitate the best deal possible. 

"Yzerman went back to Brisson and asked to expand their original list of three teams, and my sense is that Brisson was receptive to that to some degree," LeBrun reported on Wednesday. "So I don’t think we’re just dealing with the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers anymore." 

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

LeBrun continued by saying that he believes the Dallas Stars, led by former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill, have "absolutely" checked in while also suggesting that Michigan native and pending unsigned RFA Jason Robertson could be an option.

Top Insider Links Red Wings' Dylan Larkin To Multiple NHL Teams Speculation continues to grow as to where current Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin could be traded to, and a handful of clubs have emerged, according to top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.

"Secondly, regardless of being on the list or not, all kinds of teams have called to see what’s what, many of them interested in getting involved," LeBrun wrote. "That’s given Brisson and Larkin more to think about. For example, the Dallas Stars have absolutely checked in. They haven’t extended restricted free agent Jason Robertson yet, although those contract discussions continue. Food for thought if an extension doesn’t get done in due time." 

An acquisition of Robertson's RFA rights in return for Larkin, along with a new extension for him in Detroit, would be a major haul for the Red Wings. Robertson, who is from Northville, has scored 40 or more goals three times since 2021, including 45 goals scored this season. 

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.

In continuation of our draft prospect profiles, today, we’ll be looking at a 6-foot-3, two-way defenseman in Daxon Rudolph.

To start this series, we first reviewed Alberts Smits’ game, claiming he is the most NHL-ready defenseman in the draft. Following Smits was Malte Gustafsson, a physical defensive defenseman with a 6-foot-4 frame. 

Rudolph has a slightly different profile from Smits and Gustafsson. Rudolph brings a bit more finesse. He is a quick thinker and moves the puck on the breakout better than almost any player in this draft. Offensively, he isn’t afraid to jump into the play on the rush or cycle.

While his offensive game receives most of the praise, he is a sturdy defender who showcased his all-around game in the WHL playoffs recently. 

In the WHL this season with the Prince Albert Raiders, the 2023 WHL first overall pick scored 28 goals and 78 points in 68 games. Both categories ranked third among defensemen in the WHL, trailing Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo, both of whom played for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Rudolph’s regular season was outstanding, but he took his game to another level in the playoffs, as the Raiders lost in the WHL finals. Rudolph tied for the league lead in points during the post-season, recording nine goals and 27 points in 19 games. 

Florida Panthers 2026 NHL Draft Targets: Alberts SmitsThe Florida Panthers will make the ninth selection in the 2026 NHL draft, and for the next month before the June 26 draft, we are going to look at which players the Panthers could target. Today’s player preview is about defenseman Alberts Smits.

With his track record as a first overall pick in the WHL, as well as his outstanding point production from the blueline, it feels almost odd to see him projected in some cases to fall outside the top 10, but skating deficiencies are why defenders like Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Smits, and Keaton Verhoeff have been ranked ahead of him. While there is a chance he falls outside the top 10 and past the Panthers, there’s a chance he is selected before then by a team like the Seattle Kraken or the Winnipeg Jets.

The 18-year-old Rudolph is an incredibly smart player. He sees the game well on both sides of the puck. His vision allows him to make plays in the offensive zone and break up plays in the defensive zone. 

Florida Panthers 2026 NHL Draft Targets: Malte GustafssonAs we continue to look at draft targets for the Florida Panthers with the ninth overall selection, today we ponder the idea of drafting big Swedish defender Malte Gustafsson.

With the puck in the o-zone, Rudolph is a threat to connect on give-and-gos, slide into the play unguarded, and rifle a heavy shot. In his own end with the puck, Rudolph makes heads-up passes and uses his feet to navigate forecheckers. While the concern is that it might not translate to the NHL, at the junior level he is more than capable of making those plays with his feet. 

The native of Lacombe, Alta., will make the big jump to the NCAA next season, joining the mighty University of Denver. Despite the loaded blueline, Rudolph is expected to be the leader of the backend and bring the program back to the National Championship. 

Rudolph was brought out to dinner by the Panthers, suggesting that, at the very least, the organization is interested in him. If Rudolph’s skating improves, we could be one of, if not the best, defensemen in the draft. It’s a big if, but Rudolph still possesses many traits that will make him a successful NHL player. 

---

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.

Life is good if you’re a fan of the Florida Panthers these days.

Back-to-back championships, three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances and a roster built to continue contending for years to come will have that effect.

But while the 2020s have been the best decade, by far, of Panthers hockey, there was a massive gap in franchise success that ran from the late 90s until Florida’s newfound string of success.

For those who remember, the Panthers were actually a success story in their earliest of seasons.

Florida completed its inaugural 1993-94 campaign as the NHL’s most successful expansion franchise, setting league records for wins and points by a first-year franchise.

In each of their first two seasons, the Panthers missed qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a single point, which was unheard of for a team still in its infancy.

It was in year three that the Panthers really put their stamp on the NHL, reaching the playoffs as a four-seed and taking down the top two teams in the Eastern Conference en route to a shocking appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

The gritty, underdog Panthers were turning heads, reaching the mecca of the sport despite fielding a roster with no superstars to speak of, just a grizzled group of hard-working veterans and a talented, young players still cutting their teeth at that high of a level.

Unfortunately for Florida, the Stanley Cup Final did not go particularly well for them, as they were dropped in four straight games by the Colorado Avalanche.

Still, the Panthers did not go out without one hell of a fight.

With their backs against the wall, Florida would not give in to the high-powered Avalanche, holding them scoreless well into multiple overtime sessions.

Finally, at the 4:31 mark of the third overtime, Avs defenseman Uwe Krupp beat Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck with a long slapshot to the blocker side.

The defeat was crushing, but at the end of the day, it was still extremely cool that the third-year Panthers were receiving the consideration and respect rarely offered to a franchise so young.

Also, the game itself was epic.

Watching Vanbiesbrouck and Patrick Roy go save-for-save with the Stanley Cup on the line was pure cinema.

Check out some of the vintage action in the videos below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers Have Six Internal Options For Their Fourth Line; Who Should Make The Opening Roster?

The Hockey Show: Talking Kelly Cup Finals, Championship DNA With Florida Everblades Broadcaster Jake Maurice

Dylan Larkin Has Panthers On Short List Of Potential Trade Partners, But What Would Florida Have To Give Up?

Panthers Sign RFA Goalie Cooper Black To 2-Year, 2-Way Extension

Report: Panthers One Of Three NHL Teams Dylan Larkin Is Open To Being Traded To

Brad Marchound To Represent Florida Panthers At 2026 Stanley Pup

Ex-Panthers Goaltender Steps Into The Crease For The Hurricanes As Their Comeback Attempt Falls Short; Could He Start Game 4?

Top Prospects Confirm They Had Dinner With Panthers At 2026 NHL Scouting Combine

Photo caption: June 1996; Miami, FL; USA; FILE PHOTO; Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy (33) and forward Valeri Kamensky (13) in action against Florida Panthers forward Rob Niedermayer (44) during the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals at Miami Arena. (RVR Photos-Imagn Images)

In what could be considered a must-win game for the Carolina Hurricanes, heroes, new and old, emerged.

Brandon Bussi, making his first career playoff start in Game 4, turned away 18 of 21 shots to earn the victory. He is the third goalie in the expansion era to make his first career playoff start in the Stanley Cup Final, joining Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jussi Markkanen. Bussi joined a more exclusive club by becoming the third goalie in NHL history to win that first career playoff start in a Stanley Cup Final.

Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake, and Taylor Hall each returned to the scoresheet and were the best line on the ice. Stankoven and Blake’s goals during the first 3:28 minutes of the game were the Hurricanes’ second-fastest two goals to start a playoff game.

But once again, Jordan Staal was the center of this epic chapter of Hurricanes and hockey history.

The Captain scored twice, including the eventual game-winner with 13:28 to play in regulation. Carolina’s 5-3 victory over Vegas evens the series at two games apiece and returns home-ice advantage to the Canes.

Staal’s first period goal was another history-maker. He is the first player in 44 years, and the fourth player in the expansion era, to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. Staal’s four-game goal streak is tied for the second-longest in franchise history, trailing Stankoven’s record-setting five-game goal streak earlier in the playoffs.

Staal’s first of the game came on the power play. Much has been said about the size of the Golden Knights, and Staal winning the battle out front demonstrates just how important it is that the big man is on the man advantage. The Canes now have power play goals in three straight games.

True to the pattern of this series, Vegas roared back in the second period, scoring twice to knot the game at 3-3 heading into the third. But for the third straight game, Carolina found another gear after the second intermission.

The decisive sequence came with less than seven minutes in the third. After Vegas turned the puck over on a botched breakout, Seth Jarvis was alone in the slot, had a backhander stopped by Carter Hart, and battled to retrieve his own rebound behind the net versus four Golden Knights. Jarvis worked the puck free to Nikolaj Ehlers, who poked it across the slot to a falling Staal. With a desperate reach, the Captain lifted the puck over Hart’s glove and into the net for what would be the eventual game-winner.

This goal will be in the Carolina highlight reel from now until eternity. Staal’s determination and desperation epitomized the Canes’ effort for most of the game.

Of course, Staal was not just a factor on the scoresheet. The Hurricanes dominated in the faceoff circle, holding a 57-43 advantage over the Golden Knights. Staal won 12 of 16 faceoffs, with his 75 percent win rate leading all centers in the game.

Staal was matched up against Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel for much of the game, and each failed to tally a point.

Perhaps Staal’s only blemish was in the process of a line change during Vegas’s first goal. The Golden Knights did not convert on any of their three power plays, of which Staal was on the kill for each.

Here’s what Sebastian Aho said about Staal on Wednesday morning before departing Las Vegas. Via NHL.com:

In our room, he’s always had his spotlight. He does so much for us. We all know in our room how big of a player he is for us. He’s taken a lot of draws, he’s killing all the penalties, he’s very hard to play against. It’s just his presence; he’s obviously our leader, our captain, and he’s so big. Obviously, now he gets more attention probably from [the media], but like I said, he does so much for us, and he has always gotten that attention from us.

The Hurricanes flew back to Raleigh on Wednesday to prepare for Game 5, set for Thursday, June 11, at 8:00 p.m. at the Lenovo Center.