There are a lot of ways that the 2026 NHL Draft could go, especially at the top. Everything you think you know about the upcoming draft can change with one trade or “off the board” selection. The Chicago Blackhawks have the 4th overall pick as we stand.
If the first three picks are the top three forwards, Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra, then the Blackhawks are likely going to select a defenseman. There are lots of options, all of whom play a different style, including Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits, and Carson Carels.
For the Blackhawks sake, an argument can be made that Keaton Verhoeff is the proper selection. The Blackhawks have a crop of young defenders who are good players, but nobody has emerged as that top power-play offensive driver that they need on the back end.
Verhoeff has the tools to be that guy. For a while, he was the consensus number two pick behind Gavin McKenna, but things have changed. Each of them saw their stock drop just a bit due to playing NCAA (much more difficult) after dominating in the CHL.
On Friday, Verhoeff spoke alongside McKenna at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, and he was an impressive responder. He understands his game, wants to get better, and seems honored to even be in this situation.
Although Verhoeff isn't a lock to be the number two pick like he seemed to be early in the season, he is okay with it. He understands that there are some incredible players available and every team has different needs. He's also incredibly confident in his abilities.
"They're all so talented," Verhoeff said of his fellow draftees. "The biggest thing I bring every night is my compete level. You won't always have your best game, but bringing that compete level and character to the rink every day."
If the talent doesn't match the compete level, the talent won't transform into success in the NHL, and Verhoeff is well aware of that.
"Playing against those bigger and faster guys has been really important for me," Verhoeff said. "It's helped to round out my game a ton."
At the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff had 6 goals and 14 assists as a freshman for a total of 20 points in 36 games played. There was an adjustment period for him in college, but as he said, it was good for his long-term development.
If the Blackhawks are not the team that selects him 4th overall, he will be off the board before the top-ten, likely top-seven, is complete.
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MONTREAL, CANADA- APRIL 5: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils passes the puck to Dougie Hamilton #7 during the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Arianne Bergeron/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“The New Jersey Devils need to make some changes this offseason, but they will have to clear some cap space to do so. General manager Sunny Mehta will enter the offseason with $13.125 million in cap space, and that’s without a contract extension for Arseny Gritsyuk. Fortunately, there are a few cap-clearing candidates that Mehta can move to give the Devils a bit more financial flexibility if he wants to add players such as Mason McTavish or Dylan Larkin.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“…The Devils should certainly be calling Detroit about Larkin. He’s an excellent hockey player, and one the Devils would be lucky to get if the price was right.” [Devils’ Advocates]
“At 23 years old, 6-foot-3, and carrying a generous $7.75 million cap hit through 2031 in the rising cap era, Knies has emerged as one of the NHL’s more intriguing young wingers. His blend of size, physicality, and growing offensive production makes him the type of player who can anchor a top-six group for years. For teams like the Devils, who are perpetually hunting for that blend of youth and heft up front, the conversation naturally turns to whether they could step up and get a deal done. The short answer? They absolutely have the pieces.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
Hockey Links
Vegas takes Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final:
VEGAS WINS GAME 3 IN OVERTIME AND TAKES A 2-1 LEAD IN THE SERIES‼️ #StanleyCup
Milan Lucic is officially announcing his retirement following 1,177 career NHL games played – wishing all the best to the 2010-11 #StanleyCup champ👏 pic.twitter.com/X4QF1dWqt3
“Listen, no one can know yet how this Larkin situation will play out. But one thing I won’t do is doubt Yzerman’s ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat in this particular set of circumstances.” [The Athletic ($)]
“From Sunday’s 32 Thoughts podcast: out of nowhere, an unexpected name surfaces in Toronto’s coaching search — Joe Pavelski. According to multiple sources, the Future Hall-of-Famer is on the Maple Leafs’ radar as the team begins the next phase of its interview process, with one describing him as a ‘Martin St. Louis-style candidate.’” [Sportsnet]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 02: Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) skates with the puck during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators on February 2, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Ben Kindel Born: April 19, 2007 (Age 18 season) Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 182 pounds Hometown: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada Shoots: Right Draft: 2025 first round (11th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins 2025-26 Statistics: 77 games played, 17 goals, 18 assists = 35 points ; 6 games played, 0 goals, 0 assists in playoffs. Contract Status: Kindel has two years left on his entry level contract valued at a miniscule $986,250 against the salary cap.
Story of the Season
When the Penguins drafted Ben Kindel 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, there was frustration among the fan base at what appeared to be a reach by Kyle Dubas, forgoing some more popular names still on the board in favor of selecting Kindel at this spot. As it turns out, Dubas and his scouting department did their homework and Kindel quickly made everyone forget about their angst from draft night.
Throughout the course of the summer and into the fall, it became clear that Kindel had something special about him and was going to figure into the Penguins rebuild in a significant way, but no one expected his impact to happen this soon. He stood out among the other prospects at development camp and the Prospects Challenge, but training camp is where he made his case to be on the opening night roster.
Even when Kindel made the team out of camp, most figured it was just going to be for a nine-game trial run before returning to the Calgary Hitmen for another WHL season to continue his development. That plan quickly went out the window and it was clear Kindel was set to be in Pittsburgh for the long run.
In just his third NHL game, Kindel scored his first career goal, the lone Penguins tally in a 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers. He will forever hold the distinction of being the first player from the 2025 draft class to score an NHL goal, beating out top overall pick and eventual Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer by a few minutes.
Even as Kindel blew through his nine game window and it was clear he was going to be with the team for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign, it was still expected that he was going to have his work load managed as he acclimates to playing in the NHL.
That turned out to not be the case as well, with Kindel playing 77 games as a rookie, recording 17 goals and 18 assists. His 17 goals made him just the 12th player over the last 20 years to reach that number as an 18 year old, joining the likes of Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, and fellow 2025 first round pick Shaefer just to name a few.
While many figured Kindel to be a major piece of the Penguins future, he actually turned out to be a major part of their present as well. As the season went along and it was clear the Penguins were going to be in position to at least contend for a playoff spot, Kindel kept getting opportunities to prove himself and he kept making the most of every chance he got.
Although the season ended in a six game playoff series loss to the Philadelphia Flyers where Kindel did not record a point, he will enter his second NHL season in 2026-27 with valuable experience under his belt and a clear role with the Penguins as not just a part of the future, but with what the franchise is trying to accomplish right now.
It was a pretty consistent run across the board for Kindel in his rookie season when breaking it down by month. January was his strongest month with 10 points in 15 games and his solid March output was big for the team during its toughest stretch of the season and missing key pieces from the lineup. It’s not every day an 18 year old becomes a lineup mainstay in the NHL, but Kindel did just that and was performing on a consistent basis all season long.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
While Kindel’s score effects don’t jump off the page here, it’s a solid base to build off of for a 19 year old who will be entering his second NHL season in 2026-27 in a few months. If that shooting percentage trends upward then everything else should jump right along with it. He creates a ton in the high danger areas on the ice and helps drive possession overall.
It’s tough to not preface every statement with “he’s only 18” but my goodness, this type of offensive and defensive impact from an 18-year old center that wasn’t even a top-5 pick is almost unheard of. Kindel’s still got growth opportunities in terms of finishing and finding a comfort level on the power play, he’s got one heck of a base to work from at even strength.
Kindel is an active player all over the place. The goals and assist totals are nice but far from his only contribution. His defensive aptitude with puck touches are high. He’s good at exiting the zone, he’s pretty decent at entries. Rush offense, particularly setting up teammates is a hallmark of Kindel’s game. A lot of fine details under the hood that demonstrate value to the team. Even when going through some rookie struggles and cold production streaks that type of detail-oriented value add made him a lineup regular throughout the season and reliable player to send on the ice.
All around fun stuff here, as mentioned above Kindel is an active player that gets coverage all over the rink. He trusts his shooting talent with plenty of mid-range shots and has a pretty good one from the left side of the ice with the right handed blade seeing a lot of the net to score on 23.5% of his shots from that area.
One area of improvement detailed in these stats would be getting a little more efficient and frequency towards the front of the net. In this league players have to get to that area near the goal to boost their stats. Kindel frequently had some big bodies like Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau to fill that role, in the future seeing if he can attack the net more will be a big signal and shift towards unlocking even more.
Level of skating ability was something of a knock, if not question mark on Kindel during the draft process. He’s certainly not a burner that is going to pull away from opponents with straight-line speed, but he’s young and fresh enough to have plenty of jump and crafty enough to maneuver his way to being effective as a skater. Again, with age, experience and adding some muscle, this is an area that already is pretty decent but could be expected to show improvement as he continues to grow as a player.
In addition to being a good passer, responsible defensively and decent skater, Kindel’s wrist shot is another tool in his toolbox. (As you can tell, it’s a pretty full toolbox). He knows how to subtlety manipulate his shooting angle by drawing the puck in to fool goalies enough on the direction and timing of his shots, in the style like so many of his young contemporaries tend to do. Kindel won’t be confused for Auston Matthews as a total master of that skill, but he was able to find the time/space to get quite a few shots away to beat goalies from distance as a rookie and presumably will be able to use that experience for the future.
Highlights
Ben Kindel’s first National Hockey League goal… they don’t get much prettier 🤌🏻 pic.twitter.com/VF9Bv1Jcg8
Ben Kindel, who we have discussed at length, made his mark on the Penguins first power play unit as he extended the Penguins lead to 3-1 in the third period! The teenage phenom! Here's @Joe_Brand1's call. pic.twitter.com/cm0fFA2fCH
You’ll hear a lot about a sophomore slump for Ben Kindel next season, so whether or not he can avoid falling into one will be the big question worth answering for him. Everything we saw from him in 2025-26 points to a long and productive career, but there will be bumps in the road and he will have to learn to adjust and work his way through those moments.
At one point this past season, Kindel went 19 games between goals, but once he broke out of that slump, he scored in three straight games along with four in six as well. It was a tough stretch of hockey for the rookie, but he never gave up on himself or got too down. The goal scoring touch returned and he gained his confidence back.
Expectations will be rightfully high for Kindel entering next season, but even the best players can go through slumps or dry spells. It will be how he reacts to those moments and learns from them that will ultimately determine how his 2026-27 plays out and what we are saying about his future this time next year.
Ideal 2026-27
Continued development should be a key focus for Kindel next season. He’s already established himself as an NHL player and has a full season plus playoff experience under his belt at just 19 years old. He’s coming off one of the best goal scoring seasons for an 18 year old in the last two decades, so building off of that will be incredibly important for himself and the franchise this coming season.
Where exactly Kindel will slot into the lineup remains to be seen and we should have a better idea of how it will all shake out once the summer slows down and rosters become clearer post free agency. If the plan is for Kindel to be a top-six player starting next season, then getting him as much ice time with a preferred set of linemates will be crucial to his continued development.
Bottom line
When Ben Kindel was drafted, there was angst among the fan base at the supposed reach for him at the 11th pick. That angst was washed away quickly when it became clear exactly what the Penguins were getting in Kindel. Of the ten players drafted before him, just six played an NHL game this season, only three played in 12 or more games, and one of those players is a potential generational talent.
Removing Shaefer from the equation, Kindel led all first round picks in games played, goals, assists, and points. His rookie season was a smashing success by every metric and he’s only going to get better as a player. There were ups and downs throughout the season, including the previously mentioned 19 game goal drought, but those are the types of growing pains you get with an 18 year old in his first professional season.
Final Grade
A.
What Ben Kindel did as a rookie at just 18 years old is not typical in the NHL. He exceeded every expectation by just making the team out of training camp, then just continued to trend upward as the season went along. His linemates varied throughout the season but he proved he could play with just about any body Dan Muse placed next to him.
When he was drafted, Kindel was seen as a major piece for the Penguins future as the plan was still to rebuild in 2025-26. That rebuild may now be ahead of schedule and Kindel is a major reason why, showing everyone why the Penguins valued him so highly to take him 11th overall.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 16: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring against Akira Schmid #40 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to a new week, folks!
It’s the first full week in June, if you count a full week as being from Sunday to Saturday, which I think is how it works?
Either way, we’re moving toward the first day of summer, but we still have plenty of on-ice action to discuss.
A wild Final thus far
For a neutral observer, this year’s Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes has been a blast to watch thus far.
A late Vegas game-winning goal in Game 1, an OT win for Carolina in Game 2, then a chaotic Game 3 that had just about everything: a natural hat trick, a blown four-goal lead, and a ping-pong OT winner.
After all that, Vegas has a 2-1 lead and it remains anyone’s series, but the entertainment factor has been through the roof.
And while I’m sure many of you scoff at the mere mention of the NBA, that final has been very entertaining as well.
It’s a nice treat for sports fans until we have to settle into the darkness (in Boston, at least) of baseball season.
Hey, at least the World Cup is coming!
Lucic calls it a career
Two-time Boston Bruin Milan Lucic officially announced his retirement on Sunday, ending a 17-season NHL career that spanned a handful of organizations.
Lucic finished with 233G-353A-586PTS in 1,177 games.
He was a force to be reckoned with in his prime years with the Bruins and was pretty much worth the price of admission on his own during that time with an ability to fight, hit, and score.
Lucic’s second stint with the Bruins ended when he was placed on indefinite leave after he was charged with domestic assault, charges that were later dropped due to inadmissible evidence/lack of testimony.
Lucic briefly played in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) over in the United Kingdom, but that didn’t last long.
Odds and ends
Joe Pavelski, who I honestly thought was still playing, is apparently a name that has come up during the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching search.
Jeremy Swayman finished third in Vezina Trophy voting, with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning taking home the top spot.
Fans of every NHL team not named the Detroit Red Wings are currently conjuring up the wackiest possible trade proposals for Dylan Larkin. I think Spooner, Khokhlachev, and a first gets it done.
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -115, Golden Knights -105; over/under is 6
STANLEY CUP FINAL: Golden Knights lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Saturday for the sixth time this season. The Golden Knights won the last matchup 5-4 in overtime. Mitchell Marner scored three goals in the victory.
Vegas has a 39-26-17 record overall and a 27-14-9 record on its home ice. The Golden Knights have gone 50-7-12 when scoring three or more goals.
Carolina is 53-22-7 overall and 30-12-6 on the road. The Hurricanes are 28-9-3 in games they score at least one power-play goal.
TOP PERFORMERS: Pavel Dorofeyev has 37 goals and 27 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has seven goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Nikolaj Ehlers has 26 goals and 45 assists for the Hurricanes. Shayne Gostisbehere has three goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-1-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 7-2-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, four penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.
Hurricanes: William Carrier: day to day (upper body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had plenty of chances to force Game 7 in their Eastern Conference Final series against the Toronto Marlies on Sunday night, but couldn't find the game-winning goal.
Alex Nylander scored with 6:16 left in overtime to send the Marlies to the Calder Cup Final, ending a remarkable season for the Penguins. Harrison Brunicke tried to block the shot, but it still got through and beat goaltender Sergei Murashov.
Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov was unbelievable in this game, robbing several point-blank opportunities and keeping his team alive long enough for Nylander to win it.
Aidan McDonough opened the scoring for WBS in the first period before Easton Cowan tied the game in the second period. The third period featured great chances for both teams before both Akhtyamov and Murashov stood on their respective heads in overtime. It was non-stop action at both ends before Nylander's game-winner.
Now that the Penguins' season is over, here are some of my takeaways from their playoff run.
- I think there's a strong chance that Brunicke and Murashov are on the NHL roster to start the 2026-27 season. Brunicke was the best player during this playoff run for WBS and was fantastic in all three zones. His play looked night and day compared to what we saw during his nine-game NHL trial at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Murashov had a few uncharacteristic performances in this series, but he was still very good overall for WBS in these playoffs, finishing with an 8-7 record, a 2.11 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. He made a lot of key saves in big moments throughout the playoffs and was matching Akhtyamov in Sunday's overtime. I expect him to at least be the backup to Arturs Silovs for next season.
- Bill Zonnon only played in 11 games during these playoffs, but he made his mark, finishing with four goals and seven points. He had a remarkable end to his junior season in the QMJHL and carried that momentum into the Calder Cup Playoffs. I still think he needs a full season in the AHL before he's ready for the NHL, but he was fantastic in these playoffs.
- Tanner Howe deserves a big shoutout, too. He missed a good chunk of the 2025-26 season since he was recovering from ACL surgery, but showed in these playoffs that he can be a player down the line. He loves to hang out in front of the net and is a pest in the best possible way. He finished the playoffs with three goals and five points in 14 games, and I'm excited to see what he can do now that he's fully healthy heading into next season.
- Mikhail Ilyin spent the 2025-26 regular season on loan in the KHL, racking up 14 goals and 44 points in 68 games. After his KHL season ended, he joined WBS, and it didn't take him long to adjust to North American ice. He finished the playoffs with two goals and nine points in 15 games, showcasing his strong vision and playmaking.
He'll be in WBS to start the 2026-27 season, and I'm excited to see him continue to develop. He has the chance to be a solid contributor in the NHL.
It wasn't the end that the players wanted, but this was still a heck of a run by WBS. It's now on Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas to keep adding talent across the organization.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were a great surprise this season. After many expected them to be among the worst teams in the NHL, the Penguins instead finished second in the Metropolitan Division standings and made the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby was one of the biggest reasons for the Penguins' major turnaround this season. This is because the 38-year-old center was once again dominant for the Penguins, posting 29 goals, 45 assists, and 74 points in 68 games. With this, Crosby averaged more than a point per game for the 21st season in a row.
Due to how wonderfully Crosby played this season, he has earned himself a nice shout-out.
The Hockey News had Crosby at the No. 12 spot for their top 100 players of the 2025-26 season rankings. Given how well Crosby played yet again this season, it is easy to understand why he has been named as one of the NHL's best players for this campaign.
Crosby just continues to thrive as his career carries on, and he is showing zero signs of slowing down. It is going to be fascinating to see what kind of season he will put together for the Pens in 2026-27 from here.
The Buffalo Sabres finally took a major step forward this season. This is because they not made the playoffs for the first time since 2011 but also had the best record in the Atlantic Division and made it to the second round of the post-season.
Rasmus Dahlin was a major reason for the Sabres' success this season. The 26-year-old defenseman had a monster season, scoring 19 goals and setting new career highs with 55 assists and 74 points in 77 games. He was also named a finalist for the Norris Trophy, but Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski ended up taking it home.
Still, it was a spectacular 2025-26 season for Dahlin. Due to this, he has now received some major praise.
Dahlin was given the No. 15 spot in The Hockey News' top 100 NHL player rankings for the 2025-26 season. When looking at how dominant he was this season for the Sabres, it is not difficult to understand why he has been ranked as one of the best players in the NHL this season.
Dahlin jumped up pretty significantly from last year rankings, too, as The Hockey News had him at the No. 33 spot for the 2024-25 season.
Overall, it was undoubtedly a great year for Dahlin. It is going to be fascinating to see what he does as an encore for the Sabres during the 2026-27 season from here.
It was on this day in 1997 that the collective euphoria of the first Stanley Cup victory in 42 years washed over the city of Detroit in a sea of confetti and champagne.
Boosted by goals from Nicklas Lidstrom and Darren McCarty, the Detroit Red Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers four games to none, capturing the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1955.
Goaltender Mike Vernon, who had won the Stanley Cup earlier in his career with the Calgary Flames, caught a leaping Steve Yzerman in his arms as the final horn sounded at Joe Louis Arena, sparking a celebration that everyone in attendance would remember for the rest of their lives.
Vernon would be named the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Yzerman soon received the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
As Yzerman lifted the Cup into the air for the first time, the collective weight of over four decades of frustration melted away.
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Adam Proteau recently ranked the top 10 pending restricted free agents in the NHL for the 2026 NHL Off-Season. Philadelphia Flyers star forward Trevor Zegras made the cut, as he was given the No. 7 spot by Proteau.
When looking at the season Zegras just put together for the Flyers, it is certainly fair that he has been named one of the top pending RFAs by The Hockey News. The 25-year-old not only bounced back during his first season as a Flyer but together the best campaign of his career so far. In 81 games this season with the Flyers, he set career highs with 26 goals and 67 points.
With how well Zegras played this season for the Flyers, there is no question that he has set himself up for a nice raise for his next contract. Given how perfectly he has fit into the Flyers' system, he is a player that Philadelphia should be looking to lock up on a long-term deal as well.
It is going to be interesting to see what kind of contract Zegras gets from the Flyers. Getting him re-signed is easily one of the Flyers' most important tasks of the off-season.
While it may be the offseason in Nashville, things haven't exactly slowed down around the hockey world. Between front office changes, free agent speculation, trade rumours, and plenty of action overseas, there was no shortage of headlines this week.
From the Predators continuing to reshape their hockey operations department to some notable developments around the NHL, we've rounded up the biggest stories from the past week all in one place.
Grab a coffee, settle in, and catch up on everything you may have missed.
Up Next: Now that the Predators have their front office in place, their attention turns to the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 & 27. Then, it's on to July 1 when free agency opens.
Stay updated with the most interesting Nashville Predators stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
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Jun 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) scores his second goal against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the second period in game three of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
A sequence of events in a Stanley Cup Final that has gotten crazier by the minute has put the Carolina Hurricanes at a crossroads.
They blew a two-goal lead and lost Game 1, erased a two-goal deficit and won Game 2, and rallied from down four goals in Game 3, only to lose in double overtime on a fluky bounce.
They have lived the ups and downs of a tight series against the Vegas Golden Knights and head into Game 4 on Tuesday night with a razor-thin margin for error. While each of the first three games was decided by a single goal, close doesn’t count toward anything but a 2-1 deficit they now need to try to overcome.
“It’s part of the gig, and it’s never easy,” captain Jordan Staal said. “It’s never going to be easy, and we know that and we understand that. We’ve got a bigger hill to climb now, but we’re excited for the challenge and excited to keep playing hard and keep moving forward.”
Carolina faces several lingering questions, most notably who starts in net between Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussi. Andersen played every minute of the first 15 playoff games before getting the hook at the second intermission Saturday night down 4-0, and Bussi was perfect in relief until a shot from Shea Theodore banked off the end boards and went in when the goaltender inadvertently redirected it with his left skate 5:38 into the second overtime.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour deferred the decision until after practice Monday, if not later.
“I don’t anticipate a lot of changes to our lineup,” Brind’Amour said on a video call with reporters Sunday. “We’ll see how (Andersen is) feeling. I haven’t made any decisions on the lineup, so I can’t tell you.”
It was not clear if Andersen was banged up in any way. The 36-year-old from Denmark also was not chiefly to blame for allowing four goals on 16 shots in Game 3.
“You obviously don’t want to give up some of the chances we’ve given up, but overall I thought he’s been fine,” Brind’Amour said. “You ask him to make the saves that he’s got to make, and I think he’s done that. A couple bad bounces, they are what they are. He’s been solid for us, Buss came in and was solid for us, so that’s got to continue.”
A too many men on the ice penalty flipped the momentum Saturday at Vegas, after Brind’Amour had two Golden Knights goals taken off the board by successful challenges. Reliable defenseman Sean Walker knocking the puck into his own net came at an inopportune time, as did fourth-line forward William Carrier failing to clear the zone.
Mitch Marner scored on each of those occasions and finished off the hat trick and a four-point second period with a breakaway goal. One emphasis moving forward will be trying to avoid Marner breaking through for quality chances.
“We have to know when he’s on the ice because that’s kind of how he loves to play,” Brind’Amour said. “If we can eliminate some of those, I call ’em freebies ... that’ll definitely help.”
It would also help to get Carrier back after he missed the third period and OT because of an upper-body injury. Brind’Amour did not have an update other than hope that Carrier would be good to go in Game 4.
With or without him, the Hurricanes face close to a must-win situation at the arena on The Strip nicknamed the “Fortress.” Only one team out of 39 that has fallen behind 3-1 in the final has come back to win it: Toronto in 1942.
Pointing out his team is a couple of shots away from what could be a 3-0 series lead, Brind’Amour is not worried about players dwelling over this deficit because they know how close it has been.
“I think we can tighten some things up and be a lot better, and I think we’re right there,” veteran winger Jordan Martinook said. “We’ll look at some things and see where we can improve and come back Tuesday ready to try and even this up.”
A competition of adorable rescue dogs that only the Stanley Cup Final could inspire will take place on Monday.
The NHL’s annual Stanley Pup is set to air across the United States and Canada, with all 32 of the league’s teams represented.
Suiting up for the Florida Panthers this year is Brad Marchound.
Some of the fun facts about Brad Marchound are that he has 12 pet rats and he led the league in chirping minutes, according to his player card.
Among the many talented puppy players joining Brad Marchound are Jack Eichowl, Seth Arfis, Matthew Schaefurry, Macklin Celewienie and brothers Jack and Quinn Chews.
There will also be a bunch of special celebrity guests who did not want to miss out on any of the furry fun, including Kenan Thompson, Flavor Flav, Anthony Anderson, Jean Smart, Brooke Shields, Kelli Giddish, Michael Strahan, Joel McHale, Kendall Vertes, and Emma Kenney.
Several NHL players, such as Alex Ovechkin, Seth Jarvis, Matthew Schaefer, Will Smith, Logan Thompson and Devin Cooley, are also expected to make cameo appearances.
One of the more surprising pieces of news in recent Detroit Red Wings history dropped on Thursday courtesy of NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
According to Friedman, he's heard from multiple confirmed sources that Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who was their first-round selection (15th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, has requested a trade from the only NHL club he's ever played for.
Larkin remains the only active player on Detroit's roster who participated in their most recent playoff appearance in 2016, which was his rookie campaign in the NHL.
But after 10 consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs, along with growing reports of an alleged "frosty" relationship with GM Steve Yzerman, Larkin has apparently decided his career would be better suited playing elsewhere.
Larkin, who holds a full no-trade clause as part of the eight-year contract extension he signed in 2023, is already being linked to a handful of NHL clubs.
During his recent "32 Thoughts" podcast, Friedman listed a handful of teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers - but said above all else, the Minnesota Wild seem to make the most sense.
"I know a lot of people suspect New Jersey would make a lot of sense," Friedman said. "I'm looking at Dallas, I'm looking at Tampa Bay, I don't know that Florida could do this, but I think you always have to look at them."
"But I think the number one team everyone's looking at is Minnesota," he continued. "This has the Wild written all over it. I don't think Dallas is impossible, I don't think Tampa is impossible, and I don't know if he's gonna come to Canada, but Minnesota is the one team that everyone is talking about."
Larkin already has connections to Wild GM Bill Guerin, who was the GM of Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Larkin also played with Wild forward Matt Boldy and defenseman Quinn Hughes on Team USA.
Friedman then expressed doubt on whether the Wild could potentially include pending UFA forward Michael McCarron in a deal for Larkin, but did list center Danila Yurov and former Michigan State Spartan prospect forward Charlie Stramel as potential trade pieces.
"There's a deal there - Yurov, Charlie Stramel, and who knows what else," Friedman said. "It makes too much sense, but it's up to Yzerman, and it's up to Larkin."
Stramel, whom the Wild selected 21st overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, scored 19 goals with 25 assists in 37 games for Michigan State this season.
Yurov, selected by the Wild with the 24th overall pick in 2022, scored 12 goals and 15 assists in 73 games in his rookie season this year, and added another goal and two assists in nine postseason games.
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The Montreal Canadiens' top goal of the off-season should be to upgrade their second-line center spot. When looking at trade candidates around the league, New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal stands out in a major way for the Canadiens to consider.
If the Canadiens brought in Barzal, they would be adding an elite playmaker to their top six. This would be huge for a Canadiens club that will be looking to take another big step in the right direction next season.
Barzal could work beautifully on a line with Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov if acquired by the Canadiens. He would also give the Habs another major difference-maker for their power play, which would be huge.
Barzal would also be much more than a one-year rental for the Canadiens, which adds to his appeal. This is because Barzal has a $9.15 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season.
With all of this, Barzal is certainly a center who the Canadiens should consider making a real push for this off-season. Perhaps the Canadiens could make a blockbuster trade with the Islanders for the second summer in a row after how well the Noah Dobson deal paid off for Montreal.
In 81 games this season with the Islanders, Barzal posted 19 goals, 53 assists, 72 points, and a plus-10 rating.
