It’s hard to believe it’s now been 20 years since Claude Giroux was drafted into the NHL. Selected 22nd overall in 2006, Giroux’s name famously slipped the mind of Philadelphia Flyers GM Bobby Clarke when he walked up to the podium microphone that day.

Two decades later, Giroux has carved out a career that's been completely unforgettable.

A spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame probably awaits the man they call 'G,' because at 1,165 points in 1,345 NHL games, his numbers are just getting too good to ignore. But that's a question for another day.

The immediate question is this: How much longer does Giroux, one of the most respected men in hockey, actually want to play?

At 38, and coming off a one-year, bonus-laden deal signed last summer, Giroux is probably feeling a strong case of deja vu. He's a veteran UFA coming off another disappointing first-round defeat and ready to open offseason talks with the Sens again.

From a performance standpoint, GM Steve Staios might as well just print off a duplicate of Giroux's contract from last summer, because he was almost exactly the same player.

Staios signed Giroux to a one-year, $2 million extension for the 2025–26 season, which included an additional $2.75 million in performance bonuses.

As a sidebar, Giroux scooped up all the individual bonuses, but none of the $1.75 million attached to winning playoff rounds.

He did that while doing what he always does: staying healthy, leading, and producing. Giroux, who's missed only one game in four years with Ottawa, put up 49 points this season, just one less than the season before.

He also delivered a serious plus/minus turnaround, for those of you who are still serious about that stat, going from a -8 in 2025 to a +20 this season, second-best on the team.

But before contract talks begin, Giroux has to decide for sure if he wants to keep rolling. Although, based on his recent, season-ending media availability, it's pretty clear he does.

"Yeah, I think everybody does, but it's too early to even answer that question for me," Giroux said. "I need to calm down a little bit. I'm still a little fired up about (losing) the series, and sometimes you need to take a step back and give yourself a chance just to kinda chill and then see what's next."

It wasn't a firm commitment by any stretch, but he left the door wide open.

If there's a knock on Giroux, as we watch the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs where the pace of play is off the charts, the 38-year-old isn't the fastest guy out there. But that's been true for all of his years in Ottawa, and he's managed to overcome that with his offensive production, hockey IQ, faceoff ability, defence, and leadership.

He's also built a reputation for being a beast in the gym, which has helped slow the physical punishment that time doles out to all of us. But the mental grind of the NHL is another animal altogether, and it might be some time before Giroux recharges enough on both fronts to be completely sure about his future.

"Yeah, you wake up in the morning and it's hard to wrap your head around that the season's over, and it's frustrating for sure. Definitely, it takes a long time."

In the short term, Giroux will do what he always does this time of year: spend time with his young family here in Ottawa, decompress, and book a few tee times.

But when the dust eventually settles, he's still a man who wants a Cup before he goes, and there’s still a strong sense of unfinished business in Ottawa.

"The guys in that locker room, I love spending time with those guys. They make it fun coming to the rink, and they definitely keep me young, and being around them is... I feel very lucky."

That connection can’t be overlooked. If Brady Tkachuk signs an extension here next summer, that connection with the room will be the biggest reason why. Giroux is still a key part of the leadership here, helping to guide a core that took some big steps forward as one of the best teams in the NHL from January to April.

"Yeah, I think this year we dug ourselves in a little hole early in the season. And in the last two months, we were playing playoff hockey and played some really good hockey to get into the playoffs, and it's something that we should be proud of. But sitting here right now, it's not what we had planned."

With four years now under his belt in Ottawa, Giroux was part of some Senators teams that, to put it mildly, didn't stick to their identity. So he was pleased to see this one find its swagger, sticking to the process even when results didn't go their way for a long time.

"(I liked) the way we stuck to how we wanna play, our identity. Guys didn't start doing their own things, and we just believed that the way we play, we're gonna be successful. And usually that doesn't happen."

So where does that leave things for the wily veteran?

All signs point to another one-year deal that keeps Giroux wearing the centurion crest for at least one more run. In what appears to be an Ottawa-or-nothing situation. The fit is there, his role is clear, and the motivation is certainly still there as well. As any teammate will tell you, Giroux hates losing... at anything.

The final decision will come after Giroux gets the time he needs to step back and decompress. But based on his words, his play, and his connection to the boys in that locker room, it’s hard to imagine this NHL story ending just yet.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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

Thanks to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers are positioned nicely to add another extremely talented young player to their cupboard in the near future.

On Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs, perhaps unsurprisingly, won the NHL draft lottery outright, securing themselves the No. 1 overall pick and the rights to draft Gavin McKenna after a disastrous 2025-26 season.

Toronto, we can expect, will keep the first overall pick and select McKenna or another top prospect, which also means the Maple Leafs will be giving away their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.

The Maple Leafs originally traded a conditional 2026 first-round pick to the Boston Bruins for Brandon Carlo, with the conditions being top-five protection. Because the Maple Leafs won the first pick, that 2026 first-round pick slides to 2027.

But the Flyers received a conditional 2027 first-round pick from the Maple Leafs in the Scott Laughton trade, which is top-10 protected. So, if the 2027 first-round pick is another top-10 pick, the Maple Leafs will have to choose whether it goes to the Flyers or Bruins.

Maple Leafs Coach Heaps Big Praise Upon Rising Flyers ProspectToronto Maple Leafs head coach and former Philadelphia Flyers bench boss Craig Berube likes what he's seen from Nikita Grebenkin, one of his old players. And he knows there's room for plenty more as Grebenkin embarks on the next chapter of his NHL career with the Flyers.

The Maple Leafs and the Bruins are obviously rivals and play in the same division, and the Flyers will get the pick anyway if it is outside of the top 10.

To make a long story short, the only way the Flyers don't get the Maple Leafs' 2027 first-round pick is if they decide to give a top-10 pick to their division rival. We can assume that probably isn't going to happen.

As things stand, with all that said, the Flyers have their first-round pick this year, their own first and Toronto's first next year, as well as both second-round picks and three total third-round picks.

That's a lot of ammo to go out and trade for a good player.

We all know the Flyers need a No. 1 center and another really good defenseman, and the odds suggest they will find neither of those things in the 2026 draft since they are still alive in the playoffs.

Flyers Can Thank Maple Leafs for Exciting New Fan-Favorite ProspectThanks to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers have an exciting new prospect everyone is hoping makes the NHL roster out of training camp this fall.

But, with Toronto's pick, they could very well do that in 2027, should the Flyers decide not to trade that pick outright.

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews may or may not be out there on the NHL trade market, and players like Adam Fantilli, Shane Wright, Jason Robertson, Ivan Demidov, Kent Johnson, Alex Nikishin, Simon Edvinsson, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov are all RFAs this offseason or the next.

The Flyers will have a host of intriguing options available to them at multiple positions over the next two summers if they choose not to draft a player and accelerate the Stanley Cup timeline a bit.

And that all comes from trading a bottom-six forward like Scott Laughton at the NHL trade deadline.

Michael Augello and Ryan O’Hara are live on the thread to bring you every detail from tonight’s opening game of the Second Round Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres.

The Fans Are Pumped

Until this season, the Sabres had not reached the playoffs since 2010–11, when Ryan Miller was still their starting goaltender—the year after Team USA fell to Sidney Crosby and Team Canada in overtime of the Olympic gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

With that said, there’s every reason for Sabres fans to be excited — and, in this case, to have the celebratory balloons ready. But by no means will this be an easy series. The Canadiens proved in their opening-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning that they can win even while generating limited offense, though they will likely need to produce more shots on goal if they hope to reach the Eastern Conference Final.

Opening Period

That may have been one of the quickest penalties to start a playoff game in recent memory. Lane Hutson was called for tripping Zach Benson just 10 seconds into the game. It marked the ninth minor penalty Benson has drawn this postseason.

We’ve returned to 5-on-5 action after Buffalo failed to convert on the power play, though the Sabres generated several quality opportunities. There was also a brief stoppage after Josh Doan fired a wrister from the doorstep that knocked Montreal goaltender Jakob Dobes’ mask clean off.

Goal

Hutson endured an unfortunate start for the Canadiens. First came the penalty, then he rang a shot off the crossbar after his wrister deflected off Alex Lyon’s pad. Things got worse when he tripped and fell at center ice, leading to an odd-man rush for the Sabres. Josh Doan capitalized on the chance to give Buffalo an early lead.

LANE HUTSON LOSES THE PUCK AND THE SABRES MAKE HIM PAY IT'S 1-0 BUFFALO 😵‍💫🚨 pic.twitter.com/MSzGQUtYo6

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 6, 2026

Buffalo is doing a fantastic job, especially Logan Stanley, at clogging up lanes in front of the net. Montreal will have to get creative if they want to get some quality shots on net. 

Injury?

The aforementioned Stanley went down the tunnel after blocking a shot earlier in the period and the Canadiens are struggling to remain disciplined as their captain, Nick Suzuki, has gone to the box for tripping Bowen Byram. 

Power Play Goal Sabres 2 Canadiens 0

Ryan McLeod scored his first goal of the playoffs at 13:26, with Doan once again showing his playmaking ability by finding him in the slot to make it a 2–0 game. Montreal is getting overwhelmed by the relentless pressure.

Penalty Kill

Buffalo will have to kill off a penalty in the final 2:02 of the frame as Rasmus Dahlin was called for interference after sending Alex Newhook into the crossbar. Montreal will get an opportunity on the power play, but their star forward, Cole Caufield took a big hit from Jordan Greenway and was slow to get up.

But Montreal responded with a power play goal and it was Suzuki, their captain making up for his earlier penalty to put the Canadiens on the board.

NICK SUZUKI BURIES IT BACK DOOR AND THE HABS CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/M86DQdjc0X

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 6, 2026

The Sabres took a 2–1 lead into the dressing room at the end of the first period.

Takeaways

Montreal outshot Buffalo 10–6 in the opening frame, but the Sabres did a better job controlling the puck and generated the more dangerous scoring chances. The Canadiens struggled to stay out of the penalty box, and Hutson’s costly mistake at center ice led directly to Buffalo’s 2-on-1 opportunity.

The team that makes the fewest mistakes will likely win this game.

Second Period

We’re underway in Period 2.

Jordan Greenway made it a 3–1 game with his first goal of the postseason, restoring Buffalo’s two-goal advantage. The tally came moments after the Canadiens likely should have been penalized for too many men on the ice, but no call was made. It didn’t matter, as Greenway snapped a wrister through traffic that caught the edge of Dobes’ glove.

Following the goal, Dobes had now allowed three goals on nine shots. Greenway added the insurance marker despite managing just one goal in 40 regular-season games.

Buffalo earned its third power play of the game just past the seven-minute mark after Kaiden Guhle was called for cross-checking Tyson Kozak.

Another Power-Play Strike

This Buffalo team is dangerous.

A second power-play goal pushed the Sabres’ lead to three. Josh Doan provided a beautiful screen in front, and Bo Byram — who scored three goals in Buffalo’s first-round series win over the Boston Bruins — ripped a scintillating shot through traffic to make it 4–1.

At this point, Buffalo was making Montreal pay for every mistake.

Montreal Fights Back

The Canadiens weren’t done yet. With 3:29 remaining in the second period, Kirby Dach batted in his own rebound while falling to the ice, capping off a beautiful individual effort to pull Montreal within two.

The Sabres took a 4–2 lead into the third and likely final period.

Third Period

The Sabres grabbed the lead four-and-a-half minutes into the game and never gave it back. The final period was far more subdued compared to the opening two, but Buffalo wasn’t complaining. Four goals on 16 shots had them comfortably ahead with 2:50 remaining in regulation — but there was still some late drama.

Rasmus Dahlin headed down the tunnel and appeared to be limping, raising concern on the Buffalo bench after blocking a shot, but later returned. Montreal then pulled Dobes with 2:50 to play, and about 1:20 later, Lyon took a shot off the mask just before Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis called a timeout.

But time ultimately ran out, and the Sabres skated away with a 4–2 victory.

A major piece of the Buffalo Sabres’ depth could be nearing a return just in time for the second round.

According to NHL.com, veteran center Buffalo Sabres welcomed back Sam Carrick to practice Tuesday at KeyBank Center ahead of Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. It marked Carrick’s first full session with the club since suffering a left arm injury during a fight with Anders Lee of the New York Islanders on March 31.

The injury, which Carrick later described as a “freak accident,” originally came with a projected recovery window of four to eight weeks. Tuesday landed exactly five weeks from the date of the injury, and while he skated in a reserve role alongside extra forwards Tanner Pearson and Josh Dunne during line rushes, his return appears to be getting closer by the day.

“He’s out there right now getting some contact, and his fitness levels are good, everything. His return to play (plan), he’s worked really hard to be ready,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “So, it will be just a day-to-day decision on him now.”

For the time being, Buffalo appears set to roll with the same lineup that closed out its first-round series against the Boston Bruins in Game 6. Alex Lyon is expected to remain between the pipes, while Logan Stanley stays on the third defensive pairing.

Carrick, now 34 and skating for the fifth organization of his NHL career, credited Buffalo’s training and development staff for helping accelerate his recovery. He specifically pointed to assistant athletic trainer Michael Adesso and skating coach Mike Ansell for keeping him sharp while sidelined. Watching the postseason from afar, however, wasn’t exactly relaxing.

“Really figured [Boston] out after a few games, so credit to the guys,” said Carrick, who appeared in 10 playoff games with the 2024 Edmonton Oilers. “It was stressful for me to watch, but they did a great job.”

Why Carrick Matters To Buffalo’s Bottom-Six

Even in a small sample size after arriving from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, Carrick quickly carved out a meaningful role in Buffalo’s bottom six. In his Sabres debut against the Nashville Predators on March 7, he delivered two critical late defensive-zone faceoff wins to preserve a 3-2 victory. One night later, he chipped in a key goal during Buffalo’s wild 8-7 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

His impact extended well beyond scoring. Carrick posted a team-best 57.3 percent faceoff rate over 13 games with Buffalo, including an impressive 60.3 percent mark in the defensive zone. His right-handed presence down the middle gives the Sabres another option after relying heavily on left-shot centers like Dunne and Tyson Kozak during Round 1. That detail could become even more important against a Montreal squad that controlled 55.6 percent of faceoffs in its opening-round series against Tampa Bay.

Offensively, Carrick found another level after the trade, scoring five times in 13 games with Buffalo after managing just four goals in 60 contests with New York. His hot stretch included a two-goal performance against the San Jose Sharks and a third-period game-winner days later versus the Los Angeles Kings.

“I think all the goals were probably a bonus,” Ruff said, “but a real good bonus.”

Carrick also seemed to click almost immediately alongside winger Beck Malenstyn. No matter who rotated onto the opposite wing, the pair consistently tilted the ice in Buffalo’s favor. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sabres outshot opponents 62-33 and outscored them 8-2 during their 104 minutes together at five-on-five.

“Sometimes things just gel good, and we were able to connect for a few goals, which helps the confidence, for sure,” Carrick said of that instant chemistry. “I think we just play similar games. He can fly around, get in on the forecheck early, and I can play my game as a centerman where I’m trying to be in good spots for him.”

Buffalo believes Carrick’s return could provide a meaningful boost in a series where depth play and possession battles may prove decisive.

“It’s always tough, especially getting traded to a new team and then getting hurt,” Jason Zucker said. “But he was a huge impact for us when he got here, and we’re looking forward to having him back whenever he’s ready.”

The Sabres also had another young face back on the ice Tuesday, as 2024 first-round pick Konsta Helenius joined the club for practice duties. Helenius recorded four points in a nine-game NHL stint earlier this season before producing a strong sophomore campaign in Rochester, where he totaled 63 points. He has since joined Buffalo’s playoff group as a Black Ace and, notably, has been the only extra forward skating regularly with the team.

When asked about Helenius’ presence, Ruff cited the need for another center at practice with Noah Ostlund sidelined by a lower-body injury. Still, the situation could become more relevant if another injury opens the door for the highly regarded prospect later in the series.

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night by a 5-2 final score. With this, the Avalanche now have a 2-0 series lead over Minnesota. 

Former Canadiens Brett Kulak played a role in the Avalanche's Game 2 win over the Wild, as he put together a strong performance.

Kulak recorded two assists in the Avalanche's victory over the Wild. His first assist came on Martin Necas' game-opening goal at the 2:51 mark of the first period that gave Colorado a 1-0 lead. Kulak then recorded the primary assist on Valeri Nichushkin's third-period empty-net goal that helped secure the Avalanche's victory.

With this two-assist performance, Kulak now has three points and a plus-3 rating in six games so far this post-season with the Avalanche. Overall, the former Canadiens' blueline is having a solid start to the playoffs and will be looking to keep this kind of play up from here. 

Kulak spent four seasons with the Canadiens from 2018-19 to 2021-22. In 215 games with the Habs over that span, he had 11 goals, 34 assists, 45 points, 258 hits, and a plus-45 rating. 

On Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Anaheim Ducks for Game 2 of their Second Round series. They’ve won four in a row and will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over their postseason opponent.

Puck drop is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. PST.

The teams last clashed on Monday for Game 1. The Golden Knights led for most of the game, but allowed the tying goal late. However, they quickly recovered, regained the lead on a controversial no-call, and won 3-1.

Carter Hart starts in goal for the Golden Knights. Hart has a record of 5-2 and an average save percentage of .910 in seven games this postseason.

Lukáš Dostál starts in goal for the Ducks. Dostál has a record of 4-3 and an average save percentage of .878 in seven games this postseason. 

Golden Knights Lines

Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev

Brett Howden — Mitch Marner — Mark Stone

Tomáš Hertl — William Karlsson — Keegan Kolesar

Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Colton Sissons

Defense

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson

Ben Hutton — Kaedan Korczak

Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill

Ducks Lines

Chris Kreider — Leo Carlsson — Troy Terry

Alex Killorn — Mikael Granlund — Beckett Sennecke

Mason McTavish — Ryan Poehling — Cutter Gauthier

Jeffrey Viel — Tim Washe — Ian Moore

Defense

Jackson LaCombe — Jacob Trouba

Pavel Mintyukov — John Carlson

Tyson Hinds — Drew Helleson

Goaltenders: Lukáš Dostál / Ville Husso 

Special Teams

VGK power play: 18.2%, T7th

VGK penalty kill: 95.0, 2nd

Ducks power play: 40.0%, T1st

Ducks penalty kill: 75.0%, 14th

Game Notes

The Golden Knights are 10-9 in Game 2s in their franchise history.

Historically, teams 5 that take a 2-0 series lead go on to win 87.6% of the time.

Mitch Marner is on a four-game point streak and has three goals and seven points over that stretch.

Brett Howden has a goal in four straight games and has recorded six points (5-1-6) in that stretch.

How to Watch

TV: TNT, truTV

Streaming: HBO MAX

Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 94.7/1340

The San Jose Sharks have been a team on the rise and although they played themselves out of wild-card contention toward the end of the season, there's a lot of hope in Silicon Valley following the NHL draft lottery.

San Jose was awarded the second pick of the 2026 NHL draft, following the draft lottery.

The Sharks finished the 2025-26 season with a 39-35 record, eight overtime losses and 86 total points, just on the outside of the postseason race. But San Jose's youth gave a glimpse at its future potential.

The Sharks have been building their team through the draft, earning a top-10 selection in four of the past five drafts. The cycle continues with this surprising luck of the draw for Sharks general manager Mike Grier.

"Shocked really," Grier told reporters about landing the No. 2 pick. "You never know what's going to happen and how the how the balls are going to bounce. So, yeah, happy and excited. It's a good day for the organization. A little bit surprised and happy and fortunate."

WINNERS/LOSERS: NHL draft lottery winners, losers include Maple Leafs, Canucks

With the results of the 2026 NHL draft lottery, the St. Louis Blues now know they will make the 11th and 15th picks in the draft. 

Unfortunately, the Blues won’t be moving up in the draft order, but they also thankfully didn’t fall. 

The Blues have done an excellent job making selections in this range, so Blues fans can still feel assured that the scouting department can find someone who will be a viable NHL player. Still, the chances are they won’t reach the levels of players like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.

But what if the Blues use the 11th and 15th overall picks to move up in the draft? Is this a possible outcome, and how high can the Blues move up?

To answer the first question, the Blues haven’t said outright whether they will or won’t do it, but it remains an option. The Blues’ prospect pool is deep across multiple positions, but it doesn’t feature a franchise-altering player.

By looking at TheHockeyNews.com’s mock draft, the Blues would be in position to select Viggo Bjorck, a skilled Swedish center with the 11th overall pick, and Ryan Lin, a silky Canadian defender with the 15th overall pick. 

Bjorck’s talent should result in him being selected higher in the draft, so there is possible superstar value in selecting Bjorck, but even then, chances are he doesn’t hit the levels of a top-five player.

Blues Lose Out On Draft Lottery, Will Pick No. 11, 15 In First Round Along With Avalanche Pick At End of First RoundBlues had just three percent chance of winning top overall pick, 0.5 percent chance of moving up 10 spots with Red Wings' pick

So realistically, what pick could the Blues acquire in a package with the 11th and 15th pick? It likely won’t get them into the top three, although the San Jose Sharks are a trade-back candidate. 

The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers need high-end skill, so they may not be willing to move. But the Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, and Florida Panthers could all be intrigued by moving down. 

In all, the Blues may not have a coveted top-five pick, but they do have options, and they could be one of the more interesting teams to watch at the draft. 

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 Buffalo Sabres kick off their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. This has the potential to be an excellent series between two very talented Atlantic Division rivals. 

However, it is clear that the Sabres have a big challenge in front of them heading into the series: solving Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes. 

Dobes helped carry the Canadiens past the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-round series due to his excellent play. In seven games so far this post-season, the Canadiens netminder has a 4-3 record, a 2.03 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. With this, Dobes undoubtedly is entering this series on a hot streak. 

Dobes also ended his series against the Lightning on a strong note. This is because he had a .950 save percentage or better in each of his last three starts against the Bolts. This included him stopping 28 out of 29 Lightning shots in the Canadiens' Game 7 win. 

The Sabres will now be looking to end Dobes' hot streak this series. If the Sabres can get the 24-year-old goalie off his game, it would be huge for them as they look to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. 

The Montreal Canadiens play Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night. The Canadiens will look to start their series against Buffalo with a win on the road. 

Based on the team's morning skate, the Canadiens could have a different-looking roster for Game 1. 

As reported by RDS' Patrick Friolet, Brendan Gallagher and Jayden Struble skated with the Canadiens' extras during their morning skate. In addition, Joe Veleno and Arber Xhekaj skated with the main group.

Gallagher, who turned 34 today, has one goal and a plus-1 rating in three games so far this post-season for the Canadiens.

Struble played in all seven games of the Canadiens' first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he had zero points and a plus-3 rating. 

If Veleno gets into the lineup, it would be the first playoff game of his NHL career. In 61 regular-season games this year with the Habs, he had two goals, five points, 166 hits, and a minus-12 rating. 

As for Xhekaj, he has one assist, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating in six playoff games so far this spring with the Canadiens. 

The Ducks felt good about their play in Game 1, despite failing to take a 1-0 series lead. The Golden Knights, despite winning the game, felt that they did not play as well as the Ducks.

"I think we kind of dictated the game for most of it," Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke said. "Especially the first period. We came out a lot better than they did."

"I thought across the board, we had everyone contributing and we had the energy we were looking for and speed and pace" Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "We had some good opportunities, we missed some great chances as well."

While it may be concerning that Vegas was able to win a game where they felt like they weren't at their best, the Ducks believe that they were right in it until the end, just like Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers.

"It's little things, breakdowns," Sennecke said. "That unfortunate call that we thought should have been icing. But it's more of the same."

"I thought we played a good game," Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier said. There's a couple mistakes we need to clean up. Not playing this team in a little bit here, we knew what to expect, but we didn't really know what to expect going into it. It's a good challenge. They've got a great team and it's going to be fun to compete against them again tonight."

"I think that's what playoffs is," Ducks forward Ryan Poehling said. "Maybe a little cat and mouse where maybe they didn't play their best (in Game 1) and stole one from us. But, from our standpoint, you just know that they're going to come out harder. They're going to make adjustments, they're going to be tougher on us, try to slow us down."

Anaheim's power play went 0-for-4 in Game 1, but Quenneville said he liked the looks they got, also noting that they won't be able to score on the power play every single game.

"They did a good job against us," Quenneville said. "They've got great sticks. The time and space is a lot tighter. We had a couple looks, but at the same time, we had one of those special series in the last one where we don't expect to be scoring at that rate. But I still thought there was enough momentum in our power play opportunities, our possession and zone time that the power play was still effective in what they had to do. It's just a matter, now, of trying to find a goal to get it going."

"Edmonton kind of lets you hang onto it a little bit more," Sennecke said of the opposing penalty kill setup. "Vegas comes with a lot of pressure, so that's just kind of having a good middle release. That's kind of something we went over yesterday and this morning. Winning the draw is a huge part of the power play, I think we went 0-for-5."

Troy Terry will play in Game 2 despite missing the morning skate due to maintenance, which has been the norm for the past month or so. Radko Gudas, who has been out with a lower-body injury since Game 1 of the Oilers series, participated in morning skate for the second consecutive gameday, but will not play in Game 2.

Ducks Projected Lines

Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier
Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore

Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson
Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Golden Knights Projected Lines

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden - Mitch Marner - Mark Stone
Tomáš Hertl - William Karlsson - Keegan Kolesar
Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Colton Sissons

Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak

Carter Hart (confirmed)

Related articles:

Anaheim Ducks Rival Sharks to Draft Second Overall

Beckett Sennecke Calder Trophy Finalist

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

Belief, Short Memory Can Help Ducks Beat Golden Knights

With the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks winning the top two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks fell to pick number four. Like the Blackhawks, the Vancouver Canucks also dropped two spots into the third selection. 

After the lottery concluded, GM Kyle Davidson was adamant that he would take the best player available with the fourth overall pick. 

Most people believe that Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are the two best players in the draft, or at least will be the top two prospects selected, but there is a world where one of them falls to the Blackhawks at four. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are almost certainly going to take one of them. Their new Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations, Mats Sundin, is Swedish. He may have a heavy influence on landing the Swedish-born Stenberg. There is also the possibility that they go with the Canadian-born star McKenna. 

Second overall, the Sharks may consider a defenseman because their pipeline is thin at that position in terms of high-end talent. They have one of the best farm systems in the league, but it's mostly based on elite forwards. One of the big three defenders in the draft makes more sense for them than any winger or center. 

Third overall is a wild card, too. The Vancouver Canucks, in a situation where the Sharks take a defenseman, may still go with Caleb Malhotra over whichever one the Leafs leave behind. 

Malhotra is the son of former NHL player Manny Malhotra, who also happens to be the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver's AHL affiliate. Their scouting department is a fan of the player, more than just because of his name. 

If that's the way that the first three picks go, the Blackhawks will see one of those two forwards (McKenna/Stenberg) fall to them. Both of their playstyles would fit into the organization right away. 

Gavin McKenna has off-ice communication with Connor Bedard, and Ivar Stenberg is more than familiar with Anton Frondell, both on and off the ice. Each player having an olive branch to the organization would make the transition easier. 

This is all a hypothetical situation because nobody truly knows what Toronto, San Jose, or Vancouver will be thinking come June, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. 

The Blackhawks need a forward with star potential more than a defenseman, but if McKenna, Stenberg, and Malhotra are all gone, they may go with a potential franchise blue-liner. The Sharks are the wild card in that regard. 

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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.