Johnston, posting on X on Saturday, May 30, reported the family will donate the brain of the four-time Stanley Cup champion to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center "for research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury."
Johnston reported Lemieux's family made the decision with a desire to improve the lives of others.
"'The family emphasizes that this decision is a gift to science, to athletes and to future generations of families seeking answers. No conclusion should be drawn at this time regarding any diagnosis,'" Johnston's post, which includes a statement from the family, reads.
The Palm County Medical Examiner's Office told USA TODAY Sports in response to an open records request that "all public records you have requested for Claude Lemieux are exempt from public records as specified under SB 474 - FS 406.135. (2) (c)."
The Floridastatute cited by the Palm County Medical Examiner’s Office was enacted in 2024 and exempts photos, videos, audio recordings and autopsy reports related to suicide victims from general public records requests.
There have been several studies on the possible connection with suicide and CTE. A 2021 study conducted by a group of scientists from Switzerland, Italy and other countries surveyed the effects of CTE on boxers, hockey players and football players.
"Progressive neuropsychiatric symptoms resulting from CTE could lead to suicidal ideation (SI) and eventually suicidal behaviour (SB), especially the more severe forms of SB such as medical serious suicide attempt (SA) and completed suicide," the study said. "For example, CTE was confirmed in post-mortem examinations of over 100 former National Football League players and it was hypothesized that suicide in four of them could have resulted from CTE-induced behavioural changes, but it is difficult to make a direct connection in these cases."
Red Wings Will Rule - June 19, 1998 - Vol. 51, Issue 37 - Bob McKenzie
Here’s a little something for Washington Capitals’ coach Ron Wilson to pin on his team’s bulletin board: The Capitals will not win the Stanley Cup. In fact, they’ll be lucky to win a game against the Detroit Red Wings in this year’s final.
There, we said it and Wilson, the master motivator and one of the most colorful characters in the game today, will eat it up.
Fine, if we could put Wayne Gretizky’s Los Angeles Kings into the 1993 Cup final-something about Gretzky skating like he had “a piano on his back"-we have no problem providing some added inspiration for the Caps in their first-ever Cup final appearance.
Besides, the Capitals need all the help they can get to compete against a team as talented and driven as Scotty Bowman’s Red Wings.
The only thing that stands in the way of this being an utter mismatch is Washington netminder Olie Kol-zig, who enters the Cup final as the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Kolzig, not Dominik Hasek, had been the NHL’s best playoff netminder this spring. Kolzig was consistent, something Hasek wasn’t, and brilliant, too. He had a goals-against average of 1.69 and save percentage of .946, both league leaders.
Heading into the final, the Caps had a 12-5 playoff record. They were outshot in 14 of those 17 games and often by a wide margin.
But it’s one thing to play sloppy hockey against the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres and have your goaltender bail you out. It is quite another, however, to do it against the Wings, who may not be as thoroughly dominant as they were a year ago, but are still a force with which to be reckoned.
The key to Red Wing success is depth and balance. Players such as Brendan Shanahan and Sergei Fedorov can misfire for a whole series, but Detroit’s depth was still good enough to beat the Dallas Stars, the NHL’s regular season titlist, in six games.
The Wings have four lines that can check and score: Steve Yzerman between Brent Gilchrist and Darren McCarty; Igor Larionov between Shanahan and Martin Lapointe; Fedorov between Tomas Holmstrom and Slava Kozlov; and the grind line of Kris Draper between Kirk Maltby and Joey Kocur, with Doug Brown ready to step into any role on any line. And Bowman mixes and matches his lines better than anyone in the game.
On the blueline, the almost error free pair of Nicklas Lidström and Larry Murphy lead the way. The Wings rely a little too much on the thirtysomething pair of Bob Rouse and Jamie Macoun, but if they could get the job done against the physically punishing Stars, they’ll get it done against the Capitals. Rookie Anders Eriksson and aged veteran Slava Fetisov comprise the third set with Dmitri Mironov and Aaron Ward providing the depth.
Certainly, after giving up longshot goals in Game 3 against the Phoenix Coyotes (Jeremy Roenick), Game 4 against the St. Louis Blues (Al Macln-nis) and Game 5 against Dallas (Jamie Langenbrunner), Wings’ netminder Chris Osgood has something to prove. But he has shown tremendous resilience in these playoffs. While Washington has an edge over Detroit in goal, it’s not as wide as Osgood’s detractors would have you believe.
Entering the final, Osgood rated at the Wings’ No. 2 candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The leading contender was captain Yzerman, for his complete game approach. Lid-ström, and to a lesser degree, Fedorov also rate some consideration, pending how they perform in the final.
No one should suggest the Caps aren’t full value for their first appearance in the final. If the Wings don’t show them respect, the Caps can jump up and bite them, especially if Kolzig remains true to form.
Wilson has two good offensive lines: Andrei Nikolishin between Peter Bondra and rookie star-in-waiting Richard Zednik; and savvy veteran Adam Oates between the recycled, but useful Brian Bellows and scoring hero Joey Juneau. And he got good mileage from a grinding line of Dale Hunter between Craig Berube and Chris Simon and a utility unit of Esa Tikkanen between Kelly Miller and Mike Eagles, with Michal Pivonka (bruised shoulder) and Todd Krygier (sprained knee) possibly available.
That fourth line for the Caps may find itself mismatched against any one of the Detroit lines.
The Hockey News’ scouting report (see opposite page) suggests the Detroit forwards have a significant edge in two categories-speed and competitiveness.
It’s true the Washington defense corps is, generally speaking, more mobile than Detroit’s, but what those numbers don’t reveal is how much the Caps rely on so few.
Mark Tinordi and Calle Johansson, the top pair, play a ton, as do stay-at-home Joe Reekie and offensive threat Sergei Gonchar, who often sees more than 30 minutes. The tandem of Brendan Witt and Phil Housley doesn’t play a lot, only 10 to 12 minutes some games. If it does play more against Detroit, the Wings will take advantage.
The flip side, though, is that it’s difficult to shut down Detroit using primarily four defensemen.
The Wings aren’t a particularly punishing team, but the pressure they exert with speed and puck control should break down a Washington defense that hasn’t been tested to this degree.
Another Capital weakness is their play along the boards. They got away with some sloppy efforts against Boston, Ottawa and Buffalo, three teams that simply don’t play with the same tenacity and consistency as the Wings. Enter THN’s Scouting Report and the Wings’ decided edge in spirit (competitiveness).
According to other NHL teams’ playoff scouting reports, the Caps will often leave their No. 1 power play unit, headed by Oates, on for 90 seconds. The Wings’ speedy and aggressive penalty killers could also take advantage of that.
But breaking down a series on paper is always easier than doing it on the ice. There is the Kolzig factor for the Wings to consider and the fact that the Caps are prohibitive underdogs will create a nothing-to-lose mindset that should permit Washington to play a relaxed, pressure-free game.
That said, it’s clear the Wings have better personnel than the Capitals. The Caps have good experience but so, too, do the Wings.
In each of the past three Cup finals, we’ve been shocked by four-game sweeps by the New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and Detroit, respectively. If it happens this year, there’ll be no surprise.
THN’s pre-playoff Stanley Cup pick was Detroit. We see no reason to change it.
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The Chicago Blackhawks announced the death of Dennis Hull on Saturday, May 30. He was 81 years old.
The five-time All-Star left winger was the brother of Hall of Famer Bobby Hull and recorded 298 regular-season goals in the Windy City. He also was a member of Team Canada when they beat the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series.
“The Chicago Blackhawks are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dennis Hull earlier this morning," Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. "Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career built on his scoring ability and consistency, leaving lasting contributions not only to the Blackhawks franchise, but to the game itself.
"Known around the league for his immense skill, toughness and intelligence, Dennis was as dominant on the ice as he was beloved off it. He often drew on his sharp wit and sense of humor to keep the locker room loose, while his warmth and humility made everyone he met feel welcome.
"On behalf of the Wirtz family and the entire Blackhawks organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dennis’s family, friends and teammates, and the many fans who adored him."
Dennis' nephew, Bart, also shared the news of his passing on Instagram. A cause of death has not been revealed at the time of publication.
Dennis, who was known as the "Silver Jet," played 13 of his 14 NHL seasons with the Blackhawks, who signed him ahead of the 1964-1965 season after a stint with the St. Catharines Black Hawks, an amateur team in Ontario, Canada.
He played eight of those with Bobby, the "Golden Jet," who died in 2023 at age 84. Chicago made the playoffs all but once while Dennis was on the team, including reaching the Stanley Cup Final three times, which they lost each time. He finished his career with one season with the Detroit Red Wings.
On Saturday, with a heavy heart, the Chicago Blackhawks announced the passing of long-time great Dennis Hull. At 81 years old, Hull leaves behind a legacy that few could match both on and off the ice.
Hull played for the Blackhawks for 13 seasons, and then finished off his NHL career with one as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
Eight of those 13 seasons with Chicago were spent playing with his brother, the legendary Bobby Hull. Dennis wasn't the Hall of Fame legend that his brother Bobby was, but he was still a high-level difference-maker.
In 904 games with Chicago, Hull had 298 goals, 342 assists, and 640 points. In his final year with the Red Wings, he had five goals, so he did eclipse the 300-goal plateau.
Dennis was a five-time all-star, including the season (1972-73) in which he had a career-high 90 points. Like his brother, Dennis was a great goal scorer. He had 20 or more 7 times, and 30 or more four times. He even reached 40 goals once in 1970-71.
Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz made a statement on Dennis Hull's passing:
"The Chicago Blackhawks are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dennis Hull earlier this morning. Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career built on his scoring ability and consistency, leaving lasting contributions not only to the Blackhawks franchise but to the game itself.
Known around the league for his immense skill, toughness, and intelligence, Dennis was as dominant on the ice as he was beloved off it. He often drew on his sharp wit and sense of humor to keep the locker room loose, while his warmth and humility made everyone he met feel welcome.
On behalf of the Wirtz family and the entire Blackhawks organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dennis’s family, friends, and teammates, and the many fans who adored him."
on behalf of the Wirtz family and Chicago Blackhawks organization, we mourn the passing of Dennis Hull❤️
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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
CHICAGO (AP) — Dennis Hull, the two-way NHL forward who starred alongside superstar older brother Bobby Hull with the Chicago Blackhawks and helped Canada win the 1972 Summit Series, died Friday night, according to brother Garry. He was 81.
Nephew Bart Hull confirmed Hull's death on social media Saturday, and the Blackhawks followed that with a statement from owner Danny Wirtz. No other details were available.
Hull played 13 of 14 seasons in the league with Chicago before one final year with the Detroit Red Wings. He appeared in five All-Star Games and was voted a second-team NHL All-Star in 1972-73.
"Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career built on his scoring ability and consistency, leaving lasting contributions not only to the Blackhawks franchise but to the game itself," Wirtz said. “Known around the league for his immense skill, toughness and intelligence, Dennis was as dominant on the ice as he was beloved off it. He often drew on his sharp wit and sense of humor to keep the locker room loose, while his warmth and humility made everyone he met feel welcome.”
While brother Bobby was excluded from playing for Canada against the Soviet Union in '72 because he was in the World Hockey Association, Dennis went and had two goals and two assists in four games, playing on a line with New York Rangers stars Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.
Hull had 303 goals and 351 assists for 654 points in 959 regular-season NHL games. He had another 67 points in 104 games in the playoffs, during an era Chicago came close but never won the Stanley Cup.
Bobby Hull, the Hall of Famer known as the “Golden Jet,” died at 84 in January 2023.
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This story has been changed to correct the first name of the Blackhawks owner to Danny.
Even with the Buffalo Sabres officially out of the postseason picture after a six-game series loss to the Montreal Canadiens, one of their youngest rising talents has continued to build momentum in a way that feels increasingly impossible to ignore.
That storyline is Konsta Helenius, who has taken what was a brief but eye-opening NHL introduction and turned it into a full-blown statement across both the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the international stage at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Even though Buffalo’s postseason ended in disappointment with a six-game series loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Helenius finished the matchup with 2 goals in 4 playoff games, showing he wasn’t just along for the ride. He had already quietly posted 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points across 9 regular-season NHL games, hinting early that the ceiling might be far higher than originally expected.
A Playoff Cameo That Turned Into A Statement
When head coach Lindy Ruff made the decision to insert Helenius into the lineup for Game 4 against Montreal, it came with real weight behind it. The Sabres were trying to stay alive in a tight series, and the move also carried the added risk of burning a year of his entry-level contract. It wasn’t a casual look—it was a trust fall in a pressure situation.
Helenius didn’t flinch.
Across his four playoff appearances, he scored twice, looked increasingly comfortable with the pace, and finished with a +1 rating. More than the numbers, though, it was the way he played—direct, confident, and unafraid of contact or tempo. Even as Buffalo ultimately bowed out in six games, Helenius left the kind of impression that lingers well beyond the final horn.
From NHL Ice To International Pressure Cooker
If his playoff stint turned heads, his work at the World Championship has only reinforced the idea that he’s trending in the right direction.
On the international stage, Helenius has carried that same confidence into meaningful minutes for Finland, helping push the team into the final with a 4–2 semifinal win over Canada. And it wasn’t a soft matchup by any measure—Finland had to deal with a loaded Canadian roster featuring Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, Robert Thomas, and Morgan Rielly Sidney Crosby Macklin Celebrini Robert Thomas Morgan Rielly.
The defining moment came in the second period of a 2–2 game, when Helenius found space behind the defense, created separation in tight quarters, and slipped the puck five-hole to break the tie. It was the kind of finish that reflects not just skill, but composure under pressure.
Through five tournament games, he now sits at two goals and three assists, and only Aleksander Barkov has matched his distinction of recording both a goal and an assist in the semifinal for Finland.
The Sky Is The Limit In Buffalo’s Long-Term Picture
For the Sabres, the bigger picture is starting to come into focus quickly. Helenius’ brief NHL sample already showed production with 1 goal and 3 assists in 9 regular-season games, followed by a playoff stretch where he added 2 more goals in 4 appearances. Add in what he’s doing internationally, and the trajectory is becoming harder to downplay.
There are still decisions to be made in Buffalo this offseason, but one of the cleaner ones might already be in front of them. Helenius hasn’t just looked ready for more NHL games—he’s looked like he belongs in them. And at this stage, with every new performance stacking on top of the last, the phrase that keeps coming up around him feels less like hype and more like reality: the sky is the limit.
A towering figure of playoff-era NHL hockey, Claude Lemieux is being remembered through a more complicated emotional lens in the aftermath of his death, as friends and colleagues describe the quiet burdens he may have carried away from the spotlight.
A Legacy Shadowed By Internal Struggles
Réjean Tremblay, a longtime Montreal hockey columnist and close friend of Lemieux for more than 30 years, suggested in an interview published Saturday that unresolved feelings tied to recognition and legacy weighed heavily on the former NHL forward.
“He always lived this as an injustice, a heavy burden to bear,” Réjean Tremblay, Montreal hockey columnist and friend who knew Lemieux for 30 years, told The New York Post in an interview published on Saturday, May 30, claiming that the late hockey star was “deeply sensitive to rejection” and, as a result, never got over the fact that he wasn’t inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame following his 2009 retirement.
“The sense of rejection ran deeper than one might have imagined,” Tremblay further claimed. “He took it very hard.”
The NHL legend was found dead on Thursday, May 28, by one of his three sons. He was 60. His death was later ruled a suicide.
Final Appearances, Reflections, And A Shifting Perspective
In the months leading up to his passing, Lemieux made several public appearances that now stand out in a different light to those reflecting on his final chapter.
On December 11, Lemieux attended the Panthers-Avalanche game at Ball arena where the organization honored its 1996 Stanley Cup-winning team, a group he played a key role on during his years in Denver. During the event, he briefly spoke with reporters and reflected on the evolution of the modern NHL, expressing appreciation for the league’s increased focus on player safety. He noted that today’s game was "cleaner” than during his playing days, when frequent on-ice fights and physical confrontations were a defining part of the sport.
“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game Players in hockey history,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. Lemieux — who played for 21 seasons in the NHL between 1983 and 2009 — is survived by his wife, Deborah, daughter Claudia, and sons Brendan, Christopher and Michael.
“I love you dad! My son [Luc’s] favorite person is going to watch from above for a while,” Lemieux’s son Brendan wrote via Instagram, breaking his silence in the wake of his father’s shocking death. “We will see you.”
The NHL star’s death came just three days after he made an emotional appearance at Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, May 25, where he served as a torchbearer prior to puck drop. Lemieux played for Montreal from 1983 to 1990 and was a part of the 1986 Stanley Cup team alongside Patrick Roy.
“It’s possible that surge of love, that wave of love on Monday evening, triggered an emotion that was too intense,” Tremblay claimed to The New York Post, citing other friends of Lemieux, per the outlet. “It might have reawakened old pains, old suffering.”
Colombe Lacroix, another close friend of the hockey star who was reportedly at the scene with the surviving family on Thursday, per The New York Post, said Lemieux had been “going through a difficult time” and was allegedly “depressed” prior to his death.
“They didn’t expect that at all,” she added of the player’s death by suicide. “They never saw it coming. It’s so devastating, everyone is upside down.”
The widow of former Colorado Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix, who became close with Lemieux and his wife during his years in Colorado from 1995 to 1999, recalled a final personal moment shared with the former forward.
“I held Claude in my arms, and I said thank you for being there for me,” she told The New York Post on Saturday. “He left our world too soon and I hope he’s in a better palace and that he’s happy.”
Jared Bednar suddenly finds himself at the center of speculation, and if the Colorado Avalanche decide to make a change, half of Canada could be lining up to bring him home.
Silence From Colorado Continues
Bednar remains under contract with the Colorado Avalanche for one more season, yet his future has become one of the biggest unanswered questions of the NHL offseason.
Under normal circumstances, extending the longest-tenured coach in franchise history would feel like a formality. Bednar delivered a Stanley Cup championship in 2022, guided Colorado to a Presidents' Trophy this season, and has consistently kept the Avalanche among the league's elite contenders.
But playoff exits change the conversation.
Colorado entered the postseason with legitimate championship expectations before suffering a stunning sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. The manner of the defeat has fueled debate about whether the organization needs a new voice behind the bench.
As of Friday afternoon, the Avalanche had yet to publicly address Bednar's status. No season-ending media availability has been announced, and the organization continues to operate in silence.
That uncertainty has only intensified the speculation.
Canada Could Be Waiting
If Colorado ultimately decides to move on, Bednar likely wouldn't spend much time unemployed.
The veteran coach has built one of the strongest résumés in hockey over the last decade, making him an immediate target for teams searching for leadership and stability.
According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, two Canadian franchises are already worth watching.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers would both be "very curious" if Bednar hit the market.
Pagnotta made those comments during an appearance on the "Morning Cuppa Hockey" podcast with Jonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen.
The timing is notable.
There is a reason the coaching carousel has slowed. The Maple Leafs and Oilers remain without permanent replacements, and the possibility of Bednar becoming available could be enough to keep both organizations from pulling the trigger on another candidate.
If the Avalanche do make the difficult choice to move on, Canada could very well attempt to bring one of the game's premier coaches back north of the border.
For now, however, all eyes remain on Colorado.
The longer the Avalanche stay quiet, the more people wonder whether Bednar's future is already being decided behind closed doors.
When future hockey historians look back at the 2025-26 New York Islanders, they'll see a team that faded down the stretch and missed the playoffs after a promising start.
They'll also see that the Carolina Hurricanes have an outsized role in this particular Islanders season, with countless major events for the Islanders coming against or as a result of the Hurricanes.
The Islanders only played Carolina three times this season, and went 0-3-0 along the way, completely swept.
The first meeting came all the way back on October 30, when the Hurricanes trounced the Islanders 6-2, an ugly mark.
Matthew Schaefer scored his third of the season that night, the lone bright spot in an otherwise tough loss.
That meeting was relatively quiet and does not carry too much significance.
Then came the April meetings.
The Islanders faced Carolina twice in their final five games of the season. First, they took on the Hurricanes in Raleigh on April 4, then the regular season finale took place in UBS Arena against the Hurricanes.
The Islanders entered April 4 with a three-game losing streak and fading chances at the playoffs. They desperately needed two points to keep themselves afloat.
Then, the Hurricanes dismantled the Islanders in overall play.
Despite 1-0 and 2-1 leads for the Islanders in the first two periods, the Hurricanes decimated the Islanders.
Carolina outshot the Islanders 13-4 in the first period. The Hurricanes outshot the Islanders 18-2 in the second period.
After two periods, the shots on goal were 31-6 for Carolina, but the score only read 3-2.
24 seconds into the third, Seth Jarvis made it 4-2, and that was it.
The Hurricanes' dismantling of the Islanders was the final nail in the coffin for the Roy era on Long Island.
It's fitting that the Islanders' final game of the season then came against Carolina, with DeBoer's first three games behind him.
With the Islanders officially eliminated from the playoffs, DeBoer publicly stated he wanted to see some future players for the Islanders come get their chance in the season finale.
Victor Eklund, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut against the Hurricanes, notching his first-career point on a power play.
Eklund made a beautiful seam pass to Mathew Barzal, who then found Bo Horvat in front for a tap-in goal.
In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson looked at five players in the NHL who could be bought out during the off-season. Among the players discussed was Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.
"The Canadiens have over $10.9 million in cap space for next season. Buying out Gallagher's final season would free up an additional $2.7 million to put toward bolstering their roster. It won't be a popular move among Habs fans, but it might be better for him and the team if he no longer fits in their plans," Richardson wrote.
If the Canadiens bought out Gallagher, it would undoubtedly be a significant move. After all, the 34-year-old winger has spent the entirety of his 14-year career with the Canadiens.
Yet, at the same time, the Canadiens are entering the off-season with some roster needs to address and not a ton of cap space to work with. Due to this, Gallagher being viewed as a potential buyout candidate heading into the summer is understandable. This is especially so when noting that his $6.5 million cap hit is expensive for his current role and what he provides at this stage in his career.
Gallagher appeared in 77 games this season with the Canadiens, where he recorded seven goals, 23 points, and 98 hits. He also played in three games for the Habs during the playoffs, scoring one goal. He was scratched for all of Montreal's series against both the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes.
However, given all that Gallagher has provided for the Canadiens, it would also be understandable if they gave him the chance to try to have a bounce-back year for them in 2026-27. Keep in mind, just back during the 2024-25 season, Gallagher had 21 goals and 38 points in 82 games.
Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see what the Canadiens end up doing with Gallagher this off-season.
The backup goalie market in the NHL is always a carousel, and the Philadelphia Flyers may find themselves interested in the latest name to hitch a ride on it.
This year's free agent class at the goalie position is actually quite poor, with Stuart Skinner being the clear best option and Connor Ingram, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Daniil Tarasov right behind him.
But, with backup goalie Sam Ersson's performances only worsening over time, and after three consecutive seasons at or below a .890 save percentage, the Flyers can't afford to run it back with him anymore.
The trade market is a natural, but slightly less affordable, alternative to free agency, and the Flyers would be wise to look for some deals and take advantage of other teams' situations.
One such example of this is the Montreal Canadiens, who saw incumbent starter Sam Montembeault cede his role to breakout star Jakub Dobes, then lose a lineup spot altogether to top prospect Jacob Fowler.
Montembeault, 29, stumbled to a 10-8-4 record, a 3.43 GAA, and .872 save percentage this season, with the latter comfortably being a career-worst mark.
So, while Montembeault wasn't much better than Ersson and his 14-11-5 record, 3.12 GAA, and .870 save percentage this past season, he does have a track record of being a productive rotational goalie.
In his three previous seasons with the Canadiens, Montembeault was 63-58-19 with a 3.08 GAA and .902 save percentage.
Unspectacular, to be clear, but an upgrade on Ersson's 65-50-17 career record, 3.01 GAA, and .884 save percentage.
Even if he is just an average goalie, Montembeault would be a serviceable stopgap to play low-pressure minutes behind starting Flyers goalie Dan Vladar in a less volatile media market.
The 6-foot-3 netminder can handle starting duties adequately if called upon, as evidenced by his 2024-25 campaign with the Canadiens, and he would certainly benefit from a change of scenery after the way this past year went.
That relationship is over, and there isn't really a path back to the Canadiens with better, younger options like Dobes and Fowler earning their keep.
If the Flyers can take advantage of the Canadiens' lack of leverage and pry Montembeault out of Montreal at a low cost, it would only continue the trend of the organization making smart, buy-low moves on proven NHLers.
Montembeault has one year remaining on his contract at a $3.15 million cap hit.
The Hockey News released its list of the Top 100 NHL players this season in April, and four Montreal Canadiens have made the list. Earlier, we covered Juraj Slafkovsky, who’s 94th on the list, and Nick Suzuki, who landed in the 48th spot. Now, we’ll take a look at Cole Caufield, who landed in 35th place.
The sniper’s rank on the list is largely based on his knack to not only score goals but score important goals. This season, he led the league in both go-ahead goals with 29 and overtime goals with 5. While that’s a huge part of what makes Caufield a great player, it should also be mentioned that his defensive game has also improved by leaps and bounds.
Under Martin St-Louis, the diminutive winger has become a much more complete player. He’s developed good instincts on the forecheck, and while he doesn’t have the size to throw his body around much, he does have the speed and the active stick needed to cause headaches to other teams.
While Caufield doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey, he is still one of the leaders of this team. Not only does he lead by example on the ice, but he’s also a lively presence in the room and everywhere around the team. He’s got a contagious enthusiasm for the game, and the Habs brass can always count on him to lighten the mood and help the team move on from a tough loss.
Montreal’s 15th overall pick at the 2019 NHL draft, Caufield has now played 368 regular-season games in which he has put up 307 points. In the playoffs, he has skated in 44 games, picking up 29 points along the way. The sniper is under contract with the team until the end of the 2030-31 season with a $7.785 million cap hit. There’s no denying that he will play a big role for this Montreal team and for a long time.
The Buffalo Sabres have to consider themselves extremely fortunate that a great deal of NHL clubs still are hesitant to select undersized players, in spite of their speed and skill set. Such was the case at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, where Connor Bedard went first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Anaheim selected Leo Carlsson second overall, Columbus chose Adam Fantilli with the third pick, and San Jose snagged Will Smith to complete the center quartet, but that left eight picks before the Sabres selection came up.
While three seasons is not enough to determine whether the eight youngsters selected next are busts or not, there is little doubt that the Sabres are more than happy that winger Zach Benson slipped out of the top 10 and to their pick at 13th overall. It was a complete shock that the diminutive winger made the NHL right out of junior, never went back to the WHL or played a game in the American Hockey League, and after three seasons, the only two players who have played more NHL games has been Bedard and Fantilli.
Here is a quick update of some of the other players selected by the Sabres in 2023:
Anton Wahlberg – C – 39th overall
The 20-year-old came to North America to play with Rochester at the end of the 2024 season and played in the Calder Cup playoff games vs. Syracuse. The 6’4”, 205 lb. forward finished his first full season with the Amerks with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 63 games, but struggled in the playoffs after recovering from illness, going pointless in six games. This season, Wahlberg’s point total was up slightly (38 points in 68 games), but his goal total declined to nine. With the potential loss of veteran forwards Alex Tuch and Beck Malenstyn in free agency, it is possible that the big forward will see some NHL opportunity this season.
Alex Tuch and his contract situation with the Sabres
Maxim Strbak – D – 45th overall
The big right-handed defenseman played for Slovakia in four World Juniors, and signed with the Sabres after his junior year at Michigan State, where the 21-year-old scored 18 points (3 goal, 15 assists) in 37 games. Strbak played two games for the Amerks at the end of the season, and is expected to be a full-time blueliner next season under Michael Leone in Rochester.
Gavin McCarthy – D – 86th overall
A Western New York native who played three seasons for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, McCarthy played two years for Muskegon before heading to Boston University. The 6’2”, 188 lb. blueliner went to the Frozen Four in his freshman year and as a sophomore, had 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) in 39 games for the Terriers. This season, after posting a career-high 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 36 games, the right-handed blueliner signed his ELC with the Sabres and played five games with Rochester.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final has yet to even begin, but sportsbooks are offering 2026-27 Stanley Cup odds already!
The Carolina Hurricanes, favored to win it all this year, are at the top of the betting board for the 2027 title as well. Close behind are the Colorado Avalanche, whom many thought were the best in the West this year, only to be upset by the Vegas Golden Knights, who are sixth-choice here.
If you're looking to make some early NHL picks for next season, here's our look at the latest Stanley Cup odds for the 2026-27 season.
2026-27 Stanley Cup odds
Team
Carolina Hurricanes
+650
Colorado Avalanche
+700
Tampa Bay Lightning
+1000
Edmonton Oilers
+1100
Minnesota Wild
+1200
Vegas Golden Knights
+1300
Florida Panthers
+1500
Ottawa Senators
+1500
Dallas Stars
+1700
New Jersey Devils
+2200
Odds as of 5-30.
2026-27 Stanley Cup favorites
Carolina Hurricanes (+650)
The Carolina Hurricanes finally got over their Conference Final curse, making it to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final after faltering in the penultimate round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
The Hurricanes don't play a "fun" brand of hockey, but players who buy into Rod Brind'Amour's system have found success by the dozen. Just look at K'Andre Miller, who went from a New York Rangers afterthought to an elite blueliner in the span of a year.
Brind'Amour likely bought himself at least one more season behind the bench after making it to the Cup Final at long last. As long as the Canes' system stays intact, they'll always be a threat. And if they win it all in 2026, this +650 price will likely vanish.
Colorado Avalanche (+700)
The Colorado Avalanche looked like a bulldozer heading into the Western Conference Finals, but injuries built up and the Vegas Golden Knights simply overwhelmed them in a series sweep.
The Avs were the darlings of the analytical community this year, at least out West, leading in xGoals% at 5-on-5 and ranking only behind the Hurricanes in Corsi%.
But you don't need to be an egghead to appreciate Nathan MacKinnon, who won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy this year and is coming back for more in 2026-27.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+1000)
The Tampa Bay Lightning feel like a modern-day hockey version of Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs. No matter how old their stars get, they just seem to re-tool and find ways to be a perennial contender.
The Lightning ranked third in Corsi in 2025-26, and fifth in expected goals. Nikita Kucherov (130 points) was his usual brilliant self, while Darren Raddysh was a revelation on defense.
The Avalanche were the victims of some bad injury timing, and a Golden Knights team that got hot at the right time. John Tortorella will likely be back behind the bench for Vegas next year, but how soon will his act wear thin with his players?
I also don't trust the Edmonton Oilers to get back on their feet after a listless end to their 2025-26 campaign.
The Avalanche have the easier road back to the Final compared to the Hurricanes, so they're the (very, very early) selection.
Pick: Avalanche to win 2026-27 Stanley Cup (+700 at FanDuel)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Kevin Bieksa is a three-time Canadian Screen Award winner.
The former Vancouver Canucks defenceman-turned broadcaster won his third consecutive Canadian Screen Award for best Sports Analyst on Friday, May 29.
Bieksa, who also won in 2024 and 2025, was first nominated for the award back in 2021 but lost out to fellow former hockey player and then-Sportsnet analyst Cassie Campbell-Pascall. He was also nominated in 2022, though Toronto Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall took home the award instead.
A 10-year veteran of the Canucks organization, Bieksa spent the bulk of his NHL career in Vancouver, during five of which he wore an ‘A’ for the team. While known for many moments throughout his career with the Canucks, his most notable moment came during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he scored ‘the Stanchion goal’ to send Vancouver to the Finals.
Other nominees for this year’s Best Sports Analyst award include Brian Stemmle of CBC Sports Presents, Kia Nurse of Raptors on TSN, and Luke Wilson of SC with Jay Onrait. Blue Jays on Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman also won the award for Best Sports Play-By-Play Announcer, while Hazel Mae was awarded the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism.
Nov 3, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; During a pre-game on ice presentation prior to a game against the Anaheim Ducks the Vancouver Canucks officially mark Kevin Bieska's retirement from the National Hockey League as a member of the club in his return to Rogers Arena, where he signed a one-day contract with the team. Originally selected by the Canucks in the fifth round, 151st overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Bieksa spent parts of 12 seasons playing in the Canucks organization, including 10 at the NHL level from 2005-06 to 2014-15. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
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Carolina Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche
Tampa Bay Lightning
Edmonton Oilers
Minnesota Wild
Vegas Golden Knights
Florida Panthers
Ottawa Senators
Dallas Stars
New Jersey Devils
