LOS ANGELES – The Kings have hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach. More changes could be expected to bolster the coaching staff.

Peter Laviolette is a Stanley Cup-winning head coach with 24 seasons of NHL experience. Along with the title he won with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, Laviolette has two other Stanley Cup appearances with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.

Now, the Kings are hoping Laviolette can bring playoff success to their organization. Los Angeles has been eliminated in the first round in the past five seasons.

So the biggest question with this hire is how Laviolette will benefit the Kings' playing style? The answer to that it is a great fit for the Los Angeles organization.

During his interim tenure as head coach, DJ Smith enhanced the defensive success through activating the backend along with forechecking and physicality. This defensive scheme helped the Kings go from outside the playoff picture to secure the final wild card spot.

Throughout Laviolette’s career, he has been known as a coach with a team that pushes the pace and presents a heavy forecheck. Every team Laviolette has coached has played an aggressive forecheck, which has led to massive improvements in their puck possession.

The season before the Flyers hired Laviolette, Philadelphia had a 47.65% CF in 2009, but that skyrocketed to 50.93% in 2010. The Predators had a 48.44% CF in 2014, but with Laviolette, that improved to 52.82% in 2015.

Teams that struggled with forechecking found success in the very next season with Laviolette as their head coach. Now, Laviolette gets to coach a Kings team that is already fond of forechecking.

Los Angeles had a 52.22% CF, which ranked in the top 10 in the NHL last season. A forecheck-heavy coach should find success with a team that has already excelled in puck possession.

The Kings dropped from 105 points to 90 points in the Pacific, while young teams like the Ducks and Sharks surged in the standings. With the right offseason moves, an upbeat tempo, active defensemen, and aggressive forecheck could keep the Kings competitive against their rivals.

While the Laviolette hire activates the defensive core in place, how else will the offense improve? That’s where the Kings will have to make another decision for the coaching staff.

RADIO REPLAY: Talking Kings Hiring Laviolette, His Assistants, and Potential Upcoming Roster Moves https://t.co/jg4CiWe11j#LAKings#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/DCWQtVAvM5

— MayorsManor.com Staff (@MayorsManor) June 8, 2026

Newell Brown was hired back in the 2025 season to help the power play improve. However, the Kings have experienced an even larger decline in the power play since then.

In 2024, the Kings had a 22.6% power play, which ranked 11th in the league. The next season, Brown gets hired, and the power play drops to 17.9% and 27th overall.

As underwhelming as the power play was in 2025, it was even worse this past season. The Kings had a 17% power-play percentage, which ranked 28th overall.

Brown led the Kings' power play to a bottom-six percentage in both of his seasons as an assistant coach. Brown's power-play strategy has been criticized by fans and reporters for the struggle.

In the past two seasons, the Kings' power play has been holding the puck to set up the perfect shot. Nonetheless, one good look at a power play isn’t as effective as four difficult shots.

A north-to-south style creates more shots on net, which creates more chances for goals. This style of hockey also aligns with the new head coach, who likes to forecheck and play fast.

Therefore, an east-to-west offense that has struggled will not align with Laviolette’s vision for the team. Making it apparent that Brown might be the next coach to be replaced for the Kings.

It is not official that the Kings are moving on from assistant coach Brown, but it is heavily speculated that this could be the move, with new head coach offseason hires typically comes with new staff preferences. The head coach hire may just be the beginning of the coaching overhaul for Los Angeles.

The answer to the most guarded secret in the NHL was given when Brandon Bussi skated onto the ice for warmups in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

In a surprise, Frederik Andersen didn't dress as Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said the team's goalie coach said Andersen needed a break.

Bussi played well enough in the series-tying 5-3 victory on Tuesday, June 9, that he could get the call again when the series resumes Thursday night in Raleigh, North Carolina.

He stopped 18 of 21 shots and now has stopped 36 of 40 since Brind'Amour inserted him at the start of the third period of Game 3. Andersen, who had started every game, had given up four goals in the second period in Saturday's game.

Bussi had to stop a Mitch Marner penalty shot in Game 3 and that save gave the Hurricanes a chance to rally, though they eventually fell 5-4 in double overtime.

Brind'Amour didn't reveal his starter either after Monday's practice or in Tuesday's pregame news conference. There was no morning skate on Tuesday.

Bussi was tested quickly again in Game 4. He stopped a Mark Stone short-handed breakaway to preserve a 1-0 lead and the Hurricanes made it 2-0 shortly after.

Stone scored in the first period and Vegas tied the game 3-3 in the second period. But Bussi stopped nine shots in the third period to make Jordan Staal's go-ahead goal stand up.

"He was really solid all night," Brind'Amour said.

The start was Bussi's first since mid-April and his first career start in the playoffs. Did he think he played well enough to get the call in Game 5?

"Talk to Rod," he told ABC.

How Brandon Bussi fared in third period

The Golden Knights kept him scrambling but couldn't get a puck past him. He stopped 18 of 21 shots in the game and gave himself a chance to get the call again in Game 5 on Thursday, June 11.

How Brandon Bussi fared in second period

The Golden Knights have outscored the Hurricanes in 9-1 in the second period and Brandon Bussi is part of that now. He gave up goals to William Karlsson and Brett Howden as Vegas tied the game. He wasn't quite set on the first goal. The second goal was a great play by Howden, who set up a screen by shooting through a defender's leg. Bussi has stopped nine of 12 shots, a big difference from his relief appearance in Game 3.

How Brandon Bussi fared in first period

He was tested early on a short-handed breakaway by Mark Stone, but came up big. Stone later scored on a breakaway as he faked a shot, stickhandled and tucked the puck past Bussi's outstretched pad. The Golden Knights' next goal didn't count because time expired. But all in all, a good period for Bussi, who made five saves and has a 3-1 lead.

Why isn't Frederik Andersen playing?

Brind'Amour said Brandon Bussi got the start because he played great when he entered Game 3. Why isn't Frederik Andersen dressed? "Let him rest," the coach told ABC.

Bussi catches with different hand than Andersen

Bussi catches right-handed while Andersen catches left.

"We don't care who's playing, what hand, what feet, we're just going to play," Golden Knights coach John Tortorella told reporters.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi starts Game 4, gets win vs Golden Knights

The 2026 NHL Playoffs have marked Brett Howden’s coming-out party. 

With the Vegas Golden Knights two games away from winning the Stanley Cup, Howden currently leads all players in the playoffs with 13 goals. 

There’s no doubt that Howden has been an integral piece for the Golden Knights through their playoff run thus far, but what many people may not know is how he got to Vegas in the first place. 

Howden was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, but he was traded to the New York Rangers as part of the deal that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to Tampa Bay in 2018.

He ultimately spent three seasons with the Rangers, playing in a total of 178 games and recording 16 goals, 33 assists, and 49 points.

Shortly after being hired as the Rangers’ president and general manager in 2021, Chris Drury traded Howden to the Golden Knights in exchange for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

The Rangers eventually used that 2022 fourth-round pick to select Noah Laba.

Over his first three seasons in Vegas, Howden failed to record over 20 points, but he had a career year during the 2024-25 campaign, posting 23 goals, 17 assists, and 40 points.  

Now, playing on a line alongside Mitch Marner and William Karlsson, the 28-year-old forward has found his offensive groove and could be on his way to winning both the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy.

“I think he's in the moment,” Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella said of Howden. I just think he likes the situation he's in. I think the line's been good. That line, once we put it together, just connected. I don't think he's afraid of a damn thing, as far as playoffs, what comes with it, the flows of it. I just think he feels that good about himself.”

From a Buffalo Sabres perspective, the Alexandar Georgiev experiment was supposed to be a low-risk reset on a once-ascending NHL goaltender. Instead, it became another short stop in a rapidly unraveling career arc that has now stretched across three leagues in under two seasons.

Georgiev has officially terminated his contract with KHL club Spartak Moscow, according to league confirmation, with his representation indicating the veteran netminder intends to pursue an NHL return next season. For the Sabres, it marks the end of a brief and underwhelming stint that never found traction at either level of the organization.

A Low-Cost Gamble That Never Stabilized

After a difficult run with the San Jose Sharks, Georgiev signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres in September, a move designed to stabilize a volatile goaltending depth chart without significant financial risk. The hope inside the organization was simple: recreate the version of Georgiev who once led the NHL in wins and briefly looked like a long-term starter with Colorado.

That version never materialized.

Instead of pushing for NHL minutes, Georgiev struggled to separate himself in camp and early-season evaluation, eventually landing with the Rochester Americans in the AHL. The results there did little to change the trajectory. In limited action, he went 0-2 with a 3.57 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage—numbers that mirrored the inconsistency that had already defined his recent NHL stretch.

By the time Buffalo made the decision to move on, the organization was no longer evaluating upside. It was simply trying to reset its depth chart.

A Career Sliding Between Peaks and Freefall

Not long ago, Georgiev looked like a goaltender on the rise. During his time with Colorado, he earned full-time starter responsibility and reached his peak in the 2023-24 season by leading the NHL with 38 wins, while also tying for the league lead in victories the year prior.

But the decline came quickly and decisively.

Across his final stretch in the NHL with Colorado and San Jose, his numbers dropped sharply, and his game lost the consistency that once made him a volume-win starter. By the time he reached Buffalo, he was no longer being acquired as a long-term answer—he was a reclamation project on a one-year flyer.

The KHL Reset—and Another NHL Try

After his brief stint in Rochester, Georgiev and the Sabres parted ways, and he signed overseas with Spartak in the KHL. There, he stabilized his performance, posting a 2.37 GAA and a .918 save percentage over 24 appearances. The numbers suggested competence, but not enough to fully restore NHL starter credibility.

Now, with his KHL contract terminated, Georgiev is once again testing the NHL market. But the league he’s returning to looks different than the one he once briefly dominated in wins. Most teams are already set in net, and the remaining openings project heavily toward backup or organizational depth roles.

For Buffalo, the move is already in the past. For Georgiev, it’s another reset in a career defined increasingly by them.

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It was a critical season for Detroit Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa, who was entering his final year of being waivers exempt with restricted free agency looming.

However, the top question in the minds of Red Wings fans is how his career will ultimately pan out, and will it be in Detroit? Right now, that's still up in the air. 

Cossa, who has been linked in recent days to the Edmonton Oilers, is now being linked to another Western Conference club by a noted NHL Insider, who also happens to be a former goaltender himself. 

Kevin Weekes, who has often broken news of NHL trades, indicated on Tuesday that the Utah Mammoth are a club that could show interest in Cossa. 

**Keep an eye 👁️ **
Per sources, some nuggets for you fans ;
I’m told G Cossa could be on the move with @utahmammoth among the interested clubs. F Berard also could be on move from @NYRangers . G Skinner among options for @Senators . #HockeyXpic.twitter.com/TilGNbAprm

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 9, 2026

While workhorse Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka won 38 regular season games in 64 appearances this season, he faltered in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, going 2-4 with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage. 

Backup Vitek Vanecek didn't have a strong regular season, going 5-13-3 with a .884 save percentage. 

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

Cossa, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, went 26-8-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage for the Griffins this season.

Is Sebastian Cossa A Long-Term Option For The Red Wings? - Community PostWhile the Detroit Red Wings were understandably excited about the potential of goaltender Sebastian Cossa, whom they selected 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, there still remains the fact he's appeared in only one NHL game. 

However, he was outplayed down the stretch by Michal Postava, whom the Red Wings signed out of Czechia last season; Cossa was also on the bench during the Calder Cup Playoffs, which ultimately resulted in a loss in the Central Division Finals to the Chicago Wolves. 

Cossa also still has only a single NHL appearance under his belt, which came in relief of now-former Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso in December 2024 against the Buffalo Sabres, and he stopped 12 of 14 shots en route to a 6-5 S/O victory. 

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Hurricanes steal Game 4 vs. Golden Knights 5-3 to tie Stanley Cup Final originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final will go to at least Game 6.

The Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 Tuesday night in Game 4 to edge the final series 2-2.

Carolina started hot with a 3-1 goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Two of those goals came within the opening four minutes that set the tone for the rest of the way.

But this has been a series of the comeback, so it wasn’t surprising that two Vegas goals knotted up the score in the second period. William Karlsson scored the first of the period before Brett Howden drilled one from a deep angle for the equalizer late on.

Brett Howden finds twine once again! 😳

Bar down to tie up Game 4! 😱 pic.twitter.com/fSt1ilrNie

— ESPN (@espn) June 10, 2026

Vegas couldn’t turn it around fully, however.

In the third period, Vegas made the most costly mistake of the game that got punished. A poor clearance in their own defensive area led to some opportune shots for Carolina.

Eventually it was Jordan Staal, a goalscorer from the first period, who capitalized with an angled diving effort. It could go on to be a memorable frame if Carolina gets it over the line for just the second time in franchise history (2005-06).

JORDAN STAAL DIVING GOAL FOR THE LEAD 😱

Continues to step up for Carolina on the biggest of stages 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9L04r3ZDH5

— ESPN (@espn) June 10, 2026

The goal would prove to be the winner as Vegas had to chase the action the rest of the way. Eventually, Nikolaj Ehlers added Carolina’s fifth in the closing minutes as Vegas had an empty net.

It’s been an incredibly even series so far with little margin for error on either side.

Both teams have exchanged wins since Vegas stole Game 1 on the road 5-4. Carolina responded with a 4-3 Game 2 win before the Golden Knights once again claimed a 5-4 final scoreline in Game 3. Game 4 was about to follow the one-score difference before Ehlers’ open-net finish.

If the victor trends are anything to go by, another tight game is in store for Thursday with Vegas in line for the win pattern. But Carolina is back on home ice and will be looking to defend it as the victor will be just one win away from hoisting the main prize.

Hurricanes steal Game 4 vs. Golden Knights 5-3 to tie Stanley Cup Final originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final will go to at least Game 6.

The Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 Tuesday night in Game 4 to edge the final series 2-2.

Carolina started hot with a 3-1 goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Two of those goals came within the opening four minutes that set the tone for the rest of the way.

But this has been a series of the comeback, so it wasn’t surprising that two Vegas goals knotted up the score in the second period. William Karlsson scored the first of the period before Brett Howden drilled one from a deep angle for the equalizer late on.

Brett Howden finds twine once again! 😳

Bar down to tie up Game 4! 😱 pic.twitter.com/fSt1ilrNie

— ESPN (@espn) June 10, 2026

Vegas couldn’t turn it around fully, however.

In the third period, Vegas made the most costly mistake of the game that got punished. A poor clearance in their own defensive area led to some opportune shots for Carolina.

Eventually it was Jordan Staal, a goalscorer from the first period, who capitalized with an angled diving effort. It could go on to be a memorable frame if Carolina gets it over the line for just the second time in franchise history (2005-06).

JORDAN STAAL DIVING GOAL FOR THE LEAD 😱

Continues to step up for Carolina on the biggest of stages 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9L04r3ZDH5

— ESPN (@espn) June 10, 2026

The goal would prove to be the winner as Vegas had to chase the action the rest of the way. Eventually, Nikolaj Ehlers added Carolina’s fifth in the closing minutes as Vegas had an empty net.

It’s been an incredibly even series so far with little margin for error on either side.

Both teams have exchanged wins since Vegas stole Game 1 on the road 5-4. Carolina responded with a 4-3 Game 2 win before the Golden Knights once again claimed a 5-4 final scoreline in Game 3. Game 4 was about to follow the one-score difference before Ehlers’ open-net finish.

If the victor trends are anything to go by, another tight game is in store for Thursday with Vegas in line for the win pattern. But Carolina is back on home ice and will be looking to defend it as the victor will be just one win away from hoisting the main prize.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been named the NHL’s 2025-26 recipient of both the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award, the league announced Tuesday, capping a season that marked one of the most remarkable returns in recent NHL memory.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually by the Professional Hockey Writers Association to the player who best represents “qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” according to the NHL. The Messier Award, selected solely by Hall of Famer Mark Messier, goes to the player who best “exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.”

Taken together, the two honors underline just how significant Landeskog’s season truly was—both in his return to full-time play and in how he carried himself through it.

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Landeskog missed three consecutive regular seasons due to lingering complications from a skate-blade cut over his right knee suffered in the 2020 bubble. The injury led to a long rehabilitation process that included four surgeries, most notably a cartilage transplant in May 2023.

Gabriel Landeskog was certainly not expecting a second award to appear when he sat down for this interview! 🏆

Watch as Landeskog's family surprises him with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the way he exemplified perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.… pic.twitter.com/AsaxY7hpgc

— NHL (@NHL) June 9, 2026

He eventually worked his way back through a conditioning stint with the AHL Colorado Eagles in April 2025, before returning to NHL action in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in five games during Colorado’s first-round loss to Dallas.

This season, Landeskog returned to the regular-season lineup for the first time since 2021-22 and played 60 games, finishing with 14 goals and 35 points. He followed that with a strong playoff run, adding six goals in 13 games as the Avalanche reached the Western Conference Final, where they were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights.

The season, however, was far from smooth.

In early January, Landeskog broke several ribs after catching an edge against the Florida Panthers on January 4 and crashing into the net. He missed the final 14 games before the Olympic break while recovering, but still returned in time to represent Sweden at the Milan Olympics.

Later in the season came another setback on March 6, when he was struck in the groin area on a shot during a sequence involving teammate Cale Makar. Landeskog later described the moment bluntly as hitting him “the nuts.” He underwent surgery and returned several weeks later, closing out the year in the lineup.

Despite the injuries, his impact when available was undeniable. Colorado went 45-7-8 with Landeskog in the lineup compared to 10-9-3 without him.

After being named a Masterton finalist again this year, Landeskog spoke candidly about the recognition but made it clear his perspective on the journey was unchanged.

“It’s humbling and a great honor and there’ve been amazing players with incredible stories and perseverance that have been nominated or accepted the award,” he said last month. “But for me and what I’ve gone through, it’s just so far beyond what anybody else is going to be able to label it or not. Whether I win the Masterton or not, it doesn’t change anything for me. … For me the ultimate prize I’ve already won, and that’s to continue working and getting to play hockey.”

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews were the other Masterton finalists.

Landeskog, who has spent his entire 12-year NHL career in Colorado, became the first player in franchise history to win either award. After everything he’s been through—multiple surgeries, long absences, and an uncertain return path—the dual honors serve less as a surprise and more as confirmation of what his season already showed: when he’s on the ice, he still sets the standard for leadership and perseverance in Colorado.

Although the Florida Panthers’ 2025-26 season was filled with injuries and led to them missing the playoffs, there were some upsides. 

With players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell missing extended periods of time, it allowed players like Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, and Sandis Vilmanis to earn advanced roles in the Panthers bottom six.

Additionally, it allowed players like Jesper Boqvist, A.J. Greer and Evan Rodrigues to move up in the lineup.

As we enter the 2026 off-season, the Panthers’ top nine, barring any trades or free-agent moves, feels pretty solidified.

Down the middle, it will see Aleksander Barkov man the top line, with Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett centering the middle six. On the left wing, it will be Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, and, if re-signed, Mackie Samoskevich, with Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brad Marchand skating on the right wing. 

That leaves just three roster spots on the fourth line with several players more than deserving of earning a spot.

To begin, it seems like Greer is all but done in Florida. He’s expected to hit the UFA market, and while that doesn’t rule out re-signing, teams will likely be eager to offer him a contract the Panthers can’t match. 

With Greer out of the picture, that leaves the Panthers with Rodrigues, Boqvist, Vilmanis, Schwindt, Reinhardt, and Jonah Gadjovich. Veteran center Tomas Nosek is a UFA, but he remains a possibility on the fourth line. Of the six players mentioned, Schwindt is the only player in need of a contract, but he is a pending RFA, so the Panthers own his rights. 

So that leads us to the question: who should start the season on the fourth line? Each player has a case, so let’s mull it over.

Dylan Larkin Has Panthers On Short List Of Potential Trade Partners, But What Would Florida Have To Give Up?As Detroit’s captain seeks a fresh start, the Panthers’ ninth overall pick becomes a vital chip in potentially acquiring the elite center.

Rodrigues is the most experienced player in the group and has shown the versatility to play up and down the lineup. He’s been a part of the Stanley Cup-winning teams and has earned every right to start the season in the lineup. 

Vilmanis is a young, physical winger with a nice scoring touch. He demonstrated plenty of excellent traits in his 19 games with the Panthers, but his performances in the AHL, Olympics, and World Championships truly showed everything he brings to the table. A homegrown talent who is just 22 years old makes a lot of sense to keep in the lineup.

Schwindt earned the trust of Paul Maurice very quickly, as he had with the Vegas Golden Knights and Bruce Cassidy previously. He’s a defensively responsible center with a solid physical frame.

Panthers Have Eight Arbitration Eligible PlayersHeading into the 2026 off-season, the Florida Panthers have eight players who are eligible for arbitration.

Reinhardt and Boqvist bring very similar elements. They are both speedy left-handed winger who look to push the pace. Reinhardt had a strong showing with the Panthers at the end of the season, scoring six goals and eight points in 15 games. As for Boqvist, his offensive numbers were underwhelming, notching just four goals and 13 points in 73 games, but he has the versatility to move to the middle of the ice and play a safe game for the Panthers.

Finally, Gadjovich had his season derailed by a major injury. After just 10 games, Gadjovich went down with an injury and never returned to the lineup. Gadjovich plays a different game from the players already mentioned. While they bring speed and skill, Gadjovich is a hard-nosed player looking to mix it up physically as often as he can. He won’t ever light it up offensively or surprise you with a game-changing play, but he plays his role and does so efficiently. 

Luke Kunin and Nosek remain options to be re-signed, but after a difficult first season with the Panthers for Kunin, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them go their separate ways. As for Nosek, injuries hampered his season, and at 33 years old, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Panthers go in a different direction. 

Should Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis Be A Full-Time NHL Player In 2026-27?Following a successful 2025-26 season that was split between the NHL and AHL, the question that arises is where Florida Panthers winger Sandis Vilmanis should play next season.

An NHL team is allowed to carry 23 players on its roster. Forwards take 12, defensemen occupy six, and two are taken by goaltenders, leaving three healthy scratch spots. Of the six players mentioned, only Vilmanis is waiver-exempt, which likely means he’s destined to start the season in the AHL, even if he is more than deserving of being on the opening-night roster. 

If the fourth line is a combination of Reinhardt, Rodrigues, and Gadjovich, Boqvist and Schwindt would start the season as healthy scratches, likely alongside another defenseman, such as Donovan Sebrango. 

It will be a tough decision for coach Paul Maurice, but having too much depth is never a bad thing. 

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

In terms of Islanders news, we are in that quiet before the draft and free agency storm while the Stanley Cup final plays itself out. Could this be the best final ever? I’ve actually heard a few people say that after three games. They’ve certainly been eventful and exciting thus far, so here’s hoping Carolina evens the series in Game 4 to make it a best-of-three.

Meanwhile, NHL teams continue to do what they do, hiring established names to coach them to their next firing.

NHL News

• Debating whether the Hurricanes should stick with Brandon Bussi after the lefty came on in relief for the 0-4 comeback that ended in a double-OT loss on a fluke goal. [NHL]
• The Wild extended some guy by the name of Michael McCarron to an Engvallian six-year deal for $20 million. [NHL]
• Peter Laviolette rides again: the well-traveled coach will now helm the L.A. Kings. [NHL]
• But wait, there’s more! Barred from accessing Bruce Cassidy (for now?), the Oilers are apparently set to hire Mike Babcock to help push Connor McDavid out the door. (No but seriously, this move reportedly has the team’s “leadership group” support.) [Sportsnet]
• Ray Ratto: Babcock is proof no one is too weird to coach in the NHL, “an inward facing phenomenon along the lines of the Hapsburg dynasty.” [Defector]
• Speaking of the Oil, poor Darnell Nurse was never going to live up to that contract; now it seems his team agrees. [Sportsnet]
• We can out-outside-the-box you! The Leafs want to interview Joe Pavelski for their coaching job. [Sportsnet]
• SHOCKING NEWS: Milan Lucic wasn’t already retired. [Sportsnet]
• Here’s a ranking of 100 draft prospects that you should be mad about the Islanders selecting/passing over. [Sportsnet]

Former New York Islanders head coach Pete Laviolette has been hired as the next head coach of the Los Angeles Kings:

Welcome to LA, Peter! 👏

We have named Peter Laviolette as the club’s 32nd head coach in franchise history, it was announced today by Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland.

📲 https://t.co/DOPWIsk18D#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/YZroLqgxpg

— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 9, 2026

Laviolette, who coached the Islanders from 2001-2003, was relieved of his duties as New York Rangers head coach following the 2024-25 season after a two-year stint on Broadway. 

He reunites with Artemi Panarin in Los Angeles. 

This will be the first time in Laviolette's 23-year coaching career that he is behind the bench for a Pacific Division team. 

While the Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs this season, they are still retooling. Because of this, it is very important for them to hit with their first-round pick this year. 

In his latest 2026 NHL mock draft for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler predicted that the Penguins would select center Ilia Morozov with their first-round pick later this month.

With the Penguins' centers getting older, it would make sense if the Penguins took a chance on a big center like Morozov with their first-round pick this year. The potential for him to emerge as a solid NHL forward is there, and he could be a nice part of Pittsburgh's top six later down the road. 

Morozov just completed his freshman year with Miami University, and it was a solid campaign for the 6-foot-3 center. In 36 games this season, he posted eight goals, 12 assists, and 20 points. This is after he had 11 goals and 22 points in 59 games for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL during the 2024-25 season.

Overall, Morozov has been showing clear signs of improvement with his development. Due to this, it would be understandable if the Penguins added him to their prospect pool if he is still available for the taking when they are on the clock. 

The Chicago Blackhawks currently have the fourth-overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. With the Blackhawks having another pick in the top five, there is no question that they are facing a big decision on who to select with it.

In his latest mock draft for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler had the Blackhawks taking left-shot defenseman Carson Carels with their fourth-overall pick if Ivar Stenberg is not available when they are on the clock. 

With the Blackhawks needing help on the left side of their blueline, it would make a lot of sense if they picked Carels with their fourth-overall selection. He would give them a left-shot defenseman who has the potential to emerge as a top-pairing blueliner at the NHL level later down the road. 

Carels just had himself a very good season in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars, and the truth is in his stats. In 58 games this campaign with the WHL squad, he posted 20 goals, 53 assists, and 74 points. With numbers like these, it is clear that the 6-foot-2 defenseman has plenty of offensive upside, which certainly adds to his appeal. 

It will be interesting to see if the Blackhawks end up taking Carels with their fourth-overall pick this summer. If they do, he would be a nice addition to their prospect pool. 

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler released his latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft. In it, he predicted the entire first round.

When it came to the Montreal Canadiens, Wheeler predicted that the Canadiens will select left winger Adam Novotny with their first-round pick. 

Novotny is an interesting prospect heading into the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-1 forward demonstrated plenty of promise this season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Peterborough Petes, so he would be a nice pickup for the Habs if selected.

In 58 games this season with the Petes, Novotny recorded 34 goals, 31 assists, and 65 points. With numbers like these, the big winger showed that he is capable of putting the puck in the net, which certainly adds to his appeal. 

The potential for Novotny to blossom into an impactful NHL forward is there, so it would make sense if the Canadiens ended up selecting him in the first round this year. This is especially so when noting that they could use more depth on the wing. 

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens end up selecting Novotny from here. The fit looks strong on paper. 

When you're an interim head coach in the NHL, it's not a great sign to be a month and a half into your offseason with the word interim still attached to your title, hanging around like a bad party guest.

DJ Smith was the Senators' head coach for four and a half seasons (2019-2023) and had hoped to land the Los Angeles Kings head coaching job full-time for this fall. 

"That's a question for Ken (Holland)," Smith said shortly after the Kings lost in round one. "All I know is, as a coach and as a coaching staff, is your team prepared? Are they detailed? And do they show up every night in the answer to that question? Yes, they did, under me.

"Ken's been around a long time. He's won Stanley Cups; he's one of the best in the business. He's a Hall of Fame general manager. He's gonna make that decision. So that's not up to me to decide. I know I did my absolute best."

Apparently, that wasn't enough. On Tuesday, the Kings hired Peter Laviolette for his seventh tour of NHL duty.

The 61-year-old has been a head coach for 1,594 career games with the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders. He won a Cup with Carolina in 2006 and made it to the final with the 2010 Flyers and 2017 Predators.

Until now, Smith had a chance to end the ex-Senators coaching curse. Instead, he will remain part of a 22-year run of head coaches who left the Senators organization and never found another NHL head coaching job elsewhere.

The last one to do so on a non-interim basis was Jacques Martin. He was fired in 2004, then found head coaching jobs in Florida and Montreal.

Since Martin parted company with the Sens the first time, the Sens' list of head coaches who've come and gone includes Bryan Murray, John Paddock, Craig Hartsburg, Cory Clouston, Paul MacLean, Dave Cameron, Guy Boucher, Marc Crawford and, of course, Smith.

Murray stayed with the Senators, moving away from coaching to take the club's GM job. However, everyone else on the list left the organization, continued to pursue their coaching careers, but never again became a full-time NHL head coach.

After leaving Ottawa:

Paddock coached nine more years in junior, the AHL, and as an NHL assistant. His final year was with Regina, coaching Connor Bedard.

Hartsburg coached for seven more seasons in junior as a head coach and an NHL assistant. His swan song was 2015-16 with Columbus, where he was let go when John Tortorella took over, as he inevitably does everywhere.

Clouston coached three more years in junior, the last in 2015 with Prince Albert. After he was fired, little did the Senators know he'd coach Mark Stone, a prized future asset, the following season in Brandon.

MacLean got work as an NHL assistant for a bit and now makes the odd appearance as a TSN Sens analyst.

Dave Cameron has coached for the last seven seasons, been an NHL assistant, a head coach in Austria, and, for the last five years, the head coach of the Ottawa 67s. He just signed a two-year extension.

Since his firing, Guy Boucher has only coached for one year at a top level as an assistant with Toronto, then one year as a KHL head coach.

Crawford coached for four more seasons as an assistant in Chicago then worked for a while as a head coach in Switzerland.

And with a clearing of his throat, Smith rounds out the list.

There's no word yet on the immediate future of Smith. He may return to his spot as a Kings' assistant, but it's certainly true that, more often than not, new head coaches like to handpick their own guys.

And so the curse of the ex-Senators' head coaches continues.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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