When it comes to compliance with its media policy, the NHL doesn't mess around.
On Friday night, the league announced that it has stripped the Las Vegas Golden Knights of a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft for "flagrant violations" of the NHL's media policies. The NHL also fined coach John Tortorella $100,000.
Via Jesse Granger of The Athletic, Tortorella declined to speak to reporters after the Golden Knights clinched a berth in the Western Conference finals. The Golden Knights also refused to open the dressing room after the game. Only three players were made available to reporters.
"The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies," the NHL said in a statement.
The team has the ability to appeal the punishment.
In the NFL, players are from time to time fined for not complying with the media policy. More often, players fail to comply and the media (which needs to go along to get along with the team they cover) won't file a complaint.
NFL teams and/or coaches are almost never punished for violations of the media rules. Then again, teams almost always ensure that the obligations are fulfilled.
Even as the NFL becomes a multi-billion dollar behemoth that can bully anyone and everyone, the league still realizes that media coverage constitutes free advertising. An ever-growing number of outlets devote tremendous time, effort, and attention to covering — and necessarily promoting — the sport, at no cost to the stewards of it. And so, even if the league reserves the right to take issue with some of the coverage, the league continues to embrace it.
As it should. Because the price for it is always right.
The Philadelphia Flyers are expecting to have everyone fully healthy by the time training camp rolls around in a few months... with the exception of one forgotten prospect.
During his end-of-season press conference, Flyers general manager Danny Briere revealed that Nikita Grebenkin is the only player he believes could miss time into the summer and/or training camp.
"There's one, maybe Grebenkin, depending on how it goes," Briere said.
"Initially, we thought it was going to be something short, and it just never got better. Now we're looking at different options for him, so he's the only one that I would say maybe, if it doesn't improve."
Grebenkin, 23, was originally given a seven-to-10-day timeline for his undisclosed upper-body injury, which was announced back on March 26.
The eclectic Russian forward was supposed to be re-evaluated afterwards, and it's clear that any and all ensuing evaluations did not put him in a position to return to the Flyers by the end of the season.
For the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, Grebenkin never resumed skating, though it is worth noting that he was not observed to be sporting any kinds of casts or slings while in the press box during the postseason.
In the injury update the Flyers released shortly before Briere's press conference, Grebenkin's injury was described only as an "upper-body injury," whereas Christian Dvorak, for example, was specified to have played through a broken rib and separated shoulder.
Owen Tippett, of course, had released a joint statement with the team relaying his battle with a sports hernia and an unrelated bout with internal bleeding, so it would be hard to imagine this is simply an oversight by the team rather than something deliberate to protect the player.
For most of the past three years, the Senators and their fans have been bracing themselves for the loss of an upcoming first-round draft pick. And for much of this season, it looked like this was going to be the year.
After former management failed to disclose that Evgenii Dadonov had a 10-team no-trade list when trading him to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021, the league came down hard on the Senators, docking them a first-round draft pick. It was something they would have to forfeit in either 2024, 2025 or 2026.
Many Senators fans were steamed with the Golden Knights for lobbying the league as hard as they did to penalize Ottawa for what had happened. After all, the punishment didn’t help the Knights at all, and it's not like they lost the asset. They successfully traded Dadonov to Montreal a few months later.
On Sens Nation, THN's Steve Warne says the Senators biggest needs aren't at forward.
Now, a little over a month away from the NHL Draft, in a stunning turn of events, it’s suddenly Vegas that will lose a 2026 draft pick, not the Senators.
Two months ago, after considerable lobbying of the league by the Senators, the NHL agreed to take their forfeited draft pick off the table. They amended the penalty, giving the club back a first-round pick, although it will be 32nd overall, while insisting on a $1 million fine.
Meanwhile, it’s Vegas that will suddenly have to give up a pick this summer.
The league punished the Knights on Friday for their behaviour following the clinching game against the Ducks on Thursday night. Head coach John Tortorella, who needs to be the centre of controversy as badly as he needs oxygen, declined to speak with the media after the game and the Ducks did not open the dressing room to reporters.
As a result, the NHL announced Friday that, because of “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations, the Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, while Tortorella was fined $100,000.
Apparently, for the Knights, this was not a first-time offence. The league’s press release went on to say that the penalties came after previous warnings had been issued to Vegas regarding compliance with media regulations and other associated policies. The Knights will have the chance to appeal at the commissioner’s office in New York next week.
They did make two players, Brett Howden and Mitch Marner available to the media. Before taking questions, though, Marner warned reporters he would have to wrap things up within 10 minutes for fear that Tortorella would order the team bus to leave without them.
And it was truly hard to say if he was kidding or not.
It’s possible this was a protest or statement, similar to what the Barrie Colts did the night they advanced to the OHL Final. In that case, after the Colts were told they couldn't have the whole team in on the media availability, head coach Dylan Smoskowitz and captain Kashawn Aitcheson answered every media question by saying, “Nobody cares. Work harder.”
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Knights post game behaviour was also a protest.
“I guarantee you that thing last night was in reaction to the McNabb suspension,” Friedman said on Friday, guesting on The FAN Hockey Show. “They were really upset about it.”
Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was suspended for one game for his late hit that injured Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling during Game 5 of the series.
A second-round pick and $100,000 fine is a pretty damn expensive protest, especially when you consider that McNabb’s one-game suspension (for Game 6) was now over.
Whether it was a protest or not, how could a Senators fan do anything but chuckle at all of this?
I mean, imagine that. It's Vegas that will lose a pick in next month’s draft and not Ottawa. For Sens fans, the irony is delicious.
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:
The Chicago Blackhawks have seven players participating in the IIHF World Championships. All of them were in action on Friday in Switzerland, the first day of the tournament.
Two Blackhawks are on Team Sweden, which was defeated by Canada 5-3. Anton Frondell was a healthy scratch and Arvid Soderblom was the backup goaltender, so neither impacted the game.
There was a reason to keep an eye from a Blackhawks perspective, however, as Ivar Stenberg suited up for Sweden. He will be a top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, where the Blackhawks currently hold the fourth overall selection.
Stenberg scored a goal early in the contest, but it was waved off for a high stick. He didn’t have any points that counted, but you can tell from watching him that the hockey IQ is there for him to be an impact player once he reaches the NHL.
Teuvo Teravainen suited up for Finland, and he recorded two assists in their win over Germany. For someone who struggled to put up points at the end of the NHL regular season, this was a good showing. Both Sweden and Finland are poised for deep runs in the tournament once the elimination rounds begin.
Four Blackhawks are on Team USA’s roster. One of them, Drew Commesso, was the third goalie who didn’t dress for their opening game. The other three, Wyatt Kaiser, Oliver Moore, and Sam Lafferty all suited up as skaters.
None of them recorded a point, and Team USA lost to host Switzerland. After the Swiss took a 2-0 lead, the Americans started to play better and push the pace, but they were unable to get it tied before a third goal was scored to make it 3-1, which held as the final.
There was a fourth game that involved no Blackhawks, which was won 4-1 by Czechia over Denmark. It was a good slate of hockey, but there is a long way to go before anyone creates any separation. There is also the possibility of more players joining as they get eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The next chance to watch a Blackhawks player will come on Saturday when Teravainen and Finland suit up against Hungary. On Sunday, Team USA will battle Great Britain, and Sweden will play Denmark.
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Life as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan could have taken the darkest of turns if the franchise hadn’t been gifted the first-overall pick in this year’s draft.
However, the real kick in the crotch for Buds backers has to be the play of Mitch Marner in the playoffs.
Luckily, there's a way to remedy this when it comes to the latest NHL odds...
Son of a Mitch
After advancing to the Western Conference Final on Thursday, Mitch Marner leads all NHL playoff skaters in points with seven goals in 12 games.
By comparison, Leafs Nation watched the winger go 31-39 SU in the postseason during his tenure with Toronto, winning just two of 11 playoff series and averaging 0.81 points per game.
For Leafs fans like myself, there is a way to fix this, and it’s not just a hedge on happiness. Marner is currently listed at +1000 in the latest Conn Smythe odds, while the Vegas Golden Knights sit around +575 in Stanley Cup odds.
If Vegas knocks off the Colorado Avalanche and Marner keeps contributing, that Conn Smythe line could shrink to +300 by the Final, especially if Vegas enters it as an underdog.
Mitch Marner went between the legs for his 17th point in 12 playoff games
There are only two true potential Conn Smythe winners in the West: Nathan MacKinnon or Marner, and the latter has a five-point cushion over the Avalanche forward.
Born Sinners
Everyone thinks the Avalanche are going to roll over the team from Sin City, but this series could be tighter than expected.
When healthy, the Minnesota Wild are arguably a better team than Colorado.
Against the Avs, Joel Eriksson Ek being injured was a massive gut-punch for a team already thin at center, and defenseman Jonas Brodin missing time hurt as well. The top-heavy Wild piled huge minutes onto their stars and faded late.
Vegas’ goaltending may be better, considering Colorado has already made two changes in net this postseason, and the potential shoulder issue for Cale Makar is significant.
The Mitch is Back
Marner is looking electric alongside a red-hot Brett Howden (eight goals in his last nine games) and William Karlsson, who knows his way around playoff hockey.
The Avs are favorites for a reason, but if Mark Stone returns to the lineup, this could become a six- or seven-game war.
Since John Tortorella took over as head coach, Vegas is 14-4-1 including the playoffs, boasting a +31 goal differential. If Marner’s success is tough to watch, go grab him at 12/1 for Conn Smythe.
It’s the balance of the hockey world: Leafs fans get the first-overall pick, but Marner wins the Cup and playoff MVP.
Vegas Golden Knights Head Coach John Tortorella behind his players during NHL hockey Game 6 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks played on May 14, 2026 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
John Tortorella apparently didn’t want anything to do with the media Thursday night.
On Friday, the NHL came down on the Golden Knights and their head coach — hard.
The league took away the team’s 2026 second-round pick and fined Tortorella $100,000 after he skipped a postgame press conference in the aftermath of securing a Western Conference final berth with a Game 6 win over the Ducks on Thursday.
On top of skipping the presser, the team also kept the locker room closed to media members following the victory.
Vegas Golden Knights Head Coach John Tortorella behind his players during NHL hockey Game 6 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks played on May 14, 2026 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The NHL said in its statement that it had given Vegas “previous warnings” about violations of the media policy.
“National Hockey League announced today that, as a result of flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations following Game 6 of their Second Round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft,” the league said in its decision.
Vegas can appeal the decision, which would come in the form of an in-person hearing in New York next week.
The Golden Knights said they were aware of the decision but would provide no further comment on the situation.
According to The Athletic, Vegas staffers said Thursday night that traffic in the Honda Center hallway as the team loaded up bags onto the team bus was the reason the locker room was closed off.
Three players did talk to the media — Mitch Marner and Brett Howden at a conference and Shea Theodore in a separate room.
Head coach John Tortorella (L) of the Vegas Golden Knights calls to his team during a timeout in Game One of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NHLI via Getty Images
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the team was frustrated over a one-game suspension that Brayden McNabb received for an interference penalty, which was the impetus for the almost-total media embargo.
Head coach John Tortorella didn't meet with the media after the series-clinching 5-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, and the dressing room wasn't opened to the media either, according to reporters.
The NHL said Friday it was taking a 2026 second-round pick away from the Golden Knights and was fining Tortorella $100,000. The league said the team had been warned before and that Vegas would be able to appeal the penalties. A hearing, if requested, would be held next week in New York.
The team said in a social media statement: "The Golden Knights are aware of today's announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim. The organization will have no further comment."
The Vegas Golden Knights caused quite a stir on Thursday night following their victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Despite this victory advancing the Golden Knights to the Western Conference Finals for the fourth time in team history, head coach John Tortorella declined to speak with the media following his team’s 5-1 win.
The reaction from the National Hockey League was swift and left no room for interpretation. The league found this unprecedented behavior unacceptable, and its retribution sets the standard that it will not tolerate this sort of thing in the future.
As a result of “flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations,” the NHL brought the hammer down on the Golden Knights. The team will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 draft– a harsh punishment for a team in possession of very little draft capital.
Head coach John Tortorella has also been fined $100,000.
The NHL made it very clear in its issued statement that the Golden Knights have been warned about similar issues in the past.
“The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Relations and other associated policies.”
The Golden Knights have the opportunity to appeal this decision to the Commissioner’s Office. If they choose to do so, that appeal will be held in person next week in New York.
NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL docked the Vegas Golden Knights a second-round pick in next month's draft and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 on Friday for violating media access rules after their series-clinching Game 6 victory at Anaheim on Thursday night.
Tortorella refused to speak to reporters after Vegas routed the Ducks 5-1 to move on to face Colorado in the Western Conference final. The Golden Knights also did not open their locker room in accordance with league and Players' Association-negotiated regulations.
The NHL in a statement announcing the punishment said the penalties for these “flagrant violations” come after previous warnings were issued to the Golden Knights. The team has been offered the opportunity to appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman’s office in person at the league’s New York headquarters next week.
“The Golden Knights are aware of today's announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim,” the team said in a statement posted to social media. “The organization will have no further comment.”
During his season-ending press conference on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas made it loud and clear that he's ready to begin mobilizing in the trade market to infuse his NHL roster with legitimate "20-something" talent.
In fact, he gave a "sales pitch" of sorts to those very players who may desire a change of scenery or be looking for a new home in 2026-27, as he believes talent in that age range is the major piece that the Penguins are lacking to become true contenders.
“I think what we really lack are those players in their later 20s that are really true difference makers. Or mid-20s, late 20s, that are true difference makers," Dubas said. "I think if you’re one of those players that’s a free agent or your situation in your spot is not going well and you have some control, you can look at us and see very clearly that you’re going to be supported by a great coaching staff that gets the most out of players. But you’ll also have young players that are going to push from behind and older players that are going to set the tone."
And, as is the case with any significant trade at the NHL level, some of those young players are probably going to have to be sent the other way.
The Penguins are in a unique position this summer, as they have a ton of cap space - $42.5 million of it, as of right now - as well as a wide pool of draft capital and prospects that they can leverage in the trade market. While they can leverage some of this talent, however, there are going to be some players who will be harder to pry than others.
With that, here are trade tiers for some of the Penguins' best prospects, ranging from "untouchables" to "check this guy out" tiers.
If there is one prospect - well, he's not technically a "prospect" anymore - who is, currently, untouchable in the Penguins' organization, it's Ben Kindel.
Kindel making the opening night NHL roster as an 18-year-old to begin with was unprecedented. But even more unprecedented was what Kindel showed throughout the regular season as an 18-year-old. His 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games might not jump out on the scoresheet, but the maturity in his all-around game and emergence as a legitimate third-line NHL center in his rookie season highlight that the production - and maybe just a little bit of size - are the only things that need to come around.
He's a special player, and he's the best young player the Penguins have right now. He shouldn't be moved under any circumstance.
G Sergei Murashov
There's only one other Penguins' prospect in this tier, and that's the most promising netminder in their system.
Like Kindel, the 21-year-old Murashov - currently on cruise control through the Calder Cup Playoffs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - is such an integral part of the Penguins' future. Goaltending is a volalite position, so you don't see goaltenders crack these kinds of lists every day.
But Murashov is an exception. He's the most talented goaltender the Penguins have had in quite a while, and right now, there is a sizeable gap between he and the other goaltending prospects, even if the Penguins have depth at the position in their system.
This tier could easily just be named "the Harrison Brunicke tier," as he is the lone player in this tier for a reason. As big a gap as there is between Murashov and the other goaltending prospects in the system, the talent gap is even bigger between Brunicke and the next-best defenseman in Pittsburgh's system.
The 20-year-old blueliner - selected 44th overall in 2024 - has NHL pedigree and seems to be a first-round talent stolen in the second round. He's probably a future top-four defenseman, and - at the high end of his ceiling - a mainstay top-pairing difference-maker in transition and offensively. The Penguins should do everything they can to keep him around at, nearly, all costs.
However, when teams shoot for big names like Robertson, Matthews, Harley, or Thomas, typically, the return package requires a top organizational prospect like Brunicke, Murashov, or Kindel. Kindel and Murashov are slightly more untouchable than Brunicke, making him the likely candidate to go of those three.
But, the condition is that he should only be dealt in the event that the Penguins plan on landing another promising young defenseman either through the same trade or a different one. Otherwise, he needs to stay put, because he's one of one in their system.
The "Only If A 20-Something Impact Name Is Coming Back" Tier
F Bill Zonnon
For the rest of the tiers, players aren't really in order. But, for this tier only, Bill Zonnon is at the top of the list.
Zonnon could, arguably, be in the Brunicke tier. He's quickly climbing the ranks as one of - if not the best of - Pittsburgh's top forward prospects, and he likely has a high floor at the NHL level. He has impressed in his first taste of the AHL, coming away with the game-winning goal in WBS's Game 1 Atlantic Division Final matchup against the Springfield Thunderbirds and tacking on another in Game 2.
He's a multi-tool player. He excels defensively, can turn on the jets, has excellent vision, is a good playmaker, plays physical, and is a menace on the forecheck. By all accounts, he will be a big part of the Penguins' future.
Sounds like a guy who should be virtually untouchable, right?
Well, almost. The only reason there is a degree of separation between Brunicke and Zonnon here is because of the talent gap between Brunicke and the organization's next-best defensive prospect in comparison to the gap between Zonnon and the next-best forward.
The 19-year-old Zonnon is one in a crop of forward prospects. Brunicke is on an island at this point. By sheer volume, that puts Zonnon a tick below and in the "Only If A 20-Something Impact Name Is Coming Back" tier.
F Will Horcoff
The 19-year-old Horcoff - drafted in the first round along with Kindel and Zonnon in 2025 - impressed in his first full season with the University of Michigan, amassing 25 goals and 39 points in 40 NCAA games. And it's worth noting that, for the first half of the season, he was scoring at nearly a goal-per game pace.
Like Zonnon, it should take a lot to pry who is the most promising goal-scoring prospect in the organization. After all, Dubas said that Horcoff excels at the game's most important skill, which is putting the puck in the back of the net. It's not too often that a bona fide sniper could be waiting in the wings, but that would also be an attractive commodity for another team that is making high-end talent available.
It may come as a bit of a surprise that Gabriel D'Aigle is in this tier, but watching a few of his games should help qualm those concerns pretty swiftly.
Not only is he 6-foot-5 and occupying a lot of space in the net, he's also quick. As in, probably near as quick as Murashov. He gets post-to-post with relative ease, his reads are pretty advanced for his age, and he still managed a .908 save percentage with the Victoriaville Tigres despite facing a ludicrous volume of shots against.
If Murashov doesn't work out, D'Aigle might just be on his level soon, anyway, as he is already the backup for the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. He put up a .925 save percentage in three regular-season games for Wheeling and stopped 11 of 12 in relief of Taylor Gauthier in Game 3 of their North Division Final series against the Maine Mariners.
He's a very intriguing goaltending prospect who should only be dealt for a higher-profile NHL player.
F Mikhail Ilyin
Watching Mikhail Ilyin in these AHL playoffs has been a bit of a revelation. Yes, those who have been keeping tabs on him in the KHL are aware of his high-level playmaking acumen, as he is a magician with the puck on his stick.
But he's not only adjusted to the AHL and the North American game pretty quickly, he's been one of WBS's best players through six playoff games, not missing a beat. His five points (1G-4A) co-lead the team in the playoffs, and he looks dominant at times.
Mikhail Ilyin scores his 1st goal of the playoffs! Great movement by Broz and Brunicke pic.twitter.com/JzlD446nF4
He could be a special player, but he's a guy who - if he continues to bump his stock - could be leveraged if the right young player is available. He's only going to get better the more he acclimates to the North American style of play, as he's been putting up numbers playing with grown men in the KHL for four seasons now.
You keep him if you can, but it's probably not detrimental to the organization if you don't - especially if there is sure talent coming back.
F Rutger McGroarty
Many folks are a bit down on Rutger McGroarty, and it's understandable to a certain extent. He had an opportunity at the NHL level to assert himself this season, and he mostly failed to do so.
However, I think some circumstances are worth considering in this case. He missed all of training camp with an upper-body injury and did not return until late fall, when he played five AHL games before his NHL recall. Then, he was sent back to WBS, where he ended up with 10 goals and 34 points in 30 AHL games.
McGroarty certainly has to start showing more this season, but I still think he's going to be a difference-maker in the middle-six for the Penguins in the future. He is someone who can slide down the tier list if he doesn't take a step soon, however.
Out of all the prospects called up to the bigs mid-season, Avery Hayes showed more than anyone. His feisty, straightline style of hockey makes him a guy who easily endears himself to fans and teammates, and he is a great energy guy for a third- or fourth-line with some offensive upside as well. He isn't much different from Bryan Rust - minus the power forward aspect of it - when Rust's NHL career began.
He's a nice depth player to have. But he's not untouchable, and he can be moved if necessary.
F Tanner Howe
Howe, 20, is an intriguing depth piece at this point, and he's a player whose value could continue to rise. He plays with an edge, and like Hayes, is a straightline player with high-end forechecking ability and the grittiness and greasiness required to be a net-front presence.
He excelled with Kindel when they were teammates for the Calgary Hitmen, when he registered 12 goals and 39 points in 37 games after being dealt there from the Regina Pats in 2024-25. He's no-nonsense, and he has some skill to boot, too.
If he keeps trending up, the 2024 second-round pick (46th overall) could very well end up in the tier above. For now, though, he finds himself here, and he's a player other organizations should covet.
F Tristan Broz
It's been a rough two years for Tristan Broz in terms of setbacks out of his control, as a bout with mononucleosis kept him out for two months last season, and an injury kept him out for nearly two months this season.
Both years, he probably would have been one of the first guys recalled to the NHL as an injury replacement, but he was only able to make his NHL debut this season and play in one game. Broz is a solid two-way center who plays a clean, responsible game and knows how to put the puck in the back of the net, too.
He is the other co-leader in points for WBS during this year's Calder Cup Playoffs - holding the same stat line as Ilyin - and the Penguins like his all-around game. There's a better chance he stays, as his injury history has allowed him to fly under-the-radar for other prying teams. But, if another team comes calling, it might be wise to wait it out until into next season so he has the chance to remain healthy and bolster his value.
Ryan Miller - a fifth-round pick (130th overall) in 2025 - was, like Zonnon, signed to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) - stuck around in WBS after two regular-season games, although he has yet to appear in the playoffs. The center - who just turned 19 - registered 30 goals and 75 points in 65 games for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL this season, which was a substantial breakout in comparison to his previous two seasons.
Miller still has to put some things together, but he's beginning to look like he could have been a steal out of the fifth round. The Penguins like his progress this season, and if he can have another standout WHL campaign next season, his trade stock will go up.
D Finn Harding
Behind Brunicke on the right side as far as the organizational depth chart is Finn Harding, who was selected in the seventh round (223rd overall) in 2024. He put together a nice first professional season, spending seven games in Wheeling but the rest in the AHL and recording four goals and 22 points to go along with a team-high plus-32 in 54 games with WBS.
Harding is a solid, steady blueliner, and he has the capability to increase his production as well. He's still a ways behind Brunicke, but he could become a solid bottom-pairing NHL defenseman - and defensive depth and upside is always something teams look to add to their system. He could end up being a sweetener in a bigger deal.
F Zam Plante
Zam Plante, 21, has a sign-by date by Aug. 15, 2028, so the Penguins have some time to make a decision on the collegiate prospect.
The 5-foot-9 center put together an impressive season for the University of Minnesota-Duluth, amassing 20 goals and 50 points in 40 games. He shouldn't be overlooked as a legitimate player in the Penguins' prospect pool, and he's certainly a candidate to sign with the organization as early as this season.
But staying in the NCAA another year could boost his value both to the Penguins and other organizations, and - again - the Penguins have enough prospect depth in the forward department to expend a few names. Plante is a center, too, so he'd have value, but the Penguins might also want to keep him around for that reason.
Despite the loss 1-4, Zam Plante scored the only goal for UMD with an absolute bomb! pic.twitter.com/tow27Zp0OP
Dubas was complimentary of Koivunen in his season-ending press conference, saying that tangible progress had been made from the beginning of this season's NHL stint to the end, and he made a point to emphasize that NHL development isn't always linear for every player, as Koivunen's (2G-7P-39GP) production was disappointing after putting up seven points in eight games at the end of last season.
But, given his AHL-level success and such a small NHL sample - he had 13 goals and 41 points in 34 AHL games this season - the 22-year-old is still someone who has value, and he could very well still figure things out at the NHL level. He should be a "dangle as a first resort" kind of prospect to see what kind of bite you can get out of him from potential suitors, especially if a good NHL talent is involved.
But he's more likely a sweetener for bigger deals rather than a central prospect piece. Still, his market is worth exploring - especially with the plethora of forward prospects the Penguins have.
D Owen Pickering
Many folks were down on Owen Pickering, but Dubas was not. In fact, he gave the same spiel about development not being linear for Pickering, who only saw four NHL games this season that were messy, to say the least.
The 6-foot-5, 206-pound blueliner did come around in the AHL as the season went on, however, displaying those shutdown capabilities that Dubas and the rest of the development staff wanted to see from him. And teams love big, shutdown blueliners.
However, Pickering needs to take a big step next season to either prove his case to remain with the Penguins or bolster his case to be legitimate trade fodder for a bigger name. Like McGroarty and Koivunen, he needs to show soon, otherwise his value will diminish.
Joel Blomqvist quietly put together another solid AHL season while mostly playing backup to Murashov, putting up a 16-5-4 record with a .913 save percentage. The 24-year-old showed flashes at the NHL level last season in his 15-game stint, but not enough to show what his NHL ceiling truly is.
Every team needs goaltending, and Blomqvist has put in the work to earn an NHL opportunity at this point. Dubas said Murashov and Blomqvist would battle for an NHL spot next season and that they would decide on the other spot, whether that's the other guy, someone on the outside, or Arturs Silovs, who is a pending-RFA.
But the Penguins are in a pretty good spot depth-wise at the position, so to appease a team that needs goaltending, they can afford to make Blomqvist part of a trade package.
F Filip Hallander
Unfortunately for Filip Hallander, the 2025-26 season did not go as planned, as a blood clot limited him to just 13 games, when he put up a goal and four points.
But the 25-year-old center is a solid player at both ends of the ice, and he's a reliable player. The Penguins like him, and he came back over to North America this season after an SHL campaign that resulted in Forward of the Year honors in 2024-25.
He probably doesn't have a whole lot of trade value right now, but he's also part of what will be a very crowded group of players competing for few spots on the NHL roster next season. Hallander is a good player to keep around in the near-term, but if he can remain healthy next season and put up some numbers, he may be someone to consider dangling next summer, when the Penguins are likely to shoot even bigger in the trade market.
While most Penguins' prospects experienced upward development this season, the same can't really be said for 2023 third-round pick (91st overall) Emil Pieniniemi.
The 21-year-old blueliner put together an impressive season for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL in 2024-25 with 10 goals and 60 points in 60 games. But, after a disappointing training camp, Pieniniemi was told to report to Wheeling, and he refused, so he spent half the season in Finland on organizational suspension.
Eventually, he came around, and he played 26 ECHL games with a brief nine-game AHL stint sprinkled in this season. He wasn't bad, but he didn't really show too many signs of progress, either, which may have had something to do with his first-half decision to sit out.
There is still a lot of potential there, as Pieniniemi is a dynamic blueliner who excels on the power play and in transition, also not shying away from physicality. It's possible that he is unhappy with his situation, but it's also possible that he is given a bigger opportunity next season.
Regardless, he could be a potential trade chip for any team who sees the toolbox and feels they can help him use those tools to become an effective two-way presence on the blue line.
F Melvin Fernstrom
In terms of regression, perhaps no one saw sharper regression than forward prospect Melvin Fernstrom, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in the Marcus Pettersson trade last season.
After a 2024-25 season where he took home SHL Rookie of the Year honors with Orebro HK, he struggled to follow that up with just three goals and four points in 36 games, which led to scratches, and demotion, and an eventual recall to WBS to help him find his game again.
And he seemed to make progress in WBS, registering two goals and eight points in just 14 games. However, he was injured in late-March and has not returned to the lineup, and it's unclear whether or not he will play again for the WBS Penguins in the playoffs.
His value is virtually zero right now, but he's still a guy to keep an eye on if he can put it all together. His shot is lethal, but his skating is an issue. If the Penguins can work with him on that - he did sign a three-year entry-level contract last summer - he'll be another goal-scoring forward the Penguins can either hang onto or leverage down the line.
The Buffalo Sabres suffered a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of the second round. With this, the Sabres now trail the series 3-2 and are one loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs.
With the Sabres facing a must-win Game 6, it is clear that they should be rolling with Alex Lyon as their starting goalie for it.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen struggled in Game 5 against the Canadiens, as he allowed five goals on 23 shots before being pulled. With this, the 27-year-old now has a 4.20 goals-against average and an .851 save percentage in four games this post-season.
With the Canadiens figuring out Luukkonen in Game 5, it would be wise for the Sabres to go with Lyon as their Game 6 starter. While Lyon had two tough starts for the Sabres this series against the Canadiens, he showed during Buffalo's series against the Boston Bruins that he is capable of being a major difference-maker when playing at his best.
It will be interesting to see which goalie ends up getting the start for the Sabres against the Canadiens in Game 6 from here. Whether it ends up being Lyon or Luukkonen, the Sabres need to play far better in Game 6 if the hope to keep their playoff run alive.
On the latest episode of The Hockey Show, discussion about the Stanley Cup Playoffs collided with a panel-wide review of a new, steamy hockey love show that started streaming this week.
Show hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork got into a pair of coach firings that went down in the past few days, as Craig Berube was shown the door in Toronto and Kris Knoblauch was ousted in what appeared to be a very sloppily-handled situation in Edmonton.
They also got into the Vegas Golden Knights eliminating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and then afterward appearing to ignore their postgame media responsibilities.
Speaking of the Ducks, this week’s guest is an Anaheim die-hard and was at Game 6 at the Honda Center, and that’s comedian Brad Williams.
Brad divulged his thoughts on the Ducks season and his outlook for the team in the coming seasons.
This week’s wins and fails included a heroic effort by Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson to shield an opponent from injury, Jim Nill not being included among GM of the Year finalists for the first time in forever, some experts on pronouncing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s name and the Edmonton Oilers.
Also on this week's show, Rose gave the boys some homework: watching the first episode of Off Campus, the new hockey-love show on Amazon Prime.
They gave their full review, which you can check out along with this week’s full show and interview in the videos below:
May 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (6) celebrates with teammates including forward Josh Doan (91) after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The time for talking, practicing and poring over game film is over as far as Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is concerned.
With Buffalo facing elimination for the first time this postseason, Ruff told his team to avoid the rink Friday, meet at the airport and contemplated canceling the skate the next morning in Montreal with his message essentially being: Show up and play.
“I know the pressure they’re feeling. I know how much they care. I just feel a day away from the rink, not coming here, is a good thing,” Ruff said.
“We need to move on. There’s only one game that counts, and that is the game tomorrow,” he added. “We have to play on our toes. We got to play to win. Can’t be afraid.”
Game 6 at Montreal on a Saturday night
The Sabres trail 3-2 in their second-round series against the Canadiens, with Montreal hosting Game 6 on Saturday night (8 p.m. EDT, ABC) in what should be a raucous atmosphere. Aside from it being the Canadiens’ first Saturday night game of these playoffs, it also falls on Canada’s Victoria Day holiday weekend.
“We’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said Friday. “I feel that you just stay present where your feet are and take care of that. I think it helps sustain even keel and just focus on the process and prepare.”
The Canadiens have yet to lose two in a row this postseason, but are 1-1 in series-clinching games. In their opening series against Tampa Bay, Montreal lost 1-0 in Game 6 at home before a 2-1 win in Game 7 at Tampa Bay.
“It’s the hardest game. Any time a team’s got it’s back against the wall, that’s when they’re desperate,” defenseman Alexandre Carrier said. “We just got to stick to our game plan and really do what we do best.”
The series winner advances to play Carolina, which has swept both of its playoff series, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9. The East final will start either next Tuesday or next Thursday.
Leading 3-2, Buffalo allowed Montreal to score three times over the final 12 minutes of the second period.
Buffalo has combined for just nine goals in its past four games after a 4-2 win in Game 1. More worrisome is allowing 19 goals over the same span.
Regular-season leading scorer Tage Thompson, who was stopped on a breakaway early in the second period, has two goals and two assists in the series. Fellow first-line forward Alex Tuch has been blanked in all five games, and acknowledged playing poorly on defense.
“I’ve got to bear down. I’ve got to be better. I can’t play the way I’m playing right now,” Tuch said. “But I’ve got to move past it.”
Goaltending is a question mark. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled Thursday after allowing five goals on 23 shots through two periods. Alex Lyon mopped up, allowing a goal on three shots in his first appearance since losing the starting job following a 6-2 loss in Game 3.
Ruff doesn’t comment on his goaltending plans. And should the team not practice Saturday morning, the Game 6 starter won’t be revealed until shortly before puck drop.
Passing up chances
Among Ruff’s other concerns is Buffalo either passing up scoring opportunities, or failing to finish when getting shots on net. This was especially the case in the first period, when Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes looked shaky after allowing three goals on four shots.
“We thought we let them off the hook,” Ruff said. “Probably there were four or five opportunities to get the puck there quicker last night that could have kept them in chaos.”
Ruff turned the attention to whatever bright sides he could find.
The Sabres are 4-1 on the road this postseason, including a series-clinching 4-1 win at Boston. There’s also the reality of Buffalo being one of five teams still in contention.
“We get to go to Montreal in Game 6 in the middle of May,” Ruff said, noting it’s a message he intends to share with his team. “I think we’ll all be evaluated on what this game looks like. Just bring your best.”
The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Montreal Canadiens by a 6-3 final score in Game 5. With this, the Sabres are now down 3-2 in their series and are one loss away from their post-season being over.
If the Sabres hope to avoid being eliminated by the Canadiens, they are going to need all of their top players to be on their A-game from here. This undoubtedly includes star winger Alex Tuch, as he has been struggling immensely so far against the Canadiens.
After posting four goals and three assists in the Sabres' first-round series against the Boston Bruins, Tuch has yet to record a point in five games against the Canadiens. Tuch's lack of offensive production has certainly not been doing the Sabres any favors, and they need him to heat back up immediately with their season on the line.
When looking at how well Tuch has played over the last several years, he certainly has the potential to bounce back for the Sabres. Keep in mind, this is a forward who had 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games this season and had 36-goal seasons in 2022-23 and 2024-25. With this, the Sabres need the big winger to find his scoring touch again as they prepare for Game 6 against the Habs.
