Of all the sportscasters I have known over the years, the man who calls the Rangers play-by-play for MSG Networks and splendidly does NHL for TNT, is the one you are most likely to call your best friend if you ever got to know him.

That's a handsome double-dip; being the best in the business and just about the nicest guy in a tough-tough industry.

At the moment you must know that Sir Kenny Albert is busy at work covering one of the most gripping Stanley Cup playoffs of this or any other era dating back to the NHL's birth in 1917.

Play on the ice will dictate how far the rest of this series will go. But play has been so gripping that all certified hockey nuts are rooting for Golden Knights and Hurricanes to push this tourney to a Game Seven.

Not surprisingly Pal Kenny is among those who savor a Game Seven as much as any savant from here to the Aleutian Islands. 

"Game Seven,"  says Albert, "are the greatest two words in sports because everything is on the line. You can feel the tension through the entire arena. Every shift matters." 

Over the years Kenny has had the great, good fortune to have worked 26 NHL Game Sevens either on the tv or radio side -- including seven that required overtime.

Albert: "The most memorable happened to have been the first I ever did, 1994, when the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. That one I did for NHL Radio."

Other Albert favorites: 1. Alex Martinez scoring in overtime to beat Chicago in the 2014 West Final; 2. Derek Stepan in 2015 and Artemi Panarin  2022, Game Seven OT winners at The Garden.

"Then," notes Albert, "there was Pat Maroon sending his hometown Blues to the West Final in double OT in Game Seven against Dallas in 2019 and Game Seven in Winnipeg in 2025. The hometown Jets trailed St.Louis by two goals with under two minutes remaining in regulation.

"The crowd exploded when Adam Lowry deflected the series-winner past Jordan Binnington in double overtime."

Asked to pick one of the most exhilarating days of his career, Albert recalls that time in the Edmonton bubble in 2020 when he had the opportunity to call not one but two Game Sevens in the same day!

"It was Dallas vs. Colorado and Vegas vs. Vancouver. In the Stars-Avs match Joel Kiviranta

completed the Seventh game seven hat trick in NHL history with the overtime game-winning goal!"

Who knows? With the Canes-Vegas Final tied at two games apiece, we just could be heading for a Game Seven finale of all finales!

Matt Larkin released his latest trade board for Daily Faceoff. Six Buffalo Sabres were among the players listed, as Devon Levi, Jordan Greenway, Michael Kesselring, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis all made the cut. 

Levi has been the subject of trade rumors for a while now, and it is easy to understand why. The young netminder has dropped to the fourth spot on the Sabres' goalie depth chart and did not make a single NHL appearance for Buffalo this season. Yet, when noting that he is a former top prospect, there could be some teams out there willing to take a gamble on him.

With the Sabres needing to free up cap space, it makes sense that Greenway is being viewed as a trade candidate. His cap hit is high for what he provides as a bottom-six forward. While this is the case, he could generate some interest from teams with good cap space that are looking for more toughness in their bottom six. 

Kesselring has been a very popular name in the rumor mill since the Sabres' playoff run ended. The fit has not been there between the Sabres and Kesselring, so it would make sense if Buffalo traded the pending restricted free agent. Despite having a tough season, he could get the Sabres a decent return because he is a big right-shot defenseman who has had past success. 

As for Luukkonen, Lyon, and Ellis, they were included in Larkin's "Names to watch based on roster surpluses" tier. With the Sabres having three goalies on their NHL roster, it makes sense that they have each been included. However, when looking at how well this trio performed for them this campaign, the possibility of the Sabres running it back with them again next season is there. 

After news broke that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, hockey insiders had to tweak their NHL Trade Boards, launching him to the top. Ultimately, with a new No. 1, most of the players already on the board slide down a spot, or saw their values increase and decrease based on potential landing spots for Larkin.

In The Athletic's latest NHL Trade Board (subscription required), released on June 8, 2026, Blake Coleman remains the only Calgary Flames skater to make the list, ranking 14th.

The 34-year-old Coleman is entering the final year of a six-year deal he signed back in 2021, with a cap hit of $4.9 million per season. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Coleman is entering his sixth season with Calgary and is coming off a 20-goal, 35-point performance in 2025-26.

Interestingly, Coleman's best season has come with the Flames, when he tallied 30 goals and 54 points in 2023-24, to rank second in goals behind Yegor Sharangovich and third in points behind Nazem Kadri and Sharangovich. 

Since taking over as General Manager, Craig Conroy hasn't been afraid to deal big names, including Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, Andrew Mangiapane, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Tyler Toffoli, to name a few. 

As the only player in the Flames dressing room with multiple Stanley Cup wins on his resume, Coleman brings invaluable experience, especially to the next generation of Calgary stars like Dustin Wolf, Zayne Parekh, Connor Zary, and Matt Coronato.

Already an alternate captain, any deal involving Coleman would give the Flames a decent return, whether it's prospects, draft picks, or a young player looking for a new opportunity.

The return for Coleman won't be anything like what the Red Wings could get for Larkin, or what the Vancouver Canucks got for Quinn Hughes. Still, if Conroy is moving out veterans and looking for young talent hungry for a future battling for the Stanley Cup in the new Scotia Place, then he'll pull the trigger on a deal at the 2026 NHL Draft, or at some point during the season.

Coleman's next goal will be his 100th in a Flames sweater. Since joining the club in 2021, his stat line reads 99 goals, 100 assists, and 199 points in 392 games with a plus-54 rating. Through 10 NHL seasons, Coleman has scored 170 goals with 155 assists and 325 points in 693 games. In 65 playoff games, he's bagged 12 goals and 31 points with a plus-17 rating.

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The Buffalo Sabres and winger Alex Tuch have been negotiating off and on since the 30-year-old become eligible to sign a contract extension last summer, but there was no progress throughout the regular season, to the point that the veteran winger and his representatives paused negotiations. 

“We had talks with Kevyn Adams and his management staff that didn't progress to where we wanted it to, so we decided to kind of hold off and go through the season a little more," Tuch said at locker cleanout earlier this week. "When Jarmo stepped in, we initially had some good talks, and then they kind of stalled out a little bit. They continued to talk (throughout) the course of the season, and at a point when we were starting with the playoff push, I decided that it was my best interest, and the best interest for the team to put anything like that on hold until after the season was over."

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, the chatter coming out of last week’s NHL Scouting Combine was that there was “still a gap” between the two sides, and there has not been a lot of movement with just over three weeks to go before Tuch hits the open market. 

Tuch posted his third 30+ goal season in four years, and had seven points in the first round series against Boston, but went pointless in seven games against the Montreal Canadiens. In spite of that, he is expected to draw the most attention on July 1, if the Sabres do not trade his negotiating rights before then or do a sign-and-trade at or around the NHL Draft later this month.   

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Rasmus Dahlin was one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy after leading his club to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, but last week it was revealed that he finished third behind Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and Cale Makar. On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres team captain learned that he finished second behind countryman and Team Sweden teammate Gabriel Landeskog in voting for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

The Masterton is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey” and is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Landeskog returned to full time NHL duty after nearly three years after undergoing a series of serious surgeries to repair knee issues, playing 60 games for the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche this season. The 33-year-old received 69 first-place votes and 509 points. Dahlin received 53 first-place votes and finished 110 points behind Landeskog. Jonathan Toews of the Winnipeg Jets finished third. 

Award season was a disappointment for members of the Sabres organization, with Dahlin’s second and third place finishes, and Lindy Ruff finishing just behind Tampa’s Jon Cooper for the Jack Adams for coach of the year.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Kale Clague is taking his talents to the KHL. 

Avtomobilist Yekaterin of the KHL have signed Clague to a two-year contract. 

Clague heading to the KHL comes after he spent all of this in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Manitoba Moose. In 67 games this campaign with the Winnipeg Jets' AHL affiliate, the former Sabres defenseman posted nine goals, 18 assists, and 27 points. 

Before the 2025-26 season, Clague spent the three previous seasons with the Sabres organization. He spent the majority of his time with the Sabres down in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. This included him spending all of the 2024-25 season with Rochester, where he recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 69 games. 

In 36 games as a member of the Sabres, Clague posted zero goals, five assists, 25 hits, and a minus-3 rating. 

It will now be interesting to see how much of an impact Clague can make in the KHL from here. If he performs well overseas during his two-year deal, perhaps it could open the door for him to get another opportunity in North America.

The Edmonton Oilers are going to need to make a decision. With reports surfacing on Tuesday that the NHL is moving forward on an investigation that will look into the incidents that occurred in 2023 when Babcock resigned as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, there are subsequent reports that the NHLPA has “significant” additional claims about his behavior beyond just looking at players' cell phones.

As reported by several sources, including Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, "The NHL will conduct an investigation into Mike Babcock’s short stint coaching the Columbus Blue Jackets after the NHL Players’ Association on Tuesday informed the Edmonton Oilers that the union wants one before signing off on the team hiring him as head coach."

In other words, they aren't letting this go. 

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Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast:

“I don’t think the Players Association has a choice here if they want to show that they have any teeth and that they are mindful of the players. They have to step in and say, “Hold on.” I was told—and I didn’t realize this—but I was told that at issue, and the reason the Players Association is adamant about this, is that when Babcock resigned in Columbus, the NHL was about to do an investigation into everything that happened there. Babcock just resigned. He said, “Look, it’s not worth it,” whatever his rationale was—he resigned.”

That's not good enough for the NHLPA. They want the truth. That will beg the question: can the Oilers can handle the truth?

Friedman added:

 "So the league just said there’s no point in having an investigation. I think everybody felt at that time Babcock was going to retire and we weren’t going to see him in a head coaching role again. Well, now that this has come up, the Players Association has said, 'Hold on a second. There was supposed to be an investigation that never happened because Babcock resigned. Now we want it to happen. He shouldn’t be able to come back without that investigation.'

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Perhaps the Oilers knew this was an inevitability. What that might not be aware of is what else the NHLPA has on Babcock.

Frank Seravalli reports, " If Oilers elect to continue down the path with Mike Babcock, sources say the NHLPA is in receipt of “significant” additional claims from their own investigation with players that were not publicly reported in 2023. Those claims were presented to NHL prior to his resignation. " He adds, "Furthermore, sources indicate that asking players to see photos is NOT what ultimately resulted in Babcock’s resignation. It was the subsequent (unknown) allegation reported below that cost Babcock his job in Columbus."

So now what?

Edmonton could still hire Babcock and then wait to see what the investigation uncovers. Alternatively, they could back away. Knowing that this story isn't going to disappear quietly into the night, it might not be worth the hassle. 

Friedman said, “I just can’t see the Oilers moving forward with the hiring if they know this is coming.” 

Will the Oilers stick to their guns and move forward, hoping that whatver is unearthed is not as bad as it sounds? Or, will Edmonton back away with the belief that the NHL is likely to learn is much worse than imagined? Perhaps there's a reason Babcock resigned and decided not to pop his head out for six years. 

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The Vancouver Canucks have parted ways with Senior Advisor and Pro Scout Dale Tallon, according to Rob Williams of DailyHive. 

On Monday, some noticed that Tallon’s name had been taken off the Canucks’ team staff page. Later, the Canucks confirmed to DailyHive that the former Canuck’s contract ends this season and that they would be opting not to renew it.  

Tallon’s first stint in the NHL was with the Canucks, with the former defenceman playing for Vancouver for three years including their inaugural season in 1970. He then joined the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1973–74 season, also playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1978 to 1980 to round out his playing career. 

Vancouver brought Tallon on as a Senior Advisor and Scout in the 2022–23 season, occupying the role up until the end of this year. Previously, he spent time as Director of Player Personnel (1998 to 2003), Assistant General Manager (2002 to 2005), General Manager (2005 to 2009), and Senior Advisor (2009–10) for the Blackhawks. Later, he moved on to the Florida Panthers organization, where he acted as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations (2010 to 2016), President of Hockey Operations (2016 to 2019), and General Manager (2010 to 2020). 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Kale Clague’s Manitoba hockey chapter has come to a close.

After returning to the province where he spent the majority of his junior hockey career, the former Brandon Wheat Kings standout and Manitoba Moose defenceman is heading overseas, signing a two-year contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of Russia's KHL.

The move ends Clague’s brief stint in the Winnipeg Jets organization after signing a one-year, two-way contract last summer. Despite bringing NHL experience and offensive upside to the club’s defensive depth chart, the Regina product spent the entire 2025-26 campaign with the Moose. 

Clague, 28, remained a steady contributor from the back end, finishing the season with nine goals and 27 points in 67 games with Manitoba. 

Although he did not receive a call-up to Winnipeg, Clague’s return to Manitoba represented a familiar stop in his hockey journey.

Before beginning his professional career, Clague spent four seasons with the Wheat Kings, developing into one of the Western Hockey League’s premier offensive defencemen. He was part of Brandon’s 2015-16 WHL championship team and became a major piece of the organization’s blueline before making the jump to the professional ranks.

Originally selected by Los Angeles in the second round (51st overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Clague worked his way through the organization and eventually made his NHL debut with the Kings. He later spent time with the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres, appearing in 94 career NHL games while recording two goals and 21 points. 

While consistent NHL minutes proved difficult to secure, Clague became an established AHL defenceman.

Across stops with the Ontario Reign, Rochester Americans and Moose, Clague produced 39 goals and 165 points over 321 career AHL contests, consistently providing offence from the back-end. 

His strongest offensive professional season came in 2024-25 with Rochester, where he recorded 10 goals and 39 points before signing with Winnipeg the following offseason. 

The move to Avtomobilist provides Clague with a new opportunity and likely a larger role than the one available in North America. The KHL club officially added him from Manitoba on a two-year agreement, giving the puck-moving defender a chance to become an impact player overseas. 

For Winnipeg, the departure removes one experienced option from the organization’s defensive depth chart. The Jets still have a number of younger blueliners pushing for bigger roles, but Clague represented a veteran presence capable of playing heavy minutes at the AHL level.

For Clague, the next step will come thousands of kilometres away from Manitoba - the province where he won a WHL title, developed into an NHL draft pick and most recently attempted to earn his way back to hockey’s highest level.

For most of the last two decades, Mike Babcock's résumé has spoken louder than almost anyone else's.

More than 700 wins.

A Stanley Cup.

Two Olympic gold medals.

A World Championship.

A World Junior title.

For years, there wasn't much debate. Babcock was viewed as the gold standard behind the bench, a demanding coach capable of squeezing every ounce out of talented teams and star players, and one whose preparation and attention to detail helped him earn the trust of some of the greatest teams and players the sport has seen.

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And, to be fair, the results backed up the reputation.

He took the Ducks to the Stanley Cup Final. He won it all with Detroit in 2008. Team Canada trusted him with Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. Brendan Shanahan handed him an eight-year contract and the keys to the Maple Leafs' rebuild.

Few coaches in league history have accomplished more.

Which is what makes the other half of the story so fascinating.

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Because for almost as long as Babcock has been winning hockey games, there have been stories.

Johan Franzén described him as the worst person he had ever met. Chris Chelios accused him of embarrassing and belittling players. Mike Modano was famously left sitting on 1,499 career games because Babcock wanted to reward younger players, a decision that Modano himself admitted still bothered him years later. Following his dismissal in Toronto, Mitch Marner revealed that as a rookie he had been asked to rank teammates by work ethic, only to have those rankings shared with the group, creating tension before Marner had even established himself in the league.

One incident can be explained away.

A pattern becomes much harder to dismiss.

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And that pattern followed him to Columbus.

When Babcock was hired by the Blue Jackets in 2023, he spoke openly about reflection and growth, saying that time away from the game had given him a new perspective and helped him appreciate that today's players require a different approach than the one that worked twenty years ago. Days before training camp, however, allegations surfaced that Babcock had been asking players to show him photographs on their phones as part of a get-to-know-you exercise. Veterans Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau publicly defended those interactions and insisted they had never felt uncomfortable, but concerns raised by younger players led the NHLPA to launch a review. Before Babcock coached a single game, he resigned.

Now, with reports linking him to the Edmonton Oilers' vacancy, the NHLPA has reportedly requested that the league conduct a formal investigation before Edmonton proceeds with a hire, which is a remarkable development considering Babcock hasn't coached an NHL game since 2019 and resigned from Columbus before his tenure even began.

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That should give everyone pause.

Not because Babcock suddenly forgot how to coach.

Nobody questions his hockey knowledge. Nobody questions his preparation. Nobody questions his ability to organize a team and hold players accountable.

The question is whether Mike Babcock can stop creating problems that don't need to exist.

Because Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl aren't young stars trying to establish themselves anymore. They are veterans carrying enormous expectations after a shocking first-round exit to Anaheim, and the last thing Edmonton needs is another storyline competing with the pressure that already exists around the organization.

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But perhaps the bigger concern isn't Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

Those two have seen everything. They have security. They have stature. If they dislike something, they have voices powerful enough to make themselves heard.

Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard don't.

Neither does Beau Akey. Neither do the next wave of prospects trying to establish themselves in the NHL.

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That's what made the Columbus episode so alarming in the eyes of the NHLPA. The issue was never whether Boone Jenner or Johnny Gaudreau felt comfortable sharing photographs from their phones. Veterans with established careers can navigate those situations differently.

It's the young player sitting in his first training camp, eager to make a good impression and uncertain about where the line exists between a request and an expectation, who occupies the minds of NHLPA officials.

Hockey has changed. The relationship between players and coaches has changed. And while Babcock's résumé remains one of the strongest of his generation, the modern NHL is asking a different question than it did fifteen years ago.

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Winning games still matters, but how you treat people matters, too.

Maybe time away from the game has changed Mike Babcock.

People evolve. Coaches evolve. Plenty of successful leaders have learned from mistakes.

But if the Oilers are going to entrust some of the most important years of Connor McDavid's career—and the first years of Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard's careers—to a man whose downfall has repeatedly come not from a lack of hockey knowledge, but from his own inability to recognize where the line is, they need to be absolutely certain that the lessons of Toronto and Columbus have finally sunk in.

Ex-Oiler Officially Announces Retirement After 1177 GamesA Stanley Cup champion and quintessential power forward, Milan Lucic hangs up his skates after 1,177 games, leaving a complex legacy defined by physical play and championship grit.

Because throughout a coaching career that includes a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold and more than 700 wins, Mike Babcock's toughest opponent has rarely been the team on the other bench.

More often than not, it's been Mike Babcock himself.

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It’s no secret that if the Montreal Canadiens can find an upgrade for the second-line center position, they’ll pounce on the occasion. Oliver Kapanen got the role by default last season, but by the end of the season, he struggled with the heavy NHL calendar, and in the playoffs, he made way for Jake Evans. With all due respect to Evans, he’s by no means a second-line center on a contending team. Even if he has a great work ethic and has picked up more than his fair share of points, he lacks the finishing to play with a playmaker like Ivan Demidov.

Last offseason, there was a lot of talk about what the Anaheim Ducks would decide to do regarding their contract negotiations with Mason McTavish; some hoped he would end up in Montreal. Pat Verbeek was patient, and he ended up giving the third overall pick at the 2021 draft a six-year deal at a $7 million cap hit. It all had the makings of a happy ending, but unfortunately for both parties, the centerman struggled this season and was a healthy scratch at times. In 75 games, he could only put up 41 points, compared to 52 in 76 games the previous year. His differential also took a hit, dropping from an even rating in 2024-25 to minus-15 this year.

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As things stand, he finds himself on the Ducks' third line, having made way for Leo Carlsson and Mikael Granlund on the first two lines, but when Ryan Poehling is healthy, he also gives him a run for his money, ice time-wise. McTavish isn’t on the first power play unit either; he centers the second unit, and he even missed two of the Ducks’ 12 playoff games this season.

Will Verbeek decide to be patient with the player and give him a chance to bounce back next season, or could he be convinced to move him? If it were an option, it likely wouldn’t be cheap because even though McTavish is on the third line right now, Granlund is already 34 and only has two years left on his contract.

Still, given his offensive potential and the skills he has, McTavish could be the ideal complement to Demidov’s skill set. At just 23 years old, he’s the right age to fit with the Canadiens’ core as well, and his cap hit is very reasonable; he’d earn less than Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, and likely less than Demidov as well. In 304 career games, he’s put up 181 points for a 0.6 point-per-game average. He’s got a 48.6% success rate at the faceoff circle and is a left-shot, which is what Montreal needs down the middle.

He would be a great option for the Canadiens, but it would be surprising to see Verbeek throw in the towel after managing to sign McTavish to a team-friendly contract. To even start the conversation, it would take a very attractive package, which would likely have to include one of Michael Hage or Alexander Zharovsky, a couple of picks, and probably a roster player as well, since he’d leave a big hole in the Ducks’ lineup.

The 23-year-old is an established center, not another gamble like Kirby Dach or Alex Newhook, who will likely remain on the wing for the rest of their careers, and he’s signed long-term, which warrants a higher price tag. Furthermore, he’s the kind of player Martin St-Louis likes, with a good hockey IQ and who makes good reads, which would likely make it easier for him to adapt to the Canadiens’ brand of hockey. At 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, he landed 95 hits this past season, an aspect of his game that has kept improving from one year to the next.

McTavish could definitely improve the Canadiens’ center line, but would the price tag be too hefty for Kent Hughes? That’s quite possible…

---

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When the Nashville Predators signed Jonathan Marchessault to a five-year, $27.5 million contract in the summer of 2024, the expectation was pretty simple. He was coming off a Stanley Cup win with the Vegas Golden Knights, had just scored 42 goals, and looked like the type of player who could help push Nashville into contender territory, playing alongside Steven Stamkos.

That obviously hasn't happened.

The Predators have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and now that Chris MacFarland is running the front office, it feels like some difficult conversations are coming. One of them probably has to involve Marchessault.

It's tough to look at the last two years and call the signing anything other than disappointing. This past season was especially rough. Marchessault finished with 12 goals and 31 points in 62 games, dealt with injuries, and never really found the offensive rhythm Nashville brought him in to provide.

At the same time, the Predators are no longer a team built entirely around veterans. There are younger players pushing for bigger opportunities, and that's where things get interesting. Matthew Wood, Joakim Kemell, and Luke Evangelista are part of the future. And, eventually, those players need more ice time and bigger roles if the organization wants to find out exactly what it has.

That's why a trade should happen this season.

Not because Marchessault can't still help a team, but because Nashville may have reached the point where moving forward is more important than trying to make an old plan work. Reports have already suggested that both sides could be open to a fresh start, although his no-movement clause means he will have a significant say in where that might be.

The contract is probably the biggest hurdle. Nashville may need to retain salary, and the return likely isn't going to be anything headline-grabbing. However, sometimes it's just worth moving out a heavier contract even if the return isn't overly impactful.

If MacFarland can clear some cap space, open up a roster spot, and give one of the organization's younger forwards a bigger opportunity. Then it starts with moving on from Marchessault, which could happen as early as the 2026 NHL Draft. 

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As we get deeper into summer, more and more NHL award winners have been announced. Colorado Avalanche fans are still waiting to learn the results of several major awards and were pleasantly surprised to hear Gabe Landeskog was announced as the winner of two different awards: the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Landeskog was surprised with the Masterton trophy earlier today by his family, in a super sweet video posted by the NHL. Landeskog was being interviewed about winning the Messier award in the video, before watching a video informing him he won the trophy, followed by his family bringing the Masterton trophy out to him.

Gabriel Landeskog is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner for the 2025-26 season! 💪

The trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. #NHLAwardspic.twitter.com/hMbgQ8g71B

— NHL (@NHL) June 9, 2026

Obviously, Landeskog’s knee injury and journey to get back to NHL action have been very well-documented up till this point, and he’s shown incredible resiliency and perseverance in his return to the Avs, which is exactly why he’s being recognized with the Masterton Award. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I’ll never not be amazed by Landeskog’s return to the NHL, as no professional athlete has ever really successfully returned to playing their sport from a knee cartilage replacement procedure before him, and yet, here we are.

Full voting table for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, won by Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. #GoAvsGo#NHLAwards

Link to all ballots from @thePHWA: https://t.co/sW2vfFIfJdpic.twitter.com/VfSTZQnnGk

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) June 9, 2026

Landeskog was nominated for the Masterton trophy for a second consecutive year but that did not deter voters as they elected him in recognition of his perseverance. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin was a close second and also a very worthy candidate after his fiancée dealt with incredible health struggles. Many different players were also received votes in what is a very prestigious award. Congratulations, Gabe!

The Calgary Flames hired current head coach Ryan Huska on June 12, 2023, replacing the former Jack Adams Award winner and Alberta native, Darryl Sutter. 

Despite not qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs through his first three seasons as an NHL bench boss, Huska has guided the Flames to a 113-105-28 record through 246 games. With a combined 254 points, Calgary has amassed the 25th-highest point total in the past three seasons.

Interestingly, as news breaks that the Los Angeles Kings have hired Peter Laviolette and the Edmonton Oilers are interested in bringing Mike Babcock back to the NHL, the Flames are the only team in the Pacific Division not to have changed coaches at any point in the past three seasons.

Let's take a look at each team and how much the coaching carousel has spun since the Flames hired Huska, ranked by seniority.

Edmonton Oilers

Current Head Coach: Vacant

Despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025, with Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers are looking for their third head coach since 2022. 

Los Angeles Kings

Current Head Coach: Peter Laviolette (June 9, 2026)

The Kings have qualified for the playoffs for the past five seasons, all first-round losses. Now, they are searching for their fourth head coach since 2020 after relieving D.J. Smith of his interim duties and naming Laviolette as their new head coach. 

Vancouver Canucks

Current Head Coach: Manny Malhorta (June 1, 2026)

After plummeting to the bottom of the NHL standings in 2025-26, the Vancouver Canucks cleaned house, replacing their President, General Manager, and, most recently, hiring Manny Malhorta as their bench boss. This upcoming season will mark the third consecutive year with a new coach.

Vegas Golden Knights

Current Head Coach: John Tortorella (March 29, 2026)

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup with former bench boss Bruce Cassidy, who the team relieved of his duties with only eight games left in the 2025-26 season. The organization brought in John Tortorella, who has guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final. 

Anaheim Ducks

Current Head Coach: Joel Quenneville (May 8, 2025)

After several losing campaigns under Dallas Eakins and Greg Cronin, the Anaheim Ducks made a controversial move by bringing in Joel Quenneville last summer. Surprisingly, the Ducks contended for the Pacific Division title for most of the year and advanced to the second round of this year's playoffs.

Seattle Kraken

Current Head Coach: Lane Lambert (May 29, 2025)

Lane Lambert became the third head coach in the Seattle Kraken's five-year history, guiding them to a sixth-place finish in the Pacific Division during his first year. 

San Jose Sharks

Current Head Coach: Ryan Warsofsky (June 13, 2024)

Ryan Warsofky is the second-longest tenured coach in the Pacific Division, having guided the San Jose Sharks since the start of the 2024-25 season. Despite a 59-85-20 record over two seasons, Warsofky has Macklin Celebrini in his lineup, giving him a bona fide superstar. If he stays the course, the Sharks will be a playoff team in no time.

Calgary Flames

Current Head Coach: Ryan Huska (June 13, 2023)

Barring any further coaching changes, Huska will enter the 2026-27 season as the eighth-longest-tenured coach in the NHL. The seven coaches ahead of him, Jon Cooper (2013), Jared Bednar (2016), Rod Brind'Amour (2018), Martin St. Louis (2022), Paul Maurice (2022), Spencer Carbery (2023), and Andrew Brunette (2023), have all guided their clubs to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Huska is now the lone exception, making 2026-27 a potentially pivotal season for both the coach and the Flames organization.

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Considering Calgary inked Huska to a two-year extension in October 2025, he's set to guide the club through its rebuild, while pushing core players like Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, and Zayne Parekh for career-defining performances for a shot at qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs.