The Colorado Avalanche, and the rest of the hockey world at large, are mourning the passing of one its most iconic names in the sport.

Claude Lemieux passed away this past Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday. He was 60 years old.

Lemieux’s reputation of being a hard-hitting, physical winger had been cemented long before Avalanche fans were Avalanche fans. A second round draft pick by the Montréal Canadiens in 1983, Lemieux scored ten goals and six assists during the playoffs, capturing his first Stanley Cup championship as a rookie in 1986. He spent five seasons with Montréal before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in September 1990.

Lemieux would spend the next five seasons in New Jersey building on his burgeoning playoff resume, which culminated in New Jersey’s first (and his second) Stanley Cup championship during the 1995 Stanley Cup Final, a sweep over the Detroit Red Wings. He scored thirteen goals and three assists during New Jersey’s playoff run, and was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.

Upon the arrival of the newly rechristened Quebec Nordiques as the Colorado Avalanche, general manager Pierre Lacroix set out to build a roster capable of winning the Stanley Cup. Lacroix’s first step in creating that championship caliber roster came on October 3, 1995, when he acquired Lemieux from New Jersey in a three-team trade involving the New York Islanders. Now a multiple Stanley Cup champion, Lemieux immediately brought to Colorado a proven playoff performer.

Lemieux earned his first point in an Avalanche sweater with an assist on Valeri Kamensky’s game-winning goal in the Avs first home game at McNichols Sports Arena in a 3-2 victory over—who else?—the visiting Detroit Red Wings.

Lemieux would forever intertwine Colorado and Detroit with his hit on a vulnerable Kris Draper during Game Six of the 1996 Western Conference Final, sparking what became one of the most bitter and competitive rivalries ever known in hockey. Games featuring the Avalanche and the Red Wings were the highlight of the hockey schedule, and their playoff series, bursting with equal parts talent and toughness, were legendary. Colorado would capture the Stanley Cup with Lemieux—the third of his career—in 1996 alongside goaltender Patrick Roy, who was teammates with Lemieux during Montréal’s Stanley Cup victory a decade earlier.

In just over four seasons with the Avs, Lemieux recorded 106 goals and 106 assists for 212 points in 297 regular season games. He played in 62 playoff games with Colorado, scoring 24 goals and 31 assists for 55 points. On November 3, 1999, Lemieux would be traded back to New Jersey, where he would capture his fourth and final Stanley Cup in 2000.

Lemieux signed as a free agent in December 2000 with the then-Phoenix Coyotes, where he played until he was acquired by the Dallas Stars in January 2003. Lemieux skated with Zug EV in the Swiss-A League during the 2003-2004 season, and the China Sharks in the Asia League Ice Hockey (AL) to begin the 2008-2009 season. He would make a return to North America after signing a contract with the Worcester Sharks in November 2008, and finished his NHL career as a member of the San Jose Sharks after being called up in January 2009.

Not long after his playing career ended, Lemieux served as team president of the ECHL’s Phoenix Roadrunners, a position he held for two years. He also participated in the Canadian reality television show Battle of the Blades. He was paired with Canadian figure skater Shae-Lynn Bourne, with the pair finishing in second place. His appearance on the show also provided Lemieux with the opportunity to showcase his vocal talents, which some may view as a stark contrast to his hard-hitting hockey persona.

Lemieux would become a certified player agent, joining 4sports Hockey, a firm representing several players across the NHL. According to The Athletic, Lemiuex’s client list spans many NHL markets, including Fredrik Andersen (Carolina) Rasmus Andersson (Vegas), Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota), Hampus Lindholm (Boston), and Timo Meier (New Jersey), among others.

Both Andersen and Andersson will face each other in the Stanley Cup Final beginning later this week.

Lemieux remained adored by Avs fans, who warmly welcomed him whenever he returned to Colorado. In 2011, he participated in a special opening night ceremony commemorating the Avs’s fifteenth anniversary of bringing Colorado its first ever major league sports championship. Five years later, he would skate with the alumni squad during the Avs’ inaugural Stadium Series event at Coors Field. Just as he did in the first-ever Avs game back in 1995, he recorded an assist on a Valeri Kamenski goal, which opened the scoring in the eventual 5-2 victory over Detroit’s alumni squad, which served as the final chapter of the storied rivalry shared between both clubs.

Last December, Lemieux would return to Colorado as part of the franchise’s thirtieth anniversary celebrations, participating in a special reunion with teammates of the 1996 Stanley Cup championship team featuring anecdotes and fond memories of their arrival in the Mile High City three decades ago.

Last season, prior to the Avalanche hosting the Florida Panthers—who faced them in the 1996 Stanley Cup Final—Lemieux and the 1996 Stanley Cup roster were honored at Ball Arena.

In what would be his final public appearance this past Monday, Lemieux carried the torch into Centre Bell this past Monday as part of a special pregame ceremony in Montréal, receiving a rousing ovation prior the start of Game Three against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

Upon learning of Lemiuex’s death, Colorado Avalanche president Joe Sakic issued the following statement:

On Saturday, in a statement released via his son Brendan’s Instagram account (more below), the Lemieux family announced that, “In the hope that Claude’s life can continue to help others, the family has chosen to donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center for research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury. The family has also given permission for the CTE Center to identify Claude by name in connection with his donation and any findings it may publicly share in accordance with its research protocols.”

In an interview conducted last year as part of the Crave miniseries Toujours Canadiens, Lemieux offered the following on what he hoped for his children when asked about life beyond hockey. “Happiness. Being happy is not about winning the Stanley Cup or money. Being happy is to be comfortable in your own skin, to have a good partner, to be there for your kids,” he said. “I’m a grandfather now, so that’s something I wish for them, too.”

In addition to Brendan, Lemieux is survived by his wife, Deborah, sons Michael and Christopher, daughter Claudia, and his grandchildren.

We at Mile High Hockey extend our condolences to Lemieux’s family, friends, and colleagues.

If you are struggling and need support, the following resources can connect you with someone.

In Colorado:

• Colorado Crisis Services
• 988Colorado.com (effective June 05, 2026)
• Phone: 1-844-493-TALK (8255), or text 38255

Nationwide:

• 988 Lifeline
• Phone: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call/text 988

Some materials from The Canadian Press were used in compiling quotes used in this article.

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Adam Gretz discussed one move that each team in the NHL should make. When it came to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Gretz argued that they should look to add a young defenseman with good upside. 

Gretz then named Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring, Boston Bruins blueliner Mason Lohrei, and New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec as three potential trade targets for the Penguins to consider.

With the Sabres having limited cap space and Kesselring struggling during his first season in Buffalo, he has come up in the rumor mill often now that their season is over. While Kesselring had a quiet 2025-26 season with Buffalo (two assists in 34 games), he has shown in the past that he can be an impactful top-four defenseman. Just back in 2024-25 with Utah, he had seven goals and 29 points in 82 games. Perhaps he could bounce back in a more significant role in Pittsburgh. 

We here at The Hockey News Penguins recently discussed Lohrei as a potential fit for Pittsburgh, and it would make sense if they targeted him. The 6-foot-5 defenseman has shown promise early on in his career with Boston and could break out if given a fresh start on a team like the Penguins. In 73 games this season, he scored a career-high seven goals and recorded 26 points. 

As for Nemec, he would be the biggest pickup out of the three. The 22-year-old defenseman was the second-overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has the potential to emerge as a legitimate star. He took a notable step forward in his development this season with New Jersey, posting new career highs with 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games. 

The 2025-26 season was a tough year for Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring. He had trouble finding his fit with the Sabres, and questions about his future in Buffalo have been coming up because of it.

Now, Kesselring is only continuing to be the subject of trade speculation with June just about here. 

Kesselring was among the players listed on Nick Kypreos' latest trade board for Sportsnet. 

"Michael Kesselring was acquired in last year’s J.J. Peterka trade but managed to play just 34 games. He is also an arbitration eligible RFA this summer and the Sabres might be in tough to even live with his qualifying offer, putting the possibility of a trade on the table," Kypreos wrote.

Given how this season went for Kesselring and the Sabres having some notable players due for new contracts, it would be understandable if they moved the right-shot defenseman during the off-season. He would have the potential to get the Sabres a decent return, too, as NHL clubs are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman like him. 

In 34 games this season with the Sabres, Kesselring had zero goals, two assists, and 50 penalty minutes. This is after he set career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games during the 2024-25 season with the Utah Mammoth. 

The Colorado Avalanche’s 2025–26 campaign, despite finishing atop the NHL standings with a Presidents’ Trophy, concluded in disappointment after a postseason exit that has placed several roster decisions and pending free agents under scrutiny heading into the offseason.

Zakhar Bardakov (Forward)

Bardakov appeared in 60 games for Colorado during the 2025–26 regular season, contributing one goal and nine assists while operating primarily in a depth role. He averaged 7:12 of ice time per game and registered 35 shots on goal. In the faceoff circle, Bardakov recorded a 42.4% win rate, which is less than ideal. However, he's still young and developing. His usage increased during stretches when injuries affected the Avalanche lineup.

Nick Blankenburg (Defenseman)

Blankenburg joined the Avalanche via a mid-season acquisition from the Nashville Predators and went on to play 12 regular season games with Colorado. He produced two goals and one assist in that span. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, Blankenburg was deployed in a depth defensive role while contributing offensively in limited minutes.

Brent Burns (Defenseman) (UFA)

Burns played the 2025–26 season on a one-year contract with Colorado, appearing in all 82 regular season games. He recorded 12 goals and 23 assists while continuing a consecutive games streak that has reached 328 appearances since last missing time in the 2020–21 season with the San Jose Sharks. Over the course of the season, he also accumulated more than 100 turnovers. Burns’ role included regular minutes on the blue line, and he provided veteran presence throughout the campaign.

Will he return? There is belief within the organization that Brent Burns could return for the 2026–27 season, potentially continuing his pursuit of Phil Kessel’s iron-man streak of 1,064 consecutive games. Beyond durability, his value to the Avalanche is also tied to his presence in the locker room and the energy he brings to the team on and off the ice. Prior to the start of the Western Conference Final, Nathan MacKinnon explained to reporters why the 41-year-old is such a great asset to the team and also had a funny explanation for his longevity.

"He sleeps a lot. More than anybody. He's like a big bear."

"He'll nap from 3-6 pm and then go to sleep for another 10 hours. It's crazy."

- Nathan MacKinnon on why Brent Burns is playing so well 😂💤 pic.twitter.com/rP8NAmVdEp

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) May 20, 2026

“He sleeps a lot. More than anybody—he’s like a big bear. He’ll nap from like 3 PM to 6 PM and go to sleep for another ten hours. It’s crazy. I think that’s a big reason why he’s played so long. And also, he’s got such a great attitude. He’s like—everyone says it—he’s like a little kid. With three kids, himself. He’s a special guy, super positive, just super great to be around. He comes to the rink with a smile on his face, and I think that’s the biggest reason why he’s played so long."

Jack Drury (Forward)

Drury was utilized across multiple forward roles during the season and finished the year with 10 goals and 17 assists in 82 games, both representing or approaching career-high production marks. He logged 969 faceoffs and posted a 58.1% win rate, ranking 12th among NHL players with at least 200 faceoffs taken. Drury’s role shifted during the season following roster adjustments that included the addition of Nic Roy, after which he moved into a fourth-line center position.

According to DNVR's AJ Haefele, Drury turned down multiple offers this season to remain with the Avalanche, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. Drury is one of the best 4C's in the NHL, and his faceoff win percentage was well over 60% during the postseason. Can they afford to let him walk?

Joel Kiviranta (Forward) (UFA)

Kiviranta appeared in 51 games during the 2025–26 season, recording three goals and six assists. Across his previous seasons with Colorado, he had produced 56 games played with three goals and six assists in 2023–24, followed by a career-high 16 goals and seven assists in 79 games during the 2024–25 campaign. In 2025–26, he also posted a 62.5% goals-for percentage and a 59% Corsi For rate, both representing career-best marks.

From our perspective, it's very unlikely we see #94 back in Colorado next season.

Brett Kulak (Defenseman) (RFA)

Kulak was acquired during the season in a trade involving Samuel Girard and appeared in 27 games for Colorado. He registered three assists while averaging just over 19 minutes of ice time per game. During his time with the Avalanche, Kulak skated with multiple defensive partners across six different pairings. He also scored the series-clinching goal in Colorado’s playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, contributing to the team’s advancement in the postseason.

Who do you think the Avalanche will retain? Who do you think will get traded and/or released?

The Edmonton Oilers’ coaching search is heating up, and with the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl window a major factor in who is ultimately hired, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

After parting ways with Kris Knoblauch following another early playoff exit and an interview request that blew up in their face, Edmonton is aggressively pursuing a proven, battle-tested bench boss who can finally push this star-studded roster over the top.

Bruce Cassidy is the known frontrunner, but new names like Jared Bednar have suddenly surged into the conversation, while veterans such as Peter Laviolette, Craig Berube, and Patrick Roy might all be receiving serious consideration. The Oilers are expected to ramp up their efforts in the coming weeks, hoping to land a respected coach who can command attention and install structure while extracting maximum performance from a talented but underachieving group.

Let's take a look at the list of names being linked to the Oilers' search. 

1. Bruce Cassidy (Clear Frontrunner)

By now, everyone knows that Bruce Cassidy is on Edmonton's radar. Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon confirmed it and said the Oilers leaked the denial of the request to speak to their former coach. Cassidy has also confirmed it, saying people have now heard that two teams requested access to him.

The Oilers have aggressively pursued him, and many insiders view him as the top choice due to his pedigree as a coach, the fact that he's won a Stanley Cup, and the fact that he takes a no-nonsense approach. 

Pros: While his style has a shelf life, he gets the most out of high-skill rosters, and he's a proven winner. Vegas obviously still thinks he's a top coach because they're willing to pay him millions not to join a division rival. Cassidy would bring immediate credibility.

Cons: Vegas is still blocking permission, and it's possible the Oilers are never granted an interview this summer. If that's the case, they'll have no choice but to move on if they're not prepared to hire an interim coach until Cassidy's contract expires. They likely aren't prepared to do that, given how critical every year is in their current window. 

Bruce Cassidy Spills Beans On Vegas' Message To Him About Coaching OilersVegas remains locked in a standoff with their former bench boss, allegedly blocking a potential move to a division rival while holding the frustrated coach to his contract.

2. Jared Bednar (Rising Fast)

Bednar's name exploded into the conversation after Colorado’s disappointing playoff exit. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Oilers (along with Toronto and LA) are “very curious” about his situation. As a Saskatchewan native, the Alberta connection adds appeal.

If the Avalanche move on from Bednar, many will see it as an overreaction. He remains one of the NHL's best coaches and he'll be out of work only as long as he wants to be. 

Pros: Stanley Cup winner (2022 with Avs); excellent at developing young talent while also managing elite stars. He can manage a fast, modern system that would fit McDavid/Draisaitl perfectly. He's well respected, and the Oilers' stars wouldn't question his style and instruction. 

Cons: He's not been fired. Even if he is, Bednar is still under contract in Colorado for one more year and they would have to grant permission to speak with other teams. His availability is all speculative.

3. Peter Laviolette

According to Jason Gregor of Sports 1440, the Oilers have already reached out to Laviolette (or intend to). He’s a veteran coach available after sitting out 2025-26 season and known for quick turnarounds with star-heavy teams.

Of the big names in coaching, he's on the Plan A list, or at worst, he's a solid Plan B.

Pros: Stanley Cup experience; aggressive, offensive-minded style that suits Edmonton’s roster. He's unafraid of big personalities and the pressure of coaching in Edmonton won't bother him. 

Cons: He hasn’t coached recently, and for as much success as he's had (took the Rangers to Round 3 in 2023-24), he's also coached teams that didn't perform well. With the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, and Nashville Predators, his teams either didn't make the playoffs or were eliminated quickly. 

4. Craig Berube

The Oilers have interviewed the recently fired Toronto coach. That took place almost immediately after the Bruce Cassidy drama became public. Berube is said to be extremely interested in the job, but it's unclear if the Oilers see him as one of their top candidates. 

Pros: Berube is a tough, gritty personality who has won before. He led the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup and he likes his team to play a physical game with a focus on two-way hockey. 

Cons: His underlying numbers in Toronto were abysmal and his style reportedly clashed with the pure skill players on the Maple Leafs. That might be a problem in Edmonton is personalities clash. 

5. Patrick Roy

This one feels more like a long shot, but local media have floated Roy as a high-upside “shake-up” candidate. He proved he can win and he's got a reptuation as a players coach. 

Pros: Roy is a Hall of Famer with an intense, competitive personality. He's the polar opposite of what Knoblauch brought to the Oilers. He brings energy and passion, which might be what this Oilers team needs.

Cons: Fire is good, but too much is problematic. His polarizing personality and shorter NHL coaching track record make him somewhat of a risk behind the bench.

Is Tortorella Becoming a Legitimate Coaching Option for the Oilers?After steering Vegas to a stunning Stanley Cup Final berth, the veteran bench boss emerges as a high-stakes solution for Edmonton’s rapidly closing championship window.

6. John Tortorella

The Vegas coach is leading his team into the Stanley Cup Final, but he doesn't have a contract for next season. The fact Vegas is playing as well as they are, Tortorella has shown he's still got gas left in the tank as an NHL head coach. Elliotte Friedman noted that if Vegas doesn't re-sign him, someone will scoop him up. 

Pros: In a short run, Tortorella may be able to get more out of the Oilers than any other coach. His modus operandi is to win immediately, even if he's not a great fit in most places long term. 

Cons: Tortorella is not everyone's cup of tea. He's combative with media and he's unafraid to call out his players and ruin his relationships with them. 

Bonus Mentions Getting Traction

• Jay Woodcroft — Familiar internal option (former Oilers coach), low-risk comfort pick. His name has popped up of late, but it's unclear how seriously he's being considered by other teams. He's currently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. 
• Gerard Gallant / Dean Evason — Veteran “tough love” alternatives if the big names fall through.

Bruce Cassidy remains the dream hire if Vegas softens their stance and Jared Bednar has suddenly become a very realistic Plan B (or even A) depending on how quickly Colorado moves.

The Oilers want a proven Cup winner with playoff experience to maximize the McDavid/Draisaitl window.

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In the Ottawa Senators' lucrative Erik Karlsson trade from 2018, Rudolfs Balcers is one of the names from that deal that's often overlooked. Balcers played parts of two seasons in Ottawa, playing in a total of 51 games, and putting up 17 points (six goals, 11 assists).

But in January of 2021, when the Sens tried to send him to Belleville, he was claimed off waivers by the Sharks. He knew the way to San Jose, the team that drafted him, but by that point, with Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris playing so well in Ottawa, it was already clear the Sharks had lost the Karlsson trade quite badly.

It was almost as if Sharks GM Doug Wilson was vainly trying to mitigate the damage.

Balcers' NHL days are now behind him. For the past three years, he's played for Zurich SC in Switzerland, but at the well-scouted 2026 World Hockey Championships, which wrap up on Sunday, it's possible the 29-year-old may find himself back on NHL radars.

Balcers finished the tournament with a Latvian record 7 goals in the tournament, and heading into the gold medal game, no one in the tournament had more. He's tied with Noah Steen, who was Norway's overtime hero in the bronze medal game against Canada.

Balcers was named captain of Latvia for the first time, replacing Kaspars Daugavins, another former Senator who held that role for a long time, including the 2026 Olympics in Milan.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For more THN Ottawa articles, click one of the latest stories below:

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When Rangers defenseman Adam Fox's 99-year-old grandfather visited The Maven last Tuesday in Israel with other family members, Mel Fox said something meaningful that I had forgotten to mention in previous stories.

Naturally, our conversation had drifted to the subject of his grandson Adam, the Norris Trophy-winning Blueshirt blueliner.

Adam learned his hockey on Long Island rinks and has had a meaningful influence on young kids who want to play an "Adam Fox Kind Of Hockey."

With that in mind, Grandpa Fox offered this thought: "Adam should be a role model for Jewish kids playing hockey."

In fact there were two previous Jewish defensemen who manned the New York blue line and were, in fact, role models but of a different kind and distant era.

The first was Alex "Kingfish" Levinsky, who Rangers boss Lester Patrick obtained from Toronto in 1934. Levinsky played only one season for the Blueshirts and then was traded to Chicago where Kingfish completed a successful ten-year NHL career.

The genuine Jewish role model for a defenseman was Hy Buller. Born in Montreal but raised in Saskatoon, Buller was discovered by a Ranger scout in 1950 as a raw teenager.

By the fall of 1952 the Rangers figured that their Eastern Amateur Hockey League farm team, the New York Rovers, could use Hy as well as his two Saskatoon teammates, Vic Lynn and Dave Livingstone.

Playing for the Rovers at the old Madison Square Garden on Eighth Avenue between West 49th and West 50th Streets, Buller, Lynn and Livingstone excelled. 

As a regular at Rover games, I watched the three Saskatoon prospects develop into solid pros. Lynn wound up skating for three Toronto Maple Leaf Cup-winners while Buller was signed by the Detroit Red Wings but failed in the Motor City.

Hy had two cups of coffee with the Wings in 1943-44 and 1944-45 before his demotion to the Hershey (AHL) Bears. 

"The NHL was a six-team league at the time," said Rangers press agent Herb Goren. "And Buller wasn't considered quite good enough at the time. He eventually wound up with the

AHL Cleveland Barons where he was considered the best defenseman not in the NHL."

The Rangers signed Buller in 1951 and he became an instant hit. A huge BULLER banner -- adorned with the Jewish Star of David was hung over the end balcony.

"In no time at all," added Goren. "He became one of the best offensive defensemen in the league; but he also was good in his own end of the rink."

Buller played three seasons with the Blueshirts, through the 1953-54 season before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. But Hy nixed the deal and retired from hockey then and there. Stricken with cancer, Buller died in 1968.

Not until the arrival of Adam Fox had the Rangers carried another Jewish defenseman. His grand-day remembers when Adam and Boston Bruins ace blueliner Charlie McAvoy teamed up on young Long Island teams.

"Adam and Charlie were inseparable," said Grandpa Mel. "I was hoping that they both would wind up on the Rangers, but it didn't work out."

Mel Fox, all 99 years of him, will celebrate his 100th birthday in August. Date, time and place are still undecided but it would be neat if Adam and Charlie McAvoy showed up. Grandpa Mel would love that – two excellent role models if ever there was a pair.

Mel's birthday wishes: 1. Another Blueshirt Stanley Cup in his lifetime and 2. Another Jewish Ranger like grandson Adam.

A Sunday update from the minor leagues:

Wheeling is out of the Kelly Cup playoffs. Pittsburgh’s ECHL affiliate bowed out in five games to the Florida Everblades. The Nailers had two players in this playoff run on NHL contracts, Emil Pieniniemi played first pair minutes and produced eight points (1G+7A) in the 15 games, goalie Taylor Gauthier ran out of gas this round but acquitted himself well with a 9-6-2 record, .922 save percentage and 2.23 GAA. Gauthier was signed late in the year to an NHL contract, he’s scheduled to be a free agent again after playing parts of the last four seasons in the Wheel. The Penguins might have some upward mobility next year for an AHL goalie spot if one of those goalies goes up and Maxim Pavelenko becomes a free agent. Rookie Gabriel D’Aigle is in the picture too, with his entry level contract starting next season that will likely see him get a heavy workload in the ECHL.

Up one rung on the ladder, it wasn’t good news for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs. The Toronto Marlies took a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven with a Friday night Game 2 OT win. The game-winning goal wasn’t without controversy.

It took a post-play review, where AHL officials cannot make goaltender interference determinations, to end up crediting former Penguin Marc Johnstone with the goal. Weird play for Sergei Murashov to lunge for the puck and come up empty. The odd notion was Johnstone was credited with the goal from in front, and how it was determined that he didn’t contact the puck above the crossbar is probably an even bigger question.

The next three games in the series shift to Toronto, putting WBS in a big hole.

The Penguins have been dealing with difficulties, Owen Pickering has missed the last few games with injury (and isn’t expected back any time soon) and now Alex Alexeyev was out for Game 2, dropping the two most important left shot defenseman from the lineup.

The offensive output has struggled so far, Wilkes only scored one goal on 34 shots in Game 2 – after scoring only twice on goalie Artur Akhtyamov in Game 1. The Marlies are a veteran team, 28-year olds Alex Nylander and Michael Pezzetta were the goal scorers in Game 2 for Toronto, WBS will have to dig deep starting in Monday’s Game 3 to overcome their biggest challenge so far in the playoffs.

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The puck drops in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night in Carolina.

The Carolina Hurricanes are favored to win it all for the first time since 2006, while the Vegas Golden Knights look to win their second Cup in five years. 

I agree with the market, and will break down why with my NHL picks for the final series of the season.

All odds courtesy of Bet99.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes picks

Pick
Hurricanes to win series 4-2	+450
Over 5.5 games	-190
Jackson Blake to lead series in scoring	+1900
Hurricanes to win the series	-155

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes series odds

	Market
+125	To win	-155
+1.5 (-150)	Handicap	-1.5 (+120)
Over 5.5 (-190)	Total games	Under 5.5 (+150)

The Carolina Hurricanes enter the series as -155 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and carry +120 odds to beat the Vegas Golden Knights by multiple games.

The Hurricanes won 14 more games during the regular season, posted better underlying metrics, and have home ice advantage, so it is easy to see why they are considered clear frontrunners in this matchup.

The total is heavily juiced to the Over of 5.5 games, so a competitive series is expected here, which would be refreshing after two lopsided matchups in the Conference Finals.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes series preview

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes statistical breakdown

The Golden Knights and Hurricanes clashed twice in the regular season, and things didn't go so well for the Stanley Cup favorites. 

The Hurricanes dropped both games and were out-scored 10-4 while controlling just over 33% of the expected goals, which is very abnormal.

Context is key. Jaccob Slavin missed both games for Carolina, while K'Andre Miller was also sidelined for one. Those are Carolina's two leaders in playoff ice time, so their absences were certainly noteworthy.

We're also talking about a two-game sample. The Canes graded out better than the Knights in shot share, chance share, expected goal share, and goal share over the course of the entire season.

They were especially dominant at home, where they controlled a league-leading 58.06% of the expected goals and ranked first in points percentage.

Vegas posted strong numbers under the hood — certainly better than you'd expect from a 39-win team — but Carolina is a clear step up.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes series props

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes correct score odds

Team	Win 4-0	Win 4-1	Win 4-2	Win 4-3
Golden Knights	+1900	+900	+550	+550
Hurricanes	+1000	+450	+450	+425

Pick: Hurricanes win 4-2 (+450 at Bet99)

The Hurricanes have only dropped one game through three rounds, but they played Ottawa and Philadelphia teams that lacked high-end firepower, and a fatigued Montreal side coming off back-to-back grueling seven-game series against divisional opponents.

They deserve full marks for taking advantage, but the table was set about as well as it could have been in the Eastern Conference bracket.

Vegas has a combination of elite talent and a strong underlying process that none of Carolina's previous opponents did, which better equips them to test Carolina.

I think the Hurricanes are the better team, and they have home ice, but this series should be legitimately competitive. Playable to +440.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes total game odds

Pick: Over 5.5 (-190 at Bet99)

Eight of the last 11 Stanley Cups have gone at least six games, and one of the exceptions came during a COVID-altered season with full division realignment. That was a strange year where Tampa Bay and Montreal — two Atlantic Division foes — faced off in the Final.

We generally don't see short series in the Stanley Cup, which is to be expected in battles between the cream of the crop.

One thing that should help this series is both teams will have full tanks. The Hurricanes are well-rested from having only one series go more than four games, while the Golden Knights are coming off a sweep and get a full week off between games.

Vegas also last played on the road on May 22, meaning they've had next to no travel.

Expect this series to last, and bet the Over to -200.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes top goalscorer

Pick: Jackson Blake (+1900 at Bet99)

Nobody in the playoffs has recorded more expected goals or high-danger scoring chances than Jackson Blake at 5-on-5, and he's just one back in terms of rebounds created.

He is starting a higher percentage of his shifts in the offensive zone than anybody on the Hurricanes and, clearly, taking advantage of that deployment.

Carter Hart has played well in the playoffs, but Adin Hill was the only goaltender in the NHL with a worse high-danger save percentage in the regular season. If those warts resurface, Blake profiles as a likely candidate to take advantage.

Betable to +1700.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes series best bet

Pick: Hurricanes to win (-155 at Bet99)

This price implies Carolina has a ~60% chance of winning the series, but I think those odds undersell the Hurricanes a little bit and have a fair price close to -170.

The Hurricanes and Golden Knights have posted similar outputs in high-danger chance generation, but the former has been much better at suppressing them.

I don't see the Hurricanes giving up much at 5-on-5, especially when able to control matchups at home, and their penalty kill has been elite for 95 games. Their team defense should be the difference.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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The Chicago Blackhawks have one of the best farm systems in the NHL. A lot of their top talent is already in the NHL, but there are great players in other developmental leagues around the world waiting for that chance to play in Chicago.

It is unclear if any of them will step into that “premier pure goal scorer” role that every good team likes to have, but there are a handful of candidates who possess great hockey IQ and the ability to shoot well. 

Three of them in particular, Jack Pridham, Nick Lardis, and Marek Vanacker, are past or present OHL stars with the tools to be great NHL goal scorers. 

In 2024-25, Lardis led the OHL with 71 goals as a member of the Brantford Bulldogs. He then turned pro in 2025-26 and continued to fill the nets. In 35 games with the Rockford IceHogs, Lardis had 18 goals. The early success earned him an NHL look when Connor Bedard got hurt, and he went on to play 41 games with 10 goals. 

A 20-goal pace at the NHL level is no joke, especially for a rookie former third-round pick. Of the three snipers mentioned here, Lardis is the closest to fulfilling his destiny of being an impactful NHL sniper. 

As for Vanacker and Pridham, they were the top two goal scorers in the OHL this season. Only time will tell if they follow the same path to success as a rookie pro as Lardis did. There are similar skill sets and mindsets, which allow them to find twine with regularity. 

There is a wrinkle to the story concerning Pridham. If he doesn’t either sign his entry-level contract with Chicago or commit to the NCAA by June 1st, he will re-enter the draft in 2026. Chicago doesn’t want to lose him for nothing, but not everyone is going to work out when the farm is that deep. 

Pridham is going to play in the Memorial Cup Final with the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday night. He will decide a major detail of his future following that big game, but it must be done in the short window before the aforementioned June 1st deadline. 

Connor Bedard was touted as a sniper coming out of the WHL, but his playmaking has been incredible in the NHL as well. He is more of a well-rounded offensive player. It is also unclear what kind of players Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar will be in the offensive zone, but early signs of great playmakers are there.

Having snipers on the wing will be important for the construction of the team if they want to become a legit winner. 

If the Blackhawks lose Pridham, they won't be happy about it, but it isn't a make-or-break situation either. They have a farm system filled with players who could develop into high-end snipers, and they have a lot of draft picks to work with as well. 

Kyle Davidson has stayed the course throughout this process, and he will do what he can to make sure more goal-scoring talent is inserted into the lineup over the years. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The 2025-26 season did not end as a major success for the New York Islanders, with the team tumbling out of the playoff picture in April.

However, Bo Horvat had another great season for the Islanders, despite missing 14 games to injuries.

Horvat posted 31 goals and 57 points in 68 games, leading the team in goals. His 57 points were good for third on the team, trailing only Mathew Barzal (80) and rookie superstar, Matthew Schaefer (59).

The next closest Islander to those three was Anders Lee, with 19 goals and 42 points in 82 games.

Horvat also represented Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, playing a key role in Canada's bottom six, penalty kill, and second unit power play.

With all that attention, The Hockey News named Horvat the 87th best player in the NHL this past season, just ahead of fellow Olympians Brock Nelson (89) and Anthony Cirelli (88).

Top 100 NHL Players In 2026: 81 To 90Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos and players on the Lightning and Kings feature from 81st to 90th place among the NHL's top 100 players right now.

The family of late NHL player Claude Lemieux has released a statement, saying they are donating his brain for study and asking for "compassion" in reporting his death.

Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup winner, died on Thursday, May 28, at age 60. His body was found in a warehouse of a furniture showroom that the family owned in Florida.

"The family recognizes that there has been public reporting about the circumstances of Claude's death," said the family statement, which was shared by his son, Brendan, a 2014 second-round NHL draft pick. "Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who loved him.

"Anyone in crisis or emotional distress in the United States can call or text 988 for confidential support from the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline."

Here's the latest on the death of Claude Lemieux:

The Philadelphia Flyers have seen a number of their prospects get traded to new teams or commit to colleges recently, and that trend is reportedly likely to extend to the goalie position now, too.

Top Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin had a strange season, playing 12 KHL regular season games for SKA St. Petersburg, 18 VHL regular season games for SKA-VMF St. Petersburg, and one MHL regular season game for SKA-1946 St. Petersburg.

After playing 46 KHL regular season games for SKA and HK Sochi last year and breaking out onto the scene in a major way, Zavragin struggled to earn a consistent spot in the lineup this year and fell out of favor in the eyes of new head coach Igor Larionov.

The Flyers' 2023 third-round pick still posted a respectable 2.63 GAA and .919 save percentage, but those stats paled in comparison to the 2.01 GAA and .939 save percentage of Artemi Pleshkov, and 2.50 GAA and .928 save percentage of Sergei Ivanov.

Pleshkov and Ivanov were first and eighth in the KHL in save percentage, respectively, whereas Zavragin was 15th.

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And that isn't a knock on Zavragin. Statistically, he still performed better than established KHL goalies (and some former NHLers) like Timur Bilyalov, Alex Georgiev, Vasili Demchenko, Zach Fucale, Spencer Martin, Louis Domingue, Chris Dreidger, and esteemed Colorado Avalanche prospect Ilya Nabokov, who is about to make the jump to North America.

But, given that Zavragin is clearly also behind Pleshkov and Ivanov, a trade would be beneficial for the Flyers prospect's development, and that is exactly what might happen.

According to KHL insider Hockey News Hub, it would not be a surprise if "Zavragin is traded in the next couple of days," and that Metallurg Magnitogorsk is the "most likely" destination with their need to replace the departing Nabokov.

Zavragin will have to overtake incumbent Alexander Smolin to become the starter with Metallurg, but he at least would have a clear path to rotational minutes on a team just went to the Gagarin Cup Eastern Conference semifinal.

The 20-year-old has only one year remaining on his KHL contract, and from there, he would be free to join the Flyers organization and continue developing here.

Mason McTavish trade rumours to Ottawa are close to becoming an annual summertime tradition.

They were everywhere last year, and they made sense. McTavish was a restricted free agent and, as the summer heated up, so did the trade chatter around the league. By September, McTavish was still home in Ottawa, skating with the 67's, and waiting for a deal, either by contract or trade.

He finally got one, a six-year contract worth $42 million, which seemed to put questions about McTavish's future to rest for the foreseeable future.

Well, not so much, as it turns out.

For a second straight summer, from Pierre LeBrun to Bruce Garrioch, McTavish's name is splattered all over the news as a possible trade chip for Anaheim, with the Senators being mentioned as a possible destination.

But does it make sense? Anaheim just signed the guy long-term. Why would they consider moving him eight months later? And is he the right fit in Ottawa?

Let's dig in.

Anaheim's View

As a team, Anaheim had a fine season. McTavish and the Ducks went out and made the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

But with great money comes great expectations, and McTavish didn't meet them this season.

While the Ducks improved by 12 points in the standings, McTavish had 11 fewer points than he did the year before, dropping from 22 goals and 52 points in his contract year to 17 goals and 41 points this year.

He was also healthy-scratched twice in the playoffs, when it matters most, which is a huge red flag. 

Another angle is that the Ducks need help on the blue line if they're going to take the next step. They were loaded this season with good young forwards like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, along with veterans like Troy Terry, Mikael Granlund, Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn. But they need D.

Finally, GM Pat Verbeek still has to do some financial tap dancing this summer. Both Carlsson and Gauthier are restricted free agents and will be due massive raises. The 22-year-old Gauthier led the Ducks with 41 goals and 69 points. Carlsson was next with 29 goals and 67 points.

The Ducks also have decisions to make with veteran defencemen John Carlson, Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba, who are all unrestricted free agents this summer.

So while Anaheim still values McTavish as an asset, there will need to be some sacrifice and restructuring one way or another. Maybe there's an opportunity for another team to buy low, but that's doubtful.

McTavish's stock dipped this season, but there would still be plenty of teams interested.

Ottawa's View

On the other hand, it's well documented why the Senators might have an interest in McTavish.

He was an outstanding junior prospect, starring for Team Canada at the 2022 World Juniors and leading the entire tournament with 17 points in seven games. He's 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, entering his fifth NHL season, and so far seems to be settling into a 40-to-50-point range. Though an argument could be made that his drop in production last season had a lot to do with missing training camp.

And of course, he has history with Ottawa and the Senators.

He spent last fall skating with the 67's. He's a Carp native. He played for Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, helping them win a championship.

Oh, and his father is Dale McTavish, who works as a pro scout for the Senators.

Sometimes home cooking and the comforts of home can turn a player around.

The Senators would also like to add another top-six forward. But not if he stays in that 40-to-50-point window he's occupied during his first four NHL seasons.

The Senators had six forwards this year who scored more points than McTavish did. He's certainly a player you'd like to add, any team would. But if you're taking on that salary and giving up important assets, you're doing so with the belief that he can produce 70-plus points, something he hasn't yet come close to doing.

Another forward would be nice, but is it Ottawa's biggest priority? The Sens went cold in the playoffs, but they were the league's ninth-highest-scoring team this season.

Meanwhile, they find themselves in the same pickle they were in two summers ago, needing to rebalance their blue line. With Nick Jensen possibly moving on and Jordan Spence emerging, the Senators are back to having a lot of puck movers, and not enough snarly, hard-to-play-against shutdown guys.

Oh, and the Senators may also need a reliable backup goalie who can play a lot of games. Where starter Linus Ullmark is concerned, as Guy Boucher liked to say, rest is a weapon.

There may be too many things working against the notion of bringing the kid from Carp home. But there are enough things that do make sense that it's worth some creative conversation over the summer.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For more THN Ottawa articles, click one of the latest stories below:

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While the Montreal Canadiens had a deeper-than-expected run in the playoffs this season, their success did expose one crying need: a second-line center. At the start of the regular season, rookie Oliver Kapanen inherited the role because of the team’s lack of options, and for most of the season, he did well.

Playing alongside Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky or Alex Newhook, the Finn had a good rookie season, even though he slowed down considerably after the Olympics. In the first 57 games of the campaign, he had 18 goals and 31 points. After the Games, he could manage only four goals and six points in 25 matches.

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Given his lack of production at the tail end of the season, it wasn’t surprising that he couldn’t assume a top-six role in the playoffs, and given the lack of options, Jake Evans had to assume the role of second center during the postseason.

While the Ontarian is a good player who can help anywhere up and down the lineup, he doesn’t have the offensive instinct needed to assume such an offensive role. His performance of two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 19 games was remarkable, but had a player with more of a finishing touch played alongside a playmaker like Demidov, they likely would have had more than two goals. That would have proven very helpful as Montreal struggled to generate offense, especially in the Eastern Conference Final.

The answer won’t come internally, at least not for the upcoming season. Michael Hage has opted to spend another year in the NCAA, and it’s unlikely he would have been ready for such a high-profile role in any case. As for Owen Beck, if and when he makes it to the NHL, it’s likely to be as a bottom-six center.

As good a GM as Kent Hughes is, even he would be hard-pressed to find a second-line center on the free agent market. The best center of that free agent market class was going to be Evgeny Malkin, but he has already signed an extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins, meaning the top options will be 33-year-old Boone Jenner, who isn’t a top-six player, or Claude Giroux, who can play both wing or center but is already 38 years old.

If the GM wants to help his team down the middle, it looks like he will have to do it with a trade. Last off-season, he addressed a major organizational need by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, but he had two enticing first-round picks to work with at the time. This time around, he only has his own first-round pick, and given the team’s deep playoff run, we’re talking about a late pick.

That being said, the Canadiens do have a lot of interesting prospects on their hands. There’s the aforementioned Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom and, given Jakub Dobes’ performance in the playoffs, could Hughes explore the idea of trading one of his young goalies? It feels like teams could ask, but I doubt the GM will be ready to entertain the idea.

Was the trade that almost came to fruition before the trade deadline for a second-line center? It’s a possibility since Hughes said it would have been a significant deal. He has also said the idea could be revisited in the off-season, but is the GM he was talking with still in post? Brad Treliving has lost his job in Toronto, just like Patrik Alvin in Vancouver and Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey. It’s a lot easier to pick up where you left off if your potential trading partner is still around.

Who could be a potential target for Hughes? Mason MacTavish from the Anaheim Ducks could be an interesting option. He signed a six-year contract with a $7 M cap hit last offseason, but he didn’t have the kind of season Anaheim was expecting from him, with 41 points in 75 games. He was even a healthy scratch at times. Robert Thomas’ name has made the rounds for some time now, but St. Louis Blues' GM Doug Armstrong is reportedly quite a demanding trade partner.

The most intriguing name on the market has to be Nico Hischier. The New Jersey Devils’ top center and captain is about to enter the final year of a contract that pays him $7.25 M per year. At the end of the next season, he’ll be a UFA. If he doesn’t intend to re-up in New Jersey, new GM Sunny Mehta could be forced to trade him. Of course, if he wants to get a good return, that would likely be a sign-and-trade deal, just like Dobson last season.

At 27, Hischier would fit right in with the Canadiens and bring a wealth of experience. Even if he’s only made the playoffs twice, he has played nine seasons in the NHL. He has never scored more than 80 points in a season and put up 66 points last year, but his production could certainly improve if he played alongside the talented Demidov.

With over four months to work with before the start of the next season, Hughes and Jeff Gorton will have a lot of time to explore various options, and it’s far from out of the question that they could pull the trigger on a deal that none of us saw coming.

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