Category: Ice Hockey

The NHL announced the players who made the All-Rookie Team for the 2025-26 season, and, unsurprisingly, two Montreal Canadiens players are on the list. Ivan Demidov, who led all rookies in scoring this season, and Jakub Dobes, who led all rookies in wins. They are joined by the Anaheim Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke, the St. Louis Blues’ Jimmy Snuggerud, the New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer, and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin. Oliver Kapanen, who finished seventh in points amongst rookies this season with 37 and third in goals with 22, finished eighth in forward voting with just six voting points.

On top of leading all rookies in points with 62, Demidov also led in assists (43), in even-strength assists (30), power play assists (13), power play points (20) and multi-point performances (tied first with Sennecke at 14). Demidov dominated the forward votes with 195 points, four points ahead of Sennecke (191) and 59 points ahead of Snuggerud (136).

Canadiens' Prospect Getting First Taste Of Montreal
What Should Canadiens Fans Expect At The Draft?
Canadiens Prospect Make AHL Top Prospects Team

The Russian winger has incredible skills, and the Canadiens front office has made it clear it will try to sign him to a contract extension this offseason. As they should, since they still have the option to sign him to an eight-year deal until that possibility goes away because of the new CBA in mid-September.

As for Dobes, his 29 wins were well ahead of the competition, with his nearest pursuer having only 21 triumphs. Only three rookie goaltenders have had more wins with the Canadiens; Ken Dryden (39), Bill Durnan (38) and Jacques Plante (33). He becomes just the fourth Montreal goaltender to make the All-Rookie team after Steve Penney (1984-85), Patrick Roy (1985-86) and Carey Price (2007-08).

The All-Rookie Team was created in 1982-83, and since then, it has happened three times that the Canadiens have had two players on it: in 1982-83 when Mats Naslund and Dan Daoust made it, in 1984-85 when Penney was joined by Chris Chelios and in 1985-86 when Roy was joined by Kjell Dahlin. In other words, it’s a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in 40 years.

In the last few years, Lane Hutson (2024-25) and Nick Suzuki (2019-2020) made the cut. Before them, Brendan Gallagher had been the last Hab to make it, back in 2012-13.

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With the 2026 NHL Draft now just two weeks away, we are finally beginning to get an idea of what the Philadelphia Flyers might do with the 21st overall pick.

Much has been made of the Flyers' pursuit of high-end talent and a potential No. 1 center or defenseman, but the reality is, this late in the first round, that's quite unlikely.

A smaller, more dynamic defenseman like Xavier Villeneuve could be that for the Flyers, but that kind of selection has not been in the team's DNA under GM Danny Briere.

With the actual depth of the 2026 draft class looking questionable, all roads may, in fact, lead the Flyers to choosing yet another winger in the first round.

New draft intel from Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects indicates that this very well may be the case when it comes down to it.

"[Elton Hermansson], I had a little bee whisper that maybe [the Flyers] had a good chat with him at the combine. Maybe they like Hermansson," Robinson said on the "Called Up: The Prospects" podcast with fellow draft expert Chris Peters.

Now, Peters did have the Flyers picking a different winger in Adam Novotny at 21 when the duo did their full first-round mock draft on the podcast, but Hermansson offers a bit of a different profile.

The 6-foot-1 Swede is wildly skilled and already plays pro, having played 38 games for MoDo in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier league, this past season. In those 38 games, Hermansson scored 11 goals, 10 assists, and 21 points.

The 19-year-old's scouting report from Elite Prospects tells us exactly why the Flyers might be looking his way later this month.

Flyers Draft Talk: Another Winger Isn't Such a Bad IdeaEventually, the Philadelphia Flyers will need to draft replacements for Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett.

"Looking for a high upside forward bet in the second half of the first round? Elton Hermansson could be just what the doctor ordered," an excerpt from his 2026 draft guide profile reads.

"Hermansson’s offensive skill level is impossible to miss, especially whenever he plays against his peers. He dominates the puck, consistently able to drive play and create quality chances for himself through his superior elusiveness and handling abilities."

The Flyers have no shortage of wingers with Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Tyson Foerster, and the elderstatesmen Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett.

But, by the time Hermansson is ready to go full-time at the NHL level, Konecny and Tippett will be well into their 30s, and Foerster will be close to it.

So, if the value is there, and everything goes well in his development, the Swedish dynamo could be a natural replacement in the top-six for one of those three.

“Super talented kid. Very talented. He’s got a nose for the net. He can shoot the puck. He’s got shifty feet, maybe a touch knock-kneed, but it doesn’t affect the speed. I think he’s going to be a good offensive winger," an Eastern Conference executive said of Hermansson, as included in the Elite Prospects 2026 draft guide.

"I’m not sure what his player comp is in the NHL, but I like his odds to be a scoring top-six winger in the NHL. Another thing with Hermansson is that he’s not physical, but he’s also not shy to play through contact. Great kid, too.”

Hermansson will have to develop a "B-Game", as many coaches say, to ensure a successful NHL future, but there is enough talent there to justify the Flyers taking another player at the winger position with a premium draft pick.

His pro production, as well as his dominance in international junior hockey (12 points in seven World Junior games, 33 points in 18 total games for Sweden's U18s), will make Hermansson impossible to dismiss, even for a winger-heavy team like the Flyers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets should be looking to add to their forward depth this off-season. One player who the Blue Jackets should consider making a push for is Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last month that the Blackhawks have made Mikheyev's signing rights available for trade. With Mikheyev being a solid top-nine forward who provides decent secondary scoring and strong defensive play, the Blue Jackets should consider pursuing him. 

Mikheyev just had back-to-back solid campaigns with the Blackhawks. During the 2024-25 season with Chicago, he scored 20 goals and recorded 34 points. He followed that up this season by scoring 18 goals and setting a new career high with 36 points. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Blue Jackets with more offensive production if they brought him in. 

Mikheyev has also recorded at least 31 points in four out of his last five seasons. The only time he did not over that span was in 2022-23 with the Vancouver Canucks when he had 28 points but only played in 46 games. 

Mikheyev also provides plenty of value because of his strong penalty killing. He was a major part of the Blackhawks' penalty kill this season and could hold the same role if signed by the Blue Jackets. 

While Mikheyev is not the flashiest of players, he would still be a solid pickup for a Blue Jackets club that is looking to be more competitive next season. On a two- to three-year contract, the 31-year-old forward could be a good value signing for the Blue Jackets to make. 

In 427 career NHL games split between the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Blackhawks, Mikheyev has recorded 98 goals, 103 assists, 201 points, and a plus-38 rating. 

Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14. 

 Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hurricanes -115, Golden Knights -105; over/under is 6

STANLEY CUP FINAL: Hurricanes lead series 3-2

BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final with a 3-2 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the eighth time this season. The Hurricanes won 4-2 in the last meeting. Andrei Svechnikov led the Hurricanes with two goals.

Vegas has gone 27-15-9 in home games and 39-26-17 overall. The Golden Knights have gone 50-8-12 in games they score at least three goals.

Carolina has gone 31-12-6 on the road and 53-22-7 overall. The Hurricanes have conceded 236 goals while scoring 291 for a +55 scoring differential.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pavel Dorofeyev has 37 goals and 27 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has seven goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

Seth Jarvis has 32 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Jordan Staal has scored seven goals and added one assist over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 7-2-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.4 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Hurricanes: 7-2-1, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.4 penalties and 8.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: William Karlsson: day to day (arm).

Hurricanes: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

After more than a decade in pro hockey, former Senator Max McCormick has called it a career.

The decision came after the 34-year-old had hip surgery and was forced to miss the entire 2025-26 AHL season. He had appeared only 19 games the season before, so he's had some time to adjust to the idea of not playing.

McCormick was a fan favourite as the captain of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the top farm club of the Seattle Kraken. He retires as the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (67), ranking second all-time in points (140), and having played in the third-most games in team history (158).

McCormick was part of the Senators organization for four and a half seasons, suiting up for 71 games with Ottawa. He was a 2011 6th-round pick coming out of the USHL. He played the next three years at Ohio State with Ryan Dzingel, who was picked one round later in that same draft.

“The decision to retire from the game I have loved for as long as I can remember has not been easy, and as much as I wish I could play forever, it’s time to hang up the skates,” McCormick said in a Firebirds website press release.

McCormick made his NHL debut on Oct. 24, 2015 and scored his first career NHL goal in his tenth career game on Jan. 7, 2016.

After splitting time between Binghamton/Belleville and Ottawa, McCormick was traded to the Colorado Avalanche organization for J.C. Beaudin. Beaudin played 22 games for Ottawa, posting one assist.

McCormick later had stops with the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken. He was named the first captain in Firebirds’ history and served in the role in each of his four years. While the last two were write-offs, the first two were excellent.

In those two campaigns, McCormick not only found a scoring touch he'd never enjoyed before, but he also helped lead the Firebirds to back-to-back appearances in the final.

“Looking back on my career, I’m filled with nothing but gratitude and pride. Hockey has given me so many great memories, lifelong friendships, and opportunities I could have never imagined. I’m thankful to every organization, teammate, coach, and fan who was a part of my journey.

"I will forever cherish everything this game has given me.”

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

At this point, no one should really be surprised about any avenue the Pittsburgh Penguins choose to pursue on Jun. 26, which marks the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has expressed a desire to take a "big step toward sustainable contention" next season, so maybe that involves leveraging their 22nd overall pick for a surefire young NHL talent. Maybe that involves trading up in the draft for a higher-upside player who can help them sooner rather than later. 

However, if the Penguins do decide to stay put, that doesn't mean there will be a lack of talent potentially available at 22.

Of course, beyond the top-10, the draft always has its surprises. It is a defense-heavy class - especially on the front end of it - and the Penguins are in need of more talent on their blue line in the system, making it somewhat likely they'll select a defenseman in the first round. 

But if they decide to go with a forward at 22, Peterborough Petes (OHL) forward Adam Novotny might just be their guy if he's still available.

A certain Penguins' and Petes' alumni is doing pretty well for himself in the Stanley Cup Final right now - Jordan Staal has goals in all five of the games in the series so far - and, in some ways, Novotny makes a lot of sense for Pittsburgh exactly 20 years after Staal's draft. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, the Czech forward doesn't quite have the frame that Staal has, but he is already pretty filled out for his age, and he plays a similar style to the younger version of Staal, even in the absence of playing center.

Staal's Standout Stanley Cup Final Performance For Carolina Hurricanes Brings Back Memories Of Clutch Moments During Penguins' TenureOnce upon a time, Carolina Hurricanes center and captain Jordan Staal was delivering clutch moments for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their quest for a Stanley Cup.

Novotny shoots a lot, which helps explain his 34-goal, 65-point campaign in 58 OHL games last season. He plays a no-nonsense, hardline style, unafraid to drive the middle of the ice and use physicality, speed, and soft hands to his advantage. He's still adding size, too, which should only help his ability to open himself up for scoring chances in high-danger areas of the ice. 

He's also a menace on the forecheck, as he uses his frame to gain positional advantage on opponents, pressures relentlessly and forces turnovers, and thrives around the net front. In some ways, his game is reminiscent to that of Philadelphia Flyers young star Porter Martone, although he compared himself to Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish, who is also a Petes alumni.

But, above all, Novotny gets that he can't simply rely on his shot or his skills as-is to get him to the next level. He values his positional and role versatility - and he is confident in his ability to bolster his overall game - but he also understands the importance of improving the margins on the aspects of his game he already excels at.  

Top 20 Projected pick Adam Novotny has offensive ability paired with a great motor who is a mosquito to opponents. He often forces his opponents to make mistake with his constant pressure.

He has a great shot and @SammyT_51 of the @ProHockeyGroup believes he could score 30… https://t.co/BOyGfcIcuhpic.twitter.com/WMm7pjxEET

— The Prospect Don (@TheProspectDon) May 4, 2026

"I mean, there's little stuff I need to work on," Novotny said at the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month. "It starts in the gym, obviously. You have to be explosive in your upper body to have a good shot. Then, on ice, there's a bunch of stuff you can do. Just, you know, shoot like 300 pucks in 30 minutes on a practice [and] after a practice, and, I mean, that's how you get better, right?

So, there is a bunch of stuff I need to work on. My shot, obviously, and that's something, maybe, I'll focus on in this offseason."

Novotny already has the makings of a solid power forward who can thrive up and down a lineup, but he believes he has the skill to elevate himself and be more multidimensional on offense. He reads exactly as the type of player that the Penguins would covet, even as a winger. 

And he did speak with the Penguins at the combine, appreciating their honest approach to meetings, where they showed less-than-ideal clips of players and evaluated their feedback. Novotny thrives off the challenge to improve. 

Draft Profile: Adam NovotnyThe Petes' Czech import will be of interest to teams looking for a scoring power forward later this month.

"They showed you your clips, usually negative ones," Novotny said. "But, obviously, I think they just want to hear how you're going to react to "many failures," if I could say it like that. And I think I did well. I think they told me I did a good job, so it was nice.

"I like my coaches to be honest with me. [For] all the people around, I just want to hear the truth, not walk around something and not be honest. I always appreciate that feedback and how is that going to get better, right? So, for sure, I was happy for that."

There is a decent possibility that Novotny won't be available for the Penguins at 22, as his draft stock has risen considerably over the past year. He has all the makings of a pro goal-scorer, and his floor seems to be relatively high for a scoring winger because of the honest way he plays the game. 

But, if he is still hanging around, he's certainly a player worth taking a shot on for Dubas and the Penguins. 

Penguins' Draft Prospect Profiles: J.P. HurlbertJ.P. Hurlbert is a player that the Pittsburgh Penguins definitely had their eyes on this season. Does he make sense for them at pick No. 22?

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There was plenty of debate in the aftermath of the Detroit Red Wings not retaining defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, whom they had signed to a one-year, $4.125 million contract. 

Gostisbehere, who has been an offensive-minded defenseman throughout his NHL career, fit in nicely on the Red Wings blue line and contributed 10 goals while adding 46 assists.

However, he departed in the summer of 2024, re-joining the Carolina Hurricanes with a three-year, $9.6 million deal, carrying a $3.2 million cap hit. 

Gostisbehere, who helped the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Final during his first stint with the club, helped them do the same last season, where they were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

This season, as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, he's helped them to come within one win of what would be their first Stanley Cup in 20 years. 

And so far through the first five games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Gostisbehere is the leading scorer on Carolina's blue line with a goal and five assists for six points. 

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

Overall, he has 12 points in 18 postseason games so far this spring. 

The reported hangup in the negotiations between the Red Wings and Gostisbehere in the summer of 2024 was the length of the contract, which Carolina was eventually able to offer him. 

Meanwhile, the Red Wings also decided to eventually part ways with defenseman Jake Walman in a controversial trade just days before Gostisbehere returned to Carolina for reasons which GM Steve Yzerman declined to elaborate on. 

"It's Going To Be Soon": Agent For Sebastian Cossa On When His Client Will Get His Major Opportunity The player agent for Detroit Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa spoke openly about the chances of his client getting a major opportunity, saying that it "will be soon".

Since the departure of both Walman and Gostisbehere, the Red Wings have iced the likes of Jeff Petry, Justin Holl, and Travis Hamonic on the blue line without much success. 

One thing is for certain - despite his defensive flaws, the Red Wings could certainly have made use of Gostisbehere's offensive capabilities in each of the last two seasons, both of which have resulted in missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

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The sun hasn’t yet set on the season for the Vegas Golden Knights, but it’s getting to be very late in the afternoon. 

The Golden Knights are no strangers to adversity. In the regular season, they survived nine different stretches of three or more losses, a bottom-five goaltending rotation, and long-term injuries to key players. Ultimately, this added up to a year full of underachievement, and, in a desperate attempt to break through, one of the more memorable Hail Marys in the history of the National Hockey League. 

With just eight games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights made a coaching change. Despite being in a playoff position, they relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach and brought in John Tortorella. 

There were a million ways this late-season coaching change could have gone wrong, and a million reasons that it should have. But it didn’t. 

With Tortorella behind the bench, the Golden Knights ended the regular season on a 7-0-1 run. In Round 1, they battled through close calls against the Utah Mammoth and came out victorious. In Round 2, they dispatched the Anaheim Ducks in six games, which were so unremarkable that the biggest bit of news was that they lost a second-round draft pick for refusing to speak with the media after their Game 6 win. And in the Western Conference Final, the Golden Knights shocked the world and swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

But now, down 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final, the Golden Knights face their biggest challenge yet. 

John Tortorella isn’t concerned about the predicament his team is in. Following Thursday’s Game 5 loss, he took the stand and vowed that his team would return to Raleigh for Game 7. 

“We’ll be back here,” he swore. “We’re just gonna do it in a different order… I’m gonna leave my clothes here, that’s for sure. They’ll be at the hotel.”

A Mark Messier guarantee for a Game 6 victory wasn’t the only promise Tortorella made on Thursday night. Mere moments later, he backed goaltender Carter Hart, who entered the series with a .924 save percentage but is now setting records for all the wrong reasons.

In Game 4, Hart became the first goaltender to allow 4+ goals through the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final; last night, he extended that to five straight. Hart’s average save percentage in this series is .856, and for the first time since April, he has lost two games in a row. 

It is also worth noting that Hart hasn’t been made available to the media following any of the five Stanley Cup Final games. Despite being the starting goaltender, he hasn’t spoken since a hastily relocated availability during media day that ended very abruptly.

And yet, there is no question that Hart will start Game 6 on Sunday. 

When asked if he considered going to Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5, Tortorella scoffed, “Oh, for– Christ, that could be the stupidest question I heard.”

Tortorella has made his decision, and time will tell if it was the right one. On Sunday night, the Golden Knights will either be one win away from the Stanley Cup or headed towards locker cleanout day.

Golf legend Walter Hagen used to say, “No one remembers who came in second,” and that’s where the Golden Knights stand right now. Win, and they force a Game 7 back in Raleigh for all the marbles. Win, and they get one step closer to etching their names in history as well as on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Lose, and they risk being forgotten.

It all comes down to Sunday.

The Carolina Hurricanes were trailing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final two games to one heading into Game 4.

Now they are up 3-2 after becoming the first team in the series to win two in a row. They are in position to clinch their first Stanley Cup title since 2006 if they win Game 6 in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 14.

The Golden Knights will try to stave off elimination at home and force a Game 7 back in Raleigh, North Carolina. Coach John Tortorella vows that they will, even saying that he's going to leave his clothes at the team's Raleigh hotel.

Here is what happened to both teams in the last two games as the series turned around:

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Brandon Bussi took over the net

He replaced Frederik Andersen for the third period of Game 3 with the team down 4-0. He stopped a Mitch Marner penalty shot and allowed only a fluke goal in the second overtime after the Hurricanes rallied to tie the game in the third period.

Bussi got the starts the past two games and was solid in Game 4 and even better in Game 5.

"It's been a lot of fun," Bussi said after Thursday's game. "You work hard, you enjoy the moment, then you put your head down and grind."

Andersen − who needed a break, coach Rod Brind'Amour said, quoting goalie coach Paul Schonfelder − hasn't dressed for either game and hasn't practiced with the team. He did skate before players showed up for Thursday's practice and is available, if needed, Brind'Amour said.

As an aside, the Hurricanes also made a goalie change during their 2006 championship run. It was much earlier as Cam Ward replaced Martin Gerber in the first round and went on to be voted playoff MVP.

Jordan Staal is on fire

The 37-year-old Hurricanes captain is known for his faceoff prowess and defensive ability. But he has turned back the clock with his first five-game goal streak since he was a rookie in 2006-07. Doing it in the Stanley Cup Final puts his name alongside Hall of Famers Yvan Cournoyer, Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Fred "Cyclone" Taylor.

Staal has the size and strength to be a scoring threat in front of the net − and now the goals are going in. He knocked in a rebound for his first goal of Game 4 then forced a turnover and scored while falling down on the second goal. His Game 5 goal was on a deflection.

Balanced scoring after first line comes through

The second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake has been a constant throughout the playoffs. Staal took off in the Final. But top-line players Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho had been relatively quiet.

That ended in Game 5. Svechnikov scored twice on the power play and Aho ended a five-game drought. Brind'Amour kept those two together and changed up the third person to get the line going.

They're playing better defensively

Marner had a hat trick in Game 3 because he was getting behind the Hurricanes' defense. Brind'Amour adjusted and Marner has one point in the last two games after getting seven in the first three games.

The Carolina coach didn't like the way the team played in the first period of Game 5, but the Hurricanes were able to play their style for much of the rest of the game. They even outscored Vegas 2-0 in the second period after being outscored 9-1 in the first four games.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Carter Hart's play has dropped off

When a reporter asked whether John Tortorella considered inserting backup goalie Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5, the Golden Knights coach said it could be "the stupidest question I've ever heard."

But Hart hasn't been as strong in this round as he was in the first three rounds. He had a 2.22 goals-against average and .924 save percentage heading into the series. But he has given up four goals in every game in the Final and has an .856 save percentage in the series.

Golden Knights can't control Staal

Tortorella usually doesn't discuss players on the other team but he did mention Staal after Game 4, saying, "He's killing us in front of the net."

The Golden Knights thought they had Staal tied up on his first goal in Game 4, but he got to a rebound. In Game 5, he checked Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb along the boards to create space to skate toward the front of the net and redirect a pass.

William Karlsson injury hurts

He left Game 5 and didn't return after being checked by Sean Walker. The trainer was looking at his arm. Tortorella said the team "probably" will be without Karlsson, a two-way center who kills penalties and plays the power play. The Golden Knights had to juggle lines without him, hurting their ability to come back.

Penalty killing woes and penalty woes

The Hurricanes struggled in the first three rounds on the power play but have found their game. They use Staal at the start of a power play. If he wins the faceoff, he stays on the ice and provides a big body in front. If not, he goes off and the speedy Nikolaj Ehlers comes on.

The Hurricanes have had two games in the Final in which they scored two power play goals. Golden Knights' injuries contributed. McNabb left Game 2 after being hit by a puck, and Karlsson left in Game 5.

The Golden Knights didn't help themselves with the number of penalties they took. They were called for back-to-back penalties in Game 5 and Carolina scored on the second one. The Hurricanes also scored on Vegas' four-minute high-sticking penalty in the third period.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Hurricanes turned around Stanley Cup Final vs Golden Knights

St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud has been named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team.

The 22-year-old scored 22 goals and 51 points in 70 games in his rookie season, ranking fourth in goals and points among rookies. 

Snuggerud had a slow start to the season before missing 11 games due to a wrist injury, but upon returning, the young sniper turned his season around. Paired with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway, the trio formed one of the best lines in hockey down the final stretch of the season. 

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Blues’ top line will almost assuredly be this aforementioned trio. 

Joining Snuggerud on the NHL All-Rookie team upfront were Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke. On the backend, New York Islanders Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin were selected, with Canadiens’ Jakub Dobes in goal. 

Blues' Jimmy Snuggerud Finishes Fifth In NHL Calder Trophy VotingSt. Louis Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting.

Snuggerud earned 136 points, the third-most among rookie forwards. 

No other St. Louis Blues rookies received any votes. 

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From the Stanley Cup Final nearing its end to coaching hirings around the league, there was plenty to discuss on the latest episode of The Hockey Show.

This week, THS hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were pleased to be joined by Florida Panthers play-by-play voice Steve Goldstein.

Goldie has kept very busy during the playoffs, calling games in each of the first three rounds and cross-crossing the country in the process.

He spoke to the boys about the Carolina Hurricanes being one win away from the Staley Cup and the Vegas Golden Knights struggling with injuries and goaltending, as well as

And how he can be a Miami Heat fan that can root for the New York Knicks.

Dave also made sure to ask Steve if he keeps his “Let’s go home, baby!” call exclusive to just the Panthers or if he’s used it while calling playoff games around the league.

Additional topics discussed on this week’s show included the Edmonton Oilers trying to hire Mike Babcock, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse requesting a trade, the Los Angeles Kings hiring Peter Laviolette, Nikita Kucherov winning the Hart Trophy and other award winners.

You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

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After Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse requested a trade Thursday afternoon, the teams at the top of his list were the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. 

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period broke the news on Thursday afternoon that Nurse has 3-5 teams he would be willing to sign off on for a trade, with LA and Pittsburgh the only two teams revealed so far. 

However, a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday morning suggests more news about Nurse's preferred destination. The 31-year-old is believed to prefer a move to the Eastern Conference, with another Canadian franchise unlikely to be among his preferred destinations. 

REPORT: Darnell Nurse Includes The Kings On His List Of Preferred Trade DestinationsDarnell Nurse has requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers. The Los Angeles Kings, who have long been linked to the polarizing defender are included on his short list of preferred trade destinations.

Elliotte Friedman on Darnell Nurse’s trade request: “I have heard the preference is East, and not likely to be Canada.”

— The Mug NHL (@TheMugNHL) June 12, 2026

Despite the complicated issues with Nurse's contract, there appears to be strong interest from several teams around the league in signing off on a trade. Friedman indicated that the Oilers should have "no problem" finding a legitimate hockey trade should they decide to move forward with a deal.

While today's report suggests that the Eastern Conference is the preferred landing spot for Nurse, Friedman added that if a Western Conference team enters the mix, the Los Angeles Kings could emerge as a potential destination.

According to Elliotte Friedman, Oilers Darnell Nurse's preference would be a move to the Eastern Conference, and not to another Canadian team.

If a Western Conference destination is in play, the Los Angeles Kings appear to be a possibility.

Friedman adds there is legitimate…

— Bleed Oil Blue (@BleedOilBlue) June 12, 2026

Nurse has spent his entire career with the Edmonton Oilers since being selected seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. The former 2019 IIHF World Champion still has a lot left in him; with the physicality and grit he brings, he is very valuable to the Oilers, and a team like the Kings would be the perfect fit for how the team likes to operate. 

With legitimate interest reportedly building and trade discussions expected to intensify, all eyes will be on Edmonton's front office to determine whether Nurse's long tenure in Oil Country is nearing its end.

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During the Montreal Canadiens’ dressing room clear-out day, Ivan Demidov revealed that he would be training with the Habs’ second-round pick of the 2025 draft (and their first pick of that draft), his childhood friend Alexander Zharovsky. While Demidov and his significant other have been vacationing in Mexico, Zharovsky made his way to Montreal and arrived on Wednesday.

On both Thursday and Friday morning, he was seen skating on the CN Sports Complex ice in Brossard and Paul Byron, who’s now a Player Development Consultant with the Canadiens, was with him on Friday morning, closely monitoring his every move. After Dans les coulisses had exclusive images of his Thursday skating session, RDS sent a crew to Brossard on Friday morning to capture more images.

TVA Sports’ Nicolas Cloutier has obtained confirmation from Dan Milstein, Zharovsky’s agent, that the youngster will leave Montreal from June 20 to June 24 to attend the Gold Star pre-draft camp. He also attended last season when the Canadiens had an appointment with him, a clear sign that they were hoping to select him at the draft days later.

Alexander Zharovsky a patiné quelques minutes tôt ce matin à Brossard.

Il était sur le décalage horaire, lui qui est arrivé hier ✈️

Selon des gens sur place, on peut s’attendre à le voir patiner à nouveau la semaine prochaine, cette fois avec Ivan Demidov. Les deux sont… pic.twitter.com/MY5ECVc13a

— DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) June 11, 2026

After that camp, he will come back to town and attend the Canadiens’ development camp, which he missed last year because of a visa issue. He’ll remain in Montreal until it’s time to head back to Russia in mid-July in time for Ufa’s Salavat Yualev training camp. The young Russian has one year left on his contract, which expires at the end of May 2027. Should his team miss the playoffs or be eliminated early, he could be released early, just as Demidov was by St. Petersburg’s SKA back in the spring of 2025. Until then, though, attending the Development camp in July is your best option to see what the promising winger can do.

Alexander Zharovsky is back on the ice in Brossard today.

Looks like he’s training alongside Paul Byron. pic.twitter.com/4TNVivWMcJ

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 12, 2026

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Vancouver Canucks defenceman Jack Thompson is returning to the organization for the 2026-27 season.

The 24-year-old defenceman, who was set to become a restricted free-agent at the end of this season, signed a one-year, two-way contract extension earlier today. 

Thompson was acquired via trade for Jett Woo back at the start of March, heading to the Abbotsford Canucks from the San Jose Sharks organization. He impressed in his first few games with Abbotsford, recording two goals and three assists in his first two games. Thompson finished the 2025-26 season with three goals and 10 assists in 14 games with Abbotsford. 

A third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Thompson parted ways with the Lightning organization in the 2023-24 season. During the 2024-25 season, he split his time with the Sharks and the San Jose Barracuda, putting up four goals and six assists in 31 games at the NHL level. In 85 career games with the Barracuda, Thompson registered seven goals and 28 assists. 

Thompson's signing comes less than 24 hours after the Canucks announced the hiring of new Abbotsford General Manager and Vancouver Assistant GM Richard Seeley. The defenceman was one of seven Canucks who were set to be restricted free agents come the 2026 off-season. 

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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The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from ending the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, and they'll look to do so in the desert on Sunday, June 14.

My Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks expect Carolina to hoist the Cup in Game 6, with goaltender Brandon Bussi turning in another tidy performance in Game 6.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on ABC and Sportsnet. 

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 6 prediction

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights best bet: Brandon Bussi Over 21.5 saves (-110)

This total is too low for Carolina Hurricanes netminder Brandon Bussi.

In addition to winning consecutive starts, Bussi was particularly sharp in Game 5 with 23 saves and 2.84 goals saved above expected.

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights have consistently tilted the ice in their favor for stretches throughout the series:

• 11 shots on 26 attempts in the second period of Game 1
• 23 shots on 35 attempts in the second and third periods of Game 2
• 23 shots on 43 attempts in the second and third periods of Game 3
• Nine shots on 22 attempts in the third period of Game 4
• 13 shots on 25 attempts in the third period of Game 5
  

The Golden Knights should place an even higher emphasis on testing Bussi early and often in Game 6, and I'd recommend playing this prop down to -125.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 6 same-game parlay

Carolina’s edge in overall depth in front of Bussi will be the difference in Game 6.

Vegas starter Carter Hart has surrendered at least four goals in all five games of the series, sporting an .856 save percentage and 5.06 goals saved below expected, and the loss of William Karlsson (wrist) is a huge blow to the Golden Knights.

The two teams have also combined for 39 goals with six or more in all five games, and with the potential for earlier empty-net situations in an elimination game, I’m anticipating another high-scoring bout.

Carolina winger Seth Jarvis has marked the scoresheet in three of the past four games and paces Carolina forwards in ice time and on-ice expected goals during the series.

I'd play this SGP down to +280.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights SGP

• Hurricanes moneyline
• Over 5.5
• Seth Jarvis Over 0.5 points

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights odds for Game 6

• Moneyline: Hurricanes -115 | Golden Knights -105
• Puck Line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+210) | Golden Knights +1.5 (-260)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights trend

Carolina has won 20 of its last 25 games (+13.75 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights.

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Hurricanes vs Golden Knights latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.