The Wraparound is here with more rapid-fire topics in the NHL.

Should The Predators Already Move On From Stamkos Or Marchessault? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: Will Brad Marchand go down as one of the best trade deadline acquisitions ever?

3:32: Evaluating the Edmonton Oilers’ ability to play in high-pressure situations

5:40: After trading Chris Kreider, could Mika Zibanejad also be moved by the New York Rangers?

9:10: Can the Buffalo Sabres afford to move on from J.J. Peterka?

12:14: Is it time for the Buffalo Sabres to move on from Bowen Byram?

15:28: Could the Nashville Predators already move on from either Jonathan Marchessault or Steven Stamkos?

20:37: Will Mitch Marner be the top free agent in the last decade to hit the market?

24:57: What to make of Team USA’s decision to leave Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger off the first six roster spots for the 2026 Olympics

29:15: Will the Montreal Canadiens end up trading either of their first-round draft picks this year?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Evgeni Malkin’s likely final season comes as the Penguins enter with long +28000 odds, creating potential sleeper value for bettors hoping for a storybook ending.

Evgeni Malkin has been one of the faces of Pittsburgh hockey for nearly two decades but the 2025–26 campaign may mark the end of his Hall of Fame journey. According to multiple reports, the Penguins are not expected to offer Malkin another contract following this season, making it likely the last for the Russian superstar. The report did not confirm Malkin himself but the writing appears to be on the wall as the team continues to lean younger under new leadership.

The Penguins reportedly will not offer Evgeni Malkin a contract extension, making the 2025-26 season his last in Pittsburgh, per @JoshYohe_PGH

End of an era 🐧 pic.twitter.com/7aL0af39wH

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 16, 2025

Even at 38, Malkin showed flashes of vintage brilliance last season. He finished the 2024–25 campaign with 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points in 68 games. While it's nowhere near the 113 points he recorded in 2008-09, it's still serviceable for a mid-tier centre. He was among the Penguins top contributors, showing that his vision, touch, and playmaking remain effective even as the miles add up.

More NHL: Where Will Sam Bennett Play Next Season? New Bettting Odds Spark Major Buzz

The wonder is if the Penguins will opt to trade the veteran centre to a contender and help the Penguins retain something of value before he potentially retires. Over his career, Malkin has become one of the most decorated players of his generation. He’s won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, two Art Ross scoring titles, and the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP during the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup run. 

He's also hoisted the Stanley Cup three times in 2009, 2016, and 2017 as well as being named to the All-Star Game seven times throughout his historic career. As of the end of last season, he’s logged a total of 1,213 NHL games with 514 goals and 832 assists, good for 1,346 points. In October 2024, Malkin became just the 48th player in NHL history to reach 500 career goals. 

The timing of this potential farewell couldn’t be more intriguing from a betting perspective. The Penguins enter the season as one of the biggest long shots to win the Stanley Cup, listed at +28000, the fifth-longest odds in the league on FanDuel Sportsbook. Their roster remains in flux and leadership will look very different, with Dan Muse stepping behind the bench as Pittsburgh’s new head coach. Muse, known for his development acumen and detail-oriented approach, has been given long +3100 odds to win the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year.

For bettors, the combination of Malkin’s likely final season and a new coaching regime introduces narrative-driven value. It wouldn’t be the first time a legendary player went out with a late-career surge that pulled a team beyond expectations. 

If Muse can elevate the team’s structure and Malkin finds another gear for one last playoff push, even the longest odds can become tempting. Cash out oppurtunites are something we've looked at in the past and just a $10 bet on the Penguins would pay out around $2,800 to win the Cup which isn't very likely. 

However, Pittsburgh has proven in past seasons that experienced cores can catch fire and if they can manage to battle their way into a playoff spot like they looked like they were going to at times this season, we could get a massive cashout option towards the start of next years playoffs that could pay out a couple hundred dollars.

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming into 2025-26 with a lot of youth at the top of their roster. They will be very exciting to watch, but veteran leadership is needed on every NHL team. 

GM Kyle Davidson already has a few veterans on the team, such as Connor Murphy, Nick Foligno, Teuvo Teravainen, and Tyler Bertuzzi. However, he may look for one with other attributes, including more offense.

During this off-season, a handful of very good veterans who are considered NHL elders are going to be available. Players like this, despite their age, should be at the top of Chicago’s list of people to go after. 

Young teams need guys like this to help them take a step as an organization: 

1. Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand is 37 years old. You would not think that based on how he is playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Florida Panthers. He has been their best player in the Stanley Cup Final and is on the verge of winning it for the second time in his career. 

Marchand was shockingly traded to a division rival by the Boston Bruins right at the buzzer of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. He was injured at the time of the trade but he made it back in time to impact the Panthers in a big way. 

It's not like the defending Stanley Cup champions needed any help, but they were smart enough to go add more anyway. Marchand's regular season ended with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points. Most of that was on a struggling Bruins team or following an injury with Florida. 

In the playoffs so far, Marchand has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. He is in the mix for the Conn Smythe Trophy at this point. 

A guy coming off a run like that would be great for the young Chicago Blackhawks. He has a lot more hockey left in the tank. His attitude, hard-working motor, and talent would be great to have around guys like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. 

2. John Tavares

John Tavares doesn't have the playoff resume that Brad Marchand has, but he is one of the few players who hasn't been a complete disappointment for the Toronto Maple Leafs when the lights are brightest. If Toronto doesn't retain the hometown guy in free agency, the Blackhawks should be all over him. 

In the regular season, Tavares had 38 goals and 36 assists for 74 points in 75 games played. That is outstanding for a guy who will be 35 when the 2025-26 season begins. 

Tavares can still drive a line and score goals at a high rate. With some of the gifted playmakers on Chicago's roster, Tavares should be able to put up similar numbers. In a leadership role, Tavares could thrive as long as his offense doesn't drop off. 

3. Claude Giroux 

Claude Girouz is 37 and will turn 38 in January. He doesn't seem to have the same level of offense left in the tank as Marchand or Tavares, but he can still make plays on a good line. 

During the 2024-25 season, in a much more depth role, he scored 15 goals and had 35 assists for 50 points in 81 games played. He is a candidate to see a spark in production if he played more minutes, which he would get in Chicago. 

Giroux has been an elite offensive talent throughout his career, and he knows what it takes to be a superstar in the NHL. If he were placed on a line or power play with some of the youth that Chicago has, you may see remnants of the old Giroux. It is a move worth considering if you are Kyle Davidson, looking for a savvy veteran. 

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

Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Will the Edmonton Oilers finish as Stanley Cup runners-up again?

Edmonton was pushed to the brink of elimination in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, losing Game 5 at home by a score of 5-2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday, when the Panthers will have the chance to pull off a repeat championship.

The rare Cup Final rematch between Florida and Edmonton has played out much differently than last year, when the Oilers erased a 3-0 series deficit before dropping the decisive Game 7 on the road.

Panthers-Oilers Round 2 has been a back-and-forth battle with three overtime contests in five games. Edmonton took the series opener before Florida responded with two straight victories. The Oilers evened the series in Game 4, but the Panthers pulled back ahead in Game 5.

Now, Connor McDavid and Co. need to win two straight elimination to avoid becoming repeat Stanley Cup runners-up.

Has an NHL team ever lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

The Oilers wouldn’t be the first team to suffer Cup Final losses in consecutive seasons.

How many NHL teams have lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

Since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season, there have been just two instances of the same team losing at least two Cup Finals in a row.

Who was the last NHL team to lose back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

And it’s been nearly 50 years since it last happened. The Boston Bruins lost the 1977 Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens before suffering the same fate against Montreal in 1978. Boston’s consecutive Cup Final defeats were part of a four-peat for Montreal from 1976-79.

The only other team to record consecutive runner-up finishes is the St. Louis Blues, who were defeated in three straight Cup Finals. St. Louis lost to the Canadiens in 1968and 1969 before falling to the Bruins in 1970. The Blues wouldn’t make it back to the Cup Final until 2019, when they defeated the Bruins for the franchise’s first championship.

Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Will the Edmonton Oilers finish as Stanley Cup runners-up again?

Edmonton was pushed to the brink of elimination in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, losing Game 5 at home by a score of 5-2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday, when the Panthers will have the chance to pull off a repeat championship.

The rare Cup Final rematch between Florida and Edmonton has played out much differently than last year, when the Oilers erased a 3-0 series deficit before dropping the decisive Game 7 on the road.

Panthers-Oilers Round 2 has been a back-and-forth battle with three overtime contests in five games. Edmonton took the series opener before Florida responded with two straight victories. The Oilers evened the series in Game 4, but the Panthers pulled back ahead in Game 5.

Now, Connor McDavid and Co. need to win two straight elimination to avoid becoming repeat Stanley Cup runners-up.

Has an NHL team ever lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

The Oilers wouldn’t be the first team to suffer Cup Final losses in consecutive seasons.

How many NHL teams have lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

Since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season, there have been just two instances of the same team losing at least two Cup Finals in a row.

Who was the last NHL team to lose back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

And it’s been nearly 50 years since it last happened. The Boston Bruins lost the 1977 Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens before suffering the same fate against Montreal in 1978. Boston’s consecutive Cup Final defeats were part of a four-peat for Montreal from 1976-79.

The only other team to record consecutive runner-up finishes is the St. Louis Blues, who were defeated in three straight Cup Finals. St. Louis lost to the Canadiens in 1968and 1969 before falling to the Bruins in 1970. The Blues wouldn’t make it back to the Cup Final until 2019, when they defeated the Bruins for the franchise’s first championship.

EDMONTON – You’ve gotta make hay while the sun shines.

This farming adage could prove fruitful for a fortunate NHL team this offseason. The Edmonton Oilers would be wise to poke around an RFA who is reportedly not happy with their current team.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

The Buffalo Sabres’ 23-year-old JJ Peterka would be an incredible addition to the Oilers team. His nose for the net, goal-scoring ability, and rumored availability make him the ideal candidate to join the Copper and Blue.

Here’s why the Oilers should make a deal for the young, German forward.

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Peterka Has A Nose For The Net

NHLers and coaches alike will tell you that the key to scoring goals is simply going to the net. This is something that Peterka does on instinct.

According to his teammates, he has a nose for the net and goes hard every time he hits the ice. 

“Every time he has the puck, he’s going to make a play and then get to the net,” Peyton Krebs, a teammate of Peterka’s, told The Score. “A lot of guys hold back and take it easy sometimes, but not JJ.”

Peterka Is Coming Off A Career Year

Peterka is coming off the best year of his (very) young NHL career. With over 200 games played already, he has scored 28 and 27 goals in the last two years.

He recorded 68 points in 77 games for the Sabres this year. Peterka averaged 18:11 per game. He finished second on the team in scoring behind Tage Thompson, who collected 72 points.

Peterka was on the Sabres' top unit powerplay, averaging 2:55 with the man advantage per game.

Oilers Stuart Skinner, Darnell Nurse, & More Reveal Movies They LoveEDMONTON – “That’s actually a discussion in our room and there are some painful answers.”

Sabres Are Taking Calls On Peterka

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres have changed their tune on Peterka’s status with the club. On the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman laid out the situation.

“I have said on this podcast and in my radio interviews several times,” Friedman began. “The Sabres have indicated that they do not want to trade JJ Peterka…their answer has changed.”

As for why the Sabres have had a change of heart, Friedman explained his understanding.

“I think it’s the reality of the situation,” Friedman revealed. “People know Peterka’s unhappy, and it’s believed he would like to go somewhere else.” 

“I just think that reality is sinking in a bit.”

32 Thoughts Game 5 reaction pod -- plus news, information & analysis.

Links to your preferred platform, here: https://t.co/io7Mr1RceU Enjoy!

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 15, 2025

Peterka is coming off a three-year Entry Level Contract (ELC). He is currently without a contract as an offer-sheet available RFA (Restricted Free Agent).

Making a deal with Peterka right now would be the prudent thing to do. For starters, the Sabres don’t have a lot of leverage in any negotiations. With the word of their player not happy with the organization out in the hockey community as common knowledge, it puts them into a bit of a pickle.

Using some draft capital and/or a player signed for multiple years as the foundation for a deal would make the most sense on the Oilers end of things. It would certainly make more sense than taking the offer sheet approach.

Peterka plays the right game and has the offensive skill to be an ideal candidate for the Oilers to target. It probably doesn’t hurt to have countryman Leon Draisaitl on the team either – the center he would most likely play with.

There is plenty of time for something to happen before this metaphorical sun goes down.

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The Finns have found their presumable starter for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

On Monday, the NHL announced preliminary rosters for six players from 10 of the 12 teams competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina, Italy, from February 5 to 22. 

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros was named to Finland's preliminary roster.

Earlier this morning, Finland selected its preliminary six players for the #MilanoCortina#Olympics! pic.twitter.com/sM2G6441Fa

— NHL (@NHL) June 16, 2025

The roster also included Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov and three Dallas Stars' players: defenseman Miro Heiskanen, forward Mikko Rantanen and defenseman Esa Lindell. 

Saros is currently the top Finnish goalie in the league, having played in 408 games, posted a 202-150 record, and recorded 27 shutouts. He has a goals against average of 2.68 and a save percentage of .914. 

This past season, Saros played 58 games and won 28 with four shutouts. He had a goals-against average of 2.98 and a save percentage of .896. His GAA this season was the highest of his career, having played 20 games or more. 

This will be Saros's seventh time representing Finland and his first time playing for his home country at the Olympics.

Saros recently represented the Finns at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, posting a 4-2 record over six games and a 1.67 goals-against average. Finland finished in seventh place, losing to the United States in the quarterfinal round. 

Saros has tasted gold before when representing Finland, winning the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2014. He lost just one of six games, posting a 1.57 save percentage. 

This is the first time since 2014 that NHL players will be allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics. 

Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonas Rondbjerg has been named to Team Denmark's 2026 Olympic roster as one of the first six players.

Each Olympic team is naming their "Olympic Six," and Rondbjerg is the first Golden Knights player to be called to represent their country in Italy.

The 26-year-old has represented Denmark at the World Championships, World Juniors, U-18s and the Olympic Qualifiers, garnering 35 games of experience on the international stage at these events. He represented Denmark at the World Championship for the first time this season, scoring two goals in five games.

Prior to the start of the NHL's 2024-25 regular season, Rondbjerg participated in three qualifiers, scoring a goal as he helped Denmark earn a spot in the Olympics. 

Rondbjerg is a restricted free agent at the moment and in need of a contract. No word has been shared about GM Kelly McCrimmon's desire to re-sign the former 2017 third-round pick, but he's played in 76 NHL games over the years, scoring three goals and 10 points. The Golden Knights had higher expectations for Rondbjerg, but at the very least, he's become a trustworthy forward who understands what his role is when he is called up to the NHL. 

Rondbjerg will be hoping to impress at the tournament and put his name out there for many to see. Named alongside Rondbjerg on Team Denmark are Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers, Tampa Bay Lightning's Oliver Bjorkstrand, Washington Capitals' Lars Eller, Carolina Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen and defenseman Jesper Jensen Abo.

Denmark has named the first 6 players to its preliminary roster for Milano Cortina 2026.🇩🇰👍#IIHF#Olympics#NHL#NHLPA@dkishockey@olympics@nhl@nhlpapic.twitter.com/1xiFqnGwfb

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 16, 2025

At the 2025 World Championships, Denmark surprised everyone, earning a spot in the semi-finals after beating Team Canada. They'll hope to replicate their performance as an underdog at the Olympics. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Golden Knights' Jonas Rondbjerg Finds Quick Success, Will The Same Occur For William Karlsson At The World ChampionshipFollowing the Vegas Golden Knights' elimination from the playoffs, forwards Jonas Rondbjerg and William Karlsson departed for the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship to represent their countries.

Another former CBJ draft pick has been picked to help run an NHL franchise. 

This time it's former 8th-round (2001) draft pick Ryan Bowness. Bowness has been picked by the new GM for the New York Islanders, and former Blue Jacket Mathieu Darche, to be the  Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the Isles. 

#Isles News: The New York Islanders announced today that Ryan Bowness has been named Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 16, 2025

Bowness never played an NHL game, and only played made it as high as the ECHL. 

He's had several front office jobs over the years, including AGM for the Ottawa Senators and GM for their AHL team, the Belleville Sens. He's also worked for the Penguins, Jets, and Thrashers. 

Welcome back to the Metro Division Ryan Bowness. 

Let us know what you think below.

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

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Blue Jackets Close To Signing Dante Fabbro?Are the Blue Jackets close to signing Dante Fabbro long-term?  Elvis Merzlikins Among First Players Chosen For Latvian Olympic TeamBlue Jackets Goalie was given a big honor today by the Latvian National Team. Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Carter BearThe 2025 NHL Draft is just 11 days away, and teams around the league are locking in on who they might pick. For the Columbus Blue Jackets, things are a little more interesting this year with two first-round picks: No. 14 and No. 20.

Pastrnak, McAvoy among first players named to 2026 Winter Olympic hockey rosters originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

NHL players will compete in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina next February, and the first six players for each of the 12 teams were announced Monday.

The full, final rosters will be unveiled during the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season. NHL players have not competed at the Olympics since 2014.

Several Bruins players were selected as part of Monday’s announcements.

Veteran defenseman Charlie McAvoy was among the first six players named to the United States roster, joining Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk. McAvoy played for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-off back in February but was unable to play in the final versus Canada due to an injury suffered in the tournament. That same injury sidelined him for the rest of Boston’s 2024-25 season.

𝐄𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐋, 𝐐. 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐄𝐒, 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐖𝐒, 𝐌𝐜𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐘, 𝐁. 𝐓𝐊𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐊, 𝐌. 𝐓𝐊𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐊

Introducing the first 🇺🇸 six for the #WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/dvTRFm2pcg

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) June 16, 2025

Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and center/wing Pavel Zacha were among the first six players named to the Czechia roster. Czechia is a dark-horse gold medal contender in Milan with a lot of really talented NHL players.

Who’s in?👀 Czechia has selected the first 6 names for its Olympic Winter Games preliminary roster.🇨🇿#IIHF#Olympics#NHL#NHLPA@czehockey@olympics@nhl@nhlpapic.twitter.com/zii4b2t2pg

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 16, 2025

McAvoy, Pastrnak and Zacha were the only Bruins players named in the first six roster spots for each team. However, these are not the full rosters and more Bruins players could be selected to their nation’s squad by the deadline.

For example, Bruins center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Hampus Lindholm should be in the mix for Sweden’s roster. Elias was on Sweden’s 4 Nations Face-off team and played well.

Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman was on the U.S. roster for the 4 Nations Face-off but was third on the depth chart behind starter Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger.

Swayman helped Team USA win its first gold medal at the IIHF World Championships since 1933 last month. He had a 25-save shutout in the title game versus Switzerland, and overall he finished the tournament with a .921 save percentage and a 1.61 GAA.

A strong start to the 2025-26 season for the Bruins would help Swayman make a case to be included on the final USA roster for the Olympics.

Bruins prospect and 2022 draft pick Dans Locmelis also could be in the mix for a spot on Latvia’s Olympic roster.

The preliminary games for the men’s ice hockey tournament in Milan will start Feb. 11. The gold medal game is scheduled for Feb. 22.

Anybody who’s been watching the Stanley Cup Final since the start of June will have to admit that the Florida Panthers made one of the best trades of the year when they obtained ultimate pest Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline for a conditional second-round pick at the 2027 draft.

The diminutive forward spent 16 years wearing the Black and Gold, and his departure shook many of the Bruins’ faithful, but given their lack of results this season, it was the right move. Furthermore, since the Panthers won at least two rounds in the playoffs and the veteran has appeared in more than 50% of their games (he started in all 22 games), the conditional second-round pick in 2027 has become a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028.

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That’s not to say Florida isn’t getting its money’s worth. In 22 games so far this postseason, Marchand has scored 10 goals and picked up 10 assists. Six of these goals have come in the Stanley Cup Final, and he now leads all active players in Cup Final goals with 13, and he’s the first and only player to have scored five or more goals in a Cup Final for two different teams.

At 37 years old, he looks like he was dunked in the fountain of youth before the start of the playoffs, and one of his goals in game five was just amazing, leaving even teammate Matthew Tkachuk struggling to find the words.

Matthew Tkachuk's reaction to Brad Marchand's second goal 🤣

"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD" pic.twitter.com/87hhoAgUJv

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

When a champion is finally crowned, though, Marchand will be free as a bird and looking for a new stomping ground. His latest eight-year deal carried a $6.125 million cap hit, and he performed consistently throughout it. Some thought the off-season surgery he went through last year would slow him down, but he came back and played 71 games this season, recording 51 points in the process.

The left winger has now played 1,100 games in his career and has 980 points to show for it, along with 1,115 penalty minutes. He’s also collected the fines and suspensions from the Player’s Safety Department, relentlessly flirting with the line through his 16-season career. After becoming the most suspended player in NHL history, he made a conscious effort to clean up his game and was successful, becoming an elite player and a great leader.

His impressive display in the Cup Final no doubt caught the eye of numerous GMs around the NHL, and he should be in for an interesting payday. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has said at the start of June that he’s not rulling out anything as he approaches free agency, menaning that every team who fancies adding the mix of skill, grit, leadership and experience can feel free to make an offer, meaning teams north of the border are included. Marchand is a proud Canadian who has worn the Maple Leaf proudly on numerous occasions over the years. He was part of the Four Nations Face-Off champion Canadian Team and also won gold for Canada at the 2016 World Championships, playing alongside Canadiens’ alternate captain Brendan Gallagher.

In 58 career games against the Habs, he scored 48 points and recorded 81 penalty minutes. Would it be weird to see Marchard rocking the Sainte-Flanelle? Of course, he had been a hated rival for years around these parts, but that didn’t stop former Montreal Canadiens’ GM Marc Bergevin from trying to sign power forward Milan Lucic when he became a UFA.

Of course, there’s a possibility that Marchand may like to stay put in Florida, especially if the Panthers do manage to win a second Stanley Cup in a row, but the Cats have got quite a few pending UFAs and they won’t come cheap. Stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad is up for a new contract. His last deal ran for eight years and had a $7.5 million cap hit, and he’ll be looking for a sizeable raise. Uber pest Sam Bennett also needs a new contract, coming off a four-year deal that had a $4.425 million cap hit. While he’s never scored more than 51 points in the regular season, he is indispensable in the playoffs. He plays a gritty game, which sometimes results in casualties, and he has 22 points in as many games. He’ll be looking for a big raise.

In other words, the Panthers might not have the cash to retain Marchand’s services, and if they don’t, should the Canadiens make a pitch? As good as Marchand has been throughout these playoffs and his career, he remains an undersized winger who’s 37 and will soon be hanging up his skates.

If the Canadiens were further along in their rebuilds and had addressed their size issue, he could have been a great complementary piece, but the Canadiens are not there yet. Hughes is more likely to focus his efforts on younger and bigger players, regardless of how good Marchand remains.

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

---

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The 12 national men's hockey teams competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan all announced the first six players on the roster on Monday.

Here's a look at each squad's first players with reaction.

Team Canada

C: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

C: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

C: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

D: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

C: Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

C: Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

Canada is looking to win their 10th gold medal at the Olympics and third straight in tournaments that allowed NHL players. As usual, the team is littered with superstars and Stanley Cup Champions. Among the six players, there are eight Cups and counting. 

Reinhart is the only new player from the 4 Nations preliminary roster. Instead of him, it was Marchand who was among the first six players listed.

Team USA

C: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

D: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

D: Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins

C: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

LW: Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

LW: Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Team USA is looking for revenge after the way the 4 Nations Face-Off final ended, with them losing in overtime. They’ve also had no luck in the Olympics for quite some time. The men's last gold medal in ice hockey at the Olympics was in 1980. The last time they earned a medal at the Olympics was in 2010 when they got silver after Sidney Crosby’s golden goal for Canada.

However, the personnel is different for the U.S. this time around. The roster is filled with all-stars and award-winners like Matthews and Quinn Hughes, along with Cup champions in Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk.

Team Finland

RW: Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

C: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

C: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

G: Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

D: Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars

D: Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars

Team Finland’s preliminary roster for these upcoming Olympics is identical to the initial roster they listed for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Aside from Saros, all the players on this list played in the conference final of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The Dallas Stars own the most Finnish players, and not just on this preliminary roster. If Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund are picked later in the year to go to the Olympics, they’ll have a reunion with their teammates from their club.

Team Sweden

RW: William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

LW: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings

D: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

RW: Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings

D: Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres

LW: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

Team Sweden made a few changes to their preliminary roster from the 4 Nations team. One name that stands out is Colorado Avalanche captain, Landeskog. He made a dramatic return to hockey during this past post-season after being sidelined with a severe knee injury for nearly three years. 

Kempe, Raymond and Dahlin weren’t among the first names announced for the 4 Nations tournament. However, all three players featured for Sweden in the tournament last February.

Team Latvia

G: Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets

D: Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers

C: Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers

G: Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks

C: Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks

C: Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning

In the 2023 World Championship, Latvia defeated the U.S. in the bronze medal game to earn the first top-three finish in the country’s history. Defenseman Kristians Rubins scored the overtime-winner to seal a 4-3 win over Team USA.

Team Latvia is the only nation that has listed two goaltenders on their preliminary roster. Merzlikins and Silovs have some NHL playoff experience, with Silovs taking the reigns for the Canucks with Thatcher Demko injured. The Latvians will need both of their goaltenders to step up and hold off the elite offenses of the opposition.

Team Italy

D: Luca Zanatta, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL)

D: Thomas Larkin, Schwenninger Wild Wings (Ger.)

C: Diego Kostner, HC Ambri-Piotta (Sui.)

C: Daniel Mantenuto, HC Bolzano (ICEHL)

G: Damian Clara, Anaheim Ducks

C: Tommy Purdeller, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL)

Team Italy is the host nation and home team as the Winter Games are held in Milan. They have one player on this list who is associated with an NHL team. Goaltender Clara is in the Anaheim Ducks system.

He hasn’t played an NHL game up to this point, but he has made appearances with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Ducks. Clara played two games for them in this past season, recording a 3.15 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage.

Team Czechia

RW: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

C: Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche

C: Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins

D: Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks

G: Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

LW: Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils

The Czechs have had success in international tournaments before. Just last year, Team Czechia won gold at the 2024 World Championship. It was a big deal for the nation as fans filled the streets of Prague in celebration.

After they won the tournament, Pastrnak posted a picture of himself with the trophy with a caption that read, “Maybe Four Nation invite now?"

Czechia is more than capable of upsetting some of the big teams in this tournament. They could even be considered a big team themselves skilled players like Necas and Dostal to shut the door in goal.

Team Switzerland

D: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

C: Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

D: Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

LW: Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils

LW: Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings

RW: Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets

Team Switzerland is another team capable of upsets. There is plenty of leadership sprinkled around in this team, especially with the captains of the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils on this team.

It won’t only be on former Norris Trophy winner Josi and former Selke Trophy finalist Hischier to lead this team. Players like Niederreiter and Fiala have the experience and skill with a combined 1,620 regular-season games between them.

Team Germany

C: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

C: Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators

D: Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings

G: Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

C: Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers

LW: Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks

Hockey in Germany has grown drastically over the years. When they played in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the roster had a handful of players who had played in the NHL.

Now, the Germans can say they have star players on their team, beginning with Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers center has six 100-point seasons, a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Rocket Richard Trophy and more.

Don’t forget the supporting cast of the talented Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators and the physical Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, who captained Germany in the 2025 World Championship.

Team Slovakia

D: Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals

LW: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens

LW: Tomas Tatar, Zug (Sui.)

D: Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightning

D: Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

C: Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames

Slovakia’s preliminary roster has a great mix of veteran and young players. However, these players have one theme seasoned into all of them, and that is grit.

Calgary Flames’ Pospisil leads the way in that aspect of the game. In this past regular season, the center finished the campaign with 301 hits, third in the league. Even the Montreal Canadiens’ Slafkovsky joined Pospisil on the list of top hitters, recording 194 hits.

However, it doesn’t end there, as D-man Fehervary blocked shots consistently for the Washington Capitals this season. He averaged 1.85 blocks per game, totalling 150 over 81 games.

Team Denmark

RW: Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets

G: Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

C: Lars Eller, Washington Capitals

RW: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning

LW: Jonas Rondbjerg, Vegas Golden Knights

D: Jesper Jensen Abo, EC-KAC (ICEHL)

Denmark’s preliminary roster is highlighted by goaltender Andersen, who is coming off a solid playoff campaign for the Carolina Hurricanes. He led the team to the Eastern Conference final with stellar performances in the first two rounds against the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals.

Ehlers and Bjorkstrand are skilled wingers with excellent offensive skill for the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively. The Danish wingers have had multiple 20-goal seasons in the NHL and will look to bring their best for their nation in February 2026.

Team France

D: Yohann Auvitu, HC Vítkovice (CZE)

C: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, HC Ajoie (Sui.)

D: Jules Boscq, HPK (Fin.)

D: Hugo Gallet, Tappara (Fin.)

RW: Jordann Perret, Mountfield HK (CZE)

LW: Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues

France doesn't have as much NHL experience as other squads, but there are some notables.

Auvitu, Bellemare and Texier have made appearances in the NHL. St. Louis Blues’ Texier is the only player who currently plays in the NHL. He scored six goals and 11 points in 31 games this past regular season.

Bellemare played 700 games in the NHL for five teams. He played his final season with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24. Auvitu played 58 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils.

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Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will the Edmonton Oilers finish as Stanley Cup runners-up again?

Edmonton was pushed to the brink of elimination in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, losing Game 5 at home by a score of 5-2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday, when the Panthers will have the chance to pull off a repeat championship.

The rare Cup Final rematch between Florida and Edmonton has played out much differently than last year, when the Oilers erased a 3-0 series deficit before dropping the decisive Game 7 on the road.

Panthers-Oilers Round 2 has been a back-and-forth battle with three overtime contests in five games. Edmonton took the series opener before Florida responded with two straight victories. The Oilers evened the series in Game 4, but the Panthers pulled back ahead in Game 5.

Now, Connor McDavid and Co. need to win two straight elimination to avoid becoming repeat Stanley Cup runners-up.

Has an NHL team ever lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

The Oilers wouldn’t be the first team to suffer Cup Final losses in consecutive seasons.

How many NHL teams have lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

Since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season, there have been just two instances of the same team losing at least two Cup Finals in a row.

Who was the last NHL team to lose back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

And it’s been nearly 50 years since it last happened. The Boston Bruins lost the 1977 Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens before suffering the same fate against Montreal in 1978. Boston’s consecutive Cup Final defeats were part of a four-peat for Montreal from 1976-79.

The only other team to record consecutive runner-up finishes is the St. Louis Blues, who were defeated in three straight Cup Finals. St. Louis lost to the Canadiens in 1968and 1969 before falling to the Bruins in 1970. The Blues wouldn’t make it back to the Cup Final until 2019, when they defeated the Bruins for the franchise’s first championship.

USA and other nations reveal first 6 players for 2026 Olympics hockey rosters originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s all starting to come together for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

With NHL players set to return to the Olympics in 2026 for the first time since 2014, national teams across the globe are scrambling to sign up their stars.

USA Hockey confirmed on Monday the first six players who will be on its roster:

• Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
• Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
• Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
• Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
• Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Mike Sullivan of the New York Rangers was previously announced as the coach for the 2026 Olympics and 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

Five of those six players competed for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, losing in overtime to Canada in the final. Hughes was set to be on the roster, but he withdrew from the tournament due to injury.

Aside from the U.S., the other 11 countries also revealed the first six players for their rosters. Here’s a look at who will be heading to Italy in February:

CANADA

• Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
• Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
• Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
• Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

FINLAND

• Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
• Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
• Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
• Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
• Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
• Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

SWEDEN

• Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
• Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
• Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
• William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
• Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

CZECHIA

• Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche
• Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils
• David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
• Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins
• Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks
• Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

SWITZERLAND

• Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings
• Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
• Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils
• Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets
• Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
• Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

SLOVAKIA

• Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens
• Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames
• Tomas Tatar
• Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightnings
• Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals
• Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

GERMANY

• Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
• Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks
• Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers
• Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators
• Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
• Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

LATVIA

• Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers
• Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks
• Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers
• Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
• Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks

DENMARK

• Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
• Lars Eller, Washington Capitals
• Jonas Rondjberg, Vegas Golden Knights
• Jesper Jensen Aabo
• Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

FRANCE

• Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
• Jordann Perret
• Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues
• Yohann Auvitu
• Jules Boscq
• Hugo Gallet

ITALY

• Diego Kostner
• Daniel Mantenuto
• Tommy Purdeller
• Luca Zanatta
• Thomas Larkin
• Damian Clara