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On June 16, 1998, the Detroit Red Wings did something that had not been done in the NHL since the early 1990s. They won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, and they did it in a way that transcended the sport itself.

The Red Wings dedicated their entire season to Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Mnatsakanov, the defenseman and team masseur who had been critically injured in a limousine accident just six days after Detroit's 1997 championship.

Konstantinov, one of the most feared defensive players in the game, was left in a wheelchair with severe brain damage. The tragedy galvanized a locker room that was already among the most talented in the league and gave the entire season a sense of purpose that went far beyond winning hockey games.

The Red Wings finished the regular season with a 44-23-15 record, good for second place in the Western Conference. With Mike Vernon having been traded away following the 1997 title, the Red Wings turned to Chris Osgood in net, a young goaltender who had faced questions about his ability to perform under playoff pressure.

In the first round, Osgood showed some shakiness as the Red Wings needed six games to knock off the Phoenix Coyotes. Detroit steadied themselves in the second round, with Osgood playing stronger as the Wings beat the St. Louis Blues in six games. The Western Conference Finals brought a matchup with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Dallas Stars, and the Wings dispatched Dallas in six games to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season.

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Over the course of the postseason, Sergei Fedorov led the team in goals with ten, while Yzerman contributed 18 assists as the engine that kept the machine running. The roster was loaded with future Hall of Famers. Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Larry Murphy and Brendan Shanahan all suited up for Detroit, coached by the legendary Scotty Bowman.

Waiting in the Final were the Washington Capitals, making their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history. Detroit won Game 1 by a score of 2-1, took Game 2 in overtime by a score of 5-4, won Game 3 by 2-1 and closed it out with a 4-1 victory in Game 4. 

As the Red Wings celebrated on the ice, out of the tunnel came Konstantinov, wheeled onto the ice in his chair by teammate Slava Fetisov. He was back on the ice, draped in his jersey, surrounded by his teammates. Yzerman skated straight to him and without hesitation placed the Cup in Konstantinov's lap. 

The image of Konstantinov sitting in his wheelchair with the Stanley Cup in his arms, teammates crowding around him with tears streaming down their faces, became one of the most iconic photographs in the history of the sport.

Steve Yzerman was named playoff MVP and awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, leading all scorers with 24 points throughout the postseason. It was a fitting honor for a captain who carried both his team and the weight of everything the season represented.

The 1997-98 Red Wings were the last team to successfully defend their Stanley Cup title until the Pittsburgh Penguins accomplished the feat in 2017, a testament to just how difficult winning back-to-back championships truly is and how special that Detroit team was.

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One of the biggest surprises of the NHL offseason may not involve a free agent at all. It could involve a familiar face making an unexpected return to Los Angeles.

The Kings are expected to explore multiple ways to upgrade their blue line this summer, and one name that has quietly surfaced is someone who already proved he fits perfectly in black and silver: Vladislav Gavrikov.

During a recent appearance on Hot Stove on NHL Network Radio, Kings insider John Hoven tossed out a comment that immediately grabbed attention.

"I'm going to throw a name at you. Don't be surprised if you see Gavrikov back in Los Angeles this summer."

It's the kind of rumor that sounds far-fetched on the surface.

After all, Gavrikov just signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the New York Rangers last summer after they traded K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes. He wasn't brought in to be a short-term solution. He was supposed to become a foundational piece of New York's defense.

But the NHL offseason has a way of creating opportunities where none seemed to exist a few months earlier.

Gavrikov is coming off arguably the best season of his career, recording a career-high 35 points while forming one of the league's most reliable defensive pairings alongside Adam Fox. His combination of size, mobility and shutdown ability would instantly make him one of the most coveted defensemen available if the Rangers were willing to listen.

And while there's no indication New York is actively shopping him, there are reasons why a reunion with Los Angeles isn't impossible.

For starters, much of the appeal of signing with the Rangers changed almost immediately. Artemi Panarin, one of Gavrikov's closest friends and a major reason he chose New York in free agency, was dealt to the Kings only months after his arrival.

The direction of the franchise has shifted as well.

Whether president and general manager Chris Drury wants to label it a retool or something more significant, the Rangers are entering a transitional period. That's a much different situation than the one Gavrikov believed he was joining when he signed long term.

If the veteran defenseman decides he would rather compete with a team built to contend now, Los Angeles would be a natural landing spot.

He already knows the organization, the coaching staff and the market. More importantly, he thrived there.

The Kings acquired Gavrikov from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2023 trade deadline alongside goaltender Joonas Korpisalo in exchange for Jonathan Quick, a first-round pick and a third-round pick. During his time in Los Angeles, he quickly established himself as one of the club's most dependable defensive players and became an ideal complement to Drew Doughty.

A return wouldn't come cheaply.

Coming off the most productive offensive season of his career and locked into a long-term contract, Gavrikov would command a significant trade package if New York entertained offers.

Still, if Hoven's comments prove to be more than offseason speculation, the Kings could have an opportunity to reunite with a player who never looked out of place in Los Angeles.

And in a summer already expected to be full of surprises, seeing Vladislav Gavrikov back in a Kings sweater might end up being one of the biggest.

Former NHL player Kyle Calder died Monday. He was 47.

His daughter Madison announced her father’s death in a social media post. The Los Angeles Jr. Kings, the team Calder coached from 2020-22, said he died after a brief illness.

“Never in a million years would I have thought this day would come,” Madison Calder wrote on Instagram. “There will forever be a void in my heart but forever a spot just for you.”

Calder played 608 regular-season and playoff games as a winger in the league from 1999-2009. The Manville, Alberta, native spent a majority of that time with Chicago and also played for Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles and Anaheim.

“Kyle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty, toughness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him,” the NHL Alumni Association said in a post Tuesday memorializing him. “He was tough as nails on the ice, a fierce competitor who never backed down, yet behind that grit was a teddy bear heart. Kyle cared deeply for his teammates, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was a protector, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself.”

Calder coached youth teams in Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston since 2018.

“Kyle approached life with the same passion, intensity and incredible dedication that defined his play,” Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “His commitment to the game remained strong long after his professional career ended, sharing his love for hockey with all generations of players."

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Former NHL forward Kyle Calder, who spent the majority of the 2006-07 season as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, has sadly passed away at 47 years old.

In 59 games with the Flyers during the 2006-07 campaign, Calder recorded nine goals, 12 assists, and 21 points. His time with the Flyers organization ended at the 2007 NHL Trade Deadline when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick and Lasse Kukkonen. He was then immediately traded to the Detroit Red Wings following the move. 

While Calder did not have a long stint with the Flyers, he put together a solid 10-year NHL career. In 590 games over 10 seasons split between the Blackhawks, Flyers, Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks, he posted 114 goals, 180 assists, and 294 points. 

We here at The Hockey News Flyers send our condolences to Calder's family and friends. 

Our NHL Alumni family is deeply saddened by the passing of Kyle Calder.

Today, we mourn not only a respected former NHL player but a cherished teammate, friend, and member of our hockey brotherhood. Kyle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty,… pic.twitter.com/l5jAIjX95t

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) June 16, 2026

On Sunday night, the Carolina Hurricanes captured their second Stanley Cup in franchise history, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. 

After a photo opportunity with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Canes captain Jordan Staal lifted the greatest trophy in sports, took a few strides with the Cup above his head, and passed it to former Anaheim Ducks netminder Frederik Andersen. 

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Andersen (36) started 35 games for the Canes in 2025-26, splitting the crease mostly with Brandon Bussi, who started 39 games, and with Pyotr Kochetkov as a distant third, starting eight games. Andersen wrapped up his 13th NHL regular season with a 16-14-5 record, an .874 SV%, and .69 goals saved above expected.

Andersen got the Game 1 start in the Canes’ opening round against the Ottawa Senators and cruised to the Stanley Cup Final with a whopping 12-1 record. He lost the net to rookie Brandon Bussi (27) after the Canes went down 2-1 in the first three games to open the final series. 

Bussi took the torch from Andersen and led the Canes across the finish line, winning the final three games, with Andersen’s full support the entire way. 

Though he was not the one who got mobbed by teammates once the clock ran out, Andersen was monumentally impactful throughout the Canes’ journey, and his ring will be well-deserved. 

Andersen was drafted by the Ducks (87th overall in 2012) after he re-entered the draft, having ironically been drafted by the Canes (187th in ’10) two years prior, but wasn’t signed. 

He immediately made the jump to North America in 2012 and played a year for the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL before he was called up to Anaheim to back up Jonas Hiller in the NHL for the 2013-14 season. 

His time in Anaheim was brief, and he only lasted three years, as he was ultimately (and possibly regrettably) rendered a stopgap goaltender to bridge the gap between Hiller’s tenure and a young John Gibson’s rise to stardom. 

His trademark includes utilizing his 6-foot-4 frame and knowledge of angles to play an efficient and effective goaltending style, rarely requiring himself to make spectacular saves. He, however, had a habit of allowing a shot to squeak through him at less-than-ideal times in big games. Ultimately, he proved to be one of the more reliable goaltenders of his generation with impressive longevity. 

As a member of the Ducks, Andersen started 114 games, made 125 appearances, posted a 77-26-12 record, and a .918 SV%. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 20, 2016, in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (Sam Steel) and a 2017 second-round pick (Max Comtois).

With the Ducks, Andersen made the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2013-14, won the Jennings Trophy in 2015-16, and in 2014-15, he backstopped the Ducks to their deepest playoff run to date since winning the Stanley Cup in 2007. 

He went on to win one more Jennings in 2021-22, is a two-time all-star, and is now a Stanley Cup Champion. It’s unclear what his future holds, but if the 36-year-old Danish goaltender decides to hang up the pads, he’ll have a career full of spectacular accomplishments to look back on. 

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Last week’s note about Darnell Nurse’s trade request got a little more interesting when David Pagnotta reported that Pittsburgh and Los Angeles were two teams that Nurse told Edmonton where he would accept a trade. Pagnotta talked a little more:

Given how the Tristan Jarry trade worked out so wonderfully for Pittsburgh, it’s encouraging to hear that the Oilers are still taking calls from the 412 area code and considering future possible transactions. “Make as many trades as possible with Ken Holland” sounds like a very worthwhile managerial strategy these days.

Whether a deal can be made likely hinges on just how much the Penguins think Nurse can add to them at this point of his career in his 30’s and with a hefty $9.25 million cap hit compared to just what the Oilers are looking to get in return.

Nurse can be a fascinating topic on the internet, many recoil at the mention of him. Under the hood, he provides some value, though not to the levels of his contract.

In part, Goldman writes:

His comps point to some dicey outcomes, too — Michal Rozsival, Derek Morris, Jake Muzzin and Erik Johnson are potential cautionary tales. 

Separate the player from that $9.25 million contract, and get him out of Edmonton (where defense was a team-wide struggle most of this year), and there could still be something left to extract. Maybe he becomes the next Brayden McNabb and extends his career. A Brad Stuart path would be pretty neutral, too. 

This part also stood out:

Past reclamation projects show potential. Fowler and Trouba upped their game with new teams. Rasmus Ristolainen has played some of his best hockey in Philadelphia because the team’s structure insulates him so much, even when he manages the puck poorly. Seth Jones’ game was revitalized in Florida, thanks to their defensive foundation and a role change from a No. 1 to a second-pair player.

Ultimately, the Pens would have to hope to get something of a Trouba, Jones or Ristolainen outcome out of acquiring Nurse, if that’s how it went. The belief that Nurse could have a bounce back would come baked into any assumption that Pittsburgh would be interested in this player, which may or may not be the case at the highest levels of management. As we mentioned in the story last week, Jason Spezza and Kyle Dubas were with Team Canada at the recent World Championships and saw plenty of Nurse in person, so it figures they would have a pretty good recent impression of what they’re dealing with. (Whether that impression makes them more or less inclined to want Nurse at this point would be an unknown).

One path for the Penguins to make this acquisition make more sense would be to include Ryan Graves. Graves has $4.5 million annually for three more seasons. Graves is a virtual non-factor having been scratched more than he plays in the NHL, and that’s when he’s not been outright waived and sent to the AHL. Having an overpaid defenseman like Nurse that is at least NHL quality would be better than a complete liability like Graves – with a big kicker being that Nurse’s contract lasts one extra year.

For their part, the Oilers probably wouldn’t be too keen about taking on Graves though they might not have many other options given Nuse’s full no movement clause. Edmonton would benefit by dropping a $9.25 million player that isn’t working out in exchange for a $3.275 million cap penalty (assuming they buried Graves in the AHL, $1.225 million of his $4.5m cap hit would be attained in space) for one less year, which might be palatable in the big picture.

Should that come to effect, Pittsburgh would likely have to sweeten the pot for the Oilers since the reputation/perception of Nurse as a contributing player with an enlarged salary ought to still carry some level of positive value – especially if some of those salary concerns get balanced out by taking a bad contract.

If Edmonton isn’t looking to ‘eat money’ either directly by retaining salary on Nurse or indirectly by taking back some money on a contract the Pens would want to shed, a path towards a deal becomes more difficult. Pittsburgh has plenty of cap space to accommodate Nurse but the question would then become do they really want this player at a high rate for four more years that doesn’t fit the goal of getting younger? That becomes less likely of a realistic proposition.

Resolution to Nurse’s trade request will be worth tracking, given that the player has put the Pens on a short list of locations. Culminating a deal with the salary involved and hammering out an acceptable value is going to be tricky for Edmonton and whomever they end up making a trade with in this case. With the draft looming next weekend and the active July 1st date coming up, there could be an answer on this sooner than later to see if the Penguins are able or want to make another transaction with the Oilers. The path to get there could be made, if both sides are interested, though it might take some tricky compromises to find footing to have each team figure that they accomplish objectives in the process.

The 2025-26 NHL season officially came to a close when the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup final on Sunday. 

Though the Toronto Maple Leafs' campaign ended a while ago, all eyes are on next season, and it'll be an important year for the GM John Chayka's team in his first year in the front office.

Attached to this critical upcoming campaign, BetMGM have already revealed the odds for the 2026-27 Stanley Cup. And it's safe to say, after missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years last season, the Maple Leafs are not among the top favorites for next year's Stanley Cup.

BetMGM has given Toronto 61.00 (+6000) odds to win the Stanley Cup next year. Across all NHL teams, those odds make them tied for 19th, sharing the same odds as the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks.

Those odds going into next year are vastly different from what the Maple Leafs' odds were to win the Cup in the 2025-26 pre-season.

Ahead of last season, Toronto were the ninth-favored team to win the Stanley Cup at 17.00 (+1600) odds, according to hockeyreference.com. They were placed just above the Los Angeles Kings and behind the New Jersey Devils.

Report: Maple Leafs' John Chayka, Mats Sundin Talking With Morgan Rielly's Representative About Off-Season PlansFor what seems like a possible end for Morgan Rielly's career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, conversations between the defenseman and GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin are reportedly "ongoing."

For the 2026-27 campaign, while the Leafs are ranked at 19, they aren't at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to the Atlantic Division. Of course, the Atlantic is arguably the toughest division in the NHL, with every team owning a .500 record or better as late as April 8 this past year.

In the 2026-27 Stanley Cup odds ranking, the Maple Leafs stand ahead of two division rivals. Toronto sits behind the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile, they stand ahead of the Detroit Red Wings, who fell out of the playoffs in the second half of the year and the Boston Bruins, who made the post-season.

The Maple Leafs were also slapped with 31.00 (+3000) odds to win the Eastern Conference. That's tied for the 11th-favored odds of the bunch.

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The Winnipeg Jets have taken care of a piece of internal business ahead of NHL free agency.

The club announced Monday that it has agreed to terms with forward Walker Duehr on a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal begins for next year's 2026-27 season and carries an average annual value of $875,000 at the NHL level. Duehr will earn just under half of that number ($425K) if playing in the AHL. 

Duehr, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, will instead remain with the organization after carving out an important role as a veteran contributor with the Manitoba Moose in his first year with the team in 2025-26.

The 28-year-old winger appeared in three games with the Jets this past season, while spending the majority of the campaign in the American Hockey League. With Manitoba, Duehr recorded 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points across 62 regular-season games. He added three points in seven postseason contests. 

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota product brings size and experience to Winnipeg’s depth chart and gives the organization another player capable of moving between the NHL and AHL when needed.

Originally signed by the Calgary Flames out of Minnesota State University, Duehr has suited up in 95 career NHL games between Calgary, San Jose and Winnipeg, recording 11 goals and 21 points. At the AHL level, he has collected 112 points through 205 career appearances. 

By getting Duehr signed before the market opens, the Jets retain a reliable depth option and a proven piece for the Moose as they continue shaping what should be a much different looking roster for the 2026-27 season.