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John Tortorella Won't Return as Golden Knights Head Coach
John Tortorella will not be in charge of the Vegas Golden Knights next season, general manager Kelly McCrimmon announced on Tuesday. Replacing Bruce Cassidy behind the bench late in the season, Tortorella had an incredible run with the team, leading the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. He went 21-8-1 with the team, including the playoffs. Overall, Tortorella has a 777-648-166 career record with 37 ties across 24 seasons as an NHL head coach. He's the second-winningest American coach in league history. According to ESPN, Tortorella would like to coach next season. However, his options are currently limited, as the Edmonton Oilers are the only other team besides Vegas without a head coach.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Ross Colton Shipped to Nashville
The Colorado Avalanche have traded forward Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators. Prospect goaltender Isak Posch also moved to Nashville in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and goaltender Magnus Chrona. Nashville made its first trade since hiring Chris MacFarland as the new general manager and president of hockey operations. He knows Colton well, having previously worked with the Avalanche. Colton struggled in 2025-26, registering 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 73 games. He has been a 20-goal scorer and registered a career-high 40 points just a couple of seasons ago. Entering the final season of a four-year, $16 million contract, Colton has plenty of incentive to bounce back strong in 2026-27.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Emil Andrae Traded to Maple Leafs
Defenseman Emil Andrae will suit up for a new team in 2025-26 after being traded by the Philadelphia Flyers. The 24-year-old Swedish native was shipped to the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with goaltender Samuel Ersson and a third-round draft pick, in exchange for goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit. Andrea, who is a former second-round pick, has just finished his three-year, entry-level contract. He recorded 13 points (two goals, 11 assists), 36 SOG, 58 blocks, 68 hits, and a plus-15 rating in 61 games this season. In Toronto, Andrea will aim to become a regular in the lineup after making only 107 appearances across three seasons with the Flyers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Maple Leafs Pick Up Samuel Ersson
The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson and defenseman Emil Andrae from the Philadelphia Flyers. The team also received a third-round draft pick in the transaction, giving up goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit. This marks the Maple Leafs' first trade under new general manager John Chayka. Ersson is a restricted free agent after completing a two-year, $2.9 million contract. The Swedish netminder had a decent 14-11-5 record in 2025-26, but finished with a .870 save percentage and allowed 3.12 goals. He must stop the puck more often to earn playing time with the Maple Leafs, who still have Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby on the books.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Flyers Acquire Simon Benoit
Defenseman Simon Benoit will start next season with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with goaltender Joseph Woll, in a deal that sent goaltender Samuel Ersson and defenseman Emil Andrae in the opposite direction. The Flyers also departed with a third-round draft pick. Benoit spent three seasons in Toronto, making 73 appearances in 2025-26. He finished second on the team in both blocks (114) and hits (194), but his limited offensive ability makes him a non-factor in fantasy hockey. Benoit didn't score a single goal this season and recorded only six assists.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Joseph Woll Moves to Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired goaltender Joseph Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the transaction, the Flyers sent goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round pick to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit. Woll started his NHL career with the Maple Leafs in 2021-22 and posted a 15-16-7 record this season. He had a career-worst .898 save percentage and a 3.34 goals-against average. Woll will have a better defense in front of him in Philadelphia, but he will be the No. 2 behind Dan Vladar, which limits his fantasy value.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mitch Marner Finishes Playoffs as Top Scorer
Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner finished the 2026 playoffs with a league-high 29 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 22 games. He was on fire throughout the postseason, though Marner couldn't add to his scoring tally in the last two games of the Finals. He finished just two points short of becoming only the third player in the last 30 years to record at least 10 points in his first Finals appearance. Marner earned 80 points (24 goals, 56 assists) in 81 games in his first regular season with the Golden Knights. This was Marner's first year in eight seasons without averaging at least a point per game, but his playoff form suggests fantasy managers can expect him to raise his performance levels in 2026-27.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nikolaj Ehlers Produces an Empty-Netter as Hurricanes Clinch Cup
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers was among the goal scorers as the team secured the 2026 Stanley Cup with a 3-0 Game 6 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. Ehlers had the honor of scoring the last goal of the Finals, sending the puck into the empty net with 68 seconds remaining in the third period. The Danish veteran played a huge role in the Finals, justifying Carolina's decision to pick up Ehlers as a free agent on a six-year, $51 million deal last offseason. He recorded four goals and five assists against Vegas. Overall, Ehlers managed 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 18 playoff games. During the regular season, Ehlers was Carolina's second-highest scorer with 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Taylor Hall Scores Game-Winning Goal in Cup Clincher
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall recorded the game-winning goal in Sunday's Stanley Cup-clinching 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The former MVP lit the lamp just 3:47 into the game. Hall had an impressive playoff run with the Hurricanes, posting 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in as many games. He won his first Stanley Cup after playing in 1,062 career games with seven teams. Alex Ovechkin is the only No. 1 pick to feature in more games before winning the Stanley Cup. Hall has two years remaining on his contract, and the Hurricanes will hope he remains productive next season. In his 16th NHL campaign, Hall managed 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 80 games during the regular season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jackson Blake Bags Two Points in Cup-Clinching Win
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake led the offense in Sunday's 2-0 Stanley Cup-clinching win over the Vegas Golden Knights, recording a goal and an assist. Blake helped Taylor Hall net an early goal and doubled the lead in the second period, becoming the first player in franchise history to record seven multi-point games in a single postseason. Two of Blake's multi-point efforts came in the Finals. The 22-year-old finished the playoffs as Carolina's top scorer. In 19 appearances, Blake contributed seven goals and 13 assists. His line with Hall and Logan Stankoven displayed fantastic chemistry throughout the Hurricanes' run to their second Stanley Cup victory in franchise history. All three are under contract for next season, and it will be interesting to see whether they can replicate their success.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jordan Staal Becomes Oldest Conn Smythe Trophy Winner in History
Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal was named the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the NHL playoff MVP after the team clinched the Stanley Cup with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. At 37 years, 277 days, Staal became the oldest player ever to win the award. He earned it with a special performance in the Finals. Staal was the first player in 70 years and only the fourth overall to open the Stanley Cup Finals with a five-game goal streak. Against Vegas, he tallied six goals and one assist in six games, winning an incredible 69% of his faceoffs. Staal finished the playoffs with 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 19 games. Having won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2009 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Staal's 17 years between two championship wins mark a new NHL record.
Source: NHL Public Relations
Source: NHL Public Relations
Brandon Bussi Posts Shutout in Cup Clincher
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi recorded a 22-save shutout as the team clinched the 2026 Stanley Cup win with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. He became only the third netminder in history to record a Stanley Cup-clinching shutout in his first year in the league. Bussi's story was extraordinary in 2025-26, as he emerged from nowhere to become one of the best goalies in the NHL. The 27-year-old had a 31-6-2 record during the regular season and played in the final four games of the Finals, going 3-1 and allowing just six goals. Next season, Bussi will start a three-year, $5.7 million contract, giving Carolina a low-cost option in goal and an intriguing pick for fantasy managers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pavel Dorofeyev Breaks Slump With Two Goals
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev scored both of his team's goals in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Early in the game, Dorofeyev set a new franchise record with his fifth power-play goal in this year's playoffs. He also became the first Vegas player with four multi-goal games in a single postseason. These were his first points of the Finals. Dorofeyev started the postseason red-hot, but he found himself on a six-game point drought before Thursday's contest. The Golden Knights will be desperate for another big performance from Dorofeyev in Sunday's elimination game. Despite his slump, the Russian forward sits second on his squad with 12 goals in 21 playoff games and has collected 16 points.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shayne Gostisbehere Delivers Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere contributed two power-play assists on Thursday in a 4-2 Game 5 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Gostisbehere helped Andrei Svechnikov pick up a pair of goals, recording his second multi-assist game in the Finals. He has finished back-to-back games with power-play assists. After converting only 12.5 percent of power-play chances in the first three rounds, Carolina has improved to 37.5 percent in the Finals, with Gostisbehere playing a vital role in the increase. The veteran rearguard has amassed 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 18 games during the postseason run, including nine points with the man advantage.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Andrei Svechnikov Nets Two Power-Play Goals in Game 5 Win
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored two power-play goals in Thursday's 4-2 Game 5 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals. He netted a 2-1 go-ahead goal in the second period and extended Carolina's lead to three with another strike in the third. Svechnikov became only the second player in franchise history to record multiple power-play goals in a single playoff game, joining Eric Staal. The Russian forward has been big with the man advantage in the Finals -- all four of his points have come on the power play. Vegas has killed off only 62.5 percent of penalties against Carolina. Svechnikov and his squad will look to exploit that weakness again in Game 6 on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
