All articles tagged with #stanley cup
With less than seven days left in the 2025-26 regular season, seven playoff spots remain and two division titles are still up for grabs as East and West races tighten. Buffalo leads the Atlantic with Montreal and Tampa Bay close behind, while Carolina has clinched the Metropolitan Division; in the West, Colorado tops the Central and Edmonton and Vegas pace a razor-tight Pacific, with several teams still vying for wild-card spots.
Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon announced Bruce Cassidy was relieved of his duties and John Tortorella was named head coach, a move aimed at sparking the team during the stretch run. Tortorella is a 23-season NHL veteran, a Stanley Cup winner (2004, Tampa Bay) and two-time Jack Adams Award winner, bringing extensive coaching pedigree after stints with the Flyers, Columbus and others.
Troy Murray, a 15‑season NHL veteran who spent most of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks and later became a longtime Hawks broadcaster, died at 63 after a battle with cancer. Drafted in 1980, his peak came in 1985‑86 with 99 points and a Selke Trophy, and he finished with 584 points in 915 regular‑season games, plus a 1996 Stanley Cup with Colorado. After retiring, he joined the Blackhawks’ broadcast team in 1998 and helped call three Stanley Cup championships (2010, 2013, 2015) before his cancer diagnosis in 2021, from which he briefly returned to the booth; the organization honored his decades of dedication to the team and its fans.
The Tampa Bay Lightning added Corey Perry at the trade deadline, a move the piece argues could either boost their Cup chances or seal them as Stanley Cup runners-up due to Perry’s infamous Finals losses and superstition, even as Tampa sits atop its division and touts a strong goal differential.
After three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances and back-to-back titles, the Florida Panthers have begun selling at the trade deadline, shipping Jeff Petry for a seventh‑round pick and signaling more moves to come. With Sergei Bobrovsky’s status in question and injuries to key players like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk limiting their current playoff push, Florida is eyeing a retool for the 2026‑27 season, potentially leveraging a high draft haul even if this year’s postseason looks bleak.
The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 6-1 to close their season series, featuring a Hagel–Tkachuk fight and a brutal on-ice clash led by Gustav Forsling. Despite injury woes, the Panthers are fighting to stay in playoff contention as Tampa Bay rides a hot stretch (19-1-1 in 21 games) and a massive goal differential, while the two teams’ feud remains a hallmark of their Florida rivalry; with 793 combined penalty minutes this season, the bad blood figures to linger into any potential playoff meeting.
As the NHL season nears the Olympic break, the piece previews five potential first-round matchups (Isles vs. Penguins; Sharks or Ducks vs. Avalanche; Panthers vs. Lightning; Sabres vs. Red Wings; Wild vs. Stars) and ranks the Cup contenders—Colorado, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Dallas, and Minnesota—while noting Buffalo and Columbus surges after coaching changes and the shifting bottom of the standings heading toward April.
The Pittsburgh Penguins marked the 10-year anniversary of their 2016 Stanley Cup win with a weekend reunion, including a pregame ceremony before facing the New York Rangers in which captain Sidney Crosby teared up as clips played. Teammates like Bryan Rust and Tom Kuhnhackl spoke about the lasting brotherhood from that season, while former GM Jim Rutherford and coach Mike Sullivan shared reflections. Patric Hornqvist and Carl Hagelin recalled memories from the era, the event featured the 2016 Cup Chronicles, a team photo, and a players-only dinner after the game, with Phil Kessel unable to attend. The gathering underscored that the bond of the 2016 group remains strong a decade later.
Glenn Hall, legendary NHL goaltender known for his record 502 consecutive starts and nickname 'Mr. Goalie,' has died at age 94. He won three Vezina Trophies, a Stanley Cup with Chicago, and was celebrated for his durability, skill, and pioneering butterfly style of goaltending. Hall's career spanned 18 years, during which he set enduring records and earned numerous accolades, leaving a lasting legacy in hockey.
The Florida Panthers are facing a challenging season with multiple injuries, including key players like Seth Jones and Aleksander Barkov, which has impacted their quest for a third consecutive Stanley Cup. Despite setbacks, they remain in playoff contention, relying on team resilience and upcoming returns of injured players to overcome adversity and pursue their championship goals.
The Florida Panthers are facing a challenging season with multiple injuries, including key players like Seth Jones and Aleksander Barkov, which has impacted their pursuit of a third consecutive Stanley Cup. Despite setbacks, they remain in playoff contention, relying on team resilience and upcoming returns of injured players to overcome adversity and aim for postseason success.
NHL.com staff predicts exciting developments for 2026, including Ovechkin re-signing with the Capitals to chase 1,000 goals, the Florida Panthers potentially winning a third straight Stanley Cup, and the Montreal Canadiens making a deep playoff run, amidst other bold forecasts for teams and players.
Nick Saban, renowned college football coach, has become a minority owner of the Nashville Predators, aiming to support the team in developing winning habits and potentially helping them compete for the Stanley Cup, leveraging his extensive experience in team building and leadership.
The Minnesota Wild's acquisition of defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks is expected to significantly enhance their Stanley Cup chances by boosting their power play, possession stats, shooting metrics, and skating speed, making them a stronger contender in the NHL.
ESPN's Greg Wyshynski predicts the Colorado Avalanche will win the 2026 Stanley Cup, with division-by-division forecasts for the NHL teams, highlighting key players, team strengths, and potential playoff contenders for the 2025-26 season.