All articles tagged with #stanley cup
The 2026-27 NHL season begins with the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers as the primary contenders, despite the Carolina Hurricanes being the reigning champions. Opening Night features five games, including a tripleheader on ESPN. Analysts remain divided on the ultimate champion, with the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars also receiving significant support.
The Carolina Hurricanes begin their 2026-27 season by hosting the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center on September 29. This matchup pits the defending champions against the team that won the previous two Cups, featuring key roster changes for both clubs. Carolina faces a netting decision between Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov, while Florida returns to the ice without Sergei Bobrovsky and Brad Marchand.
NHL.com staff predict a competitive 2026-27 season, with the Colorado Avalanche leading the field for the Stanley Cup. The 14-member panel split its picks, reflecting a wide-open race. The season opens on September 29 with a tripleheader featuring the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes.
The 2026-27 NHL season begins with the Carolina Hurricanes as the consensus favorite, while the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers are highlighted for significant roster improvements. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars remain top contenders, but face questions about depth and injury recovery. The Edmonton Oilers are seen as overreacting to their previous near-misses, and the Winnipeg Jets face uncertainty over Connor Hellebuyck's future.
Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar is poised to sign the largest contract in NHL history, cementing him as the franchise cornerstone and raising the stakes to deliver another Stanley Cup. The deal—likely eight years with an annual value around $17 million—places pressure on him and the organization to build a title contender around him, even as leaders Landeskog and MacKinnon shape the team's arc. Makar's humility and clutch playoff performance have earned the money, but the ultimate measure will be another championship and a lasting legacy in Denver.
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon had six family members engraved on the Stanley Cup, a growing trend among trophies’ owners that has sparked discussion and recalls past controversies, such as Basil Pocklington’s name on the Oilers’ Cup and Brad Aldrich’s later removal; the Hockey Hall of Fame handles care of the Cup rather than engraving decisions.
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon sparked backlash by engraving seven Dundons (his name, wife Veruschka, and their five children) on the Stanley Cup ahead of front-office staff, coaches and players who helped win the title; space on the Cup forced omissions of other contributors, a practice echoed by Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola; the Hurricanes clinched their first Cup in 20 years by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon faced backlash after the Stanley Cup engraving included his wife and five children, occupying seven of the Cup’s 55 spots and prompting criticism that the gesture disrespected players and staff who contributed to the title.
After returning from Nevada with the Hurricanes, the Stanley Cup has toured Raleigh in a day-by-day sequence—from Teets and local restaurants to golfing, a Brind’Amour family chicken parade, Bible study with Jaccob Slavin, a 192,000-strong Championship Celebration, Father’s Day moments, and a stop at the Legislative Building—as the team gears up for the NHL Draft in July.
Carolina Hurricanes fans packed Raleigh to celebrate their first Stanley Cup in two decades, with a sunny, 180,000-strong parade after sweeping the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6; players and staff expressed gratitude to the fans, Deslauriers announced a 2-year extension, and Brind’Amour praised the loyal Caniacs who helped crown the champions.
Jonathan Toews announced his retirement after 16 NHL seasons, ending a standout run that included three Stanley Cup championships with the Chicago Blackhawks and a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010. He finished his career with the Winnipeg Jets in 2025-26 after two illness-related absences, posting 912 points in 1,149 games between Chicago and Winnipeg. As Blackhawks captain from 2008 and part of a famed core with Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith, Toews also earned Olympic gold (2010, 2014) and the Selke Trophy (2012-13). His final years were affected by Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and long COVID, but Jets captain Adam Lowry lauded him as a winner and a great leader.
Bleacher Report’s post-Stanley Cup Final mock draft treats the 2026 class as highly unpredictable, with Gavin McKenna projected as the likely No. 1 pick for Toronto, followed by Ivar Stenberg to San Jose and Caleb Malhotra to Vancouver. The piece emphasizes that many picks are up for grabs and that teams will weigh fit and development paths across NCAA, SHL, and Liiga, making this one of the more volatile drafts in recent memory.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup victory triggers a wave of commemorative items: a hardcover collector’s book with exclusive photos, collectible posters, and framed front pages sold online; The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun will publish a commemorative 12-page section and reprint a “Perfect Storm!” front page across upcoming editions. Orders for the book and posters are live online with shipping expected by late August, and retailers will stock extra copies as the celebration continues (including Friday editions with expanded coverage). Subscriptions and digital access are available, and more front pages may be added as supplies allow.
John Tortorella will not return as coach of the Vegas Golden Knights next season after taking over in March and guiding Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Hurricanes in six games. GM Kelly McCrimmon praised his impact and leadership, while Tortorella left the door open for the future as Vegas joins Edmonton and Toronto as teams without a coach.
The Carolina Hurricanes clinched their first Stanley Cup in two decades with a 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5, finishing the playoffs in 19 games—the fewest by a champion since 1988. The win validated Rod Brind'Amour's tight-checking system, showcased rookie goalie Brandon Bussi after Frederik Andersen's injury, and crowned Jordan Staal as the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner while underscoring a veteran core (Staal, Slavin, Aho, Martinook, Svechnikov) with an average top-20 age of 29.