NHL News

Ryan Johnson • D • Sabres

Ryan Johnson Takes Over as Canucks GM, Sedins Promoted to Co-Presidents

The Vancouver Canucks have named Ryan Johnson as their new general manager, ESPN's Ryan S. Clark reports. Additionally, the team named Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations. Johnson, who has served as an assistant general manager for two years, will replace Patrik Allvin. The Canucks fired Allvin in April after the team had one of the worst seasons in franchise history, finishing with the worst record in the league. During Allvin's four years in charge, Vancouver made the playoffs only once, reaching the second round in 2024. In total, the team has made the postseason just twice since the Sedins retired from playing in 2018. The legendary forwards joined the hockey operations department in 2021. They will replace Jim Rutherford, who is stepping down from his role as president after the draft in June.

4 hours ago

Drew Helleson • D • Ducks

Drew Helleson Won't Play Thursday

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (undisclosed) won't be in the lineup in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports. He will miss a third straight game due to an undisclosed injury. With Radko Gudas (lower body) also not expected to play, Olen Zellweger and Ian Moore will continue to operate as the third-pairing defensemen. The two have seen offensive success recently. In Game 4, Moore scored a goal with Zellweger picking up an assist, and Zellweger then lit the lamp himself in Game 5. That said, the Ducks face elimination on Thursday and will likely lean more on their top-four group on defense.

4 hours ago

Radko Gudas • D • Ducks

Radko Gudas Unlikely to Play Thursday

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (lower body) is set to remain on the shelf Thursday night in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said Gudas is "not likely" to play. Thursday's contest will mark Gudas' 10th consecutive absence. The team is missing his leadership and physical presence, but at least Olen Zellweger has brought a creative spark as Gudas' replacement on the third defensive pairing. He has notched a goal and an assist in the last two games.

5 hours ago

Jeremy Lauzon • D • Golden Knights

Jeremy Lauzon Remains Out Thursday

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) will remain out on Thursday in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports. Lauzon took a puck to the head in the final game of Vegas' first-round matchup against Utah and hasn't featured in Round 2. Due to his absence, Ben Hutton has played regularly. Unfortunately, he has been a non-factor in fantasy, registering zero points, six SOG, six blocks, and one hit in 14:04 of ice time per game across five appearances.

5 hours ago

Mark Stone • RW • Golden Knights

Mark Stone Misses Third Consecutive Game

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (lower body) won't play in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports. The Golden Knights captain continues to deal with a lower-body injury, which he sustained in Game 3 of the series. No changes are planned to Vegas' forward lines, meaning Brandon Saad will continue to fill in for Stone. He has notched one assist in two games since entering the lineup. However, Saad has been limited to 9:29 of ice time per game, making him a tough player to trust in DFS.

5 hours ago

Quinn Hughes • D • Wild

Quinn Hughes Finishes Postseason With 15 Points

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes recorded one assist in Wednesday's season-ending 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. His work helped Marcus Johanson open the scoring just 34 seconds into the game, and Minnesota entered the first intermission with a 3-0 lead. Yet the Avalanche clawed back from the big hole, winning the series in five games. Hughes became the second-fastest American defenseman in history to reach 15 points in a postseason. He finished the playoffs with four goals and 11 assists in 11 games. During the regular season, Hughes tallied 76 points (seven goals, 69 assists) in 74 games, averaging at least a point per game for a third consecutive campaign. He posted 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 48 outings after joining the Wild from the Vancouver Canucks in a midseason trade. Hughes proved to be a great fit in Minnesota and could be even more productive next season now that he has fully acclimated to his new surroundings.

14 hours ago

Matt Boldy • LW • Wild

Matt Boldy Posts Two Assists in Season-Ending Loss

Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy produced two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. With Boldy providing the creative spark, Minnesota won the first period 3-0, but the team couldn't survive the elimination game, allowing two goals in the final few minutes of regulation. It was a disappointing end to a big year for Boldy, who set new career highs with 42 goals and 85 points in 76 regular-season games. He added 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 11 postseason outings. In February, Boldy became the first player in Wild history to record back-to-back four-point games. As a versatile scorer who turned just 25 in April, Boldy is set to be a top fantasy contributor for years to come.

14 hours ago

Scott Wedgewood • G • Avalanche

Scott Wedgewood Perfect in Relief Effort

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood finished with a perfect 1.000 save percentage on seven shots on goal in a relief appearance in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. The Avalanche started Mackenzie Blackwood for a second consecutive game, but he was pulled after the first period. Minnesota grabbed a 3-0 lead early, but Colorado rallied to clinch the series with a 4-3 overtime victory. Wedgewood also had a couple of poor outings in the second-round matchup, but he is likely to return to the crease for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. In general, Wedgewood has been sharp in the playoffs, posting a 7-1 record, a 2.21 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage.

14 hours ago

Martin Necas • C • Avalanche

Martin Necas Records Another Multi-Point Game

Colorado Avalanche right wing Martin Necas contributed two assists during the team's 4-3 comeback victory in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. He helped Nathan MacKinnon to tie the game at three with only 1:23 left in regulation and set up Brett Kulak for the series-clinching goal 3:52 into overtime. This was Necas' second consecutive two-assist game and his fourth multi-point outing in five games. Colorado's top line was sleepwalking at the start of the playoffs but made a major impact in the second-round series. Necas leads his team with 10 assists this postseason and has added one goal in nine games.

14 hours ago

Brett Kulak • D • Avalanche

Brett Kulak Sends Avalanche Into Conference Finals

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brett Kulak scored the series-clinching goal in overtime during Wednesday's 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild. The visitors shocked Colorado with a sharp start, winning the opening period 3-0, but Kulak led the team's comeback effort. He also registered an assist in the contest. Kulak, a midseason pickup from the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been in impressive form during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In nine appearances, he has recorded five points (one goal, four assists), eight SOG, 20 blocks, and a plus-three rating. The 32-year-old is set to play in the Conference Finals for a third consecutive year, having previously been part of Edmonton's deep playoff runs.

14 hours ago

Brayden McNabb • D • Golden Knights

Brayden McNabb Suspended for One Game

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for one game and will miss Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. McNabb received the suspension for interference against Ducks forward Ryan Poehling (upper body) in Game 5 on Tuesday. Poehling suffered an upper-body injury on the hit and won't play in Game 6. This marks McNabb's first suspension during his 14-year NHL career. Kaedan Korczak is set to draw into the lineup in McNabb's absence. He has been a healthy scratch for the last few games but appeared in all of Vegas' first eight postseason games, logging one assist, three SOG, five blocks, and 18 hits.

14 hours ago

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Chasing History Wednesday

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has been in dominant form during another postseason campaign and can match a franchise record in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. He is two points away from recording his fifth playoff series with 10-plus points. Joe Sakic is currently the only player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to achieve that feat. MacKinnon has scored once in all four games against Minnesota, adding four assists. Overall, he is tied for fifth in scoring this postseason, with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games. 11 of his points have come in the past five games.

Yesterday

Ryan Poehling • C • Ducks

Ryan Poehling Won't Be an Option for Game 6

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (upper body) won't play in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. The 27-year-old was injured in Game 5 on a big hit by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. With four goals, Poehling is tied for second on his team this postseason and has added one assist in 11 outings. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville is considering using an extra defenseman in Thursday's game, which suggests Radko Gudas (lower body) might finally be ready for his series debut. Among forwards, Jansen Harkins and Frank Vatrano are options to fill in for Poehling.

Yesterday

Sam Malinski • D • Avalanche

Sam Malinski Set to Miss Second Straight Game

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body) is not expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild. An upper-body injury kept Malinski out of Monday's Game 4, and he didn't participate in Wednesday's optional morning skate. Fortunately for the Avalanche, their defense got Josh Manson back on Monday night. He skated on the third defensive pairing with Jack Ahcan, who figures to remain in the lineup in Malinski's absence. While Ahcan had a big year offensively in the AHL this season, he stood out defensively in Game 4, recording three blocks and two hits in 7:07 of action.

Yesterday

Artturi Lehkonen • LW • Avalanche

Artturi Lehkonen Unlikely to Play Wednesday

Colorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen (upper body) is unlikely to play in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. He missed Monday's Game 4 with an upper-body injury and wasn't on the ice on Wednesday for an optional morning skate. While Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Lehkonen could "possibly" play, along with defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body), it appears unlikely he will return. With Lehkonen unavailable on Monday night, Gabriel Landeskog joined the first line. The Avalanche captain has averaged a point per game through eight postseason outings and will be an even bigger offensive threat as the running mate of Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.

Yesterday

Matthew Schaefer • D • Islanders

Matthew Schaefer Wins Calder Trophy

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named the 2025-26 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's best rookie on Wednesday. The 18-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, became the first defenseman in NHL history to be the unanimous Rookie of the Year. Schaefer set many records during his maiden campaign, finishing with 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 82 games. He's only the fourth defenseman to lead rookies in goals. Overall, he finished third in scoring among first-year players. Schaefer made a huge impact during his rookie campaign, and it's scary to think about what he will be capable of with more experience.

Yesterday

Mason McTavish • C • Ducks

Mason McTavish Delivers Two Assists Tuesday Night

Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish dished out two assists in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. In the first period, Beckett Sennecke scored a power-play goal, and Olen Zellweger tied the game at two with an even-strength tally late in the third. This was a painful loss for the Ducks, who now face elimination in Game 6, but it was a great night for McTavish personally. He's seen limited ice time in the playoffs and was a healthy scratch for a couple of games earlier in the second-round series. Scoring-wise, McTavish hasn't done a bad job in the postseason, bagging six points (one goal, five assists) in nine appearances.

Yesterday

Pavel Dorofeyev • LW • Golden Knights

Pavel Dorofeyev Pots Two Goals in Vital Game 5 Win

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev produced two goals in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime victory in Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks, putting his team one win away from the Western Conference Finals. The Russian forward notched a power-play goal late in the first period and scored at even strength with 4:10 played in overtime. Jack Eichel had assists on both Dorofeyev goals. The Golden Knights can count their lucky stars that Dorofeyev was on the ice for the game-winning goal, as he missed some time in the second period after a puck struck his knee. With seven goals, Dorofeyev is now tied for the most among all skaters in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's also tallied two assists in 11 games.

Yesterday

Josh Doan • RW • Sabres

Josh Doan Records Two Assists in Game 4 Victory

Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan recorded two assists as the team tied the second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-2 road win. Doan extended his assist streak to five games when Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring in the first period and added another in the third on a power-play goal by Zach Benson. Doan is the first Sabres player in 20 years to post a five-game assist streak in the playoffs. Gilbert Perreault holds the franchise record, set in 1981, with a seven-game run. Playoff hockey has suited Doan, as he's been Buffalo's second-highest scorer this postseason, with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 10 games.

Yesterday

Evgeni Malkin • C • Penguins

Penguins Want Evgeni Malkin Back

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is a pending unrestricted free agent, but he could still have a future with the franchise, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. On Tuesday, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he would "love" to have Malkin back for next season. The team has reportedly been in discussions with Malkin and his agent about a new contract. Recently, Malkin hinted he's prepared to continue his NHL career elsewhere if an agreement isn't reached with the Penguins. Malkin, who will turn 40 in July, has played in Pittsburgh since entering the NHL in 2006. With 1,407 points (533 goals, 874 assists) in 1,269 regular-season games, he ranks third on the team's all-time scoring list. In 2025-26, Malkin averaged at least a point per game for the first time in three years, showing he's got plenty of gas left in the tank.

Yesterday

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