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The young NHL players who need a change-of-scenery trade: Michkov, Nemec, Poitras, more
Who could be next season's Trevor Zegras or Kirby Dach? Here are 12 candidates from around the league.

TOP HEADLINES

QUEST FOR THE CUP
Grades and takeaways from Hurricanes' dominating Game 4 win
The Hurricanes routed the Canadiens in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Here's what it all means, with a look ahead to Game 5 on Friday.

Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Canes take commanding 3-1 lead
It's 3-1 Carolina heading back to Raleigh for Game 5. Get caught up here, including updated playoff stats.


BUZZ ON THE ICE
Heard around the postseason: Latest on Matthews, McDavid, Hughes and other big-name players
Could there be big changes in Toronto? What's going on in Minnesota with Quinn Hughes? We check in on all the latest buzz around the NHL with the postseason winding down.


VIVA VEGAS!
Jack Eichel: 'The Stanley Cup is our ultimate goal'

Golden Knights sweep the Avalanche: Grades, big questions after Game 4
Vegas advances, while the Avs are back to the drawing board. Here's what happened, and what's next.


PLAYOFFS TALK
Erik Johnson: Golden Knights do 'the usual unusually well'

Weekes: Canadiens' inexperience showed in Game 4 loss to Canes


NEXT SEASON STARTS NOW
Keys to the offseason: Free agency plans for Avalanche, every eliminated NHL team
We explore the next moves each team should make this summer and forecast expectations for 2026-27.

The tiers of Toronto fans watching Mitch Marner's playoff success from afar


PLAYOFF TRENDSPOTTING
Why there's been more chaos, young stars and unpredictable goaltending
Midway through the conference finals, here's what has stuck out in the analytics.


Top Headlines
- 4-time Cup champ Claude Lemieux dies at 60
- Cassidy: 'Upsetting' that Vegas blocking job talks
- Canes one win from Cup Final after G4 shutout
- Habs 'super underdogs' after G4 no-show at home
- Celebrini, Canada stop U.S. in hockey worlds
- Everett beats Kelowna to reach Memorial Cup SF
- 👀 Teams gearing up for a possible busy summer
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Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images NHL teams' offseason keys, including free agency, draft needs
We explore the next moves each team should make this summer and forecast expectations for 2026-27.
Candice Ward/Getty Images How Toronto feels about Mitch Marner, potential playoff MVP
After an up-and-down postseason record with the Leafs, Marner is leading all playoff scorers for a team one win away from the Cup Final.
Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images How Taylor Hall found his MVP form again with the Hurricanes
The No. 1 pick (2010) and Hart Trophy winner (2018) is a critical player for the Canes, who have yet to lose this postseason.
Jaime Crawford/Getty Images What makes Gavin McKenna the expected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL draft
McKenna's story has taken him from Whitehorse, Yukon, to Medicine Hat to Penn State, with the NHL expected to be the next stop. What makes him a special prospect?
Illustration by ESPN 2026 NHL draft: Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg top rankings
Who will be selected early in the draft in June? Here's an updated list of the top 32 players available.






















