stanley cup playoffs

NHL Player Safety is reviewing a slash to the face of Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson by Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy during the stanley cup playoffs for a possible major suspension. The incident quickly became a big story in the NHL, with analysts predicting major punishment that could affect the Boston Bruins' plans for the upcoming National Hockey League season.

Arber Xhekaj reportedly played a big role in a scary situation near Montreal’s Lachine Canal as the Montreal Canadiens’ playoff series vs. the Buffalo Sabres rolled on. The Canadiens defenseman was able to spot someone in trouble in the canal and immediately called 911, reports said. The person survived, and Xhekaj’s cool demeanor off the ice gained a lot of attention in the process of continuous NHL updates and playoff talk.

The Vegas Golden Knights are facing some serious NHL backlash after a controversial post-game incident following their Game 6 win over the Anaheim Ducks that clinched their spot in the playoffs. The league said the organization had violated media policies, and all eyes turned to head coach John Tortorella and defenseman Brayden McNabb in the growing controversy. The NHL’s reported punishment, including a hefty fine and a lost draft pick, has quickly become one of hockey’s biggest stories in the postseason.

Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Craig Berube after a disappointing 2025-26 season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. General Manager John Chayka confirmed the decision, emphasizing an organizational shift for a fresh start. The team now holds the No. 1 draft pick as they begin their search for a new bench boss.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has been raving about Lane Hutson’s playoff play with the Montreal Canadiens. Friedman thinks Hutson could win multiple Norris Trophies in his career after a dominant performance against the Buffalo Sabres. The defenseman’s emergence is quickly becoming one of the biggest stories of the 2026 stanley cup playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon was forced to exit Game 4 versus the Minnesota Wild after taking a brutal puck to the face. The NHL star was seen bleeding heavily in the second period after his teammate Devon Toews accidentally cleared the puck into him. The scary moment stopped the playoff game and immediately raised questions about Nathan MacKinnon’s injury status moving forward.

Insider Pierre LeBrun has talked about possible contract concerns and NHL trade rumors and this is sparking more questions about Connor McDavid's long-term future with the Edmonton Oilers. The superstar captain is still committed to Edmonton, but another disappointing playoff performance could affect future extension talks. Several NHL franchises are said to be watching the situation closely as speculation surrounding the league's biggest star continues to grow.

Elliotte Friedman’s latest insider comments have made Auston Matthews’ long-term future with the Toronto Maple Leafs a hot topic in the NHL. Matthews wants to see more belief in the direction of the franchise toward the Stanley Cup before signing long-term, Friedman revealed. Matthews’ belief in the team’s future ambitions, with John Chayka reshaping the organization’s plans, could be very impactful on Toronto’s offseason decisions.

Carter Hart was the talk of the town again during NHL Game 5 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks. Fan protests, chants and social media campaigns amplified attention on Hart’s controversial return to the NHL. Hart still played a solid playoff game, but the Vegas Golden Knights came away with a crucial overtime win in the feisty Western Conference playoff series.

NHL star Leon Draisaitl and his wife Celeste Desjardins recently got the league talking after posting glamorous throwback moments from their French wedding on Instagram. The post followed just days after the Edmonton Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks. Fans took to social media quickly with the stylish celebration photos and talked about Leon Draisaitl’s offseason future, injuries and the Edmonton Oilers’ title aspirations heating up around the NHL.

The Edmonton Oilers are in the market for a trade, and the rumours are heating up as the franchise looks for ways to solve long-standing goaltending issues before the NHL playoffs. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues Goalie Jordan Binnington has the experience and championship pedigree to be a target. The talk is all about whether the Edmonton Oilers can realistically make a trade to strengthen their Stanley Cup contention window.

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov became a topic of conversation in the NHL offseason when fans saw his recent Instagram follow of influencer Breckie Hill. The social media activity came soon after the Wild’s playoff exit and quickly gained traction in NHL news roundup chatter and online fan forums. That moment highlighted the intense online attention NHL stars receive, especially during emotional offseasons.

Vegas Golden Knights could be without a veteran defenseman in Brayden McNabb after a controversial hit injured Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling in Game 5 of the NHL. The collision resulted in a game misconduct and an NHL disciplinary hearing. Ryan Poehling is still out of the lineup. The incident has only intensified the conversation about player safety, playoff physicality and potential suspension decisions going into the next must-see matchup.

Following the NHL postseason series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes, a series of significant injuries was revealed that have brought renewed attention to the Flyers’ playoff ouster. Reports say players like Trevor Zegras, Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny battled through major physical adversity during the second-round matchup. The injury disclosures provide more context behind Philadelphia’s late playoff struggles and overall postseason collapse.

Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon are some of the wealthiest stars of the modern era of the National Hockey League in 2026. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon are among the NHL players with lucrative contracts, endorsement deals, playoff success and long-term earnings. All that adds up to a net worth of between $105 million and $110 million. It’s yet another example of hockey’s growing financial footprint worldwide.

Garnet Hathaway of the Philadelphia Flyers slammed into an open bench door in Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, and it hurt. The veteran winger was clearly upset following the bizarre incident with Carolina Hurricanes forward Nik Ehlers. That strange moment was quickly seized upon by NHL news coverage, adding yet another dramatic, physical chapter to the ongoing Stanley Cup playoff series.

Joel Quenneville was highly outspoken when the Anaheim Ducks lost in a very controversial way to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the NHL playoffs. A non-icing call that was disputed toward the end of the third period allowed Vegas to make the game-winning scoring opportunity. The play right away caused a controversy among the fans, analysts, and insiders in the NHL after the highly dramatic opener to the stanley cup playoffs.

There’s increasing coaching speculation surrounding the Edmonton Oilers after reports surfaced connecting the franchise to former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy. Sources say Edmonton could consider a leadership change even with Kris Knoblauch having an extension on his contract after another playoff disappointment. This has quickly become one of the biggest NHL updates involving the team this offseason.

Pierre LeBrun's report suggests Connor McDavid is likely to give the Edmonton Oilers one more season before making a definitive call on his future. With his contract running through 2027-28, McDavid is not demanding a trade, but another early playoff exit could shift his thinking significantly. LeBrun sees a blockbuster trade, not free agency departure, as the realistic worst-case scenario for Edmonton. The pressure now falls squarely on Kris Knoblauch, Stan Bowman, and a roster that has the talent but has repeatedly fallen short of expectations.

Dan Vladek, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, gained significant headlines when he confronted Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven at NHL playoff Game 2. The anomaly of the crease incident soon went viral among hockey debates on Internet platforms. The emotional scene was a revelation of the buildup between both teams in the ongoing stanley cup playoffs series of games between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Carolina Hurricanes.

Connor McDavid ripped the Edmonton Oilers roster following their NHL playoff elimination at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6. The Oilers captain said he was frustrated by the team’s inconsistent performances throughout the season, putting additional pressure on general manager Stan Bowman. The loss has also fuelled trade rumours in the NHL and speculation about Edmonton's offseason plans and Connor McDavid's long-term future.

Lauren Kyle McDavid's custom playoff jackets, made through her brand Sports Club Atelier, became a genuine superstition across the 2025 NHL playoffs. Worn by players' partners from multiple teams, the jackets were swapped or shelved based on game results. The Philadelphia Flyers' series was the most notable example. Lauren openly acknowledged the superstition. Despite the ritual, Edmonton fell in the first round, and the Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch days later.

Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators are back in the middle of NHL trade rumours after being swept in the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. The Boston Bruins could be a potential landing spot for Ottawa if the Senators make major changes to their roster this offseason. But Tkachuk has publicly reiterated his commitment to the Senators despite growing speculation throughout the league.

Quinn Hughes has addressed the NHL trade rumors that have been swirling since the Minnesota Wild’s playoff loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The star defenseman said he remains open to a long-term extension with Minnesota, but speculation continues about a possible future with brothers Jack and Luke Hughes with the New Jersey Devils in a pivotal offseason for the Wild organization.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl and wife Celeste Desjardins are building a new home in Edmonton, and interior design help is coming from Lauren Kyle, wife of Connor McDavid, according to reports. The move has generated some discussion amongst NHL fans, especially after the recent speculation surrounding Draisaitl’s future with the Edmonton Oilers after the team’s disappointing stanley cup playoffs exit earlier this season.

Ridly Greig’s suspension is one of the top NHL news stories. That too, since the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes playoff titles. NHL Player Safety will review the incident involving Sean Walker and will determine supplemental discipline for Game 4 next season. The move has brought observers’ and fans’ attention to the intensity of the playoffs, the safety standards of those who play in the playoffs and how the NHL deals with unsafe playoffs.

Bruins veteran Viktor Arvidsson has come out and said that he even played with a serious rib injury and a punctured lung at the time of the Buffalo Sabres playoff series. The most recent update about the NHL injury reasons as to why the forward did not play in the last games of this postseason match. This has caused the absence to become a critical aspect in the playoff loss of the team, and since then, has resulted in controversy over his future with the team.

Lauren Kyle shared photos and videos from Brian McDavid’s postponed 60th birthday bash in Turks and Caicos. The Edmonton Oilers captain was accompanied by family members on the luxury vacation that included beachside dinners and activities at the Amanyara resort. The event also reignited the long-time influence Brian McDavid has had on Connor McDavid’s NHL career and development.

Nathan MacKinnon is still one of the highest-paid players in the NHL in 2026 with huge contracts and endorsement deals. Interest in MacKinnon’s growing financial portfolio also spreads to NHL news coverage, career earnings and hockey business stories about elite players and building long-term wealth. Details of MacKinnon’s private life with long-term partner Charlotte Walker are scarce.

Following the Edmonton Oilers’ playoff exit, Connor McDavid and his wife, Lauren Kyle, are jetting off on a luxury offseason trip to Turks and Caicos. Lauren Kyle posted some beautiful photos of her holiday, which exposed the Caribbean trip of the NHL player. In other NHL news, there’s a lot of buzz about Edmonton’s upcoming roster moves and Connor McDavid’s long-term future with the club.