Goalie Hugs

The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions, Mike Babcock is a huge fan of Mike Babcock, everyone's lost their minds making trades and we somehow still managed to do a mock draft as a result.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is underway and the Carolina Hurricanes tied the series 1-1 with the Vegas Golden Knights shortly after we finished recording this episode. You're welcome, Hurricanes fans! Or sorry about that, Vegas fans.

Did Lindy Ruff get snubbed? In a related story, have we been overhyping "best defender" qualities in the entire history of awarding the James Norris Memorial Trophy?

The Edmonton Oilers are looking to move Darnell Nurse. How soon will it happen and where is he likely going to end up?

Manny Malhotra is now the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks and Chris MacFarland is now the President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Nashville Predators. How's the search going for the Toronto Maple Leafs head coaching gig?

Plus, what would it take to acquire Dylan Larkin? All of that and more this week!

The Montréal Canadiens had their hands full with the Carolina Hurricanes (we recorded this before Carolina finished Montréal off in Game 5) and the Vegas Golden Knights swept the Colorado Avalanche as the Conference Finals came and went. What does the offseason look like for the Avs? Is Colorado's Stanley Cup window closed? Is Jared Bednar in the hot seat? Vegas still technically needs a head coach too, by the way. We're offering to buy Bruce Cassidy a beer. Evgeni Malkin signed a one-year extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the hockey world suffered a tremendous loss with the death of Claude Lemieux.

In the United States or Canada, please call or text 988 if you are facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns or just need someone to talk to. You are not alone.

After surprising everyone, what are the Buffalo Sabres going to do this offseason? The Montréal Victoire won the Walter Cup and the PWHL is adding San José to the expansion list– joining Detroit, Hamilton and Vegas. The Nashville Predators still need a general manager to replace Barry Trotz. Jamie Langenbrunner left the Boston Bruins and so did Jay Leach. Daniel and Henrik Sedin are running the show in Vancouver and they tapped Ryan Johnson to be the new Canucks GM. Vancouver also parted ways with Adam Foote after one season as head coach. Hometown Remix jersey leaks are popping up and leave something to be desired. Craig Berube was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kris Knoblauch was fired by the Edmonton Oilers too. The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights are squaring off in the Western Conference Final, while the Carolina Hurricanes face the Montréal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final. What's likely going to be the 2026 Stanley Cup Final matchup?

Can the Carolina Hurricanes go undefeated this postseason? No, obviously. But they did sweep the Philadelphia Flyers.

Can Lindy Ruff make the right adjustments and the Buffalo Sabres keep their cool as their series with the Montréal Canadiens continues?

What if Evan Gold gets hired by the Vancouver Canucks?

Why the Boston Bruins should follow Montréal's model…

The Colorado Avalanche took a 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Wild as we recorded this.

The Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights are dead even.

Three more potential expansion cities for the PWHL are potentially coming soon!

Norris and Hart finalist thoughts.

This week on Goalie Hugs:

• Making sense of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The John Chayka Era begins with a lottery win and some future implications.

• You can't swing your stick like that, Charlie.

• Victor Hedman opens up about mental health.

• The First Round is complete and the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is underway.

• More awards finalists were announced including the Jack Adams, Masterton, Calder and Selke.

• The PWHL is expanding to Detroit!

• Colby breaks down the Buffalo Sabres and why you should join the wagon.

This week on Goalie Hugs:

• The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators.

• Anže Kopitar's playing days came to an end after the Colorado Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings.

• The Philadelphia Flyers won a series on home ice for the first time since 2012, and ousted the Pittsburgh Penguins in the process.

• What's the offseason roadmap for the eliminated teams?

• What would a Jason Robertson trade look like? Can Kyle Dubas get a win?

• What's going to happen in the rest of the First Round?

• Is John Chayka really a good idea for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

This week on Goalie Hugs:

• A little bit about every First Round series in progress and why we're tuning in, not tuning in or falling asleep during late games (hint, it's because we're old now).

This week on Goalie Hugs:

• A preview of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

• Horrible audio for, like, 20 minutes because Lanci has a new setup and was learning on the fly!

This week on Goalie Hugs:

• The Buffalo Sabres are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011!

• How worried should we be about the San José Sharks?

• Is this the year the Edmonton Oilers finally get it done (they're getting hot again, if you haven't been paying attention)?

• Patrick Roy was fired by the New York Islanders, so who inevitably hires him next?

• Is Pete DeBoer really the answer for the Isles?

• Tom Fitzgerald is parting ways with the New Jersey Devils. What does the next general manager's work look like?

• Ron Francis resigned from his role as President of Hockey Operations for the Seattle Kraken. Where are the Kraken at in their overall timeline and expectations?

• And James Hagens signed his entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins.