Locked On NHL - Daily Podcast On The National Hockey League

The Carolina Hurricanes are officially your 2026 Stanley Cup Champions! In this episode of Locked On NHL, hosts Nick Zararis (Locked On Oilers) and Hunter Hodies (Locked On Penguins) break down exactly how the Hurricanes rewrote the NHL script to lift the hardest trophy in sports.

We dive deep into why persistence matters, how Eric Tulsky’s front office aggressively tinkered with the roster, and the incredible depth that outlasted the Vegas Golden Knights in a dominant 19-game playoff run. Plus, we look at the exact player personnel moves that put them over the top.

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Ross Levitan and Mike DiStefano break down new NHL head coach hires in Toronto and Vegas, discuss recent trades including Joseph Woll, and preview the upcoming NHL draft, focusing on teams and players to watch.

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Carolina Hurricanes claim the Stanley Cup with Rod Brind’Amour’s relentless team-first blueprint. Can other NHL teams mimic this formula, or is superstar power still king? Seth Toupal and JD Young spotlight Carolina’s suffocating defense, Jacob Slavin’s elite shutdown ability, and Brandon Bussi’s clutch goaltending that stymied a star-studded Vegas Golden Knights squad. Rod Brind’Amour’s leadership, highlighted by his unique preseason “Stanley Cup drill,” helped the Canes break years of Eastern Conference Final frustration and deliver on their belief in structure over flash.

With the Hurricanes celebrating, attention shifts to the NHL’s wild offseason ahead. Will John Tortorella return as Vegas head coach, or could the Golden Knights shake things up to get over the hump? Massive trade rumors swirl around Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck, and Darnell Nurse, while the St. Louis Blues face a potential reset in a cutthroat Central Division. Get the inside edge on looming trades, cap space maneuvers, and which franchises are primed to leap forward.

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The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup Champions for the first time in 20 years after shutting out the Vegas Golden Knights on the road in Game 6. 

Zach Martin of Locked On Hurricanes discusses the keys to victory, Jordan Staal winning the Conn Smythe and the what the offseason looks like for the Hurricanes. 

The Vegas Golden Knights fell two wins short of their championship dreams after losing Game 6 at home to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Chris Gawlik of Locked On VGK discusses why the Golden Knights fell short and what lies ahead this offseason including the future of John Tortorella and what the team needs to do to remain competitve. 

The Seattle Kraken face a critical offseason as they look to get back to playoff contention, but how far away are they from being a playoff team?

Zaiem Beg of Locked On Kraken joins us to discuss the offseason goals of the team, the possible trade of Shane Wright and what to expect from Seattle at the NHL Draft.

All this and more on today's Locked On NHL Podcast with Gil Martin.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have won their first Stanley Cup Championship since 2006. Rod Brind'Amour deserves a statue. Jordan Staal wins the Conn Smythe. What's next for Vegas? 

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The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from winning the Stanley Cup after the home team finally won a game in this series. We break down how the Canes took the series lead and some possible adjustments John Tortorella can make for Game 6 in Vegas plus we discuss possible Conn Smythe Award winners.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to hire Bruce Cassidy as their coach, should they just do it despite the Vegas Golden Knights refusal to allow him to interview? What would the penalty be and would it be worth it?

Plus, Nikita Kucherov wins the Hart Trophy in a close race while Darnell Nurse demands a trade out of Edmonton and the Avalanche look to extend Cale Makar. 

All this and more on today's Locked On NHL Podcast with Rachel Donner and Gil Martin.

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The Carolina Hurricanes surged past the Vegas Golden Knights to seize a 3-2 Stanley Cup Final lead. Can Jordan Staal’s offensive dominance and a revived power play bring the franchise its second championship? Eddie Garcia and Shukri Wrights break down Carolina’s 4-2 Game 5 victory, spotlighting clutch goals from Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho, plus Brandon Bussi’s historic start in net. Discussion covers Vegas’s penalty woes, Carter Hart’s struggles, and the critical injury to William Karlsson. Zach Martin and Chris Gawlik share insider perspectives on each team’s turning points and challenges heading into Game 6. Key topics include stalled offense from Jack Eichel and Conn Smythe Trophy predictions. Will Vegas regroup at home, or is Carolina poised to close out the series? Tune in for expert playoff analysis and all the latest NHL Stanley Cup Final drama.

00:00 — Stanley Cup Finals Recap

13:39 — Vegas Golden Knights Perspective

21:03 — Game 6 Preview & Conn Smythe Predictions

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If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonnhl.supercast.com 

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is completely deadlocked at 2-2, and Game 5 tonight is bound to be an absolute banger! In this episode of Locked On NHL, hosts Nick Zararis (Locked On Oilers) and Hunter Hodies (Locked On Penguins) break down the razor-thin margins separating the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes as they battle for hockey supremacy.

Hunter and Nick dive deep into the micro-storylines shaping the series, including Carolina’s surprising power-play surge, Jordan Staal's incredible throwback performance reminiscent of his 2009 run, and the sudden goaltending chaos plaguing both sides.

The guys also map out the exact keys to victory for both squads ahead of Game 5.

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