Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 31 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. Here are some of the top stories from around the league and in the world of hockey:
- Trevor Lewis Calls it a Career – Trevor Lewis has officially retired from the NHL after a long, steady career as a reliable depth forward. Known for his defensive play, penalty killing, and versatility, Lewis played over 800 games in the league, most notably with the Los Angeles Kings, where he won two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014). He later had stints with the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames, bringing veteran leadership and experience to each roster. While never a high-scoring player, he earned a reputation as a dependable, hard-working role player who contributed to winning teams, especially in playoff situations. We wish him all the best in his future.
- Sunny Mehta has a Devilish Introduction – The New Jersey Devils have hired Sunny Mehta as their new (and sixth general manager in franchise history) general manager, signaling a fresh direction for the franchise. Stepping into the role, Mehta immediately faces major decisions that could shape the team’s future, including evaluating the current roster, assessing the coaching staff, and handling key contract situations but he did have a great press conference. With expectations rising, questions are already emerging about potential roster changes and how aggressively the Devils might retool in the near term. What will be his first priority?
- The Stanley Cup Playoffs – The Stanley Cup Playoffs have just begun, and the first round has already been defined by tight, competitive games and frequent overtime finishes. A few teams like the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche have taken early control of their series, while teams like the Boston Bruins versus the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning versus Montreal Canadiens matchups remain evenly contested. Overall, the playoffs have started with a high level of parity, strong goaltending, and unpredictable outcomes, with no clear dominant favorite emerging yet. We will see who will emerge and who will be eliminated as we head into the weekend. Players like Porter Martone, Dan Vladar, and Juraj Slafkovský have all been very impactful.
- Ilya Kovalchuk gets into Management – Ilya Kovalchuk has taken a major step into hockey management, being named president of the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons (formerly Kunlun Red Star). The move pairs him with fellow former NHLer Evgeny Artyukhin as general manager, as the organization looks to rebuild after a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs. Kovalchuk, a former star with the Los Angeles Kings and other NHL clubs, now shifts into a leadership role where he’ll be responsible for shaping the team’s direction and helping turn the franchise into a contender in the KHL.
- NHL Ratings are Up – The National Hockey League saw a major rebound in popularity during the 2025–26 season, recording its highest average TV ratings in 14 years. Games across ESPN, ABC, and TNTaveraged about 546,000 viewers, marking a roughly 23% increase from the previous season and the best numbers since 2012–13. The growth was driven by stronger performances on major networks, a post-Olympics boost in interest, and standout events like the Stadium Series game, which drew over 2 million viewers. While some of the increase is linked to updated measurement methods, the overall trend points to renewed fan engagement and rising visibility for the league.
- Hellebuyck speaks out – The Winnipeg Jets are backing star goalie Connor Hellebuyck after his blunt criticism of the team’s disappointing season, with head coach Scott Arniel emphasizing that the frustration reflects a shared desire to win. Hellebuyck called the season unacceptable after the Jets missed the playoffs, and Arniel acknowledged those concerns, noting that many players feel the same way and that such passion is a sign of leadership rather than a problem. Both the coaching staff and management made it clear they respect Hellebuyck’s perspective and see it as motivation to address weaknesses and return the team to contender status moving forward.
- OHL Western Conference Final – The Windsor Spitfires are set to face the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference Final after both teams advanced through the second round in convincing fashion. Windsor swept the Flint Firebirds in four games, while Kitchener defeated the Soo Greyhounds in five, setting up a highly anticipated matchup between two of the conference’s top teams. With strong regular-season performances and playoff momentum on both sides, the series will determine who moves on to compete for the OHL championship.
- The Chicago Wolves name a new Head Coach – The Chicago Wolves (Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliate) have named Spiros Anastas as their new head coach after the organization parted ways with Cam Abbott. Anastas, who was previously serving as an assistant coach, takes over on an interim basis and brings extensive experience from the AHL, ECHL, and international coaching ranks, including a Calder Cup-winning stint as an assistant with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The move reflects a mid-season leadership change aimed at stabilizing the Wolves’ performance and maintaining their position in the Central Division, with the Hurricanes organization expressing confidence in Anastas’ leadership and development background.
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Then remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey as we start up Season 7 of the Podcast each Wednesday night at 7pm MST, where we dive into some of these great topics, interview many in the game and so much more. For more hockey news, different takes or if you want to chat about anything hockey give me a follow @hockey_two & @revinev on X and give us a follow on YouTube, and check out our website for articles that we share regularly at https://twoguysandhockeytalk.com/. If you wish to reach out to us, feel free to email us at twoguyshockeytalk@gmail.com
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
