Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 23 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. It is starting to pick up with the Olympics wrapped up, so we have some news in the world of hockey, so let’s get into it:
- U.S. Wins Olympic Gold in Men’s and Women’s Hockey – The United States men’s hockey team has defeated Canada 2–1 in overtime in the 2026 Olympic gold medal game, securing its first men’s Olympic hockey title since 1980 (in over 46 years). Jack Hughes scored the dramatic overtime winner, and the game drew massive TV ratings in the U.S., making it one of the most-watched hockey broadcasts in recent history and cemented the team as the best on the world stage, as Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head. Now with Canada coming in second there are a lot of questions surrounding the team and how they will proceed moving forward in 2030 at the next Winter Olympics. The same happened for the Team USA women’s team who also took Gold. Captain Hilary Knight tied the game late in regulation, and Megan Keller scored the OT winner, giving Team USA its third Olympic women’s hockey gold and cementing its dominance in international play. The squad went undefeated through the tournament and showcased depth across all lines.
- Connor Hellebuyck to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom – Speaking of
Connor Hellebuyck, he has been selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Team USA goaltender delivered a standout performance in the gold medal game with more than 40 saves, is set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He made some incredible saves and the honor recognizes his key role in the historic Olympic victory. That is a big honour for him and he hopes to use that moment to help him and the Winnipeg Jets propel to the post season again this coming season.
- NHL Trades have Begun – We have also seen the trade freeze lifted, and have had some movement already in the NHL as the Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for veteran defenseman Brett Kulak ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Girard, 27, is a younger puck-moving blueliner, heads to Pittsburgh as part of a youth-focused reload, while Colorado receives Kulak’s experience and added salary cap flexibility as they look toward deeper playoff roster changes. Girard has 3 goals and 9 assists in 40 games while Kulak, 32, who has already come over from Edmonton in the Tristan Jarry/Stuart Skinner trade, has 1 goal and 6 assists in his 25 games with the Penguins this season. Speaking of the Pittsburgh Penguin, captain Sidney Crosby will be sidelined for at least four weeks with a lower‑body injury suffered during the Olympics, a tough blow for Pittsburgh’s playoff push. This was evident during the hit from Radko Gudas.
- Depth Trade – The New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues completed a minor-league depth trade, with Matt Luff heading to New York’s organization and Julien Gauthier going to St. Louis. Both players were in the AHL at the time, making this more of a system-depth move than an NHL roster shakeup. Luff brings steady AHL scoring and call-up potential, while the Blues take a chance on Gauthier’s size and former first-round pedigree as they adjust their affiliate lineup ahead of the playoff push.
- Bridgeport Islanders Relocation – The Bridgeport Islanders will relocate to Hamilton, Ontario for the 2026–27 AHL season, marking the return of professional minor-league hockey to the city. The move strengthens the New York Islanders development system while tapping into a passionate Canadian hockey market.
- Marek Vanacker scores Big – Vanacker, 19, is a great young Canadian ice hockey forward playing for the Brantford Bulldogs. He is a first-round selection (27th overall) for the Chicago Blackhawks, back in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, and he is known for his scoring ability, two-way play, and skating speed. He recently became the first OHL player this season to reach 40 goals. That is a very impressive feature and we wish him all the best for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile in the Ontario Hockey League, the Peterborough Petes have clinched a playoff berth as the postseason picture takes shape, with standout individual milestones adding to the excitement.
- Seattle Takes care of Business – The Seattle Kraken agreed to two‑year contract extensions with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton, keeping both players under contract through the 2027‑28 NHL season. Meyers, 27, has split time this year between the Kraken and their AHL affiliate and brings versatility and energy to Seattle’s lineup, while 22‑year‑old Winterton has carved out a more regular role this season with career‑high offensive production and a strong two‑way game. General manager Jason Botterill praised both for their contributions and growth as part of the team’s depth and future plans.
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’
