Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 39 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. Here are some of the and in the world of hockey are:
- The Carolina Hurricanes are the Stanley Cup Winners – The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup Champions for the second time in franchise history, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Carolina closed out the series with a 3-0 victory in Game 6, finishing an impressive playoff run with a 16-3 record. Following this, veteran captain Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading the Hurricanes to the championship. Staal scored six goals during the Stanley Cup Final and became the oldest Conn Smythe winner in NHL history. This was also due to Brandon Bussi’s breakout performance, who recorded a shutout and helped stabilize Carolina’s crease during their championship run. For those who may not remember he was a waiver claim pick up for the team.
- Golden Knights Coaching Vacancy – One of the other stories coming out of the Stanley Cup Final is that the Golden Knights announced that John Tortorella will not return as head coach despite leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final after taking over late in the season. Tortorella helped spark an impressive playoff run, but Vegas appears focused on finding a long-term solution behind the bench. With the team still firmly in win-now mode, all eyes will be on who General Manager Kelly McCrimmon selects as the next coach to lead the Golden Knights back to Stanley Cup contention. Tortorella immediately stabilized the club, leading the Golden Knights to a 7-0-1 finish, a Pacific Division title, and an impressive playoff run that included victories over Utah and Anaheim before a sweep of Colorado in the Western Conference Final. Early reports suggest that current AHL coach Ryan Craig has emerged as a leading candidate. Craig has deep ties to the organization and would represent a younger voice behind the bench while maintaining continuity within the Golden Knights system.
- Maple Leafs Name Jim Hiller as New Head Coach – Speaking of coaching, the Toronto Maple Leafs have officially hired Jim Hiller as their new head coach, completing a lengthy search following the dismissal of Craig Berube in May. Hiller arrives after spending parts of three seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, where he compiled a 93-58-24 record and earned a reputation for his strong communication skills and structured systems. The hiring is another major step in the organization’s ongoing overhaul under new General Manager John Chayka and hockey advisor Mats Sundin. After missing the playoffs and finishing near the bottom of the standings last season, the Leafs are hoping Hiller can help reset the culture and maximize a roster still led by Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
- Flyers & Maple Leafs Goalie-Defense Trade – In other Maple Leaf news, they have also acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit. The move gives Toronto a younger goalie option with upside, along with some additional cap space to play with, while Philadelphia brings in a steady NHL netminder and a depth defenseman, both players that Rick Tocchet would like.
- Avalanche & Predators Swap Ross Colton – The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators completed a notable offseason deal sending forward Ross Colton to Nashville in exchange for goaltender Magnus Chrona and draft pick assets. Colton, who struggled offensively last season after a strong prior year, is seen as a depth scoring addition for the Predators, while Colorado gains flexibility and picks as they continue reshaping their roster under GM Joe Sakic.
- Sportsnet & CBC End NHL Partnership – One of the biggest off-ice stories is the end of the long-standing NHL broadcast partnership between Sportsnet and CBC. After the 2025–26 season, CBC will no longer air NHL games, marking the end of “Hockey Night in Canada” on Canada’s public broadcaster after decades of coverage. The move comes as Rogers prepares to take full control of national NHL broadcasts under its new rights deal starting in 2026–27. It’s being viewed as the end of an era in Canadian hockey media and a major shift in how fans will watch the game moving forward.
- Former NHL Forward Kyle Calder Passes Away at 47 – The hockey world is mourning the loss of former NHL forward Kyle Calder, who has died at the age of 47 following a brief illness. Calder was a well-traveled winger who played 10 seasons in the NHL after being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1997, going on to suit up for Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Anaheim during his career. His most productive years came with the Blackhawks, where he was a key offensive contributor in the mid-2000s. He is being remembered across the league as a hardworking, respected teammate and a player who stayed involved in the game after retirement through coaching and youth hockey development.
- John Carlson Won’t Return to Ducks, goes to Free Agency – John Carlson of the Anaheim Ducks noted that he will not re-sign with the team, with reports indicating the veteran blue-liner is set to test free agency and has a clear preference to play in the Eastern Conference, closer to family. Carlson, who joined the Ducks after a trade from Washington, played a strong stretch in Anaheim but is now expected to draw significant interest from multiple Eastern contenders when free agency opens. The decision leaves the Ducks facing another key offseason roster question on their blue line as they continue reshaping their defence core.
- Florida Everblades Capture Kelly Cup in Double OT Thriller – The Florida Everblades have done it again, winning the ECHL Kelly Cup in dramatic fashion with a 5-4 double-overtime victory over the Kansas City Mavericks in Game 6. The Mavericks held a 4-1 lead heading into the third period, but Florida stormed back with three unanswered goals—capped by a late equalizer—to force overtime before Isaac Nurse buried the Cup-winning goal deep into double OT. The win marks another championship in what has become a dominant run for the Everblades, cementing their status as one of the most successful franchises in ECHL history.
- Marlies Take 3–0 Lead in Calder Cup Finals – The Toronto Marlies are on the verge of a Calder Cup championship after defeating the Chicago Wolves 1–0 in Game 3 to take a commanding 3–0 series lead. First-round pick Easton Cowan scored the only goal of the game, while goaltender Artur Akhtyamov posted a 24-save shutout to backstop Toronto’s second straight clean sheet in the series. The Marlies now sit just one win away from capturing their first Calder Cup since 2018, with momentum fully on their side heading into Game 4.
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’
