Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 35 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. Another week, another round of playoff chaos across the hockey world. Some of the news from around the league and in the world of hockey are:
- Foote is out in Vancouver – The Vancouver Canucks have officially fired head coach Adam Foote along with multiple assistant coaches after a disastrous season that saw the organization finish near the bottom of the standings and being selected 3rd. The new management led by GM Ryan Johnson and the Sedin brothers are reportedly looking for a complete culture reset as the franchise begins another rebuild and are looking to make a splash with their pick at the upcoming 2026 draft.
- Keefe will remain a Devil – Speaking of coaching, it sounds like Sheldon Keefe will reportedly remain as head coach of the New Jersey Devils despite missing the playoffs this season. New GM Sunny Mehta decided to keep Keefe in place while making changes to the rest of the coaching staff, signaling that the organization still believes in Keefe’s long-term vision. However, the new GM Sunny Mehta has already started restructuring their coaching staff by letting goaltending coach Dave Rogalski go, while longtime Devils figure Sergei Brylin is reportedly being reassigned within the organization as part of the offseason changes.
- Vegas Drama – The Vegas Golden Knights were reportedly fined and penalized by the NHL for violating league media regulations during the playoffs. The organization was fined heavily, Tortorella personally received a $100,000 fine, and the team lost a 2026 second-round draft pick after failing to meet mandatory media obligations following their series win over Anaheim. The situation sparked major discussion across the hockey world because draft pick penalties are extremely rare for media-related violations. They have even lost the appeal that took place yesterday. At the same time, Vegas is preparing to face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, where they are now set to face the Colorado Avalanche which will feature some great star power Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar. Game 1 goes tonight.
- Eastern Conference set – In the Eastern conference, the Montreal Canadiens are advancing to face the Carolina Hurricanes after beating the Buffalo Sabres in an electric Game 7 where forward Alex Newhook scored the overtime winner as the Canadiens eliminated Buffalo 3-2 on the road. The Canadiens have become one of the biggest surprise stories of the playoffs and have already survived two different Game 7s this postseason, first against the Tampa Bay Lightning and then against Buffalo. Game 1 goes on Thursday and it should be an electric building for the Hurricanes who have been off for a while.
- Everett Silvertips Win Big – The Everett Silvertips have captured their first WHL championship in franchise history after defeating the Prince Albert Raiders in five games. The Silvertips have become one of the biggest breakout teams in Canadian junior hockey this season and now head into the Memorial Cup with major momentum. They are off the Memorial Cup.
- Chicoutimi Saguenéens win the QMJHL – The Chicoutimi Saguenéens won their first QMJHL championship in 32 years after defeating the Moncton Wildcats in Game 6. The emotional victory has become one of the best stories in junior hockey this spring, with Chicoutimi now preparing for their first Memorial Cup appearance in decades. Therefore, the official field for the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna has now been finalized. The tournament will feature the host Kelowna Rockets along with the WHL champion Everett Silvertips, the QMJHL champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and the OHL champion Kitchener Rangers. The tournament officially begins Friday, May 22 at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
- Roman Kantserov Signs Three-Year Deal with the Blackhawks – The Chicago Blackhawks have officially signed highly-touted Russian forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year entry-level contract following a breakout season in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Kantserov, 21, led the entire KHL with 36 goals while recording 64 points in 63 games, setting league records for scoring by a player under the age of 22. The skilled winger was originally selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft and is viewed as one of the organization’s top offensive prospects moving forward.
- Danila Klimovich Going to the KHL – Vancouver Canucks prospect Danila Klimovich is reportedly expected to sign a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL once his entry-level contract expires this summer. Klimovich, 23, was originally selected 41st overall by Vancouver in the 2021 NHL Draft and quickly moved to North America after being drafted, spending the past five seasons developing with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. Despite showing flashes of offensive skill and physical tools, Klimovich was never able to fully break into the NHL roster on a consistent basis. Therefore, he is looking for a bigger opportunity overseas as he attempts to continue developing his game at the professional level even though Vancouver would still retain his NHL rights.
- PWHL Walter Cup Final – The Ottawa Charge kept their Walter Cup hopes alive with a dramatic 2–1 comeback win over the Montreal Victoire in Game 3 of the PWHL Finals, cutting Montreal’s series lead to 2–1. After Montreal appeared to be in control following a third-period goal by Hayley Scamurra, Ottawa responded in the final minutes with a surge, as rookie Peyton Hemp tied the game with under six minutes remaining before Rebecca Leslie scored the game-winning goal with just 56 seconds left in regulation. Goaltender Gwyneth Philips once again played a key role, making 27 saves to help Ottawa secure the victory. The win forces a pivotal Game 4 back in Ottawa, as the Charge look to become the first team in league history to rally from a 2–0 deficit in the Walter Cup Final. Off the ice, the PWHL is officially adding new franchises in Detroit, Las Vegas, Hamilton, and San Jose beginning in the 2026–27 season. Detroit’s expansion team has already generated significant buzz with Manon Rheaume named as general manager.
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’
