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Saturday Florida Panthers Offseason Caterwaul

Kristen Shilton ponders what a Florida Panthers trade for Dylan Larkin could look it in ESPN’s Trades we’d like to see during the 2026 NHL offseason article. Florida Panthers get: F Dylan Larkin, 2026 seventh-round pick (CGY) Detroit Red Wings get: F Anton Lundell, F Mackie Samoskevich, 2026 second-round pick (WSH) Why it works:   It’s not as if Detroit GM Steve Yzerman wants to be backed into a corner — but he sort of is when it comes to Larkin. Given that the 29-year-old has a...

NHL

Friday Florida Panthers Offseason Caterwaul

We are exactly one week away from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, so let’s take a look some Florida Panthers related content from around the hockeyverse. ESPN’s 2026 NHL draft: Every team’s biggest prospect pipeline need article is of the opinion that the Cats are likely to move the ninth overall pick. The Panthers don’t need futures while on the back nine of their Cup contention window. Instead, they need a player who can immediately step into the lineup and play. After a season riddled w...

NHL

Thursday Florida Panthers Offseason Caterwaul

Our division rivals in Buffalo made a trade yesterday. The Sabres sent defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in next week’s NHL Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday for the 20th overall selection. The 26-year-old Kesselring spent just one season in Buffalo and appeared in only 34 games due to injuries and repeated stretches as a healthy scratch. After meeting with over 25 candidates, the Toronto Maple Leafs and new general manager John Chayka brought back a fa...

NHL

Wednesday Florida Panthers Offseason Caterwaul

The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman’s Six realistic offer-sheet candidates NHL teams should target this offseason included Florida RFA forward Mackie Samoskevich, saying the following: Not every offer-sheet candidate is in those top two compensation tiers. In some ways, it’s harder for a team to swoop in and steal players at this level because their extensions are generally more affordable and easily matched. AFP Analytics only projects Mackie Samoskevich’s next deal to carry a $3.08 million ca...

Bussi blanks Golden Knights, Hurricanes win second Stanley Cup

Brandon Bussi stopped all 22 shots to backstop the Carolina to a 3-0 Game 6 decision over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena as the Hurricanes won their second Stanley Cup in dominating fashion, finishing the postseason with a stellar 16-3 record. Taylor Hall got behind the defense and fired the puck by Carter Hart from the left circle after receiving a stretch pass from Jaccob Slavin 3:47 into the first period to put the Hurricanes in control. Jackson Blake, who had the seco...

Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights Game 6 Thread

Andrei Svechnikov finally broke out with a pair of power-play goals, and Brandon Bussi delivered a 23-save performance as the Carolina Hurricanes doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights by a 4-2 count at Lenovo Center, leaving them one win away from capturing the franchise’s second Stanley Cup. Captain Jordan Staal became the first player in sevenety years to open a Stanley Cup Final with goals in five-straight games when he tipped in Nikolaj Ehlers’ pass for his sixth of the series at 11:46 ...

Five defensemen the Florida Panthers could target with the ninth pick

The advantage of holding a top-10 pick is that the Florida Panthers are guaranteed to get one of the best young hockey players on their organizational draft board. The disadvantage is trying to predict which of those young players will be available by the time the ninth overall pick is up for selection. The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is likely to feature several defensemen selected in the first 10 picks, but there are some names we can cross off the list of availability. Top blueline prospects Chase...

Five defensemen the Florida Panthers could target with the ninth pick

The advantage of holding a top-10 pick is that the Florida Panthers are guaranteed to get one of the best young hockey players on their organizational draft board. The disadvantage is trying to predict which of those young players will be available by the time the ninth overall pick is up for selection. The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is likely to feature several defensemen selected in the first 10 picks, but there are some names we can cross off the list of availability. Top blueline prospects Chase...

Mr. Svechnikov powers Hurricanes to 4-2 win over Vegas in Game 5

Andrei Svechnikov broke out with a pair of power-play goals, and Brandon Bussi delivered a 23-save performance as the Carolina Hurricanes doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights by a 4-2 count at Lenovo Center. The Hurricanes are now one victory away from capturing the franchise’s second Stanley Cup. Carolina captain Jordan Staal became the first player in seventy years to open a Stanley Cup Final with goals in five-straight games when he tipped in Nikolaj Ehlers’ pass for his sixth of the se...

Carolina Hurricanes vs Vegas Golden Knights Game 5 Thread

Jordan Staal notched his second goal of the game at 6:32 of the third period to put the Carolina Hurricanes ahead for good in their back-and-forth 5-3 Game 4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Moblie Arena that evened the highly-competitive Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece. The 37-year-old Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four games of the Final and the ninth overall in NHL history. Carolina got first period goals from...

Staal shines in Hurricanes 5-3 Game 4 win over Golden Knights

A stretched out Jordan Staal notched his second goal of the game 6:32 into the third period to put the Carolina Hurricanes ahead for good in their back-and-forth 5-3 Game 4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, evening the highly-competitive Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece. The 37-year-old Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four games of the Final and the ninth overall in NHL history. Carolina got firs...

Staal shines in Hurricanes 5-3 Game 4 win over Golden Knights

A stretched out Jordan Staal notched his second goal of the game 6:32 into the third period to put the Carolina Hurricanes ahead for good in their back-and-forth 5-3 Game 4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, evening the highly-competitive Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece. The 37-year-old Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four games of the Final and the ninth overall in NHL history. Carolina got first period goals from Logan...

Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights Game 4 Thread

The Vegas Golden Knights gagged up a four-goal third period lead to the Carolina Hurricanes, but still managed to win Game 3 when Shea Theodore’s one-timer from the right point caromed off the end boards and went in off goaltender Brandon Bussi 5:38 into the fifth period. After a scoreless opening frame that saw visiting Carolina largely carry the play, Mitch Marner turned the second period into his own personal highlight reel. Marner drew the second assist on Tomas Hertl’s power-play goa...

Former Panther Bussi may hold key to Carolina Cup win

His stay in South Florida was only a brief three months, but Florida Panthers fans are left to ponder what could’ve been had the Cats decided to go with Brandon Bussi as the backup to Sergei Bobrovksy instead of pending unrestricted free agent Daniil Tarasov. Signed to a one-year, two-way deal on July 1, 2025, the Panthers tried to slip the 27-year-old through waivers to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, only to see him get claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes on October 5. Finally given a...

NHL

Lucky bounce gives Vegas 5-4 double-overtime win over Carolina

In one for the ages, the Vegas Golden Knights gagged up a four-goal third period lead to the cardiac Carolina Hurricanes, but still managed to take Game 3 when Shea Theodore’s one-timer from the right point caromed off the end boards and went in off goaltender Brandon Bussi 5:38 into double overtime. After a scoreless opening frame that saw visiting Carolina largely carry the play, Mitch Marner turned the second period into his own personal highlight reel. Marner drew the secondary assist...

Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights Game 3 Thread

Down by two goals midway through the third period, the Carolina Hurricanes got off the mat and stunningly forged ahead on goals from Logan Stankoven (at 10:20), Mark Jankowski (at 12:46) and Jordan Staal (at 15:25), weathered the storm of a late Mark Stone marker that tied the game with 1:21 remaining in regulation, and then won it when Seth Jarvis uncorked a one-timer that blew up by Carter Hart, with Tomas Hertl off for tripping, 3:56 into overtime that gave the Canes a 4-3 victory over the ...

Big rally in Raleigh! Hurricanes even series with 4-3 overtime win

Trailing by two goals midway through the third period, the Carolina Hurricanes got off the mat and stunningly forged ahead on goals from Logan Stankoven (at 10:20), Mark Jankowski (at 12:46) and Jordan Staal (at 15:25), weathered the storm of a late Mark Stone marker that tied the game with 1:21 remaining in regulation, and then won it when Seth Jarvis unleashed a one-timer that blew up by Carter Hart, with Tomas Hertl in the sin bin, 3:56 into overtime that gave the Canes a 4-3 victory over t...

Carolina Hurricanes vs Vegas Golden Knights Game 2 Thread

Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal with 3:24 remaining in the regulation, converting a sweet give-and-go play with Colton Sissons, to lift the Vegas Golden Knights to a wild 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. The 12-2 Hurricanes, who got a pair of goals from Nikolaj Ehlers, will look to bounce back tonight on home ice to avoid heading west in a deep hole. CAROLINA HURRICANES vs VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS WHEN:  8 ...

Hertl lifts Golden Knights to wild 5-4 win over Hurricanes

Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal with 3:24 remaining in the regulation, converting a sweet give-and-go play with Colton Sissons, to lift the Vegas Golden Knights to a wild 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. After Nikolaj Ehlers scored a pair of first period goals to put the Hurricanes up by two, Shea Theodore’s shot bounced in off the leg of Eric Robinson of at 13:28 to halve the deficit. Ivan Barbashev...

Hertl lifts Golden Knights to wild 5-4 win over Hurricanes

Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal with 3:24 remaining in the regulation, converting a sweet give-and-go play with Colton Sissons, to lift the Vegas Golden Knights to a wild 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. After Nikolaj Ehlers scored a pair of first period goals to put the Hurricanes up by two, Shea Theodore’s shot bounced in off the leg of Eric Robinson of at 13:28 to halve the deficit. Ivan Barbashev...

Carolina Hurricanes vs Vegas Golden Knights Game 1 Thread

The Carolina Hurricanes will host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final tonight at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. To reach the final, the Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers before cruising past the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Vegas eliminated both the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games before delivering a stunning sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche. The Golden Knights took both of the regu...

Barkov and Lundell win gold at Worlds

Florida Panthers Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell are golden after Finland edged host Switzerland 1-0 in overtime at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich when Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius scored an electrifying goal 10:42 into the extra session with Lundell drawing the primary assist. Lundell logged 22:52 of ice time, was credited with four shots on goal, won two of his five draws, and completed the game with a big plus-one rating for the Finns. He finished the tournament with four goa...

LBC’s 2026 NHL Playoff Predictions Contest: Final Round

Alright Florida Panthers fans, the time has come for you to make your selections for the final round of the Litter Box Cats annual playoff predictions contest. There will a total of 21 points up for grabs. 8 points for the series winner 1 point bonus for calling the winner in the correct amount of games 3 points for picking the player who scores the GWG in the clinching game 3 points for picking the Conn Smythe Trophy winner 2 points for picking who will score t...

Barkov shines in Finland’s 4-2 win over Canada

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov scored the tying goal 49 seconds into the second period and then had a hand in Konsta Helenius’ eventual game-winning marker 10:39 later to help Finland knock off Canada 4-2 in the semifinals of the IIHF World Championship in Zurich. Barkov, who was named Finland’s Best Player, logged 19:28 of ice time, was credited with two shots on goal, won seven of his 15 draws, and finished the game with a plus-three rating. He leads Finland in scoring with ...

Hurricanes advance / World Championship GameThread

The Carolina Hurricanes crushed the Montreal Canadiens by a 6-1 count in Game 5 in Raleigh to capture the Prince of Wales Trophy and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since they won their one and only championship in 2006. Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and two assists, Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis each added a goal and a helper, and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves for the 12-1 Hurricanes. Andersen lowered his postseason goals against average to miserly 1.41...