NHL Hockey 8 Hours

Last updated: June 29, 2026, 2:31 AM ET

NHL Draft & Player Movement

The NHL draft saw unprecedented heights as the San Jose Sharks selected 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov, making him the tallest player ever drafted by an NHL franchise tallest ever drafted. In other draft news, the Pittsburgh Penguins made a family-first selection, drafting twins Marcus and Liam Ruck draft both twins. Player movement also continued, with the New York Rangers acquiring leading scorer Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for multiple first-round picks land RFA Dorofeyev. The St. Louis Blues bolstered their defense by acquiring Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a pair of third-round picks acquire Carlo.

Team Roster Updates & Injury Concerns

The Carolina Hurricanes are facing a significant early-season challenge as leading goal scorer Seth Jarvis is expected to miss four to six months due to shoulder surgery, jeopardizing his availability for the start of their Stanley Cup defense shelve Jarvis 4-6 month. In a move to potentially bolster their blue line, the Hurricanes also acquired the rights to unrestricted free agent defenseman John Carlson in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks acquire Carlson rights. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators signed forward Jack Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract, just days after acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche sign new addition Drury.

Coaching Changes & Playoff Projections

In a stunning development, the Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Kris Knoblauch, who led the team to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025 Oilers fire Knoblauch. With the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class recently announced, speculation is already turning to potential candidates for the 2027 induction class Hockey Hall of Fame 2027. Conference Final predictions and picks from computer simulations were released for several series, including the Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Avs Game 1 picks and Game 2 Avs Game 2 picks, as well as the Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Game 5 Canes-Canadiens Game 5 picks. One simulation also offered predictions for the Canadiens vs. Sabres Game 7 Sabres Game 7 picks. The Canadiens' loss in their series marked the continuation of Canada's 33-year Stanley Cup drought Canada's Cup drought. Analysis also suggested that the Presidents' Trophy curse is a misnomer, with winning the Cup simply being a difficult feat no Presidents' Trophy curse. Mitch Marner's performance in the second round of the playoffs was highlighted as he rewrites reputation.