The Carolina Hurricanes have informed general manager candidates that the organization plans to fill the vacancy internally, sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.
Don Waddell, the Canes' GM for the last six seasons, resigned from his post May 24. Eric Tulsky has been serving as Carolina's interim GM ever since, with the support of fellow assistant Darren Yorke.
Tulsky holds a B.A. in chemistry and physics from Harvard, as well as a Ph.D. in chemistry from Cal. He's interviewed for other NHL GM openings in the past and has long been considered a bright, up-and-coming executive.
Tulsky got his start with Carolina as a consultant in 2014 after the club took notice of his usage of analytics as a blogger. He's been working his way up the organization ever since, becoming a hockey analyst for the club in 2015, the manager of hockey analytics in 2017, and the vice president of hockey management and strategy in 2018. Tulsky was named assistant GM in 2020.
The Stanley Cup Final can make or break how a player goes down in history. "He could never win the big one" or "this guy was a winner" can sometimes be the difference between being remembered as a great player and a legendary one.
So, what's on the line from an individual legacy standpoint in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers?
McDavid can enter GOAT conversation π
Paul Swanson / NHL / Getty Images
We're not crowning Connor McDavid as the best player ever if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, just to be clear. But winning a ring would, at the very least, get McDavid a seat at the table with all-time greats Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, and Sidney Crosby. There's a case to be made McDavid should already be there, but he needs a ring to be a serious threat.
It's infinitely harder to win a Stanley Cup in today's 32-team, salary-capped NHL than it was in Orr's 12-team NHL, or Gretzky's 21-team NHL. Hockey is also not an individual sport. But if McDavid never wins a ring, it'll always hang over him. That's the reality - whether it's fair or not.
It's easy to think the 27-year-old will have further chances to win Stanley Cups, but you just never know. This opportunity cannot be taken for granted.
It may be impossible for a player in today's game to dominate the way Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr did in their eras against plumbers and construction workers. The playing field is just so deep now, and everyone has elite conditioning. But McDavid is about as dominant as it gets.
He's already led the league in points five times in his nine NHL campaigns. Among players with at least 500 points, McDavid ranks third behind Gretzky and Lemieux in points per game despite playing in a lower-scoring era. He's also delivered in the postseason, ranking third behind Gretzky and Lemieux in playoff points per game.
McDavid is arguably the most electrifying player the game has ever seen. All that's missing is a Stanley Cup ring - and maybe a Conn Smythe Trophy to put the icing on the cake.
Bobrovsky can lock up 1st-ballot HOF status π
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
This would've sounded crazy three years ago. Sergei Bobrovsky looked to be on the decline in his first two seasons with the Panthers, and his contract was viewed as one of the NHL's worst. But he's completely flipped the script on his career since. He posted excellent regular seasons in 2021-22 and 2023-24, and he carried the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023.
The Panthers haven't needed Bobrovsky to be as spectacular this postseason, but he's still been solid, recording a .908 save percentage and a 2.20 goals against average.
A Stanley Cup ring is the only thing missing on the 35-year-old's resume. We've seen how crucial that is for a goalie to get into the Hall of Fame, as evidenced by the recent inductions for Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon over the likes of Curtis Joseph.
Bobrovsky is already a safe bet to make the Hall of Fame. He's earned two Vezina Trophies, and 28 more game wins will move him into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time wins list. He's only 64 victories shy of passing Henrik Lundqvist for sole possession of sixth all time, too. But getting that Cup ring would all but guarantee Bobrovsky's inducted on his first try.
Skinner can become favorite to start for Canada π¨π¦
Gary A. Vasquez / National Hockey League / Getty
Last offseason, Adin Hill was the sexy pick to be Canada's No. 1 goalie at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Olympics after backing the Vegas Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup. If the Oilers prevail, Stuart Skinner will undoubtedly find himself in that same position.
This speaks more to the current state of Canadian goaltending than it does to Skinner. His competition for Canada's crease includes Hill, Logan Thompson, Jordan Binnington, Tristan Jarry, and perhaps a few others - not exactly a star-studded bunch for hockey's most storied nation. Whoever's playing the best leading up to the tournaments will most likely get the nod. But if Skinner helps Edmonton win the Cup, he'll certainly have a leg up on the competition - at least for the 4 Nations.
Skinner was abysmal in his first eight games of the 2024 playoffs, posting an .877 save percentage before he was benched for a couple games in favor of journeyman Calvin Pickard. But he's bounced back nicely with a .919 save percentage in eight games since his return.
If Skinner starts for Canada at the 4 Nations, he'd join some pretty elite company. The list of best-on-best tournament primary starters for Canada over the last 30 years includes Joseph ('96 World Cup), Patrick Roy ('98 Olympics), Martin Brodeur ('02 Olympics, '04 World Cup, '06 Olympics), Roberto Luongo ('10 Olympics), and Carey Price ('14 Olympics, '16 World Cup).
Barkov can join 2-way forward lore π
Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty
Patrice Bergeron is widely considered the best defensive forward of all time with his record six Selke Trophies. But as far as the greatest two-way centers in league history go, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov can match Bergeron's trophy pace through their age-28 seasons - with a sizable offensive edge.
Stat
Bergeron
Barkov
GP
659
737
G
183
266
A
312
445
P/GP
0.75
0.96
Selkes
2
2
Cups
1
?
Bergeron aged like a fine wine, winning five more Selke Trophies between the ages of 29 and 37. Barkov could do the same thing - especially now that Bergeron is retired. Barkov will surely enter 2024-25 season as the favorite to win the award again.
Barkov is also in the midst of cementing his legacy during what's been an incredible playoff run. He ranks second on the Panthers with 17 points in as many games and leads the team with a 60.8% five-on-five expected goals share, per Evolving-Hockey. That mark also leads all remaining postseason skaters.
The Finnish center has played an integral role in shutting down the opposition. Florida has faced three of the league's best offensive players through three rounds - Nikita Kucherov, David Pastrnak, and Artemi Panarin - but Barkov and the Panthers have limited them to two goals combined. If Barkov can help contain McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, he's a safe bet to win the Conn Smythe.
Barkov can become just the ninth player in NHL history with multiple Selkes and a Stanley Cup. Only Hall of Famer Bob Gainey was won multiple Selkes, a Stanley Cup, and a Conn Smythe.
Half the teams in the NHL have inquired about the Carolina Hurricanes forward, including the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Necas is a pending restricted free agent who can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Necas recorded 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games this past season as a winger. He produced a career-high 71 points in 82 games in 2022-23 while splitting time between center and wing.
Necas also helped Czechia win gold at the 2024 World Championship, contributing seven points in five games as a late addition.
He's projected to earn $8.8 million annually on an eight-year contract, per Evolving-Hockey.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he intends to be aggressive this offseason.
"If we can get a player, if we can trade up in the draft, we have to look at any way that we can improve this team," Hughes told LeBrun. "We won't be limited to something that has to make us better next season. But if it does, call that icing on the cake."
Montreal has also reconnected with the Anaheim Ducks about Trevor Zegras, LeBrun notes. The Ducks are reportedly listening to offers for the 2022 Calder Trophy runner-up.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, doesn't appear to be as aggressive as Montreal, but general manager Daniel Briere is keeping an open mind.
"Don't expect much movement from us, as far as free agency," Briere said. "But we're always open to hockey trades if there's something that makes sense to help our team, both in the future but also in the short term if it fits our timeline."
Half the teams in the NHL have inquired about the Carolina Hurricanes forward, including the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Necas is a pending restricted free agent who can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Necas recorded 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games this past season as a winger. He produced a career-high 71 points in 82 games in 2022-23 while splitting time between center and wing.
Necas also helped Czechia win gold at the 2024 World Championship, contributing seven points in five games as a late addition.
He's projected to earn $8.8 million annually on an eight-year contract, per Evolving-Hockey.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he intends to be aggressive this offseason.
"If we can get a player, if we can trade up in the draft, we have to look at any way that we can improve this team," Hughes told LeBrun. "We won't be limited to something that has to make us better next season. But if it does, call that icing on the cake."
Montreal has also reconnected with the Anaheim Ducks about Trevor Zegras, LeBrun notes. The Ducks are reportedly listening to offers for the 2022 Calder Trophy runner-up.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, doesn't appear to be as aggressive as Montreal, but general manager Daniel Briere is keeping an open mind.
"Don't expect much movement from us, as far as free agency," Briere said. "But we're always open to hockey trades if there's something that makes sense to help our team, both in the future but also in the short term if it fits our timeline."
Sam Reinhart and the Florida Panthers have immediate business to take care of against the Edmonton Oilers, but the two sides continue to have a "strong mutual desire" to get an extension done after the Stanley Cup Final, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Reinhart is considered the top unrestricted free agent to potentially hit the open market on July 1. He's coming off his best season, racking up a career-high 57 goals and 94 points, buoyed by an NHL-best 24.5 shooting percentage. Reinhart also has eight goals and four assists in 17 playoff games.
The 28-year-old posted his previous career high of 33 goals in 2021-22. Reinhart averaged 76 points per 82 games in his first two seasons with Florida, recording a 15.5 shooting percentage.
Evolving-Hockey projects Reinhart to sign an eight-year deal with a $11.13-million cap hit if he stays with Florida. That would make him the Panthers' highest-paid player over captain Aleksander Barkov and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who each make $10 million annually.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch pointed to Connor McDavid as the best player on the ice following Edmonton's Western Conference Final-clinching victory in Game 6 Sunday, but it appears the captain would disagree.
Despite McDavid leading the postseason in scoring with 31 points, the Oilers superstar credited goaltender Stuart Skinner for sending Edmonton to its first Stanley Cup Final since 2006.
"Can't say enough good things. I think (Skinner) learned a lot from last year's playoffs, and he's putting it to good use," McDavid said postgame. "A lot of people doubt him, a lot of people say things about him. He's an elite goaltender - he really is. He was so good for us all series long, gave us a chance every single night. Tonight, he absolutely stole one for us."
Skinner made 34 saves in Sunday's 2-1 victory, securing the win for the Oilers even though the Dallas Stars outshot them 35-10 in the contest.
"He was unbelievable tonight," McDavid added. "We're not sitting up here talking about a win if it wasn't for him. We're on a plane to Dallas if it wasn't for Stu."
Skinner finished the Western Conference Final series with a .923 save percentage. However, it hasn't been the smoothest playoffs for the netminder, who Edmonton benched in favor of Calvin Pickard for two games in Round 2 against the Vancouver Canucks. Skinner has compiled a .897 save percentage in 16 postseason games this year.
Ups and downs also filled Skinner's 2023-24 regular season. He was partially to blame for the Oilers' slow start, posting an abysmal .854 save percentage in the campaign's first eight games. Skinner recorded a .913 mark over his final 51 contests.
For Skinner, an Edmonton native, stepping up and leading the Oilers to a Stanley Cup Final is a dream come true.
"Moments like this, it's really hard to say. It's very cool. It's a lot more than cool, but it's very exciting," Skinner said, adding he idolized Dwayne Roloson growing up.
Skinner has been a critical piece to Edmonton's play while down a man. The Oilers have killed 28 straight penalties - six back of tying the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup Playoff record. Dallas didn't score a power-play goal all series.
Skinner acknowledged his teammates for the club's success.
"The commitment to blocking shots at the right times, guys are doing absolutely everything that we possibly can to get the puck out," Skinner said. "Being able to grind in the corners. It truly is just the little things that the guys really focused on. That was a huge difference."
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice had nothing but good things to say about Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin after Florida eliminated New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday.
Maurice called Shesterkin's goaltending performance the best he had witnessed in over 20 years.
"I haven't seen a series by a goaltender like that since Jose Theodore in 2002," Maurice said postgame. "He won the Hart Trophy that year. We had a very similar experience until the last game where he was just lights out."
Maurice added: "(Shesterkin) was brilliant in this series."
Theodore posted a .931 save percentage in the 2001-02 campaign to earn the NHL's MVP award. He led the Montreal Canadiens to a major upset over the Boston Bruins in Round 1 that year but lost to the Maurice-led Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2. Theodore sported a .966 save percentage in the first three games of that series against Carolina before coming down to earth. Maurice's Canes lost in the 2002 Stanley Cup Final.
Shesterkin was undoubtedly the Rangers' best player of the 2024 postseason. He recorded a .926 save percentage in the playoffs, including a .930 mark in the Eastern Conference Final.
However, the Rangers weren't entirely great in front of their netminder, getting outshot in 13 of 16 games this postseason and surrendering an average of 33 shots per contest.
"He had a heck of a series. I thought Igor was outstanding," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said. "We controlled some of the volume and brought some of the chances down, but at the end of the day, they're still a dangerous team, and they're capable of creating. You're sitting there at 1-0, and he had to make a couple of really big saves to keep it at 1-0 to allow us to continue to push. I thought he was excellent. He was fantastic the entire series."
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice had nothing but good things to say about Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin after Florida eliminated New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday.
Maurice called Shesterkin's goaltending performance the best he had witnessed in over 20 years.
"I haven't seen a series by a goaltender like that since Jose Theodore in 2002," Maurice said postgame. "He won the Hart Trophy that year. We had a very similar experience until the last game where he was just lights out."
Maurice added: "(Shesterkin) was brilliant in this series."
Theodore posted a .931 save percentage in the 2001-02 campaign to earn the NHL's MVP award. He led the Montreal Canadiens to a major upset over the Boston Bruins in Round 1 that year but lost to the Maurice-led Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2. Theodore sported a .966 save percentage in the first three games of that series against Carolina before coming down to earth. Maurice's Canes lost in the 2002 Stanley Cup Final.
Shesterkin was undoubtedly the Rangers' best player of the 2024 postseason. He recorded a .926 save percentage in the playoffs, including a .930 mark in the Eastern Conference Final.
However, the Rangers weren't entirely great in front of their netminder, getting outshot in 13 of 16 games this postseason and surrendering an average of 33 shots per contest.
"He had a heck of a series. I thought Igor was outstanding," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said. "We controlled some of the volume and brought some of the chances down, but at the end of the day, they're still a dangerous team, and they're capable of creating. You're sitting there at 1-0, and he had to make a couple of really big saves to keep it at 1-0 to allow us to continue to push. I thought he was excellent. He was fantastic the entire series."
The Florida Panthers aren't taking any chances this year.
After touching the Prince of Wales Trophy when they won the Eastern Conference in 2023 - ahead of losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final - the Panthers avoided doing so in 2024.
Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer owned up Saturday to letting his emotions get the better of him after Friday night's loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
DeBoer got into a heated exchange with Dallas Morning News columnist and ESPN personality Tim Cowlishaw after the Stars' 3-1 loss in Game 5. DeBoer took offense to a question from Cowlishaw that the bench boss perceived to be criticizing his team's character.
"You can sit here and question our character if you want," DeBoer said Friday. "You haven't been around all year, I haven't seen you here all year."
DeBoer wasn't having it when Cowlishaw insisted he wasn't questioning the Stars' character.
"You are, that's what you're doing," DeBoer said. "I'm not gonna do it. You go ahead and write whatever the fuck you want."
On Saturday, DeBoer took a more amicable tone when Cowlishaw asked whether the Stars already having won two in a row in the series after trailing helps them in the same situation now.
"That's a good question, Tim," DeBoer said with a laugh, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "Let's do a redo. Yeah, I mean and again, I think to last night, if I had a redo on your question, what I would tell you is, this team, and I'm not saying you were - I took it that way in an emotional moment after the game - but the one thing we can't question in our group in my mind is our commitment, our care, our character.
"This group was in third place in the division (with) eight weeks left in the season, won the conference, found a way to push for the Presidents' Trophy, was down against the last two Stanley Cup champions in Round 1 and 2, including 2-0 going on the road into Vegas, got off the mat, (and) found a way to win both those series," he continued. "I get the question. I get how it felt last night, but I've got full confidence in the character in our room."
DeBoer also gave Cowlishaw credit for making "a really fair point" when he noted the bench boss has had to stretch the Stars' defense, thereby making them more fatigued. However, the head coach added he won't use that as an excuse.
The question Cowlishaw posed Friday about Dallas' "lifeless" second period stems from the Stars' overall slow start to the game. The Stars failed to respond after a sluggish opening 20 minutes, allowing the Oilers to score twice in the first 5:09 of the middle frame to take a 3-0 lead. Dallas had only recorded five shots on net at that point.
Dallas got going in the third period, but it was too little too late. For the game, the Oilers outshot the Stars 26-20 and controlled 56.2% of the expected goals at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
The Stars find themselves on the brink of elimination, but they've shown plenty of fight so far in these playoffs. They stormed back against the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1, taking the series in seven games despite dropping the first two contests at home. Four of their 10 wins this postseason have been comebacks.
Edmonton can advance to the Stanley Cup Final with a victory in Game 6 on Sunday.
