Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Hurricanes Victory Parade Set for Saturday in Downtown Raleigh
Raleigh will host the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup championship parade on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown. The route starts at Hillsborough and St. Mary's Street and ends at Davie Street, followed by a rally at City Plaza. Mayor Janet Cowell has proclaimed June 20 as Carolina Hurricanes Day in honour of the franchise's second Stanley Cup title, won four days earlier with a 3-0 shutout of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena. Free parking is available at five city-owned decks. Fans without access to City Plaza can watch on screens along Fayetteville Street.
Sources: Raleigh.gov
Sabres Move Up Seven Spots, Ship Kesselring to Sharks for 20th Overall Pick
The Buffalo Sabres moved up seven spots in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Tuesday, trading defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th overall selection, originally acquired by San Jose from Edmonton. Kesselring, 26, recorded two assists in 34 games for Buffalo this season and was frequently a healthy scratch. The Sabres, hosting the draft at KeyBank Center on June 26-27, now hold picks 20th, 124th, 156th, and 188th. The deal allows Buffalo to target a higher-profile prospect in a draft class headlined by wing Gavin McKenna and defender Chase Reid.
Sources: Pro Hockey Rumors
Maple Leafs Deal Goalie Woll and Benoit to Flyers in Pre-Draft Four-Player Swap
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in exchange for goalie Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick. The deal is the first notable move for new Leafs general manager John Chayka. Woll, who went 15-16-7 with a .899 save percentage this past season, will pair in Philadelphia with Dan Vladar, whom the Flyers are nearing a long-term extension with. Ersson, 26, posted an .870 save percentage in 30 games with the Flyers in 2025-26. Andrae, 24, contributed two goals and 13 points in 61 games.
Ross Colton Heads to Nashville as Predators' New GM MacFarland Makes First Move
The Nashville Predators acquired forward Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday for goaltender Magnus Chrona and third-round picks in 2026 and 2027. The move is the first by new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland, who previously served four seasons as Colorado's GM before joining Nashville on June 2. Colton, 29, posted 24 points in 73 regular-season games with the Avalanche in 2025-26. MacFarland called Colton a versatile, two-way winger who adds sandpaper and grit to Nashville's middle-six forward group as the Predators begin rebuilding under new leadership ahead of July 1 free agency.
Sources: Nashville Predators / NHL.com
NHL Buyout Window Opens Wednesday; Teams Have Until June 30 to Cut Contracts
The NHL's first buyout window of the 2026 offseason opened Wednesday, June 17, and runs through June 30 at 5 p.m. ET. Teams may buy out players on their reserve list as of the 2026 trade deadline carrying a cap hit of at least four million dollars. For players 26 and older, buyouts are two-thirds of remaining salary, spread across twice the remaining contract length. The window opened 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concluded June 14 with Carolina's victory. With free agency starting July 1 and the draft set for June 26-27 in Buffalo, teams face critical roster decisions over the next two weeks.
Sources: TSN
McKenna or Stenberg? Experts Split on No. 1 Pick with Draft Eight Days Away
With the 2026 NHL Draft eight days away in Buffalo, scouts and analysts remain divided over whether the Toronto Maple Leafs should select Penn State winger Gavin McKenna or Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg with the first overall pick. NHL.com's scouting panel sees McKenna as the frontrunner owing to his 84-point, 67-game OHL season with Brantford, while others favour Stenberg for a more complete two-way game. San Jose holds the second pick, with most projections targeting OHL defenseman Chase Reid. Centre Caleb Malhotra of Brantford is projected to go third, to Vancouver. The first round takes place Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Sources: NHL.com
Hurricanes Offseason: Andersen Decision Headlines Cup Champions' Roster Questions
Fresh off their second Stanley Cup title, the Carolina Hurricanes enter the 2026 offseason with two key roster decisions headlining their summer. Goaltender Frederik Andersen is an unrestricted free agent after posting a .931 save percentage, 1.41 goals against average, and three shutouts through the first three playoff rounds. The 36-year-old's future with Carolina is uncertain given the team's commitment to 2025-26 All-Rookie Team selection Brandon Bussi, who is under contract through 2028-29. Restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin is also due a new deal. Carolina holds an estimated eleven million dollars in projected cap space entering the offseason.
Sources: Bleacher Report
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
First Round: Hurricanes def. Senators — 4–0
Conf. Semifinals: Hurricanes def. Flyers — 4–0
Conf. Finals: Hurricanes def. Canadiens — 4–1
Western Conference
First Round: Golden Knights def. Utah Mammoth — 4–2
Conf. Semifinals: Golden Knights def. Ducks — 4–2
Conf. Finals: Golden Knights def. Avalanche — 4–0
🏆 Stanley Cup Final
Carolina Hurricanes def. Vegas Golden Knights — 4–2 | Game 6: CAR 3, VGK 0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.