Indeed, the teams with the two best records reached the Cup semifinals (or conference final) the same time in just six of these past 36 tournaments.

Veteran forward Jeff Skinner joined the San Jose Sharks after signing a one-year, $3 million contract last week, following a Stanley Cup Final run with the Edmonton Oilers.

Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan will make his debut behind the New York Rangers' bench against his former team, part of the NHL's season-opening tripleheader on Oct. 7.

The Golden Knights won free agency by acquiring the only 100-plus point-scorer on the market and one of the best wingers in the league for the better half of the decade in Marner. They resolved a hole in the lineup on the wing, and it's no surprise to see them back in the Cup conversation.

The “Stanley Cup Hangover” seemed to zap many teams until 2025. The Florida Panthers ended a long drought by winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and '25, becoming the first team to repeat since the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. Before that, no team had done it since the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

Shortly after the Panthers won it all, the NHL offseason was in full swing with the 2025 draft and free agency taking place. The majority of the league's unrestricted free agents have already signed with new teams, which means that the 2025-26 season is coming into a clearer view.

Let's start with a recap: On June 28, Yzerman traded for goaltender John Gibson by sending Petr Mrazek and two draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Starting July 1 in free agency, Yzerman signed forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton, and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Nate Schmidt, in his first news conference since becoming a Stanley Cup champion and signing with the Utah Mammoth, was asked Thursday if he could sum up his last five years. “Man, there’s a lot to go (into) there,