By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

If you're looking to back a long shot to advance to the 2026 Stanley Cup final, the following four teams represent my best predictions of the bunch.

Eastern Conference 

Pittsburgh Penguins (+10000)

Backing the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Eastern Conference is my best long-shot play, thanks to various factors.

First, no team is less likely to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final. That’s right, even the East's 15th-place Buffalo Sabres have shorter NHL odds (+8000) to win the conference. 

You might have to re-read that sentence a few times to let it sink in. 

Sidney Crosby is on a pace for a career-best 59 goals. Only once before in his illustrious career did he break the 50-goal threshold, when he netted 51 in 2009-10. 

And while most of the Pens' stats have regressed, they are still getting solid goaltending from the resurgent Tristan Jarry and have the best power play (33.3 percent) and fourth-best penalty kill (84.9 percent). 

If you ask me, those factors alone merit a better chance of making the Stanley Cup than the 0.99 percent oddsmakers have them pegged at.

Ottawa Senators (+1800)

Picking the Ottawa Senators to make it to their first Stanley Cup final since 2007 is more a reflection of how wide open the Eastern Conference is. 

The Sens are second in the Atlantic Division despite playing without captain Brady Tkachuk for most of the campaign, while receiving consistently subpar play from Linus Ullmark. 

Ullmark's numbers don’t instill much confidence, but he's 4-1-0 in his last five starts, and Tkachuk has returned to the lineup. 

Let’s see how the team’s trajectory changes once the captain recaptures peak game sharpness. Their +1800 NHL odds represent a 5.26 percent chance.

Western Conference 

Anaheim Ducks (+2200)

What neutral hockey fan doesn’t want to see the youthful Anaheim Ducks go on a fairy-tale run? 

I would have laughed hysterically had you told me before the season that Anaheim would be atop the Pacific Division after 26 games. The only ones laughing now are Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and the Ducks' band of effervescent upstarts, who, scoring 3.62 goals per game, boast the second-most prolific offense. 

They have the sixth-best points percentage (.635), tied with the New Jersey Devils, and Carlsson is tied with Connor McDavid for fourth in scoring. 

Lukas Dostal, meanwhile, has the 12th-best goals saved above expected (10.1).

The Ducks' +2200 odds of making it to their first final since winning it all in 2007 carry an implied probability of 4.35 percent.

Odds For The Five Most Likely Stanley Cup FinalistsWill the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet yet again in the Stanley Cup final? Will the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes break their conference final curses?

Minnesota Wild (+2500)

The Minnesota Wild have gotten their act together since a stretch of eight losses in nine games. Since Nov. 1, they have the second-best points percentage (.867), behind only the high-flying Colorado Avalanche (.929). 

Minnesota's recent seven-game win streak was thanks primarily to Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt's dominance. The tandem has secured five shutouts in their past 11 games, four of which were by Wallstedt. 

The 23-year-old netminder, who is 8-0-2, has five shutouts in his first 15 games in the NHL, quickly becoming one of the stories of the season.

If he and Gustavsson maintain their otherworldly form, I believe the Wild pose a threat even to the most formidable Western Conference opponents. 

The one constant in a pretty unpredictable season is the Avalanche sitting at the top of the NHL standings and power rankings. 

With only one regulation loss and a league-best plus-50 goal differential, they're burying everyone.

The separation between the Avs and the rest of the league is huge, and it's not an exaggeration to say they might be the best team in the Salary Cap Era. The 2022-23 Bruins that finished with 135 points had a plus-128 goal differential, and the Avs might blow right past that mark. Imagine what the Avs can do if they improve their 25th-ranked power play.

The Wild are the newest entry into the top five of the NHL power rankings this week, largely due to the play of the 'Wall of St. Paul,' Jesper Wallstedt. Their big Swedish tandem of Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson have been brick walls akin to the ones in Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, and in six starts Wallstedt has vaulted to the top of the league with four shutouts. 

We're starting to see more separation in the West with the Preds, Flames, Blues and Canucks very unlikely to make the playoffs. Mathematically, they're certainly still in contention, but you look at their play so far, and the outlook is bleak. A string of losing streaks from teams such as the Kraken, Mammoth, Jets and Oilers has kept the door wide open – it just doesn't seem like anyone's been able to take advantage.

In the East, even the last-place Sabres are just five points out of a playoff spot, and they've picked it up with six wins in their past nine games.

1. Colorado Avalanche (19-1-6, +50. PR: 1)

Parity feels like it's at an all-time high, and the Avs are just speedrunning through the regular season. I have no other notes. Moving on…

2. Minnesota Wild (15-7-5, +6. PR: 7)

Unbelievable run by Jesper Wallstedt, who needed just six starts to take over as the league leader in shutouts. Filip Gustavsson has been good, too, and the Wild have not lost in regulation since Nov. 6.

3. Dallas Stars (17-5-5, +21. PR: 2)

The Stars aren't getting enough credit for how well they're playing despite missing several key players, and they lost Tyler Seguin for an extended period of time after he left the game against the Rangers with an ACL injury.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-8-2, +18. PR: 5)

Is this the year Jon Cooper finally wins the Jack Adams?! I bet you can't name four players on the Lightning blue line right now, and despite numerous injuries to numerous key players, the Lightning are somehow in the top five.

5. Anaheim Ducks (16-9-1, +12. PR: 3)

The Ducks are so good they helped Ville Husso win a game. They've cooled off a little bit following their seven-game winning streak, but with a third-string goalie in net, they're still finding ways to win. That's a sign they're legit.

NHL Jack Adams Award Rankings: Ducks' Quenneville, Penguins' Muse LeadDo the Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins have a rookie NHL coach who could win the Jack Adams Award? Will Jon Cooper finally earn the honor? Here's this month's top five.

6. Carolina Hurricanes (16-7-2, +16. PR: 4)

So… is Brandon Bussi their new No. 1? The Canes will return to action on Thursday after a three-day break, and it'll be interesting to see who starts in net going forward. The knock against Frederik Andersen is that he's really good but never healthy, but this season, he just hasn't been very good at all, losing five straight with a .878 SP on the season.

7. Washington Capitals (16-9-2, +21. PR: 19)

Pretty amazing what an 8-1-1 run will do in a league that has been so tight. The Caps were 8-8-2 just two weeks ago, 15th in points percentage this time last week and now enter Wednesday's games ranked sixth. Logan Thompson and Tom Wilson are making impeccable cases to be included on the Canadian Olympic team.

8. New Jersey Devils (16-9-1, +4. PR: 9)

After a hot start, the Devils just can’t seem to get into a rhythm, winning three games but then subsequently losing to the Flyers and Jackets on home ice with 10 goals allowed. 

9. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7, -4. PR: 6)

All of a sudden, winning games seems to have become very difficult. Both of their recent regulation wins came against the Sens in one-goal games, and they've lost three of their past four games in extra time. They've failed to score more than two goals in six of their past eight games.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (12-6-8, +1. PR: 14)

If Carter Hart can at least solve some of their goaltending woes, the Knights might go on a run. Last season, they went 19-5-4 following two separate four-game losing streaks. They went 0-2-2 to cap off a six-game homestand and 0-2-2 to finish November before winning against the Sharks and Hawks. The wins showed the Knights aren't going anywhere despite a clear changing of the guard with the West's upstart teams.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-11-2, -11. PR: 10)

A win against the Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak, but it was a close call with the Wings allowing two goals late in the third period. It doesn't seem like either John Gibson or Cam Talbot really wants the starting job. By the way, Sebastian Cossa just won goalie of the month honors in the AHL, so… 

12. Ottawa Senators (13-9-4, -2. PR: 11)

Getting Brady Tkachuk back is huge, and the Sens are somehow grinding their way up the standings without a top scorer and really mediocre goaltending. Coming out of a seven-game road trip with a 4-3-0 record, where they had to play the Pacific's best and then stop in Dallas and Montreal, was pretty impressive.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-5, +8. PR: 17)

I'm convinced that as long as Sidney Crosby is wearing the black and gold, the Pens will never be a bad team. Buoyed by the league's best power play – who saw that coming?! – the Pens are in a good position to make the playoffs. Aside from a lousy stretch from late October to mid-November, when there was a ton of travel, the Pens have been much better than expected on defense and in net, the two areas considered their weaknesses coming into the season.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (14-8-3, +2. PR: 20)

The Flyers are 6-3-0 with some impressive wins, and like the in-state rival, they've been much better than expected thanks to some above-average goaltending. The best part is that their rivalry with the Pens is so much more interesting when both teams are competitive, especially when you have Trevor Zegras – of all people – trying to goad the Pens into doing something stupid. 

15. San Jose Sharks (13-11-3, -7. PR: 13)

The wins following a 6-0 loss to the Avs and 4-3 to the Knights showed the Sharks can be a really resilient bunch. With the Macklin Celebrini-Will Smith combo thriving and Yaroslav Askarov playing up to his potential, the only thing missing now is a marquee defenseman. 

16. Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6, +6. PR: 12)

Connor Bedard is truly a human highlight reel and worth watching even though the Hawks are mired in a 1-4-2 slump. Other than a 9-3 drubbing by the Sabres, the silver lining is all of those losses were by just one goal. 

17. New York Islanders (14-10-3, even. PR: 15)

It's been a tough homestand so far, with only one regulation win. The Isles suddenly look like the Isles of old, once again having a lot of trouble scoring goals. 

18. Seattle Kraken (11-7-6, -7. PR: 16)

The Kraken may have 11 wins, but they rank third-last in regulation wins with seven. It's been difficult for them to get on a sustained run of any kind, and injuries certainly are not helping. Once they got Jared McCann back, Jaden Schwartz went out.

19. Winnipeg Jets (13-12-0, +2. PR: 8)

Did anyone think the Jets would be good without Connor Hellebuyck? Their scoring has certainly dried up, which doesn't help at all, and they've now lost five of their past six, sitting two points out of a playoff spot. 

20. Montreal Canadiens (13-9-3, -8. PR: 21)

Much better than previous weeks when they lost seven of eight, but a three-game winning streak was brought to an ugly halt with two straight losses and 12 goals allowed. There's a big gap between Nick Suzuki and whoever they deem to be their No. 2 center, and along with subpar goaltending, it's been killing them.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping AroundIt's speculated that the Montreal Canadiens could once again draw on their blueline depth to acquire a forward, while the Ottawa Senators continue to explore the trade market for roster depth.

21. New York Rangers (14-12-2, +2. PR: 26)

The Rangers played a good game at home… and won?! Things will be really tough without Adam Fox, but this may be the sort of thing that galvanizes an underperforming unit. Tough matchups loom against the Avs and Knights, and it'll be important to keep their momentum going, having won four of their past five.

22. Boston Bruins (15-13-0, -4. PR: 22)

It's a good thing they banked 14 points during their winning streak, because since then, they're 4-6-0 with only two regulation wins.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs (12-11-3, -1. PR: 28)

Just… maybe? Leafs Land feels hopeful again after a 7-2 win against the Pens and a 4-1 win against the Panthers, both on the road. 

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-9-5, -7. PR: 24)

All these games going into extra time just feels like a coin flip. The Jackets are 1-1-3 in their past five but could easily be 3-1-1 if the bounces went their way. The margins are tiny and the Jackets are still only two points out of a playoff spot. 

25. Florida Panthers (12-12-1, -5. PR: 18)

Last week, I mused whether the Oilers would miss the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup final again, becoming the only team to do so twice following 2006. The East is tighter, so it's harder to say, but could the Panthers join this ignominious club? It truly feels like 2006 again.

26. Buffalo Sabres (11-11-4, -6. PR: 25)

Slow and steady, right? Getting Josh Norris back was huge, and the Sabres have now won six of their past nine as they try and move out of the league basement. 

27. Edmonton Oilers (11-11-5, -15. PR: 27)

Sometimes they can't defend, sometimes they can't score. Sometimes they can't buy a save, and sometimes they shut out their opponents. The only thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the Oilers look spent, often making simple errors with the puck. An upcoming stretch where they face the Kraken, Jets, Sabres, Wings and Leafs is crucial because the West's general mediocrity is still leaving the door wide open.

28. St. Louis Blues (9-11-7, -26. PR: 30)

Are we sure Jordan Binnington should be starting for Team Canada? At what point does goodwill run out? After getting pulled against the Ducks, Binnington appeared to have strong words for Jim Montgomery, but it wasn't just that game. Binnington ranks 64th out of 79 goalies in total goals saved above average at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com.

29. Utah Mammoth (12-12-3, -3. PR: 23)

They have so much talent on paper, yet they have the league's worst-ranked power play. They started off hot, but they've struggled mightily since, losing four straight and 11 of their past 14. 

30. Nashville Predators (9-13-4, -24. PR: 32)

Barry Trotz's criticism might've sparked something because they've won three of their past four. I wouldn't be surprised if reports of 'toxic' environment help galvanize a veteran team that doesn't need reminding of how poorly they've been playing. There are captains, former captains and Stanley Cup champions in that dressing room.

31. Calgary Flames (9-15-4, -21. PR: 29)

The Flames were perking up, but then lost three of their next four, including an ugly 5-1 loss to the Preds, where they trailed 4-0 going into the third period. You can't embarrass yourself like that in a matchup to see who the league's worst team might be. Fortunately for them, neither of them is the worst team this week.

32. Vancouver Canucks (10-14-3, -18. PR: 31)

Quinn Hughes is playing so much, and the Canucks are leaning on him so heavily, you wonder if he has enough in the tank to last all season. The Canucks have lost nine of their past 11 and simply do not defend well enough to really give themselves – or their goalies – a real chance to win. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind heads back to Dec. 3 on three different years in Boston Bruins history.

Dec. 3, 1924, was the Bruins' first humbling on-ice moment in their first-ever road game. Dec. 3, 1929, was the beginning of something historic. And Dec. 3, 1987, featured a moment that left a Bruins legend speechless.

Watch the NHL Nugget video for all the information.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.

Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt has been unbelievable this season.

In 10 games, the Swedish netminder has eight wins and four shutouts, with his latest coming on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

With an 8-0-2 record, he became the sixth rookie in NHL history with a 10-game season-opening point streak and first since Los Angeles Kings netminder Robb Stauber in 1992.

Wallstedt also became the first goaltender in more than 61 years with five shutouts at the time of his 10th career win.

With all these incredible records and a red-hot start to this campaign, fans and media around the league are taking notice of the 'Great Wall of St. Paul.'

"Wallstedt is Rookie of the year and it is not even becoming close," @JohnTravis16325 posted on X.

"He's gotta be on team Sweden in Milan, right????  Right????" @HeH8Me_ wrote.

"How long do we wait before the word 'Vezina' is mentioned?" @BruceBurniece posted.

The fans of Minnesota, and hockey fans in general, are well aware that the Oilers, the squad Wallstedt just blanked, passed on him in the 2021 draft. They traded their 20th overall pick to Minnesota in exchange for the 22nd and 90th selections.

"The Oilers passing on Jesper Wallstedt Is the most baffling thing I've ever seen an NHL team do on draft day. It was meant to be and instead they traded down. I was at an Oiler watch party and people went nuts. Sometimes the fans know what's right. Oilers fans aren't dumb," @Pete___Hughes wrote.

"Wild never felt in any danger of losing a game against McDavid and the oil. While only having a 1 goal lead almost all night. That's how unreal Wallstedt is playing. Thank for the trade EDM," @cdwild27 posted.

"THE GREAT WALL OF ST. PAUL SHUTS OUT THE TEAM THAT TRADED AWAY THE PICK THEY COULD’VE USED TO DRAFT HIM! DIDN’T WANT HIM AND NOW THEY WISH THEY HAD HIM," @B_Marsh92 posted on X.

A Historic Start: Wild's Jesper Wallstedt Joins Nearly Century-Old Company With Record Rookie SurgeRookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt shatters NHL records with a historic shutout surge, dominating rookie leaderboards and rewriting goaltending history.

On the other hand, the entire hockey community was drooling over Wallstedt’s performance against Edmonton and in awe of his numbers so far this season.

"Four shutouts in last 6 starts? You s----in’ me, Wallstedt?!?" @RearAdBsBlog said on X.

"Wallstedt really is that dude isn’t he," @alexismirjana posted.

"You know how after one season, we already declared Kirill Kaprizov the best player in (Wild) history? I think by the end of this season, we will consider Jesper Wallstedt to already be the best goalie in (Wild) history," @BrandonMileski posted on X.

"Jesper Wallstedt's last 6 starts have resulted in 10.5 percent of the total shutouts in the NHL so far this season lol," @DimFilipovic wrote.

Wallstedt received rookie of the month honors for November, beating out Anaheim Ducks right winger Beckett Sennecke, who had 14 points in 15 games during the month, and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who had 11 points.

If he keeps up this strong performance, he could be a household name in the NHL in no time.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

It's no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are believed to be in the market for a top-six forward, preferably a second-line center.

Some observers suggest they could draw on their blueline depth for trade bait to address that issue.

The Canadiens have gone that route recently. Last year, they sent Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets for right winger Patrik Laine. In July, they shipped Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for right winger Zack Bolduc.

On Tuesday, RG. Org's Marco D'Amico reported the Canadiens could draw on their blueline depth if a high-end top-six forward became available. He also claimed that teams had inquired into the availability of Kaiden Guhle, who is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. He's expected to return to the lineup in early January.

Injuries have dogged Guhle during his short NHL career. Nevertheless, D'Amico said the 23-year-old rearguard has drawn interest from some Western Conference teams over the past two off-seasons.

Despite Guhle's injury history, D'Amico claimed the Canadiens have no interest in trading the young defenseman. He's in the first season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million, and they value his mobility and physical defensive game.

If the Canadiens move a defenseman for a top-six forward, D'Amico speculated that it could be Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble or Adam Engstrom as their blueline depth improves. He didn't rule out Alexandre Carrier becoming a trade candidate once promising David Reinbacher is ready to join the Canadiens' lineup.

Given the Canadiens' recent trade history, it wouldn't be surprising if they peddle another blueliner to add a forward. However, a dire dearth of available talent in the trade market suggests the March 6 trade deadline might be their best opportunity to do so.

Montreal isn't the only Canadian team that's looking to add via trade at this early stage of the season.

The Ottawa Senators have reportedly been shopping around since mid-November. On Nov. 28, Senators beat writer Julian McKenzie of The Athletic took note of a report by TSN's Darren Dreger saying GM Steve Staios sought a defenseman and a forward.

Dreger felt that Staios didn't intend to go "big-game hunting" in the trade market. He also dismissed rumors suggesting that top prospect Carter Yakemchuk could become a trade chip.

"Not going to happen," according to Dreger.

Meanwhile, Postmedia reported the Senators attempted to move unsigned left winger Alex Formenton before the Dec. 1 signing deadline for RFAs but couldn't find any takers. The 26-year-old is now ineligible to play in the NHL this season.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Deciding who deserves to be the NHL's coach of the year is an interesting exercise.

Does it always go to the best coach? Does the squad need to have significantly more points than the year before? Does the coach deserve the honor if his team's roster is stacked?

Voted on by the NHL Broadcasters' Association, the Jack Adams Award technically goes to "the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."

Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery received the award last season after guiding his team to a 20-point improvement. The last coach to win the Jack Adams Award while their team captured the Presidents' Trophy was Jim Montgomery in 2022-23, when his Boston Bruins improved by 28 points to put up a record-breaking 135 points in a season.

In this ranking of our top five Jack Adams Award candidates, only one of these coaches has won it before.

Speaking of coaches who haven't won the Jack Adams, Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar deserves an honorable mention for what he has accomplished with his team. With Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, it'd be a surprise if the Avalanche weren't thriving, but if they threaten to break the Bruins' record for most points in a season, Bednar could get the award.

Here is my five for the Jack Adams Award just over a quarter of the way into the 2025-26 NHL season.

5. Martin St-Louis, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have been growing every season under Martin St-Louis. As the youngest squad in the NHL, according to eliteprospects.com, the organization has its coach to thank for its come-up.

Last season, St-Louis led the Canadiens to their first playoff berth since 2021, showing signs of improvement and becoming a more competitive team.

For those efforts, St-Louis was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, finishing third in voting behind runner-up and Winnipeg Jets bench boss Scott Arniel.

This year, the Habs' coach should find himself in the mix for the award once again if his team continues to perform the way they have.

Montreal is third in the Atlantic Division with 29 points in 24 games, thanks to a 13-8-3 record. Going into November, they were leading the division, meaning they've had a bit of a slump, resulting in St-Louis dropping to No. 5.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 17.00/+1600

4. Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning

It's a true mystery and shock to think that Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper has never won a Jack Adams Award despite winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, making it to two additional Eastern Conference finals and capturing the Presidents' Trophy.

The closest Cooper got was in 2018-19 when he finished as a runner-up to New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz. He also finished third in voting in 2013-14, when Patrick Roy earned the award with the Avalanche.

Cooper's Lightning had a terrible 1-4-2 start to the season, leaving all to wonder if he's taken Tampa Bay as far as he could. However, that narrative has completely changed as the Bolts top the Atlantic as of Dec. 2.

Even though a handful of his players haven't been playing up to their standard – such as Brayden Point with three goals and 11 points in 21 games and Oliver Bjorkstrand with two goals and nine points in 25 games – Cooper has kept the team performing at the highest level.

Maybe this is the year Cooper finally gets his flowers and some individual hardware.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 11.00/+1000

3. Marco Sturm, Boston Bruins

There wasn't much of an expectation for the Bruins going into this season. At last year's trade deadline, they turned into sellers, trading away captain Brad Marchand and others for draft picks and young players.

Despite this change in the organization over the last season or so, new coach Marco Sturm has kept the Bruins in a playoff position, as they have been for most of the past decade.

With Sturm's help behind the bench, Boston is second in the Atlantic. Their power-play success rate ranks fourth in the NHL, and their penalty-kill rate ranks seventh.

After spending seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings organization as an NHL assistant and AHL coach, this is his first year as an NHL head coach.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 31.00/+3000

2. Dan Muse, Pittsburgh Penguins

It's been truly remarkable what Dan Muse has pulled out of the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. It would be difficult to find many non-biased observers who thought this team would be in the position they are in now.

The Penguins were a write-off for this campaign, and many had them pencilled in as a lottery team. In fact, when Muse was brought in to lead duties behind the bench, there wasn't much expectation, as the highest level he'd head-coached was with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and the USHL. He was also an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators and the New York Rangers.

Since he was appointed, he's silenced all his critics, pushing the Penguins into a playoff spot as they hold on to the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They're also ninth in the NHL.

Those results aren't bad for a rookie NHL bench boss.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 15.00/+1400

1. Joel Quenneville, Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks haven't been to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the last seven seasons, but the fans in Orange County may not have to wait much longer.

The addition of veteran coach Joel Quenneville, who was reinstated by the NHL in 2024, was the perfect fit for the young and exciting Ducks.

Anaheim finished 25th in the NHL last season but leads the Pacific Division and ranks fifth in the league this year.

The Ducks have one of the best offenses in the NHL, averaging 3.62 goals-for. They only sit behind the Avalanche in that category.

There's an argument that this success can be credited to the players having breakout seasons. Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe and others all have a say in that.

However, Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Jack Adams winner in 2000, has done an effective job of handling a maturing team like his Ducks.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 3.10/+210

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Wraparound is here to discuss more rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in this episode:

0:00: Breaking down Logan Cooley's injury against the St. Louis Blues

4:55: Can the management group in Calgary build toward contention in the time of their new extensions?

9:01: What has led to the Philadelphia Flyers' recent success?

12:42: Will Rutger McGroarty play a bigger role with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season?

17:22: Can the Maple Leafs' goaltending break them out of their early-season slump?

22:06: Looking at the top early candidates for the Vezina Trophy

25:50: Could Laurent Brossoit be an effective goalie on a contending team this season?

30:28: What will it take for the Winnipeg Jets to get back on track? 

Could Laurent Brossoit Help A Contending NHL Team? by The Wraparound

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November was an eventful month in the NHL, filled with major storylines.

The Colorado Avalanche are the second team in 45 years to have one regulation loss or fewer entering American Thanksgiving. Youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard are emerging as superstars. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers' struggles became a frequent talking point.

However, November was also full of great plays on both ends of the ice. The Avalanche, Leafs and Oilers had some dazzling moments during the month, even though only one of those squads had a November to remember.

Here are the NHL's top 10 plays of the month.

10. Clean Pace And Puck Control Lead To Cale Makar Goal

With the Avalanche trailing 2-1 against the New York Rangers on Nov. 20, Cale Makar stepped up and delivered one of the best goals of the month to tie the game up late in the second period. 

Cale Makar flies in and puts home the wraparound tally! ✅ pic.twitter.com/Ky3BHAN7hJ

— NHL (@NHL) November 21, 2025

The play started with a 3-on-2 in the Rangers' zone. Nathan MacKinnon dropped a pass over to Martin Necas, who made a cross-ice pass to Makar. Makar sped behind the net and wrapped it behind a lunging Igor Shesterkin, who couldn't get his pad out in time.

9. Sam Reinhart, What A Goal

With just over seven minutes left in the first period of their Nov. 20 game against the New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers right winger Sam Reinhart delivered a beautiful goal, in what would be the only one of the game.

Sam Reinhart scores a beauty 😍

📺: Devils 🆚 Panthers live on SNP
📲: Stream on Sportsnet+ pic.twitter.com/EdNroujZOy

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 21, 2025

Reinhart picked the puck up at center ice and went off into Devils territory while Luke Hughes defended him. As he neared the hashmarks, Hughes tried to swipe the puck away. Reinhart slid the puck underneath Hughes' stick and followed up with a snap shot that beat goalie Jake Allen stick-side.

8. Leo Carlsson Goes Backhand Top Corner

On Nov. 8 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson extended the team's lead to 2-1 on one of his best goals yet.

Following a brief battle for the puck along the boards in the offensive zone, Ducks left winger Troy Terry emerged with it and fed Carlsson.

Carlsson made a quick backhand move, lifting the puck past defenseman Noah Hanifin and goalie Akira Schmid.

LEO CARLSSON ROOFS IT BACK HAND WHAT A GOAL 🤢🚨 pic.twitter.com/OI8VJAj2Wr

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 9, 2025

Carlsson has stepped his game up this year, but the quick move and accuracy on this goal were on a whole different level.

7. Beck Malenstyn Dekes Around Sebastian Aho

Buffalo Sabres left winger Beck Malenstyn is not known for piling up the points, but he surprised everybody against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 23. 

BECK MALENSTYN, ARE YOU KIDDING RIGHT NOW?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3YlztKsQfd

— NHL (@NHL) November 23, 2025

With just over a minute remaining in the second period, Malenstyn caught a pass from Tyler Kozak, sending him into Hurricanes territory with Sebastian Aho to beat. When Aho caught up, Malenstyn pulled off a windmill deke, leaving the Hurricanes center lost. Malenstyn emerged on a mini breakaway and beat goalie Frederik Andersen glove-side for what was likely the best goal of his career.

6. William Nylander Fakes Out Jordan Binnington

In a game where the Maple Leafs needed a win badly, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly combined for arguably the team's best goal of the year so far.

WILLIAM NYLANDER SCORES AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY FOR THE OT WINNER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5XPAK4W4OM

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 19, 2025

With just under a minute left in overtime against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 18, a battle for the puck ensued along the boards in offensive territory. Tavares emerged with the puck and made a back-heeled pass to Rielly, who sent it over to Nylander. Moving in, Nylander slid the puck past Dylan Holloway before deking out goalie Jordan Binnington on a backhand move that allowed him to tap it in.

5. Tyler Bertuzzi, Sam Rinzel And Connor Bedard Combine For A Beauty

The Chicago Blackhawks have been in a long rebuild, so it's fair to say their fans were pretty surprised when forwards Connor Bedard, Tyler Bertuzzi and Sam Rinzel combined for one of the nicest goals the team has scored in years.

Genuinely one of the prettiest plays the Blackhawks have executed in years:pic.twitter.com/uH2orWXJZV

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 27, 2025

The play began with Bedard skating in the offensive zone and leaving the puck for an incoming Bertuzzi, who sent it across the ice to Rinzel. Rinzel made a quick pass over to Bedard, who cut in front of the net and tipped it in over lunging Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson.

4. Mikko Rantanen Pulls Off Spinning Backhand Goal

There are plenty of reasons Mikko Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96-million contract with the Dallas Stars last year. His ability to find the back of the net no matter the situation, as he did against the Vancouver Canucks, is definitely one of them.

Take a bow, Mikko Rantanen 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TsbVai6fDj

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 21, 2025

With just over a minute left in the third period of their Nov. 21 game against the Canucks, Rantanen moved into the offensive zone in a 1-on-1 against Brock Boeser. As he neared the hashmarks, Rantanen spun and sent a no-look backhand shot on goal that beat goalie Kevin Lankinen over his left shoulder.

3. Andrei Vasilevskiy Makes An Incredible Game-Saving Stop

Anybody who said Andrei Vasilevskiy isn't the same goalie he used to be is dead wrong, and this game-saving play against the  Oilers couldn't be better proof.

With just over three minutes remaining in overtime, the Oilers emerged on a 3-on-2 in Lightning territory, with defenseman Darnell Nurse in control of the puck. Vasilevskiy stopped Nurse's shot, but the puck redirected right in front of the net for Oilers right winger Jack Roslovic, who appeared to have an easy scoring chance.

As Roslovic went to raise the puck over Vasilevskiy, the goalie lifted his pad and stopped the shot.

VASILEVSKIY MAKES AN INSANE OT SAVE AND THE BOLTS GO DOWN AND WIN IT 🤯⚡️ pic.twitter.com/FrYk28F29X

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 21, 2025

With Oilers defenders struggling to get back, the Tampa Bay Lightning charged down the ice and scored the game-winning goal.

2. Connor McDavid Also Scored A Spinning Backhand Goal

If you thought Mikko Rantanen's spinning goal was incredible, just brace yourself for what Oilers superstar Connor McDavid did just a week-and-a-half earlier.

Just under a minute into the third period of the team's Nov. 10 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, McDavid entered the offensive zone, trying to make something happen.

OH MY GOSH CONNOR MCDAVID THAT WAS FILTHY 🤢 pic.twitter.com/4EvPquPiBf

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 11, 2025

Coming down the left boards, he skated across the ice, spun at the top of the right faceoff circle and delivered a no-look backhand shot that beat goalie Jet Greaves' glove side.

McDavid also sent Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk flying to the ground during his spinning shot, making the play even more impressive.

1. Jonathan Quick Robs Patrick Kane Of Wide-Open Net Goal

Yes, there's one play that beats McDavid's thrilling goal, and that's a defensive play by Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick.

With just under 11 minutes remaining in the second period of the Rangers' Nov. 7 game against the Detroit Red Wings, Quick came out of his net to play the puck.

However, it deflected off the stick of Patrick Kane, who had an open net.

Just before it looked like Quick's blunder would be one of the biggest misplays of the month, he dove in the direction of Kane. Quick took his stick and pulled Kane's twig away from the puck.

This might be the best defensive play of the decade by Quick pic.twitter.com/QhnS1ZaZcA

— Empty Netters (@EmptyNettersPod) November 8, 2025

The Rangers, who were up 2-1 at the time, ended up adding two more for the win. Quick's save wasn't only incredible but also prevented a momentum shift, leaving it as the best play of the month.

Michael Hapanovich is an intern with The Hockey News.

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Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart is projected to make his return to the NHL against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights signed Hart to a two-year contract following his reinstatement into the NHL, along with the four other former Canadian world junior players who were acquitted of sexual assault in London, Ont., in July.

As of Monday, these players – Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote – have served their suspensions and are eligible to play for an NHL club, cueing Hart's debut for the Golden Knights.

Former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk said Hart suiting up for Vegas is more than having goalie depth on the roster. If Hart can play like a starting goaltender like he once did for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Golden Knights have an asset.

"This is a guy who has a ton of potential and was a really good goalie when he was in Philadelphia coming up," Dubnyk said on The Hockey News' Big Show on Monday. "You might have signed somebody who can become part of your team, and then he becomes an asset.

"Whether that's an asset that you want to keep around, or an asset you want to move for somebody else, they find that out now. I don't think there's any point in waiting," the former netminder said. "If (Carl) Lindbom had been putting up wins and doing his thing, well then that's a different story, and you don't necessarily push a guy out of there, but that hasn't been the case in my eyes, and I think it's an opportunity for them to give him a look."

Dubnyk pointed out that although Akira Schmid's been winning games, Lindbom hasn't been up to par in Vegas' net since Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury on Oct. 20.

Schmid has made 13 starts this season and has a 9-2-4 record, .896 save percentage, 2.51 goals-against average and 2.2 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com. Lindbom, meanwhile, has one win in seven starts while putting up an .870 SP, 3.14 GAA and minus-2.7 goals saved above expected.

Hart should have an opportunity to become the starter with Hill reportedly being out for a little while longer. If the 27-year-old indeed hits the ground running, Vegas will have options to move a goaltender when Hill returns, whether that's Schmid, Hill or even Hart. While Lindbom is exempt from waivers, the other three aren't.

That said, every team in the NHL had a chance to sign Hart as soon as Oct. 15. But some teams made it clear they weren't signing him.

The Flyers confirmed in September they would not sign Hart after the goalie's representative said it was better for them to look for a fresh start. The Edmonton Oilers, which have a league-worst .865 team save percentage, did not see Hart as an option and instead gave votes of confidence to Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard to start the season.

"Right now, we're not looking at those types of situations," Oilers GM Stan Bowman said in September.

Hart was briefly linked to the Carolina Hurricanes in September, but those reported talks stopped. The Pittsburgh Penguinsdidn't make any inquiries despite surfacing in speculation, and the Utah Mammothwere out as well.

NHL Suspensions End For Five Players Acquitted In Hockey Canada TrialAs 2018 Canadian world junior players Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote are now eligible to play in the NHL again, here's where they're playing now.

Before Hart left the Flyers in late January 2024 to face the sexual assault charge, he played 26 games and posted a .906 SP, 2.80 GAA and 12-9-3 record.

Hart wrapped up his conditioning stint with the Golden Knights' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. He made three appearances, registering a 3.07 goals-against average and a .839 SP.

There shouldn't be much stock put into Hart's AHL stats, Dubnyk said.

"It's completely different hockey," Dubnyk said. "I'll preface this with not bashing anybody who plays in the American League, they're still good players, it's still good hockey. It's chaotic. It's chaotic, and most of your chances are created off of mistakes. There are turnovers that don't happen in the NHL. There are plays that don't happen in the NHL."

On good NHL teams, there's structure in front of a netminder forcing opponents to create chances, Dubnyk added. Of course, he said players such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini or Nathan MacKinnon will still find ways to score, even if goalies know what to expect in the NHL.

"When you're used to seeing NHL play in front of you, it is completely different," he said. "That's where you get guys saying, some find it easier to play in the NHL because of that reason."

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Saying that the New York Rangers have had a subpar start to the season is an understatement.

The Blueshirts have a 13-12-2 record, and they sit 12th in the Eastern Conference. Rangers optimists will argue they're only one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second wild-card spot. However, the Penguins have three games in hand, so the Rangers have to hope that other teams ahead of them falter to climb back into a playoff position.

Unfortunately, the Rangers got bad news over the weekend when star defenseman Adam Fox was injured in a game Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fox was placed on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury that will sideline him from week to week. And the Rangers will be in tough to stabilize their play in their zone without Fox, who leads the team in average ice time at 23:50.

Fox and defense partner Vladislav Gavrikov are by far the most-used Rangers blueliners. Those two average more than four minutes per game more than Will Borgen and Braden Schneider. And Rangers coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged it won't be easy to simply slot in another D-man to replace the high-end performances the team has come to expect from Fox.

"Obviously, 'Foxy' is not an easy guy to replace for so many reasons," Sullivan said after practice Monday. "I'm stating the obvious when I say that, but we're going to put a game plan together based on the people that we have to try and set our group up for success."

That's far easier said than done. With 26 points in 27 games, Fox sits second in the NHL in points by a defenseman, ahead of everyone other than Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar. So while the Blueshirts will miss Fox's high panic threshold and elite ability to read plays in his own zone, his talent on offense will be missed the most.

Adam Fox Is A Huge Contributor To Rangers' Subpar Offense

The Rangers' goals-for average of 2.63 is the fifth-worst in the league right now, and three of the four teams below the Rangers in that department – the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames – are at the bottom of the NHL standings.

Thus, removing Fox's terrific offensive skills is going to hurt the Rangers badly – and that includes missing him as a key member of their power play. The next-highest scoring Rangers defenseman is Gavrikov, who has 11 points – less than half of what Fox has this year.

Having arguably the best goaltender in the NHL, star Igor Shesterkin, will help the Rangers on 'D.' The team allows only 2.63 goals against per game, which ranks tied for the fifth-fewest in the NHL.

The addition of Gavrikov has improved the Rangers' play in their own end, but on offense, Fox's contributions will be especially missed. There's no player Sullivan can insert into the lineup who will have a notable positive impact on offense the way Fox can be a difference-maker with the puck.

Fox's absence puts more pressure on the forwards to put up the points. Artemi Panarin was tied as the NHL's 10th-highest scorer in November, with 19 points in 15 games, and fellow forwards Mika Zibanejad, Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck recorded at least 10 points that month. They stepped up their games from October, when Fox led the way with nine points in 12 games and Panarin and Zibanejad hovered around half a point per game.

Rangers' Upcoming Opponents Include Top Scorers

Fox will miss at least 10 games and 24 days with his shoulder injury. Of their 10 opponents, only three rank in the top 10 for fewest goals against per game – the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers. But five of them rank in the top 10 for most goals-for per game – the Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks.

That means the Rangers' defense will face significant tests in limiting their opponents' scoring chances so that they can do enough on offense without one of their top producers.

It's unlikely the Rangers have enough depth to handle the test on defense without Fox.

You can ask veteran Rangers defensemen Borgen and Carson Soucy to eat more minutes in the wake of Fox's injury. You can ask youngsters Schneider and Scott Morrow to take advantage of the additional opportunities Fox's injury will provide to them. Considering the Rangers' defense pairs that don't involve Gavrikov or Fox have all been outchanced this season, according to moneypuck.com, they don't inspire much confidence.

Fox was in the midst of a bounce-back performance this season. He should be back by the Olympics, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. But if the Rangers can't tread water without him, Fox's offensive resurgence will probably be for naught.

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