NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 15, 2026
The Carolina Hurricanes are the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Champions. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
The Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the series and hockey’s holy grail four games to two. It’s their first championship since 2006.
2026 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes (NHL.com).
Taylor Hall opened the scoring with what proved to be the game-winning goal just 3:47 into the first period. Jackson Blake made it 2-0 in the second period, and Nikolaj Ehlers’ empty-netter with 1:08 remaining in the third period put the game out of reach. Goaltender Brandon Bussi turned in a 22-save shutout.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was voted the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He had eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 19 games, with six of those goals coming in the first five games of the Cup Final, becoming the first player to score five goals to start a Cup Final since Jean Beliveau in 1956.
The 37-year-old Staal is the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He also set a record for the longest time between Stanley Cup Championships (17 years). The first time he won the Cup was in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Speaking of Taylor Hall, he became the first player in NHL history to be selected first overall in the draft, win the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, and win the Stanley Cup with three different teams. Hall was chosen first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010, and won the Hart Trophy with the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18.
For Brandon Bussi, his Game 6 shutout capped a whirlwind season that began when he was claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers. He had a record of 31-6-2 in 39 regular-season games, but didn’t make his postseason debut until the third period of Game 3, when he relieved starter Frederik Andersen. Bussi subsequently started the remaining games of this series, winning all three.
As for Andersen, he was surprised to be the first player Staal handed the Stanley Cup to after receiving it from league commissioner Gary Bettman. Andersen started every game in this postseason until Bussi relieved him in Game 3. He revealed that he suffered a knee injury in Game 2 and struggled to play through it in the following game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersen’s solid play was a big reason why the Hurricanes reached the Final. He finished with a record of 13-2 with a 1.89 goals-against average, a save percentage of .910, and three shutouts.
Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin became the second American to win the Stanley Cup in the same year that he won Olympic gold with Team USA. Ken Morrow was the first, winning a gold medal in the 1980 Olympics and the Stanley Cup later that year with the New York Islanders.
The additions of Hall, Bussi and Ehlers last year, along with the rise of Blake and Logan Stankoven, gave the Hurricanes the depth they previously lacked to march to the Stanley Cup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blake (20 points), Hall (19 points), Ehlers (18 points) and Stankoven (16 points) finished as the Hurricanes’ leading scorers in this postseason. The second line of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake was their most consistent throughout this postseason.
This is the second Stanley Cup championship for Rod Brind’Amour, and his first as head coach. He won his first Cup with Carolina as team captain in 2006.
As for the Vegas Golden Knights, their march to the Stanley Cup Final capped a roller-coaster season that saw them in danger of missing the playoffs until they replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach with John Tortorella in late March.
Speaking of Tortorella, he’s unsure of his future with the Golden Knights. The club hired him for the remainder of this season. He thanked team owner Bill Foley, team president George McPhee, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon for giving him the chance to coach the team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll likely be a few days before we learn of Tortorella’s fate. After the job he did in reversing the Golden Knights’ fortunes, it wouldn’t be shocking if they sign him to a contract extension.
So, a goalie who was never drafted, signed his first contract with Boston as a free agent, who then let him get away as a UFA to Florida, who then exposed him to waivers and was grabbed by Carolina after 27 other teams passed on him – at a time when half the bloody league were seeking goaltending help of some sort – wins the Stanley Cup with a SO in a building where even wins can be tough to come by.
Congratulations to Brandon Bussi, Jordan Staal and the rest of the Carolina Hurricanes in extending the Eastern Conference’s domination to 3 straight. And for keeping it away from Vegas! 🙂
I read your comments about Bussi and agree with
all of them.
The Oilers traded for Tristan Jarry
Alan, the fact many of the 27 teams that passed on Bussi before it got to Carolina, despite needing a goalie infusion of some sort, speaks volumes about the quality (or lack thereof) of their scouting department, not to mention their GMs.
A Hurricanes championship. A Vegas lack-of-a-championship. And Tortorella losing.
A hat trick of sorts of me.
Can’t argue with that, Whalercane.
It would not surprise me to see Staal retire. Heck even Hall could retire. Torts could retire. Marc Stone could (should) retire.
this was a grind of a play offs for these two teams
Carolina winning (Congratulations) gives me hope for the Blue Jackets since Don Waddell was the architect of the Hurricanes team.
Waddells mark on this team was limited. The teams he impacted won only 1 confetence final game.
Canes have been close for several seasons. Glad to see them get over the hump. Well deserved
Congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes.
That was an impressive playoff run.
Happy for Rod and the boys.
Way to go, Canes.
Hats off to Carolina especially Eric Staal and Jacob Slavin who was the second US player to win the Gold Medal and Stanley Cup the same year. All these other defensemen that are being talked about and their contract demands are ridiculous. Slavin is making 6.4 million until his contract runs out in 2031! After watching Magnus Andersen last night I would be careful spending a bundle on him.
Congratulations Carolina happy for Rod and yes the Bruins have developed some goaltenders lately Vladar in Philly the Bus and Mike down in Providence all three playing well.
Fantastic games by the Canes all playoffs long! 16-3!!!!!! The perineal bridesmaid finally made it to the big reception and danced our hearts away!
I think Freddie could be a goner, that is why he was so pensive during the celebration. Another Toronto refugee that made out!
Glad for Bussi but not happy with the bruins for letting this guy go. Hopefully they don’t do the same with Dipietro who could be as good as Bussi.
Johnny
They didn’t let him go they chose to keep Dipietro instead. Looks like the right call but time will tell
According to the Web, the Bruins didn’t even attempt to trade Bussi before letting him walk as a UFA.
Congrats to the Canes and Rod the Bod. Hardest working guy in the NHL, nice to see it payoff.
My lessons from this year.
1 – Just goes to show you, teams need to stick with it and stay the course sometimes. AKA stability. 8 years of being good but falling short, sometime just short. Canes could have turfed Rod B, “can’t get them over the hump” type of thinking. Recency bias whatever. Not Dundon, happy it worked out for them.
2 – Makes Holland’s point, you need to keep giving yourself a chance.
3 – Injuries matter, maybe more than any other factor. Rod B made that point when they asking him questions going into last nights games., Pundits listing a bunch of reasons why the Canes were so close to winning it this year. Rods answer – your forgetting the big one; we’re healthy this year.
4 – Goaltending is voodoo. Do you need to spend a bunch of $$ on the position. A allegedly worn out vet hold the fort for 3 straight series, plays great, an untested playoff rookie, who lets admit really struggled down the stretch, plays great to close it out.
We can all talk about how stupid the GM’s were for not grabbing him, now that we have hindsight, but lots of AHL tenders who have good #’s never pan out in the NHL. And then some do.
Canes need a guy, Bussi is big and athletic, just like Vladar. And they got the reps and make it around that 27 yrs old range.
Is Tarasov that guy next year if given a chance? Cossa? Depietro? Maybe.
Bussi doesn’t get that opportunity in Boston, we have Swayman and Korpi – who was picked up to facilitate the the Ullmark deal which brought back a 1st. Which is now Letourneau. So we will see how it all works out.
At least that is how I think it all worked out.
My point on Bussi was …when he was exposed to waivers by Florida, who had liked him enough to have signed him as a UFA out of Boston and probably figured he’d clear waivers, 27 teams did pass on him, a number of them searching around at the time for goaltending depth (including Ottawa and Montreal). But Carolina, when it came to them, clearly had seen enough of him as well to enter their claim.
That speaks to having scouting staff who recognize talent and potential when they see it.
Agree MB4, they made the call.
Just for a history check, here are the top 5 AHL qualified tenders 24/25 season, SV%, Bussi’s last in Providence.
1 – Matthew Murray (MIL) – .932
2 – Michael DiPietro (PRO) – .927
3 – Cayden Primeau (LAV) – .927
4 – Colton Ellis (SPR) – .922
5 – Jet Greaves (CLE) – .920
Bussi (PRO) was 20th at .907.
Greaves having a good start to NHL career as well.
George O. I think you may be over simplifying on Bussi.
To simply acquire a goalie on waivers means displacing one in your own organization. Trading a back up or starter struggling on your own team is a hard sell. Sending one to the minors to make room means displacing your own prospects etc.
Then there is also a lot that happened that led to Canes taking a flyer on him.
Primeau was claimed by Toronto.
Kochetkov injury.
The canes claimed Bussi out of need being and it was a low risk high reward for them.
I suspect had Toronto not claimed Primeau, the Canes also do not put a claim in and he stays in the Florida org.
So I guess what I am saying is that the Canes should send the leafs a thank you card lol.
They not only claimed him in October, but rather than deal for a veteran-type to start the season in light of injuries to their regular goalies, they were confident enough to go with him from the outset.
And he proved they were astute in that regard by becoming the fastest goalie in NHL history to reach 25 wins … and that was in 29 starts.
Small wonder he was named as the team’s MVP.
It is hard to root against Brindamour which is saying alot for me who grew up hardcore Whaler fan and is now a Rangers fan.
And somewhere Raants was cursing his agent and the greed that sent him to Dallas and the front nine earlier than Stank.
I don’t think it was “greed”….so much as it was Rants thinking he had a way better shot of winning in Dallas.
Logan Stankoven – 1 Cup
Jamie Benn – 0
Happy for Stanks, Congrats to Carolina!!!
Also congratulations to the NY Knickerbockers for ending their 72 year title drought.
That leaves
NBA: Sacramento Kings 75 years; Atlanta Hawks 68 years; Phoenix Suns 57 years; Utah (New Orleans) Jazz 51 years; L.A. Clippers 55 years;
MLB: Cleveland (Indians) Guardians: 77 years; Milwaukee Brewers 57 years; San Diego Padres 57 years;
NFL: (Chicago, St. Louis) Arizona Cardinals 78 years; Detroit Lions 68 years; (Houston Oilers) Tennessee Titans 64 years; (San Diego) Los Angeles Chargers 62 years; Cleveland Browns 61 years; Buffalo Bills 60 years; Atlanta Falcons (60 years); Cincinnati Bengals 58 years; NY Jets 57 years; Minnesota Vikings 57 years; Miami Dolphins 52 years;
NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs 59 years; Buffalo Sabres 56 years; Vancouver Canucks 56 years; Philadelphia Flyers 51 years.
Hey George, Bears won the Super Bowl for the 1985 season.
Only reason I know is that I’m a Bears fan.
Umm, not sure what you’re getting at, Ray. The Bears aren’t mentioned above.
That’s because I read your post too fast George.
Saw Chicago, and that’s it.
My bad.
Knicks’ drought was 53 years; they won in 1970 and 1973 (lost in the finals in 72). I was then a junior in high school. If you told me I’d be on Medicare the next time they’d win, I’d have looked at you cross-eyed.
Coincidentally, the Rangers went 54 years (1940-94) between championships. That’s OK, though
Heh – ya Sneaky Pete … thanks … don’t know why I jotted down 72! 53 years is long enough
Didn’t Shaky Graves Bettman state that the Canes have won the most games over the last 8 years .
Well deserved and congratulations
Buyout starts Wednesday and the draft in 11 days , maybe some trades , followed by free agent frenzy . Followed by the sound of crickets
Enjoy the next three weeks before the dog days
SilverSeven, ,let’s hope this ESPN article is accurate and that deals will continue through part of the summer anyway.
And although it doesn’t include Ottawa among those they figure to be busy, I bet they’ll be involved in at least one significant trade … perhaps two if they don’t resort to the UFA list.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/off-season-watch-time-for-moves-with-the-stanley-cup-awarded/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-ca
Congrats to Carolina who stuck to a very disciplined plan. Vegas played a chippy series, the ‘Canes kept their composure…now that’s Class A coaching, something the Leaf organisation DOES NOT UNDERSTAND!
Good too on Raants…didn’t get what he wanted, got what he earned.
Pretty sure the Hockey World is very happy for Rod Brind’Amour – a great coach, mentor and just a classy guy!! Cheers!!
Congratulations to Carolina; well deserved. I thought vegas would beat them but Carolina just outworked and out skated it seemed like. Staal incredible. Well coached and emotionally focused on the task @ hand. Great SC . seems like hurricanes just wore them out in the end
Congratulations too to Mrbruin4 who predicted Carolina in 6 (I had them in 5 and Johnny Z had them in 7).
Lyle, I believe, had Vegas in 6.
Hi Lyle, is this not the first Stanley Cup Taylor Hall has won.
Hi Lyle, was this not the only Stanley Cup Taylor Hall has won.
Yes, it is. To clarify, he’s the first player to be chosen first overall with one team, win the Hart Trophy with a second team, and the Stanley Cup with a third team.
Yes. Pretty sure that’s mentioned.
I read it that way too… however, the point is that he has 3 different distinctions in his career with 3 different teams.
1st over all – Oilers
Hart Trophy – Devils
Stanley Cup Champ – Canes
3 achievements, 3 different teams.
The craziest part is how Carolina really stuck with their core group and kept tweaking until they won the Cup.
Even crazier… they are 12 million under the cap. They should be able to continue winning and/or being very competitive for a while.
Congrats to the Canes!
That’s what having Grade A management and Grade A scouting and coaching will do for you. Might not guarantee a win … but the combination will keep you in the hunt.
Well, they just became a destination for many cup seekers!!!!! Pretty sure they end up spending to the cap by TDL day. I think they look for a younger upgrade in net for Freddie and a top 6 C and move Stanky to the wing. They have enough draft capital to pick up Trocheck.
Miko Rants, eat your heart out!!!!!
hahaha, yes it slipped my mind about Rantanen! He must be questioning his life choices a little bit now.
Carolina has a bunch of very good players but none of the so called superstars on the team.They have been a very good team for awhile now. Shows you that you don’t necessarily the superstars to win.
The Bills won the AFL championship in 64 and 65 before the merger. They lost in the championship game in 66 to KC for the right to play in the AFL-NFL World Championship game before it was later renamed the Super Bowl.
Some might argue that Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jacob Slavin and Nikolaj Ehlers qualify as “superstars”, but don’t necessarily put up quite the same numbers as the McDavids, Matthews, MacKinnons, etc., simply because Carolina has he supplementary talent to throw good 4 lines out there night after night, spreading the ice-time around and so don’t have to totally depend on those 5.
Stall interview was great. He said he believes in the team and stuck around when others jumped ship, but talked about the menses sense of accomplishment for seeing it through with a group of people he believed in. A knock to all the cup mercenaries out there joining juggernauts. I’d take Stall in my team any day. Guy is an absolute warrior.