Jack’s Daily: Bedard’s Season Over; Lightning Win Thriller; Sabres & Knights Move On
Connor Bedard was recently spotted training in Florida with Oliver Moore , but he reportedly won’t be joining his Chicago Blackhawks teammate in Switzerland for the upcoming IIHF World Championships.
More in the links for the why Bedard won’t represent Team Canada for the second consecutive summer.
Also in Blackhawks news, one prospect is moving on to the OHL championship after helping his club come back and win in overtime on Friday.
Around the league, the Lightning forced a Game 7 with a thrilling OT victory, the Sabres and Golden Knights advanced to the second round, while the NHL announced the three Jack Adams Trophy finalists.
All that & more in the Daily!
Blackhawks Offseason, News & Trade Rumors
Chicago Hockey Now: The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to have a handful of players from the 2025-26 roster participating in the 2026 IIHF World Championships, but Connor Bedard won’t be one of them. According to Elliotte Friedman, Bedard has been told that it’s best to skip the tournament and continue rehabbing his shoulder.
More CHN: Part 3 of the 2025-26 report cards is dropping later this afternoon. ICYMI, here’s Part 2, where young Blackhawks forwards like Bedard, Frank Nazar , and Oliver Moore received grades for their individual performances this season.
In OHL news, Jack Pridhamand the Kitchener Rangers are moving on to the league Championship Series after defeating AJ Spellacyand the Windsor Spitfires 5-4 in overtime in Game 5 on Friday. Spellacy scored a highlight-reel goal to give the Spitfires a 4-2 advantage in the second period, but that turned out to be their last tally of the season. The Rangers stormed back with the final three goals of the game, with Pridham recording an assist on the game-tying goal. Kitchener will face either the Branford Bulldogs or the Barrie Colts in the Championship.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: The Tampa Bay Lightning squeaked out a 1-0 overtime road win over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday to force Game 7. It always felt like this series would go the distance, with all six games now having been decided by one goal. Gage Goncalves was the overtime hero, but Andrei Vasilevskiy was the real difference-maker in net for the Bolts.
Sportsnet: Speaking of the Lightning, the Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in interviewing Julien BriseBois for their vacant general manager position. Tampa Bay declined , as they have no interest in letting one of the league’s most successful GMs.
ESPN: For the first time since 2006-07, the Buffalo Sabres are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 6 on Friday night, with goals from Alex Tuch , Mattias Samuelsson , Zach Benson , and Josh Norris . Buffalo will face the winner of the Lightning vs. Canadiens series.
Boston Hockey Now: The Boston Bruins exceeded expectations this season, but their playoff run turned out to be short-lived. Jack Studley from BHN breaks apart the Bruins’ season-ending defeat on home ice in Game 6 to the Buffalo Sabres.
NHL.com: For the sixth time since becoming a franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights have reached the second round of the postseason. The Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth 5-1 in Game 6 to win their first-round series . Mitch Marner , aka “Big Sitch Mitch”, scored twice and tallied an assist to lead the charge for Vegas, who will face the division-rival Anaheim Ducks next.
Carolina Hockey Now: Before the first round wraps up, the second round will begin. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of Round Two tonight and look to remain undefeated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
APNews: Since getting poached from the Edmonton Oilers two summers ago, Dylan Holloway has been among the most productive members of the St. Louis Blues . Holloway was rewarded with a five-year, $38.75 million contract extension on Friday, keeping him in St. Louis through 2031. The deal carries a $7.75 million cap hit.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Well deserved. Pittsburgh Penguins first-year head coach Dan Muse was among three finalists named for the Jack Adams Trophy, joining Jon Cooper of the Lightning and Lindy Ruff of the Sabres.
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The post Jack’s Daily: Bedard’s Season Over; Lightning Win Thriller; Sabres & Knights Move On appeared first on Chicago Hockey Now .
