Jack’s Daily: Wild Meltdown; Two Coaches Canned; Schaefer Top Rookie
TL;DR
The Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference Final after a dramatic comeback win. Meanwhile, two coaches were fired, and Jack Pridham's future is in question following his OHL championship win.
Key points
- Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference Final
- Dramatic comeback win in Game 5
- Two coaches were fired
- Jack Pridham won the OHL championship
- Questions about Pridham's future
Jack’s Daily: Wild Meltdown; Two Coaches Canned; Schaefer Top Rookie
With a crazy come-from-behind win on Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche, the top overall seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, have punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final. A former member of the Chicago Blackhawks did all he could to stop the runaway freight train in Game 5, but couldn’t prevent a meltdown for Minnesota.
More in the links for the recap from a wild comeback in Colorado.
In Blackhawks news, what comes next for 2024 third-round pick Jack Pridham after winning the Ontario Hockey League championship with the Kitchener Rangers?
Around the league, Matthew Schaefer claims the Calder Trophy, two NHL head coaches were fired, and the latest on Auston Matthews trade rumors.
All that & more in the Daily!
Blackhawks Offseason, News & Trade Rumors
Chicago Hockey Now: What an incredible run for prospect Jack Pridham and the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL Playoffs, winning 16 of 18 games en route to the J. Ross Robertson Cup. After spending the last two seasons in the OHL, what comes next for Pridham? Going to the NCAA, or transitioning to pro hockey?
More CHN: ICYMI — the Blackhawks will have seven players from the 2025-26 roster participating in the 2026 IIHF World Championship, which begins on Friday in Switzerland.
Speaking of the World Championship, Steven Ellis recently broke down the top 10 prospects to watch in the tournament, including Swedish forward Anton Frondell.
More CHN: Some recent mock drafts suggest that Ivar Stenberg will fall into the Blackhawks’ lap with the fourth pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. However, if GM Kyle Davidson feels that Stenberg won’t drop that far, he could try to make a deal with the San Jose Sharks to trade up to No. 2.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: When the Vegas Golden Knights hit the ice for Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, they’ll look to close out the series without defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended one game for delivering a late hit on Ryan Poehling.
Sportsnet: Just over one week after taking over, John Chayka and Mats Sundin have made a major decision on the Toronto Maple Leafs future. Head coach Craig Berube was fired by the Leafs on Wednesday, giving Chayka and Sundin a chance at a new era in Toronto.
ESPN: Berube wasn’t the only head coach canned in the last 24 hours, as the Edmonton Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch on Thursday morning. The writing was on the wall for Knoblauch to get let go, as the Oilers recently requested an interview with Bruce Cassidy, who was fired by Vegas in March.
Colorado Hockey Now: After falling behind 3-0 through 20 minutes, the Colorado Avalanche stormed back to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 and advance to the Western Conference Final. Nathan MacKinnon tied the game late in the third period, then Brett Kulak potted the game-winner in overtime. The Avs are now 8-1 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL.com: Former Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno scored two of the three goals for the Wild in the first period, including the team’s final tally of the 2026 campaign. Foligno had a tremendous performance in Game 5, but it wasn’t enough to force the series back to Minnesota.
NYI Hockey Now: Surprise, surprise. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was announced as the 2026 Calder Trophy winner on Wednesday for NHL Rookie of the Year. Schaefer received all 198 first-place votes for the award. Well deserved, kid.
Toronto Hockey Now: There’s been plenty of speculation regarding star forward Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto. Well, if the Maple Leafs do move on from Matthews, here’s one NHL club to keep an eye on.
Philly Hockey Now: Sometimes, you just have to let the kid breathe. That was the message Phildelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet had for the media when discussing Matvei Michkov getting scratched in the playoffs.
Florida Hockey Now: Will Sergei Bobrovsky be back with the two-time champion Florida Panthers next season? Here’s what George Richards from FNH has to say about Florida’s goaltender situation entering free agency.
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The post Jack’s Daily: Wild Meltdown; Two Coaches Canned; Schaefer Top Rookie appeared first on Chicago Hockey Now.
Q&A
What happened in the Colorado Avalanche's recent game?
The Colorado Avalanche achieved a dramatic come-from-behind victory, securing their spot in the Western Conference Final.
Which coaches were fired in the NHL recently?
Two coaches were canned, although the article does not specify their names or teams.
Who is Jack Pridham and what did he achieve?
Jack Pridham is a 2024 third-round pick who recently won the Ontario Hockey League championship with the Kitchener Rangers.
What does Jack Pridham's OHL championship win mean for his future?
The article raises questions about what comes next for Jack Pridham following his OHL championship win, but does not provide specific details.
