Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Draw Oilers in 2, Big Drama in WPG

The Vegas Golden Knights now know their Round Two opponent. The LA Kings put up a good fight, but the Edmonton Oilers, with red-hot Leon Draisaitl and always-incredible Connor McDavid, are coming to town for Round Two. Golden Knights lines centered by William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson carried them into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but now the Golden Knights will need the best from Jack Eichel. 

Also in the Nuggets, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally, FINALLY, won a Round One series. What happens to the Islanders after getting thumped by Carolina? Connor Hellebuyck stirred the NHL trade rumors by saying he wants no part of a rebuild in Winnipeg, while Black Wheeler ripped coach Rick Bowness. 

And Colorado Avalanche forward Andrew Cogliano suffered a broken neck in Game 6 vs. Seattle.

A broken neck?! It was not a clean hit by Jordan Eberle that broke Cogliano's neck, and he got two minutes and NO call from Player Safety. A minor penalty for a nasty hit that broke someone's neck. Hello, Department of Player Safety? More like the Ministry of Truth. Woof.

That and more in your VHN Daily Nuggets:

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Hockey Now: Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson was in beast mode in the Round One win over the Winnipeg Jets, but Jack Eichel must pick up some slack, too.

Stanley Cup Playoffs & NHL Trade Chatter

LA Hockey Now: It's over for the LA Kings. 

TSN: Dramatic goal. Late in the third period, Kailer Yamamoto scored the game-winner, and Edmonton is on its way to Vegas.

Sportsnet: The heavens parted. Toronto is delirious. For the first time since 2004, the Toronto Maple Leafs won a Round One series. Hometown boy John Tavares scored in OT for the series win over the Lightning.

NY Post: The New York Rangers also had their backs to the wall. However, Mika Zibanejad scored his first goal of the series, and the Rangers forced Game 7.

Boston Hockey Now: Given another chance to silence the goalie controversy surrounding his embattled team and struggling starter Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery wouldn't commit to Ullmark for Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. Instead, Montgomery called Ullmark out for not stopping enough pucks in this Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.

Florida Hockey Now: Just as he was a Hart Trophy candidate in the regular season, Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk has already become an early Conn Smythe trophy candidate in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals series against the Boston Bruins.

Colorado Hockey Now: After Seattle Kraken forward Jordan Eberle didn't even get summoned to a hearing Saturday for his questionable hit on forward Andrew Cogliano, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar says he's done trying to figure out the NHL Department of Player Safety. The Avalanche host the Kraken tonight in a do-or-die Game 7. Cogliano is now out indefinitely with a broken neck. Colorado Avalanche news.

NHL Trade Rumors, News & National Hockey Now:

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The NHL trade rumor mill won't hit Pittsburgh until they start interviewing GM candidates, but a handful of pending NHL-free agents could change the culture around the soft Pittsburgh Penguins.

Daily Faceoff: This is the drama plot for the day. Wheeler didn't tow a company line. He called out coach Rick Bowness for publicly ripping the team. And goalie Connor Hellebuyck said he wants no part of a rebuild in Winnipeg. High drama following their loss to the Golden Knights.

Montreal Hockey Now: The NHL trade chatter will only get more intense. The Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois will likely be linked daily until at least July 1.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Detroit Red Wings want forward Lucas Raymond to play with an edge more in the 2023-24 season.

San Jose Hockey Now: How did first-year San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier fare in his first NHL Draft last June?