Devils Daily: Panthers are Stanley Cup Champions; Devils Depth; Trevor Zegras

It’s finally over. The Florida Panthers are the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions. Head coach Paul Maurice solidified his legacy. Veteran Kyle Okposo realizes a dream. Sergei Bobrovsky puts a stamp on his Hall-of-Fame career. Former New Jersey Devils defenseman finishes the chase where it all started for him. This was, perhaps, the highest stakes final in NHL history.

What. An. Ending.

On the other side of the ice was heartbreak. Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe as the MVP of the playoffs, yet, didn’t even remain on the ice to receive it.

For one team, it’s the highest of highs. And for the other, the lowest of lows. More on how it happened in the links.

In New Jersey, GM Tom Fitzgerald inked a surprise depth defenseman they likely didn’t anticipate keeping in the fold.

Elsewhere, Linus Ullmark is finally traded, the latest team connected to Trevor Zegras, and the Arizona Coyotes owner concedes defeat.

Let’s do that hockey.

Devils News

New Jersey Hockey Now: One of the most important things on GM Tom Fitzgerald’s checklist this summer is to ensure that their is depth on the blueline. After a plethora of injuries last season, the Devils GM learned his lesson. Therefore, New Jersey extended Nick DeSimone on Monday who turned a few heads after he was claimed by the Devils on waivers.

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2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Florida Hockey Now: It’s finally over. The extended seven-game series that once saw the Florida Panthers lead the championship round 3-0, the Edmonton Oilers claw their way all the way back to tie the series at three, only for the Panthers to claim Lord Stanley in Sunrise on home ice. The Florida Panthers are the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

PHNX: The Arizona Coyotes saga featuring owner Alex Merulo is finally over. After a grueling process involving flub, after flub, after flub to acquire land to build an arena for the Yotes to eventually return to, Merulo is walking away from owning the franchise. More information from Craig Morgan here.

Boston Hockey Now: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cannot be happy about the timing of the trade announcement. However, the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators finally agreed to a deal that sent goaltender Linus Ullmark north of the boarder.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The window for the Pittsburgh Penguins is closing and fast. There is one week until the NHL free-agent frenzy. Four days until the 2024 NHL Draft. It’s a defining week for President of Hockey Operations/GM Kyle Dubas.

NYI Hockey Now: There’s a sense that the New York Islanders are doing their best to be active this summer to give themselves more weapons up front. Here are three players the Isles should avoid in free agency, including one former Devils player who is likely headed to July 1st.

Philly Hockey Now: On Sunday, some of the biggest news of the NHL offseason so far broke, and that’s Matvei Michkov reportedly planning to terminate his contract with SKA St. Petersburg with the intention of joining the Philadelphia Flyers this summer. But, what exactly does Michkov’s impending arrival mean for the Flyers roster in the immediate future?

Chicago Hockey Now: For those fans keeping tally at home, it’s been Patrik Laine, Martin Necas, and Jake Guentzel as some of the names orbiting the trade rumors with the Chicago Blackhawks in the middle. Now Trevor Zegras can be added to it.

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