Sick Puck Links: The Habs Should Follow Hurricanes Blueprints; Pickford Named CHL Defenseman of The Year
Welcome to ‘Sick Puck Links’ here at SickPodcasts.com.
From Monday to Friday mornings, we will link not just our content from the previous days but also the hottest news around the NHL.
Start your Tuesday morning with a recap of what we wrote about over the past 24 hours, as well as stories dominating the NHL and hockey news cycles.
Sick Links:
On Monday evening, our newest writer JD Legrange talked about the most interesting storylines for the Montreal Canadiens heading into the off-season. In his article, Lagrange talks about the current potential trade situations for Brendan Gallagher and Samuel Montembeault. He also mentioned what the Habs should do with Kirby Dach this summer.
The Habs may still be a few years from being true contenders, but the truth is they aren’t that far off the Carolina Hurricanes, as their rosters aren’t too different. Do you think the Habs should continue following the Canes’ blueprint?#GoHabsGo #SoundtheSiren
Written by:…
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) June 15, 2026
A little earlier in the evening, I wrote about how the Canadiens should follow the Carolina Hurricanes’ blueprint in order to build a Stanley Cup-contending team, as they already have many similarities to the current champions. Do you think the Habs seeing a team that has many similarities to them can help the Canadiens end their Stanley Cup drought over the next decade or so?
Puck Links:
Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford was named CHL Defenseman of the Year on Monday. Pickford finished the WHL season with a league-leading 45 goals and 83 points in 55 games. This is Pickford’s third award of the season, as he has won every award that a CHL defenseman could win this year. He was previously named the WHL Defenseman of the Year as well as the WHL Player of the Year. According to Scott Wheeler, Pickford is expected to have off-season shoulder surgery that could make him a part of next season
Défenseur de l’année dans la WHL
Joueur de l’année dans la WHL
Défenseur de l’année dans la LCH
Quelle saison exceptionnelle, Bryce Pickford 👏WHL Defenseman of the Year
WHL Player of the Year
CHL Defenseman of the Year
Have yourself a season, Bryce Pickford 👏📸 Josh Kim/CHL pic.twitter.com/GzVZ2svIcs
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 15, 2026
The hockey analytics website BenchRates.com released a new tool that can calculate whether a player is underpaid or overpaid. How it works is it calculates a player’s power score in relation to their cap hit for 2025-26. Check out if your favourite players are over- or underpaid.
Elliotte Friedman reported that the NHL began their investigation of former head coach Mike Babcock on Monday. They are investigating an incident that led Babcock to resign from his position with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023. They will see if the Edmonton Oilers will be free to hire him or if there will be further penalties for his actions during his brief time working with the Blue Jackets.
Chris Johnston: Re Mike Babcock investigation: There are some that feel the things that went on [in Columbus] weren’t actually that bad, they were troubling…but that they shouldn’t ultimately keep Babcock from working – Nielson Show (6/13)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 16, 2026
The early odds of winning the 2027 Stanley Cup open up with the Carolina Hurricanes as favourites to win again next year at +700 odds. The Hurricanes are followed closely by the Colorado Avalanche at +800, while the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights are tied for the 3rd best odds at +900.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward prospect Tinus Luc Koblar to a 3-year entry-level contract on Monday. Koblar spent this past season with Leksands IF of the SHL, where he finished with 8 goals and 14 points in 47 games. He then helped Norway to their first-ever semifinals in the World Championships in May, when he led his country with 6 goals and 9 points in 10 games.
We’ve signed forward Tinus Luc Koblar to a three-year entry-level contract
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 15, 2026
The Leafs’ cross-provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators, signed a Norwegian forward prospect of their own on Monday. 24-year-old forward Eskild Bakke Olsen signed a 1-year entry-level contract with the Senators, following a solid 11 goals and 32 points in 51 SHL games with Linkoping HC this past season.
The PWHL revealed their draft order for their 2026 entry draft as the Vancouver Golden Eyes won the first selection. The Entry Draft will take place on Wednesday, June 17th at 5:00 pm ET. American defenseman Caroline Harvey is expected to be the first overall selection.
