“I do believe that there is a market for [Braden Schneider]. I’ve heard of some teams that poked around on him. San Jose is one, certainly, that I would have my eye on going into the summer,” Vince Mercogliano stated on The Flying V podcast.

After taking a massive step forward in the 2025-26 NHL season, the San Jose Sharks could be on the market for more help at the blueline. Going after a young talent like Schneider may be a bet that pays dividends for the Sharks. Still, it’s one that must wait as San Jose is fully focused on punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now.

Sharks make sense for Schneider

Such a wager could be worth the risk for the Sharks. As things stand, San Jose has five defensemen on expiring contracts: Nick Leddy (34 years old), John Klingberg (33), Mario Ferraro (27), Vincent Desharnais (29), and Shakir Mukhamadullin (24, pending RFA).

Schneider could bring just the perfect mix of youth and experience for one of the youngest rosters in the NHL. According to Elite Prospects, the Sharks have the seventh-youngest lineup by average age.

As for Schneider, a move to San Jose could be just what the doctor ordered. Leaving behind the ever-present drama in The Big Apple for a much more relaxed, yet still passionate Sharks fanbase can help any struggling player to find his footing. Moreover, no organization in the NHL may trend for a brighter future than the Macklin Celebrini-led Sharks.

Schneider’s deal

Because Schneider is under 27 and hasn’t played seven seasons in the NHL, he will become a restricted free agent (RFA) when his two-year, $4.4 million contract expires after the 2025-26 campaign.

Schneider’s production has been far from what the Rangers expected out of a former first-rounder. So far in his career, Schneider has appeared in 348 games, recording 82 points (20 goals and 62 assists).

Rangers face decision on Schneider

All signs indicate the Rangers may be close to waving the white flag, giving up on Schneider’s development, and allowing the 24-year-old blueliner to continue his NHL career elsewhere. That seems to be common sentiment around the Blueshirts.

However, a lot can happen until the offseason. A strong finish to the 2025-26 season may change it all, and convince the Rangers that they’ve found their defenseman of the future in Schneider, who has a lot of games on his back but it is still very young.

The Islanders needed overtime to defeat the red-hot San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in the “Capital of Silicon Valley”. It was a heated matchup between up-and-coming, cross-conference opponents. However, nothing is truly free in the NHL, and even Horvat, who scored the game-winner, must now pay a price.

“NY Islanders’ Bo Horvat has been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct for an incident involving San Jose’s bench,” as confirmed by @NHLPlayerSafety on X.

What did Horvat do?

Though the NHL didn’t provide the exact details of the incident that led to Horvat’s $2,500 fine, fans can get a good idea of what event the league is now addressing. During a scrum near the Sharks’ bench, Horvat exchanged some words with Sharks’ William Eklund, who was off the ice.

In that encounter, the veteran forward delivered a light, upswinging tap at Eklund’s visor, causing his helmet to almost come off. It wasn’t overly aggressive nor ill-intentioned; still, the NHL bars players on the ice from engaging in any physical dispute with those on the bench.

Whether there’s more to the story (perhaps something Horvat said to Eklund or another player) has yet to be reported. Thus, all signs indicate it was the contact with Eklund that led to the fine, which is about half of what the maximum allowable fine would be under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Because of his age, there are countless things Celebrini is not yet allowed to do. However, becoming a national icon in Canada is not one of them. Joining a roster featuring the likes of Crosby, McDavid, MacKinnon, and many more, Celebrini stole the spotlight.

Still, the fact him and Canada only—which for the Great White North is little consolation—have just a silver medal to show for does not sit right. As the 2025–26 NHL season resumes, the face of the San Jose Sharks franchise wasted no time sending a bold message.

“We didn’t win, so it’s bitter,” Celebrini admitted, according to NHL.com. “It’s sour that we didn’t win and we came that close, especially everything that we fought through. But I mean, [we] can’t change it now.”

Celebrini and Sharks push for a playoff spot

While the loss with Canada in the gold medal game remains an open wound for Celebrini, he will have opportunities to find closure. Namely in the 2030 Winter Olympics. Still that is a long way down the road. In the more immediate future, Celebrini vies to further establish his place among the new faces of the NHL.

On that note, nothing may be better than for the 2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy nominee (the NHL’s Rookie of the Year) to lead the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. San Jose has proven to be well ahead of schedule in its rebuild. A postseason berth in Celebrini’s sophomore season would only confirm that the rest of the league is now swimming in shark-infested waters.

Coming off the break, the Sharks sit five points behind the second wild-card team, the Seattle Kraken (63 points), with two games in hand. Becoming a playoff team just one year after finishing dead last in the league may not have happened in Celebrini’s wildest dreams, but it is now quite plausible.

Celebrini and San Jose’s future looks bright

San Jose is currently mired in a six-year playoff drought, and many fans were ready to throw in the towel. However, since Celebrini was drafted first overall in 2024, the fan base in the Capital of Silicon Valley has seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and the future looks bright.

The Sharks now boast one of the most appealing outlooks in the league, and Celebrini’s showcase alongside McDavid and Crosby in Milan only helped fuel growing NHL interest in the city. It may not take long before top free agents begin to view San Jose as a preferred destination—largely thanks to the new teenage sensation in town, Macklin Celebrini.

San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini definitely thinks so. The former first overall selection in the 2024 NHL entry Draft voiced a sincere statement on watching his teammate leave for New York. As Sullivan and the Rangers find themselves in the eye of the storm, Celebrini’s message about their latest addition can be a breath of fresh air.

“It’s tough. I know our roster and the numbers we have, it’s tough. He’s a hell of a player, that’s why he got picked up,” Celebrini said about Iorio, via San Jose Hockey Now.

Post-Panarin Rangers

Finally, the ongoing drama around Artemi Panarin came to an end. As Panarin exits the Rangers, revamping the Los Angeles Kings’ projected lines, New York can now move on to the next stage. However, the grass won’t necessarily be greener on the other side.

After the trouble the Rangers have been through in recent years, it’s tough for fans to have faith in the decisions made by the organization. However, if that’s not enough, then perhaps, hearing directly from one of the best players in the league—Celebrini—gives the Blueshirts’ fanbase hope.

Regardless, hope has been a tricky sentiment in New York as of late. It seems every time fans get their hopes up, the Rangers manage to rip it away from them in the most painful ways. As Iorio makes his way into the disheartened lineup in Manhattan, fans should buy into the hype at their own risk.

What Iorio brings to the table

Needless to say, Iorio’s numbers aren’t quite there to call for parades. So far in his career, he has appeared in 30 games, recording four assists (three with the Sharks and one with the Washington Capitals). He has yet to net his first career goal.

After all, San Jose did place him on waivers, so the Sharks can clearly live without the 23-year-old blueliner—even if Celebrini publicly laments the departure. Now, it’s up to Sullivan and the Rangers to help Iorio unlock his full potential—that’s been a major pending assignment for the New York organization in general.

Some extended skids weren’t always the result of a single flaw. Injuries, thin rosters, expansion growing pains and organizational missteps often converged, creating moments where losses became part of the routine.

The league’s longest losing streaks now live as cautionary tales, remembered not just for their length but for what followed. Within those numbers lie turning points, rebuilds, and chapters that helped define NHL history.

Which teams have the longest losing streaks in NHL history?

The record books point to two franchises tied at the top for futility. Both the 1974–75 Washington Capitals and the 1992–93 San Jose Sharks endured 17 straight losses, marking the longest losing streaks in NHL regular-season history.

Those stretches came during formative years for each club, when roster instability and performance struggles compounded night after night. For the Capitals, the skid unfolded as a brutal winter stretch that defined an otherwise difficult inaugural era.

In San Jose, expansion-era growing pains were on full display, with a young Sharks roster unable to find consistency despite flashes of effort. These lengthy droughts now stand as stark reminders of the challenges new or rebuilding teams face in a league where parity can be unforgiving.

More recently, the Buffalo Sabres experienced a 14-game run without a win in the 2014–15 season. Even as game designs, skill levels and structures have changed, the persistence of prolonged losing streaks shows how difficult it can be to halt a downward spiral once it starts.

After his latest statement, it’s safe to say Ryan Reaves may not save the fondest of feelings for Matthews’ Maple Leafs. His time with Toronto wasn’t the best, either. As Reaves’ Sharks visit the Leafs, Reaves had some words for the organization that traded him out of town during the summer.

“They basically said that I couldn’t play in this league anymore. And I’m back,” Reaves admitted to reporters, via Chris Johnston on X. Still the veteran forward stated he holds no grudges against the Leafs. That remains to be seen. Perhaps, fans around the NHL can see that for themselves when the Sharks and Leafs face off.

Reaves’ time with Toronto

Reaves signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in July 2023. When signing with the Buds, the veteran enforcer joined the 6th team in his NHL career—St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks (7th, after Toronto). The Buds handed Reaves a three-year, $4.05 million contract.

From the get-go, many fans expressed skepticism about signing a 36-year-old bottom-six player to such a contract. In the end, it didn’t work out for Reaves in Hogtown. Appearing in 84 games across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, the Winnipegger only recorded 8 points (4 G, 4 A), while being assessed 77 penalty minutes.

Fresh start

Due to the poor performances in Toronto, the Buds traded the 38-year-old forward to the Sharks, who almost everybody expected to be a bottom feeder in the NHL. However, thanks to Macklin Celebrini’s superb season—along with an exciting young core—San Jose is holding its ground against true contenders around the league.

Reaves is mostly deployed on the fourth-line, bringing the energy and veteran leadership to a squad with an average age of 27.7. However, that number is inflated by Reaves—the only player born before 1990 on the team.

Brandon Duhaime added a goal and an assist, Dylan Strome also scored, and Matt Roy contributed three assists. Charlie Lindgren stopped 23 shots for the Capitals, while Yaroslav Askarov allowed four goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Alex Nedeljkovic.

“He did a great job of helping us build that lead,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said of Ovechkin, according to NHL.com. “He’s finding himself in and around the net. There’s another example of how good his hands are in tight.”

Ovechkin’s milestones

Ovechkin’s two goals brought his career total to 911, passing Ray Bourque for the sixth-most games with one franchise. He also extended his points streak to six games, tallying four goals and five assists during that stretch.

Rookie Ryan Leonard scored twice and added two assists, becoming the first Capitals rookie with a four-point game since Nicklas Backstrom in March 2008. Leonard’s second goal early in the third period capped a dominating performance from Washington.

Capital’s performance

Washington jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period with goals from Ovechkin, Sonny Milano, and Leonard, then added a short-handed strike from Duhaime. Ovechkin’s power-play goal in the second, along with Strome’s deflection, made it 6-0. Leonard scored again in the third, and Dmitry Orlov’s slap shot off Pavol Regenda’s skate finalized the 7-1 win.

Despite late scratches to John Carlson (upper-body) and Justin Sourdif (lower-body), Carbery expects both players to return soon. The Capitals now look to maintain momentum with Ovechkin and Leonard leading the charge.

The Sharks have benefited from his breakout performance, holding an 11–9–3 record and sitting firmly in playoff contention. Beyond stats, teammates and rivals alike have noticed Celebrini’s combination of intelligence, passion, and on-ice maturity.

“His hunger, his passion for the game (and) how hard he works,” Crosby told The Athletic. “He’s an incredible player. Just his all-around game at his age is pretty impressive. He’s committed defensively. He competes hard. He’s got a pretty mature game for his age.”

How does Celebrini compare to NHL stars?

Celebrini’s 34 points in 24 games put him in the company of Connor McDavid (25 games) and trail only Nathan MacKinnon (39 points in 18 games). Scouts, executives, and fellow players are praising his attention to detail, relentless puck pursuit, and early leadership, traits rarely seen in someone so young.

What’s next for Celebrini and the Sharks?

San Jose has notched multiple hat tricks and overtime winners, with Celebrini registering at least one point in every win this season. The Sharks are riding his scoring surge as they aim for the playoffs, and they will face Crosby and the Penguins again on Dec. 13 after Pittsburgh’s 3‑0 victory on Oct. 18.

The remainder of the season will test whether Celebrini can maintain this remarkable pace and continue to solidify his place among the NHL’s elite young stars.

In the century-long history, hoisting the Stanley Cup is the ultimate prize, the gold standard against which all 32 franchises are measured. While teams boast deep traditions and countless playoff runs, the narrative is different for others.

The NHL‘s expansion era, which began in the late 1960s and continued well into the 21st century, brought the excitement of professional hockey to new markets, spreading the wealth of talent and fan engagement. However, the introduction of fresh clubs also meant starting from scratch.

This disparity creates a compelling backdrop for examining the league’s competitive balance. While perennial contenders often overshadow the less successful teams, it is the franchises with the scarcest Final appearances that tell an equally dramatic tale of organizational growing pains.

Nashville Predators | 1 Stanley Cup Final appearance

Since joining the NHL in 1998, the Nashville Predators have been perennial playoff contenders—but the Stanley Cup Final has eluded them nearly their entire existence. Their lone trip to the Final came in the 2016–17 season, a breakthrough run that saw them upset higher-seeded teams and capture the imagination of a hockey city.

That playoff run was built on grit. As the 8th seed, Nashville swept the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, then proceeded to knock off the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks to reach the Final. But despite their underdog momentum, they fell short in the championship round—denied the ultimate hardware, and left to chase that dream again.

Even after that near miss, the Predators remain defined by ambition. Their only Stanley Cup Final berth stands as a reminder of both how far they’ve come and how much remains to be done. Among NHL franchises, they are a clear example of sustained competitiveness that has yet to cross the final threshold.

San Jose Sharks | 1 appearance

The San Jose Sharks, founded in 1991, came agonizingly close to their first Stanley Cup in the 2016 Final. That season marked a watershed moment: the franchise’s first-ever appearance in the Cup Final after years of regular playoff appearances.

Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sharks pushed hard, igniting massive passion throughout the Bay Area. But in Game 6 at home, the Penguins pulled away with a 3–1 win, sealing the series 4–2. Despite the defeat, the Sharks’ run remains a defining moment for a team that long seemed cursed outside of regular-season success.

That lone Final appearance still carries weight. For San Jose, it’s more than a missed title: it’s proof that the arena-level brilliance, big-game talent, and high-caliber coaching can converge—if only one more time.

Ottawa Senators | 1 appearance

The modern Ottawa Senators, re-established in 1992, have only made it to the Stanley Cup Final once, in 2007. It was a milestone for a younger franchise hoping to shake the “expansion team” label, but the outcome was bitter: Ottawa lost the Final 4–1 to the Anaheim Ducks.

That series was the high-water mark for the early Senators era. They entered the playoffs with momentum, but Anaheim’s composure and experience proved too much in the long run.

For Ottawa, that single Final trip is both a source of pride and a frustration. It serves as a reminder that they have tasted what’s possible—but also how far they must go to break through and claim their first Stanley Cup.

Vegas Golden Knights | 2 appearances

The Vegas Golden Knights remain one of the most compelling stories in modern NHL history. As a young expansion team, they stunned the league by reaching the Stanley Cup Final in just their second season (2018), only to fall to the Washington Capitals.

But what makes their legacy even more extraordinary is what came next: in 2023, the Knights returned to the Final and closed the deal, beating the Florida Panthers 4–1. The clincher happened in dramatic fashion — a 9–3 Game 5 at home, highlighted by captain Mark Stone’s hat trick and Jonathan Marchessault earning Conn Smythe honors.

Anaheim Ducks | 2 appearances

The Anaheim Ducks’ journey to the Stanley Cup Final reads like a Hollywood script. Their first appearance came in 2003 when they were still known as the Mighty Ducks — facing the New Jersey Devils in a grueling seven-game series, and ultimately falling short.

But four years later, in 2007, they returned with renewed strength. That year, Anaheim defeated the Ottawa Senators in just five games to claim their first and only Stanley Cup. What makes that victory especially rich in story is that it marked a full-circle moment for a franchise born out of pop culture: the movie-inspired Ducks had become champions in real life.

Carolina Hurricanes | 2 appearances

The Carolina Hurricanes have had their share of Stanley Cup Final drama, and their narrative is as poignant as it is triumphant. Their first Final came in 2002, but they were outclassed by a powerhouse Detroit Red Wings squad.

Undeterred, the Hurricanes returned in 2006 for a rematch on a grand stage — this time against the Edmonton Oilers. Down to the wire, they forced a Game 7 and captured the Cup by winning 3–1 on home ice, with rookie Cam Ward earning Conn Smythe honors. That moment became a defining chapter: a franchise that had tasted disappointment climbing all the way to the summit.

Washington Capitals | 2 appearances

The Washington Capitals’ championship story is rooted in perseverance. Their first Stanley Cup Final came in 1998, but they suffered a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings.

It would take two decades of near-misses, heartbreaks, and reinvention before they finally broke through. In 2018, led by Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games to win their first-ever Stanley Cup.

Buffalo Sabres | 2 appearances

The Buffalo Sabres’ Stanley Cup Final story is defined by frustration, resilience, and the kind of heartbreak that becomes part of a franchise’s mythology. Their first appearance came in 1975, during the era of the famed “French Connection,” but the run ended at the hands of a dominant Flyers squad.

Decades later, in 1999, Buffalo returned to the Final only to endure one of the most infamous endings in NHL history — Brett Hull’s overtime goal counted despite the disputed “skate in the crease,” sealing the series for Dallas and leaving Sabres fans with a lingering rallying cry: “No Goal”. For a team still chasing its first championship, those near-misses loom larger than any banner.

Colorado Avalanche | 3 appearances

Colorado Avalanche’s relationship with the Stanley Cup Final is a showcase of transformation — from relocation to immediate glory. After moving from Quebec in 1995, the newly minted Avalanche wasted no time, reaching and winning the Final in 1996 behind Joe Sakic’s leadership and Patrick Roy’s brilliance.

Their second title came in 2001, capping off Ray Bourque’s storied career with an emotional finish that remains one of the league’s most iconic moments. And two decades later, the Avalanche surged back in 2022, blending speed, youth, and firepower to defeat Tampa Bay and claim their third championship.

Los Angeles Kings | 3 appearances

The Los Angeles Kings spent decades as an underdog franchise — a team with flashes of star power but little postseason reward. Their first Stanley Cup Final appearance arrived in 1993 during the Wayne Gretzky era, a magical run that ended against the Montreal Canadiens. Nearly twenty years later, Los Angeles reinvented itself with a bruising, defensively suffocating identity that changed everything.

In 2012, the Kings stormed through the playoffs as the unexpected eighth seed, winning the Stanley Cup with a mix of grit and dominance. They returned in 2014 with even greater resilience, surviving three straight seven-game series before defeating the Rangers for their second championship.

Both Celebrini and Marchand found the back of the net during the latest San Jose-Florida meeting. Though both stars extended their point streaks to three and eight games—respectively—it was Macklin and the Sharks who enjoyed the last laugh as the home team defeated the Cats by a score of 3-1.

As Marchand continued his strong production in his 17th NHL season, the Panthers likewise extended their inconsistent campaign. After defeating the Los Angeles Kings, Florida fell to San Jose—losing for the third straight time in games following a win. Regardless, Celebrini didn’t belittle the win over the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.

“[The Panthers are] a great team. Talk about a winning team, and that’s it,” Macklin Celebrini said postgame per NHL.com. “I thought we did a great job. It was a good game. Had a couple of guys step up huge.”

Ten years later

Thanks to the performance from Celebrini and the young squad in The Capital of Silicon Valley, the Sharks snapped a ten-year hex against the Panthers. The last time San Jose had defeated Florida at SAP center had been in November 2015.

It only took the Sharks a decade to defeat the Cats at home again. Back then, Celebrini was only nine years old. Now, the teenaged star in the NHL helped his Sharks take down one of the biggest fish.

Sophomore what?

Coming off a sensational, Calder Trophy-winning rookie season, much was speculated about Celebrini’s second year in the NHL. Sophomore slumps are always a threat, but it’s safe to assume such won’t be the case for the star out of British Columbia.

So far in the 2025–26 NHL season, Celebrini has registered 10 goals, 14 assists, and 24 points. He’s in second place for the league lead in points, showcasing the unbelievable campaign by the sophomore stud in San Jose. With the 2026 Olympics approaching, his is one of the hottest names to watch for Team Canada’s roster.

The 18-year-old, selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, extended his point streak to six games (two goals, five assists), joining Marek Zidlicky as the only defensemen in NHL history to record a point in each of their first six career games.

“I love winning. I hate losing. It’s even more fun winning with this team and this group of guys,” Schaefer said, according to NHL.com. “After the game, there’s a lot of happy guys in the room, and you feel good. But honestly, I mean, now we go back to work again, practice tomorrow, and then we have a game on Thursday, so go back to work, get our work boots on, and keep the streak going.”

Bo Horvat, Casey Cizikas, and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, while Ilya Sorokin stopped 33 shots. For San Jose, Collin Graf, Adam Gaudette, and Macklin Celebrini scored, and Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves.

Schaefer’s historic start and game highlights

Graf gave the Sharks an early 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 8:29 of the first period. Horvat tied the game on a power-play goal at 9:26, and Cizikas followed just over a minute later to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead. Gaudette evened the score at 2-2 before Heineman gave New York a 3-2 advantage late in the period.

Schaefer extended the lead to 4-2 in the second period after receiving a pass from Anthony Duclair and firing a shot past Askarov. Celebrini narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the third, but the Islanders held on for the win.

With this streak, Schaefer joined elite company, becoming the fourth 18-year-old in NHL history to start a career with a six-game point streak alongside Alexandre Daigle, Sidney Crosby, and Wayne Gretzky. He also became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal at 18 years, 46 days.

Islanders build momentum with balanced play

Coach Patrick Roy praised his team’s performance on both ends of the ice. “I thought Ilya made some really good saves, especially in the first period, where we were not at our best. He kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win. Matthew had a great game as well, probably his best since he’s been here,” Roy said.

With confidence building and young stars like Schaefer making an immediate impact, the Islanders are aiming to carry this momentum through the early stages of the season and continue climbing the standings.