Golden Knights John Tortorella Reveals Team Message After Losing Stanley Cup + Vegas Future | Post

Golden Knights John Tortorella Talks Team Message After Losing Stanley Cup to Carolina Hurricanes + Vegas Future | Postgame ‪@JeffSkverskyYouTube‬ #Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup 20 Years After First Jordan Staal Selected as 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner The Hurricanes (16-3 in 19 GP) had the second-fewest losses by a Stanley Cup winner since 1987 (when all four rounds went best-of-seven) behind the 1988 Oilers (16-2 in 18 GP). Jordan Staal captained the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup 17 years after his first championship with the 2009 Penguins, which marked the most by a player from one title to the next in League history. He bested the previous high set by Chris Chelios (16 from 1986 MTL to 2002 DET). Taylor Hall won his first Stanley Cup after being chosen by Edmonton with the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft and playing 1,062 career games with seven different franchises across 16 seasons. He had the second-most contests by a No. 1 pick before his first Cup behind Alex Ovechkin, who also clinched his against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena with the 2018 Capitals. Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis won the Stanley Cup together less than four months after Slavin helped Team USA defeat Jarvis and Team Canada in the gold medal contest at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Slavin became the second American (ninth from any country) to win the Cup and Olympic gold in the same season following Ken Morrow, who completed the feat with the 1980 Islanders after playing for the “Miracle on Ice” team. Frederik Andersen and Nikolaj Ehlers became the second and third Danish Stanley Cup winners in NHL history after Lars Eller, who scored the championship-clinching goal against the Golden Knights with the 2018 Capitals. Andersen concluded the postseason with a 13-2 record through 16 appearances (1.89 GAA, .910 SV%, 3 SO). Rod Brind'Amour became the fourth individual in NHL history to captain a Stanley Cup winner and then lead that club to another championship as head coach. He joined Toe Blake with the Canadiens (2 as captain, 8 as coach), Hap Day with the Maple Leafs (1 as captain, 5 as coach) and Cooney Weiland with the Bruins (1 as captain, 1 as coach). Shayne Gostisbehere (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) became the second Florida-born Stanley Cup winner in NHL history after Dan Hinote (2001 COL). Florida is one of eight U.S. states represented among the birthplaces for Hurricanes players that meet engraving criteria (also Jaccob Slavin: Colorado; Mike Reilly: Illinois; Jalen Chatfield: Michigan; K'Andre Miller: Minnesota; Jackson Blake; North Dakota; Eric Robinson: New Jersey; Brandon Bussi: New York), which bested the 2017 and 2016 Penguins (both w/ 7) for the most on a championship roster in NHL history. Taylor Hall became the fourth No. 1 pick to score a Stanley Cup-clinching goal alongside Patrick Kane (2010 w/ CHI), Bobby Smith (1986 w/ MTL) and Guy Lafleur (1976 w/ MTL). Taylor Hall factored on a series-clinching goal for the third time this postseason, tied with Rod Brind'Amour (3 in 2006) for the second most in a playoff year in Hurricanes/Whalers history behind Cory Stillman (4 in 2006). Brandon Bussi posted the ninth Stanley Cup-clinching shutout in the past 50 years and first since Andrei Vasilevskiy did so in consecutive years (2021 TBL & 2020 TBL). The others in that span were by Matt Murray (2017 PIT), Corey Crawford (2015 CHI), Tim Thomas (2011 BOS), Martin Brodeur (2003 NJD), Patrick Roy (1996 COL) and Tom Barrasso (1991 PIT). Brandon Bussi joined Bernie Parent (2x; 1975 PHI & 1974 PHI) as the second undrafted goaltender to record a Stanley Cup-clinching shutout (among goaltenders to debut after the first NHL Draft in 1963). Brandon Bussi became the third goaltender in NHL history to record a Stanley Cup-clinching shutout during their first NHL season (no NHL GP in prior seasons), joining Earl Robertson (Game 5 of 1937 SCF w/ DET) and Andy Aitkenhead (Game 4 of 1933 SCF w/ NYR). Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner led all players in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 29 points (10-19—29 in 22 GP), the fourth player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1944) to finish as the playoff scoring leader during his first season with a franchise. He joined Ryan O'Reilly (2019 Blues), Frank Mahovlich (1971 Canadiens) and Bill Goldsworthy (1968 Minnesota North Stars) on that list. M