After a long, long NHL season that began way back on October 7th with the Florida Panthers battling the Chicago Blackhawks, we're down to the final series of the year. On Tuesday night, the Stanley Cup Final gets underway, with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes the two teams left standing.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS 👀
— NHL (@NHL) May 30, 2026
Don't miss Game 1 of the #StanleyCup Final on TUESDAY at 8p ET on ABC, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/FmQcHpcpRd
While not many paying attention to this series will be thinking of the Calgary Flames, there's certainly plenty of connections to the team in what should be a highly competitive matchup. For the Golden Knights, there are two former Flames representing the team in both Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin, who were both dealt directly to Vegas by the Flames.
While it was a long time ago, the Carolina Hurricanes also feature Mark Jankowski, who was once the No. 21 overall pick by Calgary way back in the 2012 NHL Draft, with all three aiming to raise the Cup for the first time in their careers. Thus far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes are 12-1, while Vegas sit at 12-4 following their sweep of the Colorado Avalanche, and stylistically, this may be one of the best matchups of the post-season thus far.
THE STANLEY CUP FINAL IS HERE 🏆
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 2, 2026
📺: Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes Game 1 TONIGHT at 8pm ET on Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/Qs6mXl8lUe
Beyond these former Flames, Calgary fans should have a vested interest in this series, as a Golden Knights victory would see their 2028 second-round pick in the Rasmus Andersson deal become a first-round pick, giving the Flames Vegas' first-round pick in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
On paper, this is shaping up to be a very competitive series, and with three former (beloved) Calgary Flames in action as well as future draft compensation at stake, there's plenty for Flames fans to watch in this one.
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