NHL and NHLPA’s Milan stop launches a first-of-its-kind cross-sport activation with Serie A clubs Inter and Milan, spotlighting a shared global fan pulse for hockey and soccer. In a week of events in Milan, 26 NHL stars will mingle with European soccer icons, with a focus on Olympic visibility ahead of Milano Cortina 2026. Seven players named to preliminary Olympic rosters—Aho, Heiskanen, Seider, Raymond, Hischier, Nylander, and Zibanejad—anchor the roster as Inter hosts a training session and Milan’s opener vs Cremonese. The journey includes jersey exchanges with Serie A legends and a broadcaster summit to amplify cross-border storytelling.

The alliance aims to translate on-field star power into digital and live experiences for fantasy audiences and global fans, leveraging both leagues’ brands and broadcast ecosystems. A historic jersey swap at MSG from a March 2025 moment between Mika Zibanejad and Pirlo/Materazzi underscored the ambition to fuse hockey and soccer narratives. As Milan pivots toward 2025–26, the collaboration is framed as a blueprint for cross-sport engagement, talent mobility, and a broader, more immersive fan experience that transcends traditional league boundaries.

In a surprising move, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice proposed a change to the traditional NHL handshake line, suggesting that only players participate, leaving out coaches and staff. Following Carolina Hurricanes' coach Rod Brind'Amour's agreement to this new tradition after losing to the Panthers, he later expressed his disagreement, emphasizing the handshake's significance in showing respect and celebrating the spirit of competition.

Brind'Amour reflected on the emotional moments exchanged during the handshake, recalling past connections with players he once coached. Maurice, however, sees the change as a way to highlight the players' accomplishments, arguing that the presence of numerous staff dilutes the moment's impact. As the Panthers prepare for the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, the debate over this handshake tradition continues.

The Carolina Hurricanes are at a crossroads as they evaluate their roster's composition following their recent playoff performance. Discussing the situation, Elliotte Friedman highlighted the need for a reevaluation of the team's strategy and player dynamics. The Hurricanes, noted for their straight-line, hard-nosed play, have been criticized for their lack of size, which could hinder their competitiveness in future playoff scenarios.

Friedman suggests that changes are necessary, whether they ultimately progress further in the playoffs or not. He recalls advice from Glen Sather regarding maintaining a fresh outlook even after success. The Hurricanes' management, particularly under their involved owner, might pursue significant roster modifications to enhance their playoff resilience, especially in comparison to physically dominant teams like Florida and Tampa Bay.

Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Final is set for Wednesday as the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Florida Panthers at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. Following a dramatic Game 4, where Carolina fought off elimination with a decisive 3-0 victory, the stage is set for an intense showdown. The Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen delivered an impressive 20-save shutout, while Florida enters as a slight favorite at -116 on the money line.

With the over/under set at 5.5 goals, the Panthers are favored by 1.5 goals (+208) on the puck line, indicating a competitive matchup ahead. SportsLine's projection model has shown strong results, simulating every NHL game 10,000 times with a positive return for bettors following its picks. Fans seeking player props can keep an eye on key performances from players like Aaron Ekblad and Sebastian Aho, who both look to impact the game significantly.