Ross Colton

Colton Parayko turned down a trade to Buffalo last year, betting on St. Louis turning things around. Now the Blues scrape by while the Sabres build a contender that insiders whisper could explode next season. Parayko's camp stays quiet, but front-office whispers suggest he's watching Buffalo's rise with more than casual interest.

Colton Dach and Olen Zellweger share that Alberta grit, turning an Oilers-Ducks matchup into a mini homecoming story. These young guns grew up idolizing the same rinks and rivalries back home, and now they collide in the playoffs with family pulling for both sides. Edmonton fans know how those prairie ties fuel fire - this one's got extra juice as the series rolls on.

Edmonton kid Colton Dach steps into the Oilers' enforcer spot with a grin, embracing the rough stuff that defines playoff hockey. Born and bred in Oil Country, he knows the crowd's roar better than most and brings that edge the big club needs against Anaheim. As Game 2 looms, his physicality could swing momentum in a series already dripping with bad blood.

Adam Henrique's lower-body hit shelves him for Edmonton's Game 2 tilt, forcing a raw rookie into the playoff fire against Anaheim. Coach Knoblauch rolls the dice on this kid's NHL readiness, banking on his wheels to fill the vet's steady hand. The Oilers' depth gets tested early, with the home crowd expecting the newcomer to rise or expose cracks in the lineup.

Colton Dach logs serious minutes as teams push the pace in these high-stakes matchups, and the numbers tell a story insiders have watched building all season. Coaches trust him in key situations because he brings that family pedigree without the hype. His deployment hints at bigger roles ahead if he keeps earning that trust shift after shift.

Colton Parayko staying put with the Blues for 2026-27 catches even the most plugged-in front office types off guard. Everyone in St. Louis figured his massive contract and the team's cap crunch meant he'd test the market or get moved long before then. This twist reshapes their defensive core plans heading into a pivotal offseason.