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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Lauren Theisen

General Manager Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild smiles during rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at TRIA Rink on July 24, 2021 in St. Paul, Minnesota

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Bills Week

The Wild’s Offseason Has Been Pretty Tame

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Barry Petchesky

El Segundo, CA - May 15: Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland meets with Joel Edmundson, Jordan Spence and Warren Foegele at Toyota Sports Performance Center on May 15, 2025 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/NHLI via Getty Images)

CA: Los Angeles Kings Introduce Ken Holland As General Manager

The Kings Did Their Free Agency Shopping At A Bin Store

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 28: Aaron Ekblad #5 celebrates his goal with Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amerant Bank Arena on April 28, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Ekblad;Brad Marchand

Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers – Game Four

The Panthers Are Bringing Back All Their Guys

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Emergency backup goaltender Dave Ayres #90 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on February 22, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v Toronto Maple Leafs

The End Of EBUGs Means The End Of Dreams Coming True

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Ray Ratto

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE17: Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers lifts the cup in the locker room during their team celebration after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Six

The Panthers Grind All Before Them To Dust

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Three

Nobody Knows Who The Oilers Should Start At Goalie In The Most Important Game Of The Season

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck into the net behind goaltender Calvin Pickard #30, Corey Perry #90, and Jake Walman #96 of the Edmonton Oilers

Florida Panthers v Edmonton Oilers – Game Five

Panther Machine Never Breaks

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Anton Lundell #15 of the Florida Panthers shoots on Calvin Pickard #30 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Four

Calvin Pickard Saved The Day

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Oilers-Panthers Isn’t A Rivalry, It’s A Saga

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: A plastic rat is seen on the ice after the Florida Panthers 6-1 victory in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brad Marchand Is Still A Royal Pain In The Ass

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: Jonah Gadjovich #12 of the Florida Panthers tangles with Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Panthers Are Having A Laugh

EDMONTON, AB - JUNE 06: Edmonton Oilers Center Connor McDavid (97) races towards the puck in the third period in game two of Stanley Cup Final Edmonton Oilers game versus the Florida Panthers on June 06, 2025 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: JUN 06 Stanley Cup Final Panthers at Oilers

We Don’t Speak Connor McDavid

, TX - MAY 29: Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer takes questions from the media after game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on May 29, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 29 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Western Conference Final Oilers at Stars

Pete DeBoer Just Loves Making Conference Finals And Getting Fired

Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) gets set in the first period of game one of Stanley Cup Final

NHL: JUN 04 Stanley Cup Final Panthers at Oilers

Stuart Skinner Was Good Enough

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 04: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 during overtime in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game One

These Oilers Can Take A Punch

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Leon Draisaitl #29 and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers react as the Florida Panthers celebrate their victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Seven

So, What’s Gonna Happen This Time?

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Five

The Panthers Are A Nightmare For The Rest Of The NHL

Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up against the Dallas Stars in Game Four

Dallas Stars v Edmonton Oilers – Game Four

Oh God, Stuart Skinner Controls The Oilers’ Destiny

Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal

Carolina Hurricanes v Florida Panthers – Game Four

The Hurricanes Avoided The Garbage Can

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 22 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Eastern Conference Final Panthers at Hurricanes

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025.

NHL: MAY 09 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Maple Leafs at Panthers

Paul Maurice And The Panthers Do Not Care If You’re Having Fun

Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 21, 2025.

Edmonton Oilers v Dallas Stars – Game One

Three Goals, Six Minutes, No Response

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers fights with Shayne Gostisbehere #4 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 20, 2025.

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