CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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.

Defector

David Roth

Vozinha of Cabo Verde gives a thumbs up during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Cabo Verde.

Podcasts

Feeling Those Good Sports Feelings, With Ray Ratto

Ray Ratto

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 14: John Tortorella of the Vegas Golden Knights arrives before the start of game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 14, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Christopher Trim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

I Hope John Tortorella Didn’t Bother Unpacking

Lauren Theisen

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes lifts the Stanley Cup after a 3-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brandon Bussi Filled The Hurricanes’ Last Hole

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour celebrates Jordan Staal #11 on the ice after winning the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Hurricanes’ Dominance Required Years Of Disappointment

Barry Petchesky

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 11: The puck gets past Carter Hart #79 of the Vegas Golden Knights during game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 11, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

John Tortorella Stands Behind Carter Hart As Hart Fails To Stand In Front Of Four Goals Per Game

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 11: Jalen Chatfield #5 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates away from Ivan Barbashev #49 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game Five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

In Unprecedented Development, Carolina Wins Normal Game

Jordan Staal Has Frozen Blood

Vegas Golden Knights players William Karlsson, and Mitch Marner celebrate in front of the opposing goal after the the game-winning the goal in double overtime to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes Took Vegas To The Brink And The Rest Of Us Got Hockey Nirvana

Kelsey McKinney

fan holds a cape reading "I just hope Seth Jarvis has fun" after game two of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 4, 2026 at Lenovo Arena

Six Grown Men Can Be WAGs, Too!

Seth Jarvis (number 24) of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates toward the home crowd after scoring during game two of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 4, 2026.

Carolina Refused To Die, And The Stanley Cup Final Has New Life

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 02: Alexander Nikishin #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes pressures Cole Smith #22 of the Vegas Golden Knights at the boards during the third period of Game One of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on June 02, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Vegas Squeezed The Canes And Got The Juice

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 27: Joe Veleno #90, Jakub Dobes #75, and Mike Matheson #8 of the Montreal Canadiens look on from the bench during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre on May 27, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Canadiens Have A Weird Fetish For Not Shooting The Puck And They’re Making It Everybody’s Problem

Colorado Avalanche players react after a 2-1 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights

That Was Embarrassing

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 26: Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 2-1in Game Four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 26, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena on May 26, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Vegas Is Built For Springtime

Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal past Jakub Dobes

Close Isn’t Good Enough For The Canadiens

The Avalanche’s Season Hinges On Cale Makar’s Busted Shoulder

Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates the overtime winning goal in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Nikolaj Ehlers Rewrote The Hurricanes’ Old Script

What If The Canadiens Are Just This Good?

Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights looks on during warmups ahead of Game One of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

Mitch Marner Needed To Get Out Of Toronto

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 20: Carter Hart #79 of the Vegas Golden Knights allows a goal from Valeri Nichushkin #13 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

I’m So Sick Of The Golden Knights

Jakub Dobes #75 of the Montreal Canadiens is congratulated by Alexandre Carrier #45 of the Montreal Canadiens

Jakub Dobes Is Growing Up

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montréal Canadiens celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during overtime in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on May 18, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images)

The Canadiens Must Be Blessed

DENVER, CO - MAY 13: The Colorado Avalanche celebrate defenseman Brett Kulak (27) of the Colorado Avalanche's overtime goal on goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) of the Minnesota Wild during overtime of Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Who’s Stopping These Avs?

Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal

The Montreal Crowd Claimed A Victory

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - CIRCA 1990: The Rocky statue stands atop the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1990. The statue of fictional character Rocky Balboa, as portrayed by actor Sylvester Stallone, was created for and used in the Rocky III movie. It was later located outside the Spectrum at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. In 1990, it was temporarily moved to the top of the museum steps, which feature prominently in the original Rocky film, for the filming of Rocky V. In 2006, the statue was moved to a grassy area at street level on museum grounds. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images)