Arda Ocal — Mar 16, 2026, 07:30 AM ET
I will never forget Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice raising the Stanley Cup for the first time. A coach in the NHL since 1995, Maurice finally captured Lord Stanley’s Mug in 2024, lifting it mid-interview and delivering one of the longest, most satisfying exhales in sports history.
There have been a few such iconic moments in NHL history: Ray Bourque winning the Cup in 2001 when Joe Sakic handed it to him, and Lanny McDonald retiring a champion with the Calgary Flames in 1989. Every spring fans pick a veteran without a Cup to root for — an OGWAC, an “old guy without a Cup.” Kyle Okposo, who won his first Cup in 2024 after an 18-year career, was a recent example.
Here are my OGWAC picks heading into the 2026 playoffs.
Brent Burns — D, Colorado Avalanche
Could this be the year for one of the NHL’s most iconic beards and characters? Burns, one of the few players over 40, benefits from playing on the Avalanche, favorites to win the Cup. He’s been to a Final with the Sharks and had playoff success with Carolina but has never skated away a champion. Colorado’s roster gives him a real shot.
Nick Foligno and Marcus Foligno — Fs, Minnesota Wild
What a story: Nick, 38, a longtime leader and former captain in Columbus and Chicago, has limited playoff mileage despite being a defining presence. Marcus, 34, joins him in Minnesota for the first time as teammates. The Wild are deep and searching for their first Cup. The image of the Foligno brothers hoisting the Cup would be one of the great hockey photos.
Jamie Benn — F, Dallas Stars
Benn has spent his career as the heartbeat of the Stars. At 36 he signed a one-year deal to chase a Cup, and as captain he’d be the one skating to the commissioner first if Dallas wins. Benn led the Stars to the 2020 Final and recent deep runs; few fans would begrudge him finally claiming the Cup.
Ryan Reaves — F, San Jose Sharks
“Reavo” is beloved for standing up for teammates and protecting younger stars. At 39, he already scored the Western Conference-clinching goal for Vegas in 2018. The Sharks are entertaining and have captured a lot of neutral-fan love; if San Jose pushes into the playoffs, Reaves will be a sentimental favorite.
Mats Zuccarello — F, Minnesota Wild
Zuccarello was the first Norwegian to play in a Stanley Cup Final in 2014 with the Rangers. Now in Minnesota, he’s part of a group with a legitimate Cup chance. If the Wild win, Zuccarello would likely be among the first to celebrate and is a player many fans — including former Rangers followers — would be thrilled to see finally win.
Honorable mentions
Although not OGWAC-eligible, two other storylines to watch:
– Corey Perry, 40, who won a Cup with Anaheim in 2007 but has lost in the Final several times since.
– Connor McDavid, 29, who carries the “always a bridesmaid” narrative given his status as the game’s best player and the enormous expectations on Edmonton.
Biggest games of the week
Two teams I’m tracking as they chase playoff berths:
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus sits a point back in the East wild-card race but would lead the Pacific. Their schedule is brutal this week: Carolina, the New York Rangers, the Seattle Kraken, then the New York Islanders on the road. A win streak here could be transformative as they chase positions ahead of Boston and Detroit and fend off contenders behind them.
San Jose Sharks
San Jose climbed into the second West wild-card spot and could produce a delightful first-round matchup against Colorado. Macklin Celebrini and Co. visit Edmonton, then host Buffalo and Philadelphia — two tough games against likely playoff clubs followed by a game against a team desperate for points.
Hart Trophy contenders if the season ended today
I’m watching how much Hart traction younger stars like Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer will get for their value versus sheer statistical output. Connor McDavid leads with 111 points. Nathan MacKinnon is at 109 and has been red-hot in March. Nikita Kucherov sits at 106. Those three remain the likely leaders in any MVP conversation given their production and impact.
What I loved this weekend
The Sabres and Maple Leafs moved in opposite directions — Buffalo trending up and Toronto facing decisions about its roster direction. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff joked about wanting Leafs fans to sell their tickets to Sabres fans as the dynamics of the two clubs diverge, a lighthearted moment ahead of Buffalo’s home game.
Social post of the weekend
Team USA’s X account previewing the Paralympic sled hockey gold-medal game against Canada called the matchup the “Seated Rivalry.” It was a clever nod to pop culture and a well-timed bit of promotion.
Stick taps
Congrats to the under-10 C2-2 Kirkwood Stars from the Kirkwood Youth Hockey Organization near St. Louis, winners of the 2026 Blue Note Cup. No. 56 Adeline McKenna — daughter of former NHL goalie Mike McKenna, who coaches the team — helped the Stars, who caught fire after coming from the Learn to Play program and won three straight games to take the title. Great development and a proud moment for local hockey.
Closing
Every playoff season has its feel-good OGWAC stories. Whether it’s a veteran finally getting his name on the Cup, brothers sharing the moment, or a long-serving captain skating to the commissioner first, those images are why we love the NHL postseason.
