While the Carolina Hurricanes tried to get Mitch Marner last year, now they prepare to face him and his team in the 2026 Stanley Cup. After defeating the Montreal Canadiens, the Hurricanes paved their way to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.

Ahead of the much-awaited Game 1 on Tuesday, Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour and general manager Eric Tulsky attended a press conference on Monday. Tulsky was asked about Mitch Marner's trade.

While he refused to say much about it, saying that he was playing under contract with another team, Brind'Amour jumped in and added a funny reply.

"I can answer that one," Brind'Amour said. "What don't you like about him?"

Notably, last year, Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nicolas Roy. Hurricanes also tried to get him, but he blocked the deal with his no-move clause.

In his first season with Vegas, the team has made it to the Stanley Cup.

Marner Reflects on Winning the Stanley Cup

Mitch Marner got candid while talking about what a Stanley Cup win meant to him while speaking to the media on Monday. He reflected on his childhood dream, how his family watched the tournament, and how he is now achieving the opportunity to play in it.

"I remember sitting on the couch with my dad and my brother and just watching teams win the Stanley Cup in the early 2000s and seeing them hoist it," Marner said. "Just seeing some of the legends do it, it was something you dreamed of and something you always wanted to do."

Marner is the leading scorer in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He added 21 points in 16 games to help his team reach the final.

Vegas is coming into the Stanley Cup after an impressive 4-0 sweep against the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals.

Who do you think can win the Stanley Cup 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Ankita Yadav

Edited by

Ankita Yadav