The Grand Rapids Griffins kicked off the Central Division final with a hard-fought battle, but ultimately fell 2-1 to the Chicago Wolves in Game 1 at Van Andel Arena. Goaltender Michal Postava was a bright spot for Grand Rapids, earning second-star honors with an impressive 30 saves on 32 shots. Eduards Tralmaks provided the lone goal for the Griffins, keeping the game tight throughout.
The decisive moment came late in the third period when Chicago captain Josiah Slavin—younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin—lit the lamp at the 6:48 mark to break the 1-1 deadlock. The Griffins now face an uphill climb in the best-of-five series, with Game 2 set for Saturday at 7 p.m. back in Grand Rapids. The action then shifts to Chicago's Allstate Arena for Game 3 on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
In other hockey news, the Vancouver Canucks announced a major front-office shakeup on Thursday, promoting Ryan Johnson to general manager and elevating team legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin to co-presidents of hockey operations. Johnson, 49, who has been with the organization since 2013 and served as assistant GM for two seasons, steps into the role following Patrick Allvin's dismissal on April 17. The Sedin twins—Swedish icons inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022—have been working in player development and will now share duties as current president Jim Rutherford transitions to an advisory role after the NHL draft on June 26-27.
"Daniel, Henrik, and Ryan are culture setters, driven by an unrelenting work ethic and strong desire to succeed," said Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini during a Thursday press conference. "Their passion and commitment, both as players and in management, shine daily, and they set the standard through their professionalism and character." Vancouver finished the 2025-26 season with a league-worst 25-49-8 record (58 points) but holds the third overall pick in the upcoming draft. Johnson, who previously won a Calder Cup as GM of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks in 2025, will report directly to the Sedins as the franchise looks to rebuild its identity.