Marner, Stankoven, And Cap Space Built The Final’s Chessboard

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final did not just happen - it was assembled piece by piece through trades, timing, and some ruthless cap management. Marner and Stankoven sit at the center of the story, and the path to this matchup looks a lot more like a front-office trap game than a simple playoff run. Teams have been moving pieces for years to get here, and the smartest roster builders are the ones who still have room to breathe under the cap.