Logan Stankoven in action for the Carolina Hurricanes on May 24, 2025. (Image Credit:Josh Lavallee / Carolina Hurricanes)

By Victor Kaisar

History for Logan

Stankoven enters NHL history books as first rookie with points in both conference finals

May 25, 2025 | 11:00 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. — Logan Stankoven has written his name into the National Hockey League (NHL) history books at the age of 22.

The Kamloops native is the first rookie on record in NHL history (since conferences were renamed in 1994) with points in both the Eastern and Western Conference finals. He achieved that feat Saturday (May 25), as the Carolina Hurricanes fell 6-2 to the Florida Panthers in game three.

While Stankoven’s second period goal tied the game at 1-1, the Hurricanes gave up five goals in nine minutes in the third en route to their 15th consecutive loss in the Eastern Conference Final.

Stankoven, who joined Ville Leino as the only other rookie skater to play in both NHL conference finals, also had two assists for the Dallas Stars in last season’s Western Conference final. The Stars fell in six games to the Edmonton Oilers, who in turn lost to Florida.

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While Leino had points in back to back Stanley Cup Finals as rookie (2009 for Detroit against Pittsburgh and 2010 for Philadelphia against Chicago), he was held off the scoresheet in the 2009 Western Conference Final.

Stankoven, the former Kamloops Blazers captain, has four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games this season. He had three goals and eight points in 19 games with Dallas last season, giving him seven goals and 15 points in 32 career playoff games.

He is the third rookie in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history with four goals in a single postseason, joining Erik Cole (six in 2002) and Warren Foegele (five in 2019). He’s also tied for third in rookie points, two behind the franchise record of nine shared by Cole and Foegele.

While Stankoven has appeared in 102 regular season games, he was considered a rookie in the 2024-25 season as he only played 24 games last season. Players under 25 retain their rookie status if they play in 25 or fewer regular-season games in a previous season.

Stankoven and the Canes will look to stave off elimination in game four of the series on Monday (May 26) in Sunrise. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PDT.