Welcome to Wolves Insider, presented by Are You Really Winning?: The weekly report that gives you an inside look at the latest Chicago Wolves news and happenings. Look for a new edition of Wolves Insider each week.
SLAVIN BROTHERS EACH VYING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP
When the 2025-26 professional hockey season comes to a close in late June, the Slavin brothers could return home with some shiny hardware.
Older brother, Jaccob (32), is playing in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals with the Carolina Hurricanes while younger brother, Josiah (27), is captaining the Wolves during their first Western Conference Finals since 2022.
It’s been a dream season for the Slavin family, and nothing would make it better than a Stanley Cup and Calder Cup to cap it off.
“It’s nothing my family’s ever experienced to be playing this late,” Josiah said. “My parents are loving it getting to come watch both of us in Carolina, Chicago and the games in Colorado. It’s been surreal.”
The Western Conference Finals series against Colorado comes conveniently for the Slavin household as natives of Erie, Colo.
Games 1 and 2 took place in Colorado with an abundance of Slavin supporters in the stands.
“Anytime you get a chance to play in front of family, it’s a great experience,” Josiah said. “This year has definitely been a blessing and I’m glad everyone can experience it together.”
Although both Josiah and Jaccob are busy in-season, the brothers communicate with each other quite frequently. They are each other’s biggest fans and motivate one another through the ups and downs of a season.
“We keep in touch pretty much every day and after every game we’ve played,” Josiah said.
Jaccob and the Hurricanes lost Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, the same day Josiah and the Wolves suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Colorado Eagles in Game 3 of the conference finals.
Carolina looks to even the series tonight while the Wolves prepare for Game 5 with the series squared at two.
“I watched (Game 1) highlights and talked to (Jaccob) a little bit after,” Josiah said. “Vegas is a good team so they’re going to battle all the way to the end. It’ll be a hard-fought series for sure.
“We’re pulling for each other and hope we both come out on top,” he continued.
–Danny Karmin
NADEAU LOCKED IN
When the Wolves needed it the most, Bradly Nadeau let his full range of talents take over.
The forward was an offensive force during the Wolves’ 2-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night at Allstate Arena. The win evened the best-of-seven series with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night at Allstate Arena.
In the second period with the Wolves shorthanded, Nadeau made a slick pass to Justin Robidas who then scored to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the pivotal contest.
Nadeau followed that up early in the third by deking around defenders to find open space and unleashing a wicked wrist shot that beat Eagles netminder Trent Miner to the stick side. That tally, Nadeau’s third of the postseason proved to be the winner.
The fact Nadeau had a shoot-first mentality at the time was no accident.
“I have to make sure I shoot,” said Nadeau, who tied for the game high in shots with four. “I feel like I’ve been passing on some scoring chances by passing the puck so I’m trying to get back to just keeping it simple and taking shots on net. And then when you get that time and space you have to make sure you let it rip.”
Having turned 21 on May 5, Nadeau remains one of the youngest players on the Wolves roster and is getting his first extended postseason experience at the American Hockey League level—something he knows is crucial to his development.
“This is the real deal so every playoff game it’s super-important that you get some experience,” Nadeau said. “It’s a different game so every game you get to play you just have to play hard and learn from each.”
–Chris Kuc
IMPACT NETWORKING PLAY OF THE WEEK
During Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Eagles on Tuesday night at Allstate Arena, Domenick Fensore scored shorthanded–his third goal of the playoffs.
C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISION OF THE WEEK
Wolves forward Ryan Suzuki delivered a punishing check to the Colorado Eagles’ Sean Behrens during Game 1 at Colorado.
SAVE OF THE WEEK
Wolves goaltender Cayden Primeau denied the Eagles’ Tye Felhaber’s two high-danger chances in Game 1 against the Eagles at Colorado.
WESTERN CONFERENCE finals rewind (2-2)
THURSDAY, MAY 28
Wolves 3, Eagles 2: Justin Robidas had a goal and an assist and Bradly Nadeau and Noel Gunler each scored—all tallies came on the power play—to propel the Wolves to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven American Hockey League series.
SATURDAY, MAY 30
Eagles 5, Wolves 2: Joel Nystrom and Ivan Ryabkin scored but the Wolves couldn’t hold a third-period lead as the Eagles rallied to even the series.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2
Eagles 3, Wolves 2: Domenick Fensore and Cal Foote each scored in the third period but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles prevailed.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
Wolves 2, Eagles 1: Bradly Nadeau had a goal and an assist and Justin Robidas scored to help the Wolves even the best-of-seven series at 2-2 with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night at Allstate Arena.
First Star of the WEEK
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CAYDEN PRIMEAU, GThe 26-year-old from Farmington Hills, Mich., has been dynamite in the postseason and continued his strong play between the pipes during the series against Colorado. The veteran netminder has stopped 129 of 138 shots during the four contests against the Eagles thus far. |
upcoming schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Location | Broadcast info |
| Friday, June 5 | Colorado | 7 p.m. | Allstate Arena | FloHockey/FOX Chicago+ |
| Sunday, June 7 | Colorado | 7:05 p.m. | Blue Arena | FloHockey |
| Monday, June 8* | Colorado | 8:05 p.m. | Blue Arena | FloHockey |
*-If necessary
For information on Wolves tickets for the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
