4 Giants Alumni to Compete in 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Category: ArticleApril 18, 2025

Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants would like to recognize their four alumni who will compete in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin tomorrow: Brendan Gallagher (Montreal Canadiens), Evander Kane (Edmonton Oilers), Brett Kulak (Edmonton Oilers) and Jordan Martinook (Carolina Hurricanes).

The 2025 Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 19.

Gallagher and the Canadiens will face off with the Washington Capitals in round one; Martinook and the Hurricanes will battle the New Jersey Devils; and Kane, Kulak and the Oilers will take on the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round for the fourth straight post-season.

CLICK FOR FULL 1ST ROUND STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE

Brendan Gallagher – Montreal Canadiens

Gallagher, 32, played in all 82 games for the Habs this past season, hitting the 20-goal mark for the fifth time in his career and first since 2019-20. It’s the first time he has played all 82 regular season games since 2018-19.

It was an incredible year for the Canadiens, who surprised many by qualifying for the post-season, doing so on the second-to-last day of the regular season. Montreal went 14-5-6 after returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break on Feb. 22, leaping over five teams to get in.

Montreal and Washington have faced off only once in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that was a Habs win in 2010, when goaltender Jaroslav Halak led the Canadiens to a seven-game upset of the number one seeded Capitals.

Gallagher will be counted on for his leadership no doubt: he has now played in 834 career NHL regular season games over 13 seasons, all with the Canadiens, during which he has produced 464 points (239G-225A).

Born in Edmonton, but raised in Tsawwassen, B.C., Gallagher has been an alternate captain for the Habs for the past 10 seasons.

When Brendan Gallagher's mom passed away earlier this year, a kind @CanadiensMTL fan offered to return his old Hockey Fights Cancer jersey from 2022 in her memory.

Tonight, they got the opportunity to meet on the ice and swap jerseys. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/d3GIEG6qFX

— NHL (@NHL) April 17, 2025

Gallagher is the Giants all-time leader in points with 280 (136G-144A), which included three consecutive 40-goal seasons from 2009-12. He was selected by the Habs in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Gallagher ranks sixth in Giants playoff scoring all-time, with 36 points in 42 games (19G-17A).

Evander Kane – Edmonton Oilers

Kane, 33, was unable to play at all in the 2024-25 regular season after suffering multiple injuries in last spring’s playoff run, but he is expected to return to the lineup at some point in round one for Edmonton.

“I’m really excited to get going here as soon as we get to 100 percent, which should be pretty soon,” Kane said in a media availability on April 14.

"I'm feeling good. I've put in a lot of hard work ever since I had the surgery… I'm really excited to get going here as soon as we get to 100 percent, which should be pretty soon."

Evander Kane on his timeline to return to the #Oilers lineup.

@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/y1kVFjt6gG

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 14, 2025

Over his 15-year career, Kane has now played in 930 career regular season games and 56 playoff games. The Vancouver native has 326 career goals and 617 career points.

Edmonton and L.A. are going head-to-head in round for the fourth year in a row. Edmonton won the previous three series, but Los Angeles has home-ice advantage this time. The Kings haven’t gotten beyond the first round since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014.

As a Giant, Kane played two full seasons (2007-09), jumping from 24 goals and 41 points in his rookie season to 48 goals and 96 points in 2008-09, which led to him being the 4th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. With 73 career goals as a Giant, Kane ranks 12th in all-time goals for the franchise.

Brett Kulak – Edmonton Oilers

Kulak, 31, played in all 82 games for the Oilers for the third consecutive year, recording a career-high 25 points (7G-18A). He averaged over 20 minutes of ice-time per game this season for the first time in his career (20:32).

Kulak has 125 career points in 580 career NHL regular season games, plus 76 games of playoff experience. He recorded eight points in 25 playoff games last spring during the Oilers run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

As a Giant, Kulak played three full seasons (2011-14), culminating in a standout 60-point campaign in 2013-14, during which he was also an alternate captain. He was selected by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Jordan Martinook – Carolina Hurricanes

While his game is not about offence, Martinook, 32, also set a new career-high in points this season, recording 36 points in 79 games (15G-21A). The Brandon, MB product has now hit double digits in goals five times in his 720-game NHL career.

The gritty forward brings lots of playoff experience: he has 27 points in 61 career playoff games, including 16 playoff points over his last two post-seasons.

The Hurricanes are hoping this year they can finally get over the hump: they have had tremendous regular season success and have made the second round in four straight post-seasons, but they haven’t gotten past the Conference Final since they won it all in 2006.

As a Giant, Martinook scored 51 goals and 41 assists for 92 points during his two seasons with the club from 2010-12. Following his 40-goal campaign in 2011-12, the (then) Phoenix Coyotes made him a second-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

2024-25 Regular Season

Nine former Giants played in at least one NHL game during the 2024-25 season:

Fabian Lysell: Scored first NHL goal with Boston Bruins on April 13, 2025 (Played for the Giants 2021-22)
Trent Miner: Made NHL Debut for Colorado Avalanche on November 15, 2024 (Played for the Giants 2018-21)
Sam Honzek: Made NHL Debut for Calgary Flames on October 9, 2024 (Played for the Giants 2022-24)
Justin Sourdif: Scored first NHL goal with Florida Panthers on February 25, 2025 (Played for the Giants 2018-22)
Zack Ostapchuk: Scored first NHL goal with Ottawa Senators on January 19, 2025; Had 1-3-4 in 56 GP for San Jose Sharks/Ottawa Senators (Played for the Giants 2019-23)
Bowen Byram: 7-31-38 in 82 GP for Buffalo Sabres (Played for the Giants 2016-20)
Brett Kulak: 7-18-25 in 82 GP for Edmonton Oilers (Played for the Giants 2011-14)
Jordan Martinook: 15-21-36 in 79 GP for Carolina Hurricanes (Played for the Giants 2010-12)
Brendan Gallagher: 21-17-38 in 82 GP for Montreal Canadiens (Played for the Giants 2009-12)