NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 31, 2026
Recaps of Monday’s action, the Maple Leafs fire general manager Brad Treliving, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini became the sixth teenager in NHL history to record a 100-point season in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. Celebrini had two goals and an assist, and Adam Gaudette scored the winning goal with 22 seconds remaining in the third period for the 34-31-7 Sharks (75 points), who moved within two points of the Nashville Predators for the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Jake Neighbours picked up two assists for the Blues (31-31-11), who are four points out of that wild-card spot.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini joined Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Jimmy Carson, Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk, and Wayne Gretzky among the teenage 100-point players, with Crosby the only one to do it twice. Celebrini is also the third player in Sharks history to reach the 100-point plateau, joining Joe Thornton and Erik Karlsson.
An eight-goal second period between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins resulted in the latter overcoming a 3-1 deficit for an 8-3 victory. Anthony Mantha scored twice and collected an assist, Rickard Rakell tallied two goals, and Justin Brazeau picked up three assists for the 37-21-16 Penguins, who vaulted over the Islanders into second place in the Metropolitan Division. Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist for the Isles (42-28-5), who sit one point behind the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby picked up two assists in his return to action after missing a game with a lower-body injury. It was his 1,100th career regular-season assist, joining Hall of Famer Raymond Bourque as the only players to reach that milestone with one team.
A five-goal first period carried the Colorado Avalanche to a 9-2 drubbing of the Calgary Flames. Colorado center Nazem Kadri scored twice against his former club while Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and Parker Kelly each collected three points for the Avalanche (49-14-10), who lead the league with 108 points. Brennan Othmann and Ryan Strome replied for the 31-35-8 Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury. An update on his condition is expected on Tuesday.
The Vegas Golden Knights doubled up the Vancouver Canucks 4-2, giving interim coach John Tortorella his first win with his new club. Shea Theodore and Rielly Smith scored 1:17 minutes apart in the second period to give the 33-26-16 Golden Knights the win. With 82 points, they hold third place in the Pacific Division. Evander Kane scored in his 1,000th NHL regular-season game as the 21-44-8 Canucks sit last in the overall standings.
An overtime goal by John Tavares lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Tavares finished with two goals and an assist, and William Nylander had a goal and three assists for the Maple Leafs (32-30-13). Leo Carlsson tallied twice for the 41-28-5 Ducks, who sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 87 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs forward Max Domi got a measure of revenge for sidelined captain Auston Matthews by beating Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas in a first-period fight. Gudas injured Matthews earlier this month with a knee-on-knee hit. The Ducks blueliner seemed resigned to his fate, not bothering to throw any punches while Domi landed 12. Maple Leafs forward Michael Pezzetta was handed a game misconduct in the second period for shoving a linesman.
Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier left this game midway through the first period with an upper-body injury. He will be reevaluated on Tuesday. Gauthier leads the Ducks with 38 goals and 65 points this season.
HEADLINES
TORONTO SUN: Before last night’s game, the Maple Leafs announced that they relieved Brad Treliving of his duties as general manager.
Treliving had been in the role since May 2023. He had a record of 139-92-27, and a 10-10 postseason record.
The fate of head coach Craig Berube is unknown, but it’s expected that Treliving’s replacement will want to hire their own bench boss.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving was in the final season of his contract. Given the club’s disappointing downturn this season, it’s not surprising that he was given his walking papers.
The Maple Leafs’ decline this season was mostly Treliving’s fault. He failed to re-sign Mitch Marner, resulting in the winger’s departure last summer, and didn’t find any suitable replacement. He also didn’t improve the Maple Leafs’ defensive depth, especially on the right side of their blueline.Â
Treliving made a pair of short-sighted moves at last year’s trade deadline that will hamper the Leafs’ efforts to restock their prospect pipeline. He shipped top prospect Fraser Minten and the Leafs’ 2026 first-round pick to Boston for struggling defenseman Brandon Carlo at last year’s trade deadline. He gave up the Leafs’ 2027 first-rounder to Philadelphia as part of the return for Scott Laughton, who now plays for the Los Angeles Kings.
It’s rumored that the Maple Leafs could attempt to woo Doug Armstrong away from the St. Louis Blues. He’s indicated that he intends to hand over the management role to Alexander Steen and remain with the Blues as team president.
NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha, and Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson are the league’s three stars for the week ending March. 29, 2026.
Well we knew a change in the GM’s office was coming. Now we have to see who wants the job – not the easiest GM job to handle in the NHL.
I’m not defending Treliving. He obviously did a poor job with the Leafs. But the main problem is poor roster construction which happened long before he got there. And the groundwork for Marner’s exit was also laid before he got there. Quite obviously the Leafs cap structure could not continue. There was no realistic way Treliving could replace Marner overnight. Building a competitive and winning roster will take time and a GM with patience and a plan is needed. Along with a patient ownership and fan base. The rosters core is aging and will slowly need to be replaced.
I’ll go with a poker analogy as it is a great game.
Agree that Tre was dealt a bad hand, the problem is he kept putting more chips into the pot in what he had to know wasn’t a good enough hand to take the pot. Everybody’s cards are up, so not like he thought the other guys were bluffing.
He was trying to hit an inside straight and bet too much on that long shot when he was up against a flush and full house. So even if he wins a TDL deal and Carlo or Laughton was what they needed to be better, you still lose.
Is that due to media/fan pressure or the idea that you need to try and go for it every year when you have a playoff team? Not very pragmatic IMO.
The whole you just gotta get in stuff is a pipe dream 95% of the time. In what other business does that make sense? Doesn’t sound like acceptable risk to me.
Now they don’t even have hope for the future for a couple years and the rebuild tanking isn’t even an option for next year. And then you need to make a decision on Matthews, and he needs to make one on the Leafs.
So the new guy tries the same thing or??
To STP’s point, who wants the job? Somebody will, plus the Leafs can pay more than anyone. So what does Pelley think is a reasonable path forward?
I will go on a limb (not really) and suggest the Leafs won’t win a cup for another 9-10 years.
IMO opinion this is gonna suck for a while Leaf fans. Not trolling, I actually believe that.
A great game only if you know when to fold ’em! 🙂
The Carlo and Laughton trades should never have happened. Now the bids are out number ones for two years when they really could use them. Too much pressure on a Toronto GM to win now.
Howard you are 100% bang on with your assessment. Treliving walked into a mess. He really had no choice to trade for Carlo and Laughton in order to try and get the team further into the playoffs. If Toronto had a more successful playoff run then maybe the fan pressure is off and they resign Marner instead of losing him for nothing. The original mistake was the signing of Tavares and letting Kadri and Hyman go. This created the four headed monster all with no movement clauses. The next GM had to blow it up. Trade Matthew’s and Nylander for multiple assets and start the rebuild. A retool won’t work. Even if the make the playoffs next year with a retool do you actually think Matthew’s, Nylander, Tavares, O’Reilly perform better in a clutch, must win game?
Time to move on.
You’re a visionary today Ray. Agree with both your poker post, and the one on Gudas – whom I do not like.
Man… talk about adding insult to injury. Takes out the captain then lets domi whale on him like a dude giving another guy freebies in a fight. I can’t imagine a more patronizing response. “Awww. The widdle maple weaf is getting revenge… how adorable “.
Yep. If Domi had ANY moxie at all he’d have skated away laughing and pointing after the 1st or 2nd punch when it was obvious Gudas was offering himself as a punching bag.
I don’t respect the reckless hit on Matthews, but respect how Gudas handled it after. He knew he F’d up and owned it.
Played hurt so he could eat punches. It’s like he accepted his penance, and getting hit by Domi or whoever else was it.
Domi ain’t a big fella, but he can throw em without fear. I can’t stand him because he sucker punches guys.
Ray, you are a visionary today. I agree with both this post and the one on Treliving.
And I think most Leaf fans have resigned themselves to the reality that a rebuild the only way forward.
In that regard, a carbon-copy of his Old Man.
Well, since you’re all not aware, Domi is very close friends with Matthews. Domi also wasn’t on the ice the time of the kneeing. So…I guess by the comments, unlike you, I would have done the same as Domi and Gudas, who has been a cheap shot player, a guy who plays on the edge hard and seems to cross it quite often, doing what Gudas did, to me, is gutless. That’s not owning up to anything.
Owning it is stating something like, “I play on the edge, I play hard, sometimes I take it too far and my actions cause accidents which unintentionally have resulted with injured players. Not like what he did, I want to show up and accept my punishment, BS. For that, he deserves more.
I’m glad and hope the team treats him the same way every time they meet until he retires.
I hope this was a farewell game to this current Leafs team. As a helpless fan, I can only hope they get the right management in…something like they had with Hunter, Dubas and of course Lou.
Dubas was a good GM? Most, including me, think the mess that is the Leafs was his legacy.
True, most GMs have misses to go along with hits. But Dubas locked himself in to the core 4 which meant as a cap strapped GM he was always scouring the bargain bins. It also caused him to trade 4 first round picks.
If Dubas was the right GM, how does one explain the Leafs’ playoff record?
LJ, list teams that make the playoffs after selecting 1st overall pick the following year – and previously traded away most of their players previously (tank). If I use your standard, there are 31 bad GMs out there.
The fact that year after year making the playoffs and being a consistent top 5 team in the league not a good sign of a GM I don’t know what is.
Ron, while there can be little doubt the Leafs went from a decade-long moribund stretch to a regular–season powerhouse that eagerly fattened up statistically on the less-endowed around the league, it is also undeniable that the architects either failed to see – or if they did could not actually fix adequately – that they were not a team “built for the playoffs.”
That is a generally sound, even if hindsight-driven, observation of teams that lack the physical intensity, reliable goaltending, and/or depth that is an absolute necessity for the high-pressure, defensive style of postseason hockey which demands the ability to handle the pressure-filled, tighter-checking and physical play. Which those teams eliminated early, for the most part anyway, simply fail to do.
First, Ron, I said the Leafs traded away 4 first rounders – in trades that didn’t help them. I did not say or imply that having a first round draft pick meant getting to the playoffs immediately following.
If just making the playoffs is your definition of success, irrespective of how a team does once there, that’s your privilege.
But it’s what has caused Dubas and now Treliving as GMs to be fired, along with Keefe.
My definition of success is progression, as in a team consistently getting deep into the playoffs. A consistent Cup contender, before the inevitable decline happens.
If the Habs don’t start going deep into the playoffs in the next several years, I will consider that they have failed.
It’s not apples to apples and who knows what coulda been but Dubas was handcuffed to Shanahan in Toronto. He is the judge jury and executioner in Pittsburgh. Night and day comparisons between the two tenures.
Same with the Senators, LJ.
LJ I stand by my assessments. I’m sure we will discuss this again.
Some of the bloopers Brads done one immediately comes to mind 1st rounder Fraser Minton to Boston for Carlo. You pull off these kind blunders and your team struggles that’s usually the end of the line. About a month ago I would have been worried about Boston facing Dallas but the way the bruins have been playing looking forward to the game they are playing great hockey.
And you’re catching the Stars as they play extremely mediocre hockey lately. It’s fairly apparent that they won’t catch Colorado and Minnesota probably won’t catch them.
Starsfan. while their record over their past 10 hasn’t been “great” at 4-4-2 10 pts – a .500 pace compared to their seasonal .676 – it hasn’t been horrible either. I don’t see them a lot, but as I noted in a recent post, at this stage of a season as we get close to the playoffs, those teams that have been far ahead of the pack d end to “rest” players who have – although still playing every game – been nursing minor dings.
Could that be the case where the Stars are concerned – perhaps even just reducing ice-time if not giving them a night off?
Over their past 20 they have actually gone 13-4-2 28 pts – a .700 pace, which is slightly above their seasonal % pace. And since the 41-game half-way point they lead the Western Conference:
1. Dal 33 19 9 5 43 109 90 +19 .652
2. Ana 33 20 11 2 42 110 109 +1 .636
3. Uta 33 19 11 3 41 109 118 -9 .621
4. Wpg 32 16 9 7 39 91 95 -4 .609
5. Col 32 18 11 3 39 112 95 +17 .609
6. Min 33 17 11 5 39 113 108 +5 .591
7. St.L 32 16 13 3 35 84 89 -5 .547
8. Edm 33 17 13 3 37 121 113 +8 .561
9. Nas 33 15 13 5 35 102 128 -26 .530
10. SJ 31 14 13 4 32 93 111 -18 .516
11. Veg 34 15 15 4 34 108 107 +1 .500
12. LA 32 11 12 9 31 84 109 -25 .484
13. Cgy 33 13 16 4 30 80 113 -33 .455
14. Sea 31 12 15 4 28 91 104 -13 .452
15. Chi 33 11 16 6 28 77 112 -35 .424
16. Van 31 5 24 3 13 70 134 -64 .210
I never understood why Treliving was hired in the first place. It’s not like he turned Calgary into a powerhouse. Plus he let Johnny Hockey walk away for nothing (Thanks from Columbus). He’s also responsible for Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk being elsewhere. Not a great recommendation.
Paul, I agree with your overall view on Treliving but in fairness to him, he tried to resign Gaudreau.
Gaudreau stated he wanted to sign in Columbus for family reasons. That decision was based in part on the travel restrictions Canada had during covid, which complicated family visits.
Actually Paul, Gaudreau wanted to get a long term deal the summer before but the Flames had a meh year & it was probably one of Johnny’s worst years. Instead of identifying the talent & importance to the franchise & pay the kid, Treliving wanted to see if he could rebound. True story.
Treliving just cratered our franchise & thats when Tkachuk decided to leave town. Matt wanted to be captain & they wouldnt give it to him. Matt wanted a long term deal but wanted to get paid after that ELC but Treliving ground him down to where they got clubbed on that horrible bridge deal that paved the pathway to what he did.
He wouldnt pay his cornerstone players what they wanted but he would make ridiculous overpayment signings like Neal & Brouwer & handcuff himself on the cap. We Flame fans knew the carnage he would bring to that Leafs franchise. Now we’re hoping the Oilers hire him lol.
Paul that’s easy one to answer…he wasn’t chosen, no one else was available. They had no choice. LOL
The unrelenting pressure in Toronto from both the media and the fan base (including umpteen blogs) stands in stark contrast to another Canadian market – Winnipeg. Since Cheveldayoff became GM of the Jets just before the 2011-2012 season, despite some eye-popping regular seasons, Winnipeg has been only marginally better than the Leafs over the past 14 seasons (during which time Toronto has gone through 5 GMs, bordering now on their 6th) when it comes to playoff success, including reaching the Conference final once … in 14 seasons.
This season the two teams are on the verge of posting the biggest drop-off in points seen in quite a while, with the Jets, who had 116 last season, currently showing a 42-point collapse, and the Leafs dropping 31 so far from their 108-point pinnacle last season. And yet, while since about the half-way mark the demands for the heads of Berube and Treleving have been constant, we hear virtually nothing out of Manitoba regarding Cheveldayoff or Arniel!
George it’s also the value of the franchise that affects that too. We might never know the weight of public pressure vs economic pressures have on teams but I’m betting one of them is more than 50%.
Not so, George. The internet has a lot of posts regarding Jet fan disappointment. And remember the Jets’ owner, Chipman, had to apologize for remarks that riled Jets fans. In a fan survey in the Athletic Jets’ 84% fans rated Chevaldayoff’s exit interview from a playoff loss as poor.
One factor (and Jets fans may not like this) that might be at play is fans recognize the geographic challenge of attracting UFAs.
Jets fans may have another view, this is mine.
Thanks LJ. My take, I guess, was based on the fact that we haven’t seen it discussed in here to any significant degree (that I can recall, anyway).
I don’t think we see much discussion regarding the effects of public opinion matters to private individuals or businesses like hockey players and their management other than the same one feels about having a mosquito bite.
I posted this in Rumors by mistake, so moving it here:
It wouldn’t surprise me if TML hired Don Meehan or
pat Brisson to be GM.
Pierre Lacroix was an agent for 20 years before becoming GM of Nordiques/Avalanche
Bill Zito, Kent Hughes, and others have made the transition with success.
Those guys might just find the politics of dealing with a board easier on top of having established and respected relations with players and team management throughout the league.
Fair point, HF30. But the Leafs cannot screw this hire up. Whoever they hire has to be a success. No suggestions on who that might be, but a miss will surely start to erode the fan base.
So how would success be defined in Toronto? Contend for a cup? By when? Next season? Good luck to him.
Just make the playoffs? Next season? That seems achievable but some work to do.
Serious question, and one I would be asking if I interviewed for that job, or any important job for that matter.
The objectives need to be clearly defined and they need to be attainable or your wasting precious time IMO.
Ray you asked, “ So how would success be defined in Toronto?” the answer is strikingly obvious. Win a cup or championship like it is for every sports team. If you’re not in it to win it, you’re in the wrong place.
Comment sections like this one is for people who don’t get that. It makes for good chatter and fun.
Agree 100 Ron, and every GM, team President or owner will say exactly that at a presser, and then seem to accept just making the playoffs.
A team like Calgary who tried to stay “competitive” while “rebuilding on the fly” wasn’t trying to win a cup IMO, they were trying to keep fans in the stands and remain competitive.
IMO a pipe dream to think that approach gets you a cup.
Seems like Conroy now has some buy in from above to do what he needs to. My complaint is they should have started the process when Tkachuk & Gudreau weren’t coming back.
Accept reality, start over.
Not sure how it will look for the Leafs over next couple years, but if they finish in the mushy middle next year, just in or just out, time to admit it’s over with this core and start on the next phase ASAP.
Pelley up for that?
Toronto made the move, why hasn’t Vancouver fired the Management Team that iced the worst team in the league. I sincerely hope they’re not going to be trusted with the rebuild.
My theory, admittedly worth not a lot, is that Pelley wanted to hire Bruce Cassidy and Treliving balked.
Now, if that theory holds water, Pelley should announce Cassidy as the new head coach at 2 pm.
Oh, if only.
Pelley’s job is to hire people who would be responsible for all hockey decisions. He’s a facilitator not a manager per se. I think his main decision is to either have a president of hockey operations in the same matter like a Shanahan or just a GM who from there will build his management team.
You’re right, I’d just like to see a coach who can adjust on the fly behind the bench. Berube didn’t get it done and the season could have been salvaged if the change happened in late November.
Hindsight and all that.
Now the big presser at 2 pm, exciting or what?
Ron, again a Google query re the actual function/responsibility of Pelley within the organization bears out what you’ve been saying consistently:
“Yes, as the President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Keith Pelley has the defining, top-level say in determining the strategic direction of the Toronto Maple Leafs, including hiring the General Manager and deciding whether to re-tool or rebuild.
.
Based on reports, his role and influence include:
Final Decision Maker: Following the dismissal of Brendan Shanahan, Pelley holds the ultimate authority in the organizational hierarchy between the ownership board and the team’s front office.
Hiring and Firings: Pelley was directly involved in the decision to move on from Brad Treliving. He is tasked with identifying and hiring the leadership to “chart a new course”.
Defining Strategy: Pelley is responsible for determining if the team requires a “re-tool” or a complete “re-build,” a decision that involves assessing if the current core can succeed or if a total rebuild through the draft is necessary.
Accountability to Ownership: While Pelley holds significant power, he is ultimately responsible to the MLSE ownership board (headed by Rogers Communications), and must align with their goals, which in the past have emphasized playoff revenue.
Pelley has indicated that the goal is not merely making the playoffs, but winning the Stanley Cup, and he is willing to make significant changes to achieve that, moving away from the previous “run it back” strategy.”
It shouldn’t take long to see if his choice is on the right track … and which track it is.
George, no need for google and its crappy AI… Pelley himself stated his role in his conference. Exactly like I said.
I’d love to know who he reached out to and what was said. I’m betting he spoke a bunch of already contacted execs (which in their circles happens…these higher ups play by different rules) and wonder what was discussed. Again if I was to guess, it would be referrals and best fits as well as gauging to see is anyone under contract could be made available.
Having been in rooms like what transpired in the manager’s meetings, I hope they did the normal thing and decided a while back they were letting the GM and coach go (Burbe to be relieved season’s end).
Not crazy about having a lame duck GM conduct the TDL trades like the rumored Knies trade which the Habs GM made a simple statement when asked about possibly acquiring Knies by questioning a teams motive in trading a recently signed good young player make any sense unless he is terminally injured (something like that).
It’s funny how the Leafs were on a roll when they had their management group that had that young analytics guru Dubas, contrasted that with old school mentality of Hunter, and Lamoriello heading it all with a no BS coach. Man that was a good few years there. Oh well.
I think the Leafs will hire Armstrong and Cassidy.
Armstrong and Cassidy would be ideal
Armstrong is still under contract so something will have to happen for that to come to fruition.
Army or Nell would make a good start.
Allow me to be dubious. Some team will hire Cassidy before the Leafs hire the GM.
It’s the Leafy way.