NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 1, 2026
The Ducks and Wild advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers won’t be making a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, falling to the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven first-round series, winning this series in six games.
Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Chris Kreider each had a goal and two assists, Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and Lukas Dostal stopped 25 shots for the Ducks, who took this series in six games and will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights-Utah Mammoth series. Connor Murphy and Vasily Podkolzin replied for the Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first series win for the Ducks since 2017. Their victory over the Oilers is an upset, but it was clear as this series unfolded that they were the better club. Several of the Oilers’ key players, including team captain Connor McDavid, were dealing with injuries, but even he admitted that they were an average team throughout this season.
The Oilers’ early postseason exit is already sparking conjecture about their offseason plans. I’ll have more in today’s Rumor Mill.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes scored twice and collected an assist to lead his club over the Dallas Stars 4-2 to win their first-round series in six games. Matt Boldy tallied two empty-net goals for the Wild, who won their first playoff series since 2015 and will face the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Wyatt Johnson and Mavrik Bourque briefly gave the Stars a 2-1 lead before Vladimir Tarasenko tied the score and Hughes netted the winning goal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a terrific series between two well-matched opponents. This loss is a bit of a setback for the Stars, who reached the Western Conference Final in each of the last three years. I’ll be taking a look at what they face in the offseason in today’s Rumor Mill.
The Wild won this series without defenseman Jonas Brodin, who missed this game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Stars defenseman Tyler Myers was a healthy scratch from this contest.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson are this year’s finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. The award is given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and ability as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All three are worthy candidates, with Kopitar having won it three times. With the Kings’ captain retiring, he’ll likely be the sentimental choice for the voters.
NHL.COM: Game 1 of the second-round series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers will be on Saturday, May 2, at 8 pm ET in Carolina.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson is expected to miss Game 6 of his club’s first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. He’s been sidelined since Game 4 with a suspected shoulder injury.
NESN: Bruins rookie forward James Hagens is expected to be a healthy scratch for the third straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins are trailing the Sabres three games to two and hope to avoid elimination in Game 6 on Friday in Boston.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Speaking of the Sabres, defenseman Logan Stanley is questionable for Game 6 due to an illness.
TSN: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Elias Salomonsson underwent shoulder surgery and will be sidelined for six months.
THE PROVINCE: Calgary Flames assistant general manager Brad Pascall and Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Jeff Tambellini are among the candidates to become the next general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.
Other candidates include Boston Bruins assistant general managers Evan Gold and Jamie Langenbrunner, Florida Panthers assistant GM Brent Peterson, NHL front office executive Patrick Burke, former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, Toronto Maple Leafs executive Shane Doan, and Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks appear to be casting a wider net in their search for a new general manager than the Toronto Maple Leafs, who seem to be putting more of an emphasis on “data-driven” candidates.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell is leaving the club to explore other opportunities as her contract expires. She was the first woman to become an assistant coach in NHL history. The door remains open if she wishes to return to the Kraken.
And Then There Was One … Canada-based NHL team still in the Cup hunt, that is. So, 4 teams are now off to the golf courses.
Comparing the average per game goal scoring in each of those series:
Carolina 2.8 – Ottawa 1.3
Philadelphia 2.6 – Pittsburgh 1.8
Minnesota 3.8 – Dallas 2.5
Anaheim 4.3 – Edmonton 3.5
Based on the 82-game season, I don’t see how the Anaheim win could be classified as an upset, when their seasonal records were virtually identical:
Edmonton 41 30 11 93 282 269
Anaheim 43 33 6 92 273 288
Edmonton did have a slight edge in the seasonal head-to-head series (of which there were just 3), winning it 2-1 and outscoring the Ducks 16 – 12
Go Tampa.
I’d be a bit more on board with the Habs if their fans weren’t so insufferable. Worse than Leaf Nation at this point.
Dark, coming from you, I take that as a compliment. Go Habs Go!!!
Dark G, if I had to pick out one team that could become the 2026-27 version of the monumental collapses just experienced by Winnipeg, Toronto and Florida, it would be Tampa. They certainly are not getting any younger, with 15 players moving up in their 30s on their next birthdays, and in terms of prospect pool rankings by The Hockey Writers, they sit 29th out of 32:
Players Turning
31 – Raddysh, Johanssen, Point
32 – Guentzel, Bjorkstrand, Paul, Santini, Girgensons, Vasilevsky
33 – Kucherov
34 – Sabourin
35 – Gourde
36 – Hedman
37 – McDonough\
41 – Perry
As for the teams eliminated from this year’s playoffs (so far) in terms of prospect pool rankings, Edmonton is 31st, Dallas 28th, Ottawa 26th, L.A. 24th, Pittsburgh 23rd.
Of the 4 teams still alive in the preliminary round, Vegas is 25th, Boston 19th, Buffalo 7th and Utah 3rd.
Again, when it comes to overall prospect pool rankings (by The Hockey Writers anyway), it would appear there is a coming of the changing of the guard in the notoriously-weak Pacific Division.
Recent seasons dominating teams Edmonton (ranked 31st), Vegas (25th) and L.A. (24th) looking like their “glory” time may be at an end (for now), and Vancouver in the “mushy middle” at # 17, the other 4 in that Division all have top-ranked prospects soon to crack the NHL: San Jose 1st overall, Calgary 6th, Seattle 8th and Anaheim 9th.
Yeah, George, I have wondered about the wisdom of trading Sergachev and replacing him with McDonagh. I know the move allowed them to sign Guentzel, who has been very good for them, but as you point out it leaves them with two cornerstone D who are long in the tooth.
In pointing out above the possibility of Tampa becoming the 2026-27 version of the collapses of Winnipeg, Toronto and Florida, based upon some 15 of their roster moving up in age, and low ranking in the prospect pool, I would be remiss if I didn’t also point out that Edmonton is pretty much in the same boat.
The Oilers, sitting second-last in the prospect pool rankings, have 14 of their own moving up in their 30s. And even though several are UFAs who probably won’t be brought back (e.g. Lazar and Henrique), they still have to find adequate (and younger) replacements which obviously won’t come from their prospect pool.
Turning
30 – Roslovic and Kapanen;
31 – Draisaitl, Dickinson, Walman;
32 – Lazar, Jarry, Nurse;
34 – Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Janmark, Murphy;
36 – Ekholm;
37 – Henrique
You might add Dallas to your list of descending teams, George. First round loss this year after 3 conference final losses, and with Benn, Duchene and Seguin well into their thirties, and a prospect pool rated at 31.
They may be this decade’s San Jose Sharks, a good team who from 2010 could never win the big one.
Good point, LJ.
They sure do rank right up there with Tampa and Edmonton when it comes to a bulk of their roster in their 30s, with these 13:
Turning
30 – Rantanen & Hintz;
31 – Bunting;
32 – Lindell;
33 – Faksa, Lyubushkin, Blackwell;
35 – Seguin, Petrovic, DeSmith;
36 – Duchene;
37 – Benn, Myers
And, as with Edmonton and Tampa, being ranked low (28th) in the prospect pools doesn’t bode well for top quality roster adjustments over the next couple of seasons, nor would most of those named above bring them back any appreciably better prospects in any deals.
Don’t know about that Dallas postulation. You listed some key players over thirty but Ottinher Johnston heskenin bourque Harley Robertson. Good prime aged players.
Happy for Kreider,and Trouba after being turfed by Rangers. Why would Sturm sit out Hagens when Boston is dying for offense after Pasta. He is a better offensive option than many forwards they are dressing!
Love Kreider. Should’ve been Rangers captain. Nice to see him contributing. Big part of that win.
Because he’s as much of a defensive liability as Yakemchuk was. Sure you’re gonna get some crazy offensive thinking out of a young fresh rookie. BUT—-oops…blocked off shin pads 2 on 1 the other way.
WHAMMO
Agree Dark G, that is exactly the reason.
IMO the way the B’s win, is exactly how they won the last game; 2-1.
Plus he is a kid who weighs 177 lbs and doesn’t have the strength to compete every where he needs to. He has no chance against guys like Power, Dahlin and Samuelson etc down low or in front of the net.
Make it a slog, low event/ low turnover game. Their odds of success go up. Give Swayman every opportunity to win it for them.
Easier said than done, as Buffalo is a deeper & faster team but trying to outscore them plays into Buffalo’s strength IMO.
A year in the A would be more beneficial for him….or at least a couple months.
You’re wrong on Hagens especially Mr bruins 4 he is on quite a few hockey sites listed at 5’ 11 or 6’ between 180 and 190lbs. They say he gained ten pounds or more of muscle after the summer. I think he like a lot of others before him just needs some time he’ll be one the stars of this team in a couple of years. I still would have liked to see him on the first or second line I think he would have scored. Confidence is everything. I even remember the great Gordie Howe saying once when he hit a dry spell as a young player the harder he tried the worse it was for him to score. He said once he just started playing his game not over analyzing everything the goals started coming for him. And that advice comes from the great Gordie Howe.
Bruins site lists him at 5’11” 177 lbs John.
I’m basing my opinion on what I actually saw watching him play in the playoffs. He couldn’t handle NHL players in puck battles/physically.
Guessing the coaches saw the same thing.
Not a shot at the kid, I think he’ll be OK once he matures and learns. The tools seem to be there.
Tough to start your NHL career in an intense playoff series.
Because the only goal Hagens scored since arriving in nhl was on Swayman.
Wonder how long Mcdavid will want to stay in Edmonton after this? Swayman once again will be called upon to play the game of his life to avoid elimination. The forwards and especially the d need to help him out tonight. A friend of mine has the ahl he’s invited me over to watch Providence Sat. Will let you know how it goes.
John Apple – maybe he reflects on his career as a whole in edm and maybe makes a decision to move on down the road….but I sincerely doubt the playoff where he and leon were both injured early and his own play was brutal at times because of it, is not going to be anything more than a footnote if it comes to it.
That sounds reasonable.
What I don’t understand is why no one seems to want to look at Brady Tkachuk and Austin Matthews with the same reasoning.
@ George, now that they are eliminated, I think we’ll start seeing a lot more rumors/speculation now about Robertson and McDavid leading up to the draft.
Robertson because he’s an RFA that Dallas will struggle to fit under the cap.
McD because he just signed a discounted, 2 year “prove it” deal that kicks in next year. If Edm hasn’t felt enough heat to win while he is in his prime, it’s about to get much hotter.
George.O – oh my take maybe reasonable but it wouldn’t get the clicks, headlines and engagement that the media likes and needs.
And don’t worry, we will see enough about McDavid and his clock ticking down on the Oilers all summer I am sure.
You got that right, 1Oilerfan. And you know what? It won’t really matter what Bowman and Staios do to strengthen their teams over the off-season – even if they are met with public positive reactions from McDavid and Tkachuk. The professional s*^t-disturbers will have a ready supply of “yabuts” to toss into the mix.
George O. 100% don’t we know it!
It would be ironic if Mc D chose to go to Dallas.
Oilerfan & George, yeah this summer will be all talk but I see an early summer as a positive & hope for McDavid to get rested & ready for a monster run next year. Totally legit. However, on the flip side are legit questions of what if. What if Oilers stall out next fall & are continuing to be & I quote McDavid “an average” team all season.
Will the return be larger for a team that has 2 playoff runs with McDavid versus waiting to trade him next summer as a 1 year rental? The questions will get a lot more serious by next December/January if Oilers arent solidly in 1st in the Pacific.
Why would the Canucks consider AGMs from the Flames, Leaf’s or Sabres as these teams have been mired in mediocrity for years. IMO they are part of their own reams failure to win. At least Peterson, Tambellini and Gold come from winning organizations.
Gored1/970, for some of the names being bandied about, including some (like Pronger and Roberts) with NO practical experience to speak of, I paraphrase an observation once made by Robert Louis Stevenson when he was speaking about politics:
“An NHL GM is perhaps the only such profession for which no practical preparation if often thought necessary.”
“is often thought necessary …” – not “if”
McDavid’s next contract may be the largest in league history. Not too many contending teams have the cap space as well as the boatload of assets required to trade for him. There are very few places for him to land.
I’ll counter that with he could have just signed the largest contract in history this past summer and he didn’t. Not even the largest on his own team.
I see it differently, Gored70.
McDavid wants to win a Cup. He knows signing a massive contract will reduce the ability of a team to fill out the roster which is why he signed for 12 million with the Oil.
I also think he knows a trade would cost so many assets it would diminish the receiving team’s roster. Why put himself in the same position elsewhere that he is in now?
IMO he rides the contract out with the Oil and if he doesn’t win a Cup in Edmonton he chooses is best shot as a UFA.
I know just recently I had him being traded to the Habs but that was a little too much playoff adrenaline.
I question why Bowman did not address the goaltending issue.
Trading one struggling goalie (Skinner) for another (Jarry) while not addressing their defensive shortcomings was not going to make a difference. Was Binnington available at the TDL?
Their two highest paid defencemen are terrible in their own end. Nurse is likely untradeable at this point, with a full NMC and $9.5M salary. Would NJ consider a Hamilton for Nurse trade?
Would they consider moving Bouchard’s offence for more stability in their own end? He would likely garner a lot of interest and bring back several pieces that could balance out the roster.
The fact their prospect pool is near the bottom of the league isn’t going to help them.
Daryl, I’m only guessing on the tending issue, but it is likely because there was no deal to be had that wasn’t him getting fleeced by the other team.
And I would suggest he got fleeced anyway as he had to add Kulak to get Jarry.
If he just kept Skinner, he could have used Kulak as an adder somewhere else if he still pursued Murphy. And they wouldn’t be paying Jarry for 2 more seasons. Panic move IMO.
Nurse is tradable. The hockey world got to see how he can perform in a shutdown role when he had a quality partner like he had with Murphy. They were the Oilers best pairing. Nurse plus 4 and Murphy plus 3 against the toughest opposition and starting in their own end most of the time.
Everybody needs to take a deep breath, wait a few weeks and take stock then. They were an injured and tired team. Nobody has played more hockey in the last 3 years. This offseason is an opportunity.
Oil have some space, and holes to fill. I would try and keep Murphy for sure, Dickenson (injured in playoffs) too.
Take a flier on a backup like Philly did with Vladar (who I suggested last summer for the Oil).
Hope that Jarry figures it out, as he is actually untradeable.