NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 12, 2026
The Avalanche take a commanding series lead over the Wild, Shane Doan parts ways with the Maple Leafs, the Sedins to move up in the Canucks’ front office, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche have taken a 3-1 lead in their second-round series with the Minnesota Wild following a 5-2 victory in Game 4 on Tuesday. Parker Kelly broke a 2-2 tie, goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first start in this postseason, and Nazem Kadri scored to extend his points streak to five games.
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).
Danila Yurov and Nico Sturm scored while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 29 of 32 shots for the Wild.
The Avalanche can wrap up this series in Game 5 on Wednesday in Colorado.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was an ugly moment during the first period when Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson butt-ended Wild forward Michael McCarron in the left side of his face as the two scuffled on the ice. Manson received a double-minor, resulting in Yurov’s game-opening goal.
McCarron was still furious about the incident during his between-period interview with ESPN’s P.K. Subban, calling Manson a dirty player. After the game, Manson claimed he wasn’t trying to butt-end McCarron but was attempting to punch him.
Manson had returned to action after missing several games with an upper-body injury. He and forward Joel Kiviranta’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Avalanche, as forward Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski missed this game with upper-body injuries.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Shane Doan and the Toronto Maple Leafs have mutually agreed to part company. Doan joined the Maple Leafs in 2023 as a special advisor to the general manager. With John Chayka taking over that role, Doan’s contract will not be renewed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doan and Chayka have an unpleasant history from their days when the former was captain of the Arizona Coyotes and the latter was the club’s GM. In 2017, Chayka told Doan that the Coyotes no longer required his services, giving the club’s long-time star no proper send-off or ceremony to honor his tenure.
Doan has been connected to the Vancouver Canucks as they reshape their front office. He could also land with the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators.
THE PROVINCE: Speaking of the Canucks, franchise icons Daniel and Henrik Sedin have reportedly accepted larger roles within the club’s hockey operations department. They’ve spent the past five seasons with the Canucks in a player development role.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen what the Sedins’ new roles will be, but it won’t be as general managers. The Canucks are reportedly narrowing down their list of prospective candidates for that job.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard may have suffered a concussion during Game 1 of the first-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Bouchard finished that game and played in the remainder of that series, which the Ducks won in six games.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York Islanders rookie star Matthew Schaefer is teaming up with Northwell Health to create a child support center in honor of his mother, Jennifer, who passed away from breast cancer in 2024.
TSN: Buffalo Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj were fined by the league for their actions in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series on Sunday.
Malenstyn was fined over $3,500 for goaltender interference when he deliberately ran Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes. Xhekaj was fined over $3,300 for roughing Sabres forward Sam Carrick when he sucker-punched the latter in the dying seconds of the game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll see if those fines serve as a warning to both teams to dial back the chippy play and after-the-whistle antics that were prevalent in Game 3.
BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Despite two ugly losses in Games 2 and 3, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff remains confident in his group as they attempt to reset for Game 4 in Montreal on Tuesday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens dominated the Sabres in those two contests. Another lopsided loss in Game 4 could be demoralizing for the Sabres while giving the Habs a commanding lead in the series.
TVA SPORTS: The Canadiens have recalled forwards Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj and defensemen David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom after their AHL affiliate in Laval was eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs. The foursome will skate with the Canadiens in practice and will be available as reserve players.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights’ head coach John Tortorella hopes Tomas Hertl’s late goal in Game 4 of their series against the Anaheim Ducks helps the veteran forward regain his scoring touch. It was his first goal since March 4.
TSN: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.85 million.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils general manager Sunny Mehta hired Braden Birch as his new assistant general manager. Birch is the former Florida Panthers director of hockey operations and salary cap management.
So, Ridley Greig gets a 2-game suspension at the start of next season for a sucker punch, while Xhekaj gets a fine.
Greig punched a player who was restrained by one of his teammates and was in a vulnerable position. Carrick and Xhekaj were face-to-face when the latter punched him with a gloved fist.
And yet both are called a “sucker punch.” Typical “yeah but.”.
Not at all, George. If Carrick had been in the same position as Walker was (restrained by another player and in no position to defend himself) when Xhekaj hit him, the latter would’ve deserved a suspension instead of a fine. If Walker had been face to face and unrestrained when Grieg hit him, the latter should’ve received a fine. Grieg’s punch was more dangerous as Walker could’ve been seriously injured as a result. Carrick was face-to-face and pushing and shoving with Xhekaj and at least was in a position to defend himself.
Agreed, Lyle. But why didn’t Dahlin get a fine for punching a Habs player who was restrained by another Sabre, I wonder.
But hey, if the Sabres want to continue to play chippy hockey, I’m good with that.
Oops, HF30 corrects me. It was Thompson.
Come on, Johnny. Man up: when you are wrong, admit it.
I pointed out Xhekaj’s punch as one that, at game time, went unpenalized. It doesn’t cost anything to be fair minded.
And Malenstyn was fined over $3,500 for goaltender interference and Balduc goes scott free………
Malenstyn deliberately ran Dobes, which is why he was fined. Bolduc was pushed onto Lyon, and he received a double-minor for roughing. So much for “he got off scot-free”…
It seems there’s a lot of Habs haters here.
And sometimes you really have to question their thinking process or logic.
Maybe it’s just me, in my old age and getting grumpy, but, did Lyle really have to explain what he just did?
Regardless if you’re not a fan of another team, can you not see the difference between the Bolduc and the Malenstyn confrontations?
Ya Johnny, this one is obvious, might want to move on.
You would be hard pressed to find a team I have rooted against more than the Habs as a Bruins fan for 57 years. Lots of history there. And I can’t find a way to argue that they are even remotely similar.
I don’t even understand how Bolduc got a penalty let alone a double minor. He went to the net, which is his job, but he avoided Lyon, and then tried to fend off the Buffalo guys who went after him, which is also kind of their job.
He got pushed back, his back foot gets pushed back into Lyon, and down he goes. Not sure how he could avoid falling on him?
Chris, just to be clear … I am NOT a Habs hater. My point re the differences in “punishment” for the Greig and Xhekaj “sucker punches” was solely centered around those differences.
Nothing to do with who they are or what teams they play for.
And, in retrospect – and looking again at videos of the two incidents – I accept Lyle’s explanation. Something akin to – on a FAR lesser scale, mind you – murder and manslaughter punishments. đ
@Chris I am that rare breed that only reads about the Habs on this board it seems. I don’t like or hate them… they are inconsequential to me haha.
I have actually been watching more PWHL than NHL right now as it’s been incredibly entertaining hockey!
Yeppers theSaint. And the Ottawa Charge are in the Walter Cup Finals for the second consecutive season and will play their home games at the Senators’ home arena where they are expected to draw upwards of 17,000 per game.
Good for them. I wish them well (and it IS very entertaining hockey).
I think itâs going to be a canes/avs final. Curtain call for minn. now I would think. The bruins need a big name to help them Centre one of the top two lines and a good d they have the money to do it.( speed on both positions a must.
I called Canes/Avs just before this started. Montreal and Anaheim are the only ones that went further than I predicted.
John Apple,you must have been talking to Cam Neeley.He said the exact same thing!
Tage Thompson gave Bolduc three punches to the head with a gloved fist……while Samuelsson was holding him in a headlock………no penalty to either.
As far as I’m concerned Xhekaj just put an exclamation point to the nonsense and reminded Ruff that he was there if he wanted to call for more shenanigans .
he deserved it, after “accidentally” on-purpose running Lyon.
As this video clearly shows, that incident did not go down as you claim, Johnny. He never “ran” Lyon. In fact, he never touched him until he’s shoved on top of Lyon by two Sabres.
https://x.com/DrakeMT/status/2053623591007113334
John Apple,,I agree canes/avs final.Seems pretty obvious
The whole Manson “butt end” is being overblown IMO, and I understand I may receive some criticism for this comment.
Ya, shouldn’t do that, and he over reacted, but he barely put any force into it at all. There won’t be a scratch on McCarron or a bruise, it was literally nothing. There is no way he even felt pain. My wife could wake me up that way in the morning and I wouldn’t get mad.
IMO he should have got a minor, because you kinda gotta call it even if it was nothing once you go to video. I also think McCarron did grab him and pretty much tackled him and pinned him. Manson grabs him to even it out so he isn’t 2 strides behind when they get up. Happens pretty regularly, so I get the no call on the tackle.
Manson is a pretty big guy, McCarron is a beast at 6’6″ and 232.
I would then throw in a minor to McCarron for faking an injury and “embellishing” what happened to him. Because I hate that crap.
Then he calls Manson a dirty player, whatever dude. Poor Michael. If I used emoji’s I would put a sad face here.
I agree, Ray. You got it just right. I heard all the hoopla and went to check the highlight. Cheap and worth a double minor, but by no means worth all the screaming from McCarron. Gamesmanship, sour grapes, or just plain whining?
I would go with gamesmanship LJ. But just guessing like you are.
Reminds me of kayfabe, the pro wrestling term.
I made a late post yesterday that I’d like to paraphrase regarding speed, activating D.
Fun fact, go to NHL edge and compare Buffalo D to Arber Xhekaj.
Dahlin- max speed- 20.74 mph
Byram- max speed- 21.88 mph
Power- max speed- 20.69 mph
Samuelsson- max speed- 21.23 mph
Stanley- max speed- 20.26 mph
Kesselring- max speed- 18.94 mph
Timmins- max speed- 20.10 mph
Xhekaj- max speed- 21.41 mph
He beats them all except Byram.
I’m not dissing Buffalo, just giving context to the perception of their speed game and the reality check that they are facing in handling the Habs speed while defending.
HF30, kinda see why Kesserling was drafted so late. And good on him for over coming it and becoming an NHL player.
Surprised by Xhekaj’s speed. What about the rest of the Hab D core?
While your at it I would be curious to see the rest of the rosters. Not curious enough to do it myself mind you.
I don’t even know where to find it?
The thing is: How many strides does one take to reach full speed? That is where “quickness” comes in. Is there a stat for quickness? or quickness to reach a certain speed?
Arbers max speed was taken while he was skating from the red line to a corner to join a scrum. Not while handling the puck or cutting a guy off on D.
Insert Gallagher into the lineup so he can take a round outta Benson.
Great series so far.
SOP, Gallagher isn’t the guy to send into a scrap, much as I’d like to see someone put Benson in his place.
That said, the media picks a guy to spotlight, and they have chosen Benson. I’d focus on Dahlin, a much better player.
Dahlin is fantastic. So good at everything.
So dirty.
I haven’t seen that type of play work on him.
He enjoys it too much.
He counters in kind, plus a pound.
Benson just needs a humbling. Figured Gallagher should play a few shifts here and there…….but by all means, send Arber after him. Only Stanley has the sand to deter him…….and that ain’t enough.
RB,
Here you go:
Dobson – max speed- 21.13 mph
Matheson-max speed- 21.77 mph
Hutson- max speed- 21.69 mph
Carrier- max speed- 20.35 mph
Guhle- max speed- 21.91 mph
Struble- max speed- 19.17 mph
Engstrom- max speed- 21.32 mph
Reinbacher- max speed- 20.26 mph
You’ll see that over-all the Habs D-corps is faster.
The info is all there on https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters
There are tabs for all kinds of info, team, player, comparisons etc
Xhekaj surprises everybody and he gets singled out for all the wrong reasons because he can fight and is in the upper echelon among enforcers.
He has the hardest shot on the team, hits hardest, one of the faster skaters on D
John Apple,you must have been talking to Cam Neeley.He said the exact same thing!
Your post surprised me, HF30: And it explains why Xhejak is in instead of Struble. And not to quarrel with your findings, here is an (ahem) AI finding on Hutson:
“Lane Hutson is one of the fastest defensemen in the NHL, reaching top speeds of over 23 mph and frequently recording high-speed bursts. As of the 2025-26 season, he ranks in the 98th percentile for max skating speed among defenders, often hitting 22.91 mph or higher.”
Speed from the back-end is essential for sure, LJ. Which is why Ottawa really missed Jake Sanderson in some of those playoff games. He actually was clocked at a top speed of 24.37 mph in a late January 2026 game, which turned out to be the fastest recorded by an NHL D.
NHL EDGE shows his top speed in the 97th percentile for the league, and he is among the top D in the league for speed bursts over 20 mph and 22 mph. Chabot is also known for his smooth skating, and top prospect Carter Yakemchukâs âreport cardâ following the AHL season remarks on his vastly-improved high-end mobility.
Build from the back-end out, for sure!
That is fast!
LJ,
NHL EDGE is the official web site of the league and far more reliable than AI.
The numbers I posted are for 2025-26 playoffs. The AI number you posted is for regular season 2024-25.
NHL EDGE lists that number for last year and it lists the number I posted for THIS year.
Why the drop? I have no idea and to be honest I don’t know how they measure it.
After the game, Manson claimed he wasnât trying to butt-end McCarron but was attempting to punch him.
Sorry officer! I didnât mean to try to use a weapon to break his face! I meant to use my fist to do it!
“Tried to punch him but the 5″ of exposed butt end of my stick got in the way.” đ