NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 26, 2026
The 2026 NHL Draft begins Friday, Jason Robertson rejects a trade to the Kraken, Wild owner vows to re-sign Quinn Hughes, the latest on Zach Werenski and Alex Ovechkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
WHO WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS CHOOSE WITH THE FIRST-OVERALL PICK?
NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs face a big decision with the first overall pick as the 2026 NHL Draft begins with the first round on Friday in Buffalo.
Penn State winger Gavin McKenna and forward Ivar Stenberg of SHL club Frolunda are the top two prospects.
The San Jose Sharks hold the second overall pick, followed by the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers to round out the top five. The Calgary Flames possess the sixth overall selection, followed by the Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, Sharks, and Nashville Predators to complete the top 10.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s widely believed that the Leafs will select McKenna. San Jose is expected to take Stenberg, provided they haven’t traded that pick beforehand. Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he’s received at least one interesting trade offer. The Sabres could also peddle their pick for an established player, and the Rangers could dangle their pick for more immediate help. I’ll have more about that in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON JASON ROBERTSON, QUINN HUGHES, ALEX OVECHKIN & ZACH WERENSKI
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports sources claim the Dallas Stars permitted the Seattle Kraken to speak with Jason Robertson. They offered him an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $15 million, but the 26-year-old winger rejected the offer.
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).
Friedman indicated that the two clubs were believed to have worked out a trade before the Kraken were permitted to talk to Robertson, with the Kraken’s first-round pick in Friday’s draft (seventh overall) as part of the return.
Robertson is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1, and is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He and the Stars are reportedly $2 million apart in negotiations. The Stars’ top contract belongs to winger Mikko Rantanen at $12 million annually, and the hope was that Robertson might come in around that number.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: According to Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek, the St. Louis Blues offered a trade package to the Stars that included multiple first-round picks. However, the deal didn’t go through because Robertson wasn’t interested in signing with the Blues.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs tried to get involved in the Kraken-Stars deal by offering up Matthews Knies to the Stars for the seventh-overall pick had the Robertson trade gone through. The Ottawa Senators were also believed to be interested in Robertson, but were told that he wasn’t willing to sign with them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If these reports are anything to go by, Robertson has played his final game with the Stars. The two sides could continue their contract negotiations, but the fact that the Stars were close to trading him to Seattle suggests the salary gulf between them can’t be bridged.
Robertson lacks no-trade protection, but his RFA status gives him leverage over where he can be traded. No one is going to part with significant assets for a star who won’t commit to a contract beyond next season. The Stars will likely keep searching for trade offers from clubs that are acceptable destinations for Robertson.
The Kraken’s offer could be based on what Robertson seeks in his negotiations with the Stars. His rejection of that proposal busts the myth that free-agent talent only wants to play in no-tax states. Robertson is the second player to reject a big-money offer from the Kraken, as Artemi Panarin did the same in February when he rejected a trade to Seattle in favor of a move to the Los Angeles Kings. Their odds of landing either player would’ve been better if they were a winning franchise.
Robertson could receive an offer sheet on July 1, but the cost of signing him would include four first-round picks to the Stars as compensation, as it’s clear he’s seeking well over $12 million annually. However, the Stars’ attempt to trade him suggests they’re seeking a return that could also provide more immediate help.
TSN: Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold expects his club to re-sign Quinn Hughes. The 26-year-old superstar defenseman has one season remaining on his contract and will be UFA-eligible next July.
“We had to give up a lot to get him in this past year,” Leipold said, referring to the trade last December with the Vancouver Canucks. “We are going to re-sign him. The question is for how long. We would like to go as long as we could.”
Leipold believes Hughes will probably want a shorter deal than the one Kirill Kaprizov signed with the Wild last fall. “Shorter being maybe three years,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leipold made similar comments about Kaprizov months before his club inked the superstar winger to an eight-year extension. The Wild can sign Hughes starting on July 1.
A three-year extension would give Hughes four years with the Wild, which is probably the window that Leipold and general manager Bill Guerin believe their club has to win the Stanley Cup. After that, Hughes could pursue his dream of playing with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber reports Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carberry said Alex Ovechkin is “very impressed, very happy” with the big trades the club made this week.
The Capitals acquired winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The following day, they brought in winger Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade deal with the Buffalo Sabres.
Ovechkin is expected to decide in July whether he’ll return for another season with the Capitals. If he does commit for 2026-27, Carberry said the 40-year-old winger is willing to accept a modified role with the club.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some saw the acquisitions of Kyrou and Tuch as the Capitals preparing for Ovechkin’s retirement, while others saw them as a way to entice him to play one more season. Bringing in those two should address both possibilities.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said he intends to meet with Zach Werenski soon to discuss his future with the club.
Werenski won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as this season’s top NHL defenseman. The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, but there’s been speculation about how long he plans to remain with the Jackets.
“I know for right now, there’s some matters that we’re dealing with that should probably stay internal,” Waddell said. He added that he’s had some conversations with Werenski’s agent, saying there’s been “no definitive plan, for sure.”
Waddell also said he didn’t get the sense that Werenski was basing his decision on the Blue Jackets’ offseason plans, but that could factor into it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We saw one of those plans on Thursday when the Blue Jackets acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche. I’ll have more on that below.
Waddell’s cryptic comments about keeping some things internal suggest that Werenski may have expressed his frustration over the Blue Jackets’ inability to clinch a playoff berth over the past two seasons. The uncertainty over his future ensures he will be a frequent subject for trade speculation.
NHL TRADE TRACKER FOR JUNE 25
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH/COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Blue Jackets acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick (43rd overall), a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichushkin is a replacement for Boone Jenner or Mason Marchment. Both are pending UFAs who are unlikely to return. As for the Avalanche, this was a cost-cutting move, freeing up Nichushkin’s $6.125 million AAV from their books. They now have almost $11 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, which will likely be used to shore up their blueline.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW/FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Garnet Hathaway and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-rounder. The Flyers are retaining half of Hathaway’s $2.4 million AAV.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hathaway will be a replacement for UFA-eligible forward AJ Greer.
THE HOCKEY NEWS/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Washington Capitals traded forward Hendrix Lapierre to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
THE HOCKEY NEWS/NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Capitals also traded defenseman Declain Chisholm to the New Jersey Devils for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
According to Bruce Garrioch in his column today, the Senators are likely out of any McTavish deal despite “trying hard” to acquire him, as reported by Elliotte Friedman. Instead, insider Frank Seravalli says the Rangers have jumped into the picture, and that there was “one more team” pushing to complete a deal – but Garrioch doesn’t believe that that refers to Ottawa.
He also reports that Staios is still working on at least one more trade involving the # 23 pick tonight.
https://ottawasun.com/ottawa-senators/steve-staios-ottawa-senators-trade-options
George, that other team is the Blues who have offered a package which includes the 11th pick. This is coming from numerous St. Louis outlets and Pagnotta I think. If true this would be a bad move by them. McTavish is slow and bad on defense exactly what you don’t want.
If the guy couldn’t get it together for coach Q you think Montgomery will be better, hardly.
At this point if the Blues can’t move into 2,3, or 4 I think they should keep the picks and combined with the very good prospect pool they already have set the team up for the next several years for Steen who takes over July 1st.
I should have added that along with pick 11, Buchnevich or Suter were mentioned in the McTavish trade.
Thanks, Snold40. And I agree – McTavish is NOT what Ottawa would want either at that top line RW slot. He couldn’t keep up with Stutzle and Eklund.
Their best bet there would be to move Cozens into that spot, with Pinto moving into the 2nd line C position, Grieg the 3rd line and Halliday as the 4th line C.
Should read “the # 25 pick tonight.”
Oh boy! The BIG day for the Sharks! They will draft Stenberg unless Columbus offers up Werenski for the pick, for which the Sharks offer to toss in the 9th as well. Given that that probably won’t happen, I predict the Sharks offer New York the 9th and the 27th plus Bystedt in exchange for the 5th so that they can draft Reid, if he’s still there, or Carels. Whatever happens, the Sharks are going to come away with very very good players. Grier has done an excellent job, and still has money left to resign those he needs to. I can’t wait for 7pm to come around!
The Rangers say no
IMO.
Keep and use the picks SJ.
They’re getting an excellent forward, maybe the best one, and an excellent chance they get D that has top pair potential. Guessing one of Rudolph, Smits or Verhoeff.
5 D would need to go in the top 8 for them not to get one. It’s possible, but most mocks I have seen has Bjork going before that.
Celebrini just turned 20 a couple weeks ago, zero need to rush this for right now. Build the best base of talent you can right now. And they have had a great start with Celebrini, Misa, Smith, etc. But still have plenty of positions to fill. Not the time to rush this.
Celebrini understands that too, is a team first guy, unlike some others I could suggest but won’t. Plus he is a best player to come into the league since McDavid.
They have an opportunity to build a team that can contend for 7-8, or more, years. With serious cup potential.
With a seemingly ever-growing list of places to which Robertson doesn’t wish to sign – despite hefty AAVs – where the Hell IS he interested in reporting and re-signing?
The way things are shaping up – and the extremely limited cap space possessed by the top teams – plus the uncertainty as to whether or not his nibs would deign to re-sign with them, he could be one of those RFAs who misses training camp and into the season.
It almost seems like Dallas has not asked JRob where he actually would be willing to sign.
Why waste all the negotiating time with Seattle if he won’t sign there?
(Or it was a ploy by JRob to get Seattle to make a high offer so that Dallas could see the numbers he was being offered).
I believe he’s staying in Dallas. He isn’t pricing himself out of D he just wants what he wants.
We shall see how this all plays out.
Also. – Thank god no McTavish.
Maybe something between the Sens and the Kraken for Wright and or Tolvanen
I’d say with a failed sign and trade of 15 per , he’s priced himself out of Dallas.
Hard to imagine Dallas trying to trade a player they felt they could bridge the gap with on a new deal.
Well, if he does wind up staying in Dallas, and at THAT amount per, and still wants to be on a cup contender, he obviously failed at math.
The Stars have just over $9 mil in cap space with 2 other RFAs t re-up (Bourque & Hyry), so if Robertson gets his $15 mil per there, how does Nil manage that without moving out one or two of his term, signed players – which won’t do a Helluva lot for their competitiveness.
If Nil can pull this off they should just give him GM of the year now.
I think he’s going to arbitration and then UFA after his 1 year deal. By then Florida and Vegas may have more cap space available
Would a Larkin for Robertson swap work? Robo grew up in Michigan. Dallas gets some cost certainty with Larkin
I doubt that Robertson will agree to be traded to a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 10 years.
Let me guess. He’s American so, Vegas, Panthers, Carolina, or Wild 🤪
He won’t miss training camp George. If a deal can’t soon be worked out with Dallas or another team he’ll file for arbitration, take his one year award and he’s a UFA next year.
In which case Nil STILL won’t have enough cap to take on the arbitration award AND re-sign RFAs Bourque and Hyry, never mind any of his UFAs he’d like to bring back (Benn, Ernie, Bunting, Bastian and Petrovic) – or suitable replacements. Not without having to trade away a term contract or two to make room for a 1 season player. That should make him popular among his teammates.
Interesting that Robertson would not agree to sign a $15M AAV extension in Seattle.
Also find it interesting that he has no trade protection but has nixed two possible deals.
This must be because the acquiring team has no guarantee he will re-sign with them so they don’t want to offer premium assets.
What would the deal look like if it was Knies to Dallas for Robertson since Knies is signed long term?
Can Toronto afford another high dollar AAV salary?
It’s a sign-n-trade scenario so that Seattle would get him with the 8 year extension.
So that is where his leverage lies.
I would take Knies at close to half the AAV, all day, everyday.
Dallas could afford the AAV next year, but they obviously don’t want to wait until this time next year to know he stays.
maybe they just move him to the highest bidder with no extension signed or on a one year deal.
No way Robertson gets more money elsewhere than he would with Seattle. But he’s obviously not impressed with that organization. Proves what Lyle and I have been saying all along. It’s not taxes. It’s not weather. It’s winning. Players want to play for an organization that gives them confidence that they could win the Cup.
Well, that leaves out L.A. and Anaheim – for now anyway – if he was hoping to sign closer to his home near Pasadena.
And in much of his career Dallas has been in the hunt. Why would the kid want to leave for the doledrums of meaningless hockey?.
If Robertson wants to win that badly, he can ask for a trade to one of the usual three, Florida, Vegas or Minny, sign a 1 year deal for 1-2 million and become UFA next year.
This doesn’t prove that it’s not taxes.
It simply means more than one thing can be true at the same time. Kinda like lots of other topics or issues.
It’s not all taxes, has anyone ever argued that? If they did they’re stupid.
Not every person is the same either.
What I have argued is it allows teams to sign players for a little less. Especially the ones they already have and will get a NMC. This gives them more cap space. Basic math. Marchand came right out and said it.
Quote:
Brad Marchand stated that Florida’s lack of a state income tax was the primary reason the Florida Panthers could keep their core roster together.
So yes, it’s an advantage, just not the only one that players consider.
Yes teams need to be good, or they leave. Some US folks want to play in their home country. Guys like Panarin wanted to play in a city with a large Russian population like NYC. Guys like Ekholm wanted to play in a place like Edmonton, because it was more like his home country of Sweden, and his wife felt the same.
I think we all agree, being a good team is the most popular, although Mr Robertson seems willing to at least risk leaving one. If what we are seeing with him, it isn’t all about winning is it?
Edgar, I assume you mean “… a 1 year deal for 12 million …” not 1-2 million. Although that latter sure would make it simpler for Nill to sign his other 2 RFAs.
But if it is $12 mil, he won’t have enough to re-sign those other 2 RFAs without either moving them or another term contract or two to make cap room.
Ray, I wish I had read your comment before I posted my 1:28pm one. Yes!
But I must say, if you are boosting Edmonton as Canada’s answer to Sweden we now know you are in the employ of both the Oilers and the City of Edmonton. But I do believe Sweden has filed a diplomatic protest with Carney.
LJ, and here I thought I was complimenting Sweden! Either way Carney can handle it.
I actually live in St Albert, just a little north of Edmonton. I call it Pleasantville.
But ya I like Edmonton, lived in Calgary and Saskatoon and liked those as well.
I think the Ekholms would as well.
So would you LJ, I think. Bring your Habs jersey, and I’d still buy you a beer.
Ray, I’d enjoy a beer with you.
This is the confusing part of it all. If whispers and rumors are to be believed Robertson didnt accept a deal with Dallas matching that of rantanen’s. So 12 or so is not enough to stay in Dallas…15 is not enough to sign with an org willing to pay him more. Wth does the kid want. Another contender in the ilk of Dallas would have trouble fitting him in at 12 never mind more than that.
Bizarre…seems he may want out of dallas but while also controlling the destination. I like the player but not this nonsense.
1Oilerfan, agree 100% very bizarre.
If he wants the money he turned down 15 million for 8 years who else is offering that.
If he wants to play for a contender in a warm weather tax free state he already has that in Dallas.
Bizarre indeed.
Howard and Lyle: one player declining to go to a team does not “bust the myth” that taxes are a factor.
Is Brady wanting to play with Matthew proof that all brothers want to play together?
Are Hughes and the Tkachuks leaving Canadian teams proof that Americans only want to play for American teams?
Big day for the Sharks, to say the least! They’ll take Stenberg, unless Columbus offers up Werenski for the pick (plus Bystedt), which probably won’t happen. But I do think Grier will try to trade down on the 9th, most likely with New York by offering up the 9th, 27th and Bystedt. That will give them the opportunity to grab Reid, if available, or, more likely, Carels. Even if none of these deals happen, the Sharks will walk away with some very very good players today. Grier has done an excellent job! Lyle, please delete my earlier post if it happened to go through. Thanks!
Im interested to see what Buffalo does with the 4th pick that they stole from Chicago. I doubt that they intend to keep it.
I also wonder about Vancouver, the only true bottom feeder who only wants to get worse, yet have made no trades. Given the lack of C would they consider moving Rossi for futures? I know he is only 25 in september but will he really be what they need in 4-5 years? Seattle and Jets come to mind.
I could see them keeping it. They are going to draft a really good player.
What do you think is the plan lyle? You are right more cap money freed up but what concerns me is losing the type of player nichushkin is; the guys you can count onto to play both ways effectively. I was for trading nichushkin after his 2nd relapse for a brief period until I got over it. He has been my favorite Avalanche because he is a joy to watch play. Him and landeskog are why I root for the Avalanche.
Previous two years 80 points for Robertson along with poor post season. Did not make Team USA either. Is that worth 15×8
Let me guess wants Florida or Vegas . What a joke this has become
Good point. And wouldn’t it be poetic justice if he did go to arbitration and the arbiter looks at all that, does some comparisons, and rules that he’s not worth more than $12 mil per. Still a good raise over his expiring $7,750,000 … but that would be a great splash of cold reality.
Let’s go! Let’s get 72 in blue today!
If it’s true that the Leafs were in on that 7th Dallas would have received for Knies would have been a good replacement for a departing Robertson. Just wonder what else would have been included…a center, a top 4 D? It would have been a mind blower for sure.
I hope next season is another wild one after this WTF of an off season so far.
Since nobody wants to go to SEA and they’re willing to trade the #7 pick, can TOR squeeze them for #7 and an NHL roster player for Knies?
TOR is rumoured to be looking for a Top 10 pick for Knies.
Could Chayka be ruthless enough to trade guys with a bit of term to an organization some players refuse to go to?
Maybe Knies, 2026 3rd (69th) and Carlo for #7 and Shane Wright?
SEA gets a real NHL player signed to 5 more years that’s the same age as their #1C
Robertson can dictate where he wants to go by signing offer sheet. I don’t think the 4 1st rounders is a deterrent. If I’m correct, it’s 4 picks over 5 seasons? If you’re a team that thinks Robertson makes you a playoff team those next 4/5 seasons, why not? Can always pick up picks in future trades. A team like Ottawa already has extra 1st in ‘28 and ‘29. Would Robo go there?
I think Jim Nill will talk Robertson into staying on, at a team friendy deal at 12 million. That’s why players want to play in Dallas, Jim Nill is class, the organization is class and they compete every year. That’s what Robertson wants, it’s obviously not the money…Jim Nill treats his players right. Complete opposite of Vegas. And yet so many players want to go to Vegas for the opposite reason. Proving that it’s about Winning.
Starsfan
If you listen to what Robertson has to say “it’s just business” I believe there is still resentment there over the last deal Robertson signed.
It reminds me of the time when Alfredsson signed a team friendly deal with a wink that he’d be taken care of on his next contract and it wasn’t fulfilled
Robertson is one of the top LW in the game, averaging over a point per game over his latest contract.
DAL is in a cap crunch even if he signs for $12M AAV
Well, if he would sign in Dallas for $12M, why hasn’t he?
Ray Bark , you are most articulate, thoughtful, and common sense guy on this thread. Please keep up the good work.
I think Robertson just wants to leave Dallas as a UFA after next year.
It’s less about money than where he will go.
He wasn’t happy about being left off the US squad and won’t go play for those decision makers.
There are young teams ready to contend that probably interest him, good management, SC contention mean more to some than total dollars.
Let’s be honest when a player is earning 8+ million, money talks less than winning environment.
At this point he’s best off with arbitration and a 1 year contract at any number for liberation.
And playing alongside some pissed-off teammates who don’t share his views. Great environment for a year.
Dallas wants to trade him now because his value with a sign and trade is obviously way higher than a 1 yr remaining RFA…that’s why the offers to extend are being turned down by his camp. He wants to pick his destination next year as a UFA
Now if he goes to arbitration that is a whole new pile to deal with as that handcuffs Dallas into not being able to trade him for full value. Basically he becomes a rental.
They probably know which teams he would like to go to but in fear of limiting themselves to offers that suck(read Larkin, Dylan) they are hoping other teams come knocking and hail mary options might appeal to Robo.
Sorry just had my coffee…full of beans
Seattle is in a tax free state on top of it. So less money to play in California? Or a FU to Dallas ?
The talk of Larkin and Trocheck has quieted down leading to attention being directed at Robertson and Werenski.I wonder what the real reason was for Robertson being left off the US Olympic team!
Sr, here’s what the Web says on that:
“The key factors that contributed to the Dallas Stars forward being left off the team include:
Stylistic Fit & Team Identity: General Manager Bill Guerin and the coaching staff focused on assembling a squad built for “grind” and specific defensive roles, valuing role-playing forwards over pure goal-scorers.
Concerns Over Skating and Defense: Despite his impressive point production, Robertson has historically faced internal criticisms regarding his foot speed and two-way play, which some management members felt did not translate to the demands of international tournaments.
Prioritization of Continuity: Management favored the core group of players from the previous 4 Nations Face-Off roster, leaving very few open spots for offensive wingers who were not part of that initial setup.”
Make sense George, Canada made similar decisions. I think it was Cooper who said, if you don’t check, this isn’t the tournament for you.
Plus the US won, so tough to criticize their decisions.
Yep.
NYR and Habs made a trade , so that should put an end to the supposed animosity.
It’s a minor league trade, Trudeau for Berard, but it’s a start.
I don’t know much about Berard but Trudeau is a defenseman I’ve liked for a while but he was blocked by a glut of LD. I hope he gets a shot with NYR.
Also, Jordan Spence has re-upped in Ottawa for 4 years @ $5 mil per, while the NYI have signed Tony DeAngelo for 2 years @ $4.5 mil per.
Ottawa now has $14.5 mil with which to re-sign UFAs Giroux and Cousins and still plenty left over to cover a possible trade tonight … or UFA signing next week.
Tony DeAngelo has been signed by the NYI for 2 seasons at $4.5 mil per.
Seattle in a no-tax state? Soon to change:
Seattle will suck Robo dry with taxes in 2028. The Rate: Washington State imposes a 9.9% tax on the portion of household income exceeding $1 million and the city of Seattle hits them with a 5% Social Housing tax
And with their primary concern being enough revenue to cover the welfare and needs of the population in general, they couldn’t (nor should they) give a rat’s patootie how this will affect pro athletes.
Maybe we’re slowly evolving into 3 separate leagues – those who continue with no state tax, those who do and an independent all-Canada-based league.